We approached the cottage languidly, pausing a couple of times as Fluttershy stopped to speak to some manner of critter chattering excitedly at the demure mare. I waited patiently as she talked softly with them, assuring them of this or that. She looked like she was a kind soul, one of the quiet, nature types that would push for conservation and the like. After conversing with the creatures, Fluttershy lead the way to the cottage apologising for the delay profusely.

I waved it away with a smile, but I was antsy though, I wanted to see Discord when he was all grown up! What would he be like? Would he be the same sweet self like he was before?

As soon as I took a step inside, my senses were assaulted with a variety of sights and smells. The cottage was small but crowded, with a small couch on the side, a fireplace that burned with a warm glow and the smell of pine wood and… something else that I couldn’t identify. I think a saw a bluejay and a squirrel skitter off into one of many nooks and crannies this place had.

I turned to Fluttershy as she returned from searching around the house. “Oh,” Fluttershy called to me. “It doesn’t seem like Discord is here at the moment, I’m so sorry.”

I laughed it off. “That’s fine, do you mind if I wait in your lounge room for him?” I located a small chair in the corner of the room and sat down in it.

Fluttershy nodded with a smile. “Make yourself at home,” she smiled, walking towards the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please!” A voice called out and with a flash, a familiar looking draconequus appeared decked out in some sort of military uniform. “You would not believe the battle I had to endure trying to get here after Celestia asked me to deal with the parasprite invasion. Summoning that many instruments was tiring, she has no idea how much strain that puts on my kind of magic!” He swooned on the couch, laying a forelimb over his eyes.

“Honestly,” he continued. “It’s like Celestia doesn’t value my contribution at all! We’re friends aren’t we?”

Fluttershy made to say something, but her words were cut off by Discord’s rant.

“It’s always ‘Discord would you mind helping out with this or Discord would you mind giving me a hoof with this pesky that,” he growled, summoning little dolls of Celestia and himself and moving them up and down as he mimed their meeting. “Discord, we’re friends now, we should have some cake and tea. I’m the Lord of Chaos! Cake and tea are things that Celestia likes, so orderly and precise. Hold the temperature at this, pour the tea into that! It’s not my fault that I like pouring my tea upside down! I would think she would be more accommodating, I solved her parasprite infestation haven’t I?”

“Discord I have something to tell you–”

“And Luna! She's always so mopey, she’s got to lighten up! I did that bubblegum trick on her, like I did all those years ago. But did she appreciate it? Noooooo! She threw a boulder at me, the nerve!”

I decided it was probably time to interject and save Fluttershy from the irate draconequus.

“I know how you feel,” I said, smirking. “But think about the bubblegum in her mane, it’ll take ages to wash out. You’re lucky she didn’t put makeup on you and sing nursery rhymes like the first time.”

“Well now that was a different set of circum–”

I saw Discord’s eyes widen until they became the size of saucers.

“Hey there, buddy,” I said. “I take it we haven’t seen each other for some time?”

“Seen each other?!” he blurted out in disbelief. “You’re dead!”

–––––

At that, poor Fluttershy gasped loudly and dropped the tray of tea, which probably would have made a mess if I hadn’t snapped my fingers with a quick levitation spell. I gently eased the tray onto the small coffee table and gave Discord a wink as he just stood there spluttering.

“How– you– but I saw you–”

“Ah ba-bup!” I interrupted loudly, putting a stern finger on his lips. “No spoilers, I’m from the past and I’m just visiting the future. You don’t want me to leave prematurely because of some paradox, do you?”

Fluttershy looked between us. She was more confused than shocked at my expression of ease though.

“Y-You don’t look very shocked,” she said shyly. “If you don’t mind me saying so.”

I waved it away. “Ah well, we all die sooner or later. It’s sad, but it’ll happen especially if it’s a couple thousand of years.” I whistled. “That’s a big number. Definitely longer than my lifespan.”

Discord was too busy having his jaw on the floor to really pay attention to what I was saying, so I turned to Fluttershy and thanked her for the tea, sipping it quietly and returning the cup to the saucer with a small clink.

The sound must have snapped Discord out of his trance because he got up and crossed the intervening space between us with a short leap, tackling me to the ground.

“Harmony!” he cried. “I missed you.”

I chuckled, ruffling his feathers as we hugged. “Hey Discord, it hasn’t been more than a few hours since I’ve seen you, but I’m betting it’s been longer than that.”

Discord nodded on my shoulder. “It’s been long,” he choked. “Too long.”

Sadly, I patted him on his back, while making eye contact with a sorrowful-eyed pegasus across the room. Quietly she left for the kitchen to fetch something while Discord clung to me like I was a rock in the middle of a tumultuous river.

“Discord,” I said gently. “I’m not going anywhere right now, so you can let me go.”

I felt a small patch of wetness soak through my shirt as he clutched me tighter.

“I’m afraid if I let go,” he said. “You’ll never come back again.”

“Don’t be silly,” I assured him. “I’ll always be here.” I poked him in the chest where his heart should be. “Just like you’re with me wherever I go.”

Discord chuckled weakly. “I know,” he replied unsteadily. “You’ve said that to me before.” Tears welled up again. “They’re not–” he hesitated “–They’re not from a happy time.”

I felt a small shiver of foreboding work up my spine, but I shook my head doggedly to dispel it.

“Nevermind that, Discord.” I smiled at him in encouragement. “Let’s go see Celestia and Luna again!”

At that, Discord’s eyes were suddenly filled with fear, he looked a little like he was on the verge of panic.

“Uh Harmony?” he spoke quickly. “Can we talk about this?”

“What’s there to talk about?” I asked, hands on my hips. Discord’s eyes flicked down at my hands and then back to my face.

“Oh you know,” he said, pressing his paw and claw digits together. “Stuff.”

“Stuff,” I repeated, with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes,” he replied anxiously. “Stuff.”

Fluttershy had trotted back in with the cookies but neither party noticed that she had come back. She gently laid the tray on the table and quietly observed Discord try and make quite possibly one of the lamest and worst excuses she’d ever heard him give in his entire life, or at least as far as Fluttershy had known him.

I crossed my arms, staring him down.

“Why don’t you want me to see Celestia and Luna?” I asked him, while the draconequus fidgeted.

“Let’s just say that there’d probably be no problems seeing you, Harmony, but as for me…”

My eyes narrowed. “I listened to your little rant to Fluttershy. Is this about you being the ‘Lord of Chaos’? Is that rubbish still being spread around?”

Discord looked completely mollified. He struggled to find the words to say something. Several times his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Finally, he grated out, “Well it’s not like they were 100% wrong…”

I didn’t understand. “Ugh, just… what? No. You know what? We’re going to have a get together and it’s just going to be like old times, except I get to see you all grown up and getting along! Is that clear?”

Discord looked like he had been caught sticking his hand in the cookie jar. I knew, I’ve caught him before.

“Yes, Harmony.”

“Good, now let’s be off to see the sisters, it’s been a while, Fluttershy do you want to come?”

“Oh, uhm, it would be too much trouble…”

“Nonsense! Anypony that is a friend of Discord’s is a friend of mine!” I chuckled heartily. Lacing my fingers in front of me I gave them an experimental crack and then clicked my fingers a couple of times, sparks flying as I tested the magical reserves. Woo, I was running hot.

“Okay, now where was Canterlot castle again? Can’t be too far to teleport.”

Discord cleared his throat. In a voice laced with a healthy dose of resignation, he sighed, “I’ll handle this.”

With a snap we appeared in a large vaulted room, with stone walls and marble floors, shined to a mirror-finish. I looked at the stone with some amusement. I could see my face in it.

“Don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing,” I chuckled to myself. I could see the various sigils and runes I’d temporarily plastered on my face to prevent myself from being blasted apart by the eddies and currents of the space-time continuum. Who would have thought that magic would just be as effective a travel method as science?

“Halt!” a stern voice called out. We turned around to see a stallion in armour similar to Tempora’s guard but golden hued in colour trot towards us, with a spear held out.

“Is there a problem, officer?” I responded coolly. I’ve always wanted to use that line at least once, I was never really in trouble with the law enough.

The stallion narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t know about you, but you better not be a problem with him.”

“No problem!” Fluttershy squeaked, answering for us as she made to dash away before Discord could restrain her with a paw.

I didn’t like the tone the guard was taking with Discord.

“Now listen here–” I began, but Discord also wrapped a paw around my mouth and swapped for a claw around Fluttershy’s neck.

“We’ll be on our way,” Discord told the guard, then simply trotted off with both of us in tow. After opening and closing the door to the adjoining room. It looked like a guest room in the palace and once he shut the door on the inside, Discord finally let us go.

“Gees, Discord why did you do that?” I muttered testily. Though I rubbed my jaw with a little pride. “Though you’ve grown stronger, I’ll give you that.”

“I’m not a foal anymore, Harmony,” he snapped, half-pouting. If he wasn’t so much older than me I would have laughed at that line, he said something similar not too long ago. Something was on his mind though, and I had to figure it out.

Fluttershy looked between us nervously, I spared her a quick glance and then turned back to Discord.

“What’s wrong, buddy?” I asked him as he paced around the chambers.

“It’s nothing,” he said dismissively, sniffing.

“That may work on most ponies here, but that doesn’t cut it with me,” I growled, flopping down on the bed dominating the small room, I patted the covers next to me, giving the draconequus a meaningful look. Discord sighed and flopped down next to me.

“Tempora’s prophecy came true,” he said quietly. He looked at me with such sadness in his eyes that I just reached out with an arm and hugged him tight.

I smiled. “Then the prophecy happened for a reason and you played a part in this world. You, my brother, are more important than ever.”

“But I brought darkness and chaos to the world for over a thousand years!”

“You must of had a reason.”

At that, he was silent.

“It must have been a good reason,” I continued. “Or you wouldn’t have done it.”

“You believe in me?” he whispered hopefully. “You’re not mad?”

I laughed at him. “How long have you known me, Discord? Nothing you could do could make me mad.”

He chuckled weakly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you mad at me,” he reflected. “I think I saw you mad at Celestia once, but I don’t think you were ever mad at me.”

“What Celestia did that day was something she could have easily avoided.” That sandwich was perfect... A sudden thought occurred to me.

“It’s been a while,” I said with an evil grin. “Let’s have some fun.”

Fluttershy’s eyes went wide at that.

“Oh, my,” was all she could say.

Author's Notes:

Woooooooo!