Celestia

“Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, I am indebted to you both for allowing me to scour through the Crystal library in such a desperate hour as this.”

“You are more than welcome here at any time, Princess Celestia, you know that,” the Princess of Love soothed with a wave of her hoof, “although your timing could have been better; the first time that you come to the Crystal Empire and we have to meet on the potential verge of war. I see where Twilight received her sense in timing from when visiting with family.”

The little poke of fun was welcome at this time, Celestia let out a soft chuckle at how correct the princess was. Yes, my former pupil has taken a few habits that I possess to heart.

Celestia’s former Captain of the Day Guard nodded his head. “It was good to see you again. If what you say is true, then your arrival here should be celebrated. I have been training the Crystal Guard since you spoke of this evil in your letters, for any impending confrontation with whatever these beings are. I have also commanded that extra patrols be scheduled along our borders for the foreseeable future. There will be no surprises up north if things should come to war.”

The Sun Princess grinned warmly, yet inwardly, it was hiding a saddened expression, knowing that no matter how much preparation and training is performed prior to battle, there would always be casualties. Such a message of alarm, no matter the intentions to warn ponies, is not an event that I would wish to be celebrated. “I am glad, Shining Armor. We have bolstered our defences in the south as well, and Luna is seeing to my guard in junction with her own.”

Shining laughed a little. “I’m sure that she has already trained them so much that they can hardly stand on their own four hooves. Those ponies may look intimidating, but honestly this is a wakeup call for every guard. One thousand years of peace has made us a little soft. I just hope that we’re ready to face whatever is coming when it happens.”

You and I both, Shining Armor, the Solar Princess pondered grimly. “I thank you once again for your hospitality. Your crystal ponies are quite well versed in the art of welcoming dignitaries. I also cannot say that I am adverse to this lovely crystal shine on my coat and mane.” She shared a little chuckle with Cadence.

“Yes, it took a little being accustomed to when I first came here,” the Princess of Love stated happily, “waking up each morning and finding that I am slightly transparent and that I look like a living crystal, but it grew on me. And the crystal ponies have been trapped for two thousand years as well, so they are probably a little starved for some things to celebrate. They haven’t performed any of their yearly events for some time after all.”

She laughed again, shutting her magenta eyes in amusement, before regarding the two. “True enough. I am happy to have given them something to look forward to. Even so, be certain that they know the peril that may befall them and have them ready to seek shelter. Be safe, train your soldiers well and keep each other from harm.”

“That sounds like the speech that you gave me when I became the captain of your guard.”

“I still mean it today, yet now it is meant for a lovely couple also, and not only for a group of young and strong male and female warriors.” She and the blue-maned stallion shared a laugh as he wrapped a hoof around his wife’s neck carefully. Celestia turned her head toward the sky and saw her sun and what few clouds were about today. The crystal unicorns had cleared the skies earlier in the day for her departure, one finally gesture of good faith and will, which she appreciated greatly. “Farewell. I hold to your purpose, and may we all survive this new threat with minimal damage to our homes and friends.”

“Thank you, Celestia. I wish you well with what we discussed in detail as well. I hope that what you plan to do does not create further complexities in these troubling times. Before Queen Chrysalis appeared, I had seen what the Lord of Disharmony could do to a town of ponies. Be careful.”

She inclined her head in acknowledgement, saying nothing. A few seconds passed in silence, prior to the couple retreating two paces and the Sun Princess concentrating her magic within her horn. I shall, Cadence. Yet only one thing worries me more than releasing a chaos spirit purposefully…and I fear that what we are up against is far worse than that. Her horn shimmered a bright yellow as she chose her destination. With a single nod, she vanished and reappeared at the entrance of the Hall of the Elements in Canterlot.

Celestia wandered in through the large double doors, two of her Day Guard standing watch on either side. They stood at attention, their spears facing toward the skies as she made her way within the castle. A little misstep upon the red carpet inside told her that the teleport had encountered a couple of issues. It would seem that my magic is not as it once was. She exhaled, shaking off her inertia and weariness from her overexertion.

As she ventured up the steps to the second floor and down a number of hallways, the princess stopped to speak with a few guards at their posts about how their training was going or with any of her administrative staff that happened to be passing through. Eventually, the Sun Princess found herself at her sister’s quarters. She knocked twice on the door and awaited a response from within.

Yet there was nothing.

She stood a moment in silence, her multi-colored mane ebbing and flowing gradually. Hmm, peculiar, she supposed, giving her head a slight tilt. Luna is usually asleep at this time, yes, but it does not normally take more than two knocks to rouse her if needed. Another two knocks echoed in the hall. Still, there was no answer. “Luna? Sister? Are you awake?” Magic enveloped her horn, enhancing her hearing so that any noise from within the room could be heard. Please be another deep sleep experience, Celestia pleaded within her mind.

There was nothing at first, other than the faintest of breaths. Her ears then perked to a groan of pain, and her magenta eyes widened. She hesitated no longer, aura flowing to her horn before she teleported into her sister’s room. Luna lied on the floor, eyes shut and form shivering.

“Luna!” the Sun Princess cried, galloping over to her to sit her up. She cradled her neck as the Princess of the Night regained consciousness. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“Sister? What art thou doing here?” She shook her head, attempting to regain her composure, before noticing that she was seated on the carpet. “And what reason hath I for sleeping upon the floor?”

“I do not know, Luna. I found you like this only moments ago. Perhaps it will return to you if you try to recall what you did last night.”

Her sister cleared her throat and adjusted herself to be sitting on her haunches. The Lunar Princess gazed off at the veranda with a curious visage. “Last night. I recall speaking at length with Dusk Darkhelm of his goings on with thine Day Guard, sister. All seemed to be well according to the unicorn. Once he had left, I…” The princess stared at her sister as she appeared to comprehend something. “I endeavored to view Rarity and Spike once more.”

“You did?” she quizzed, feeling slightly hopeful that Luna had been successful this time. “I thought that you were unable to locate them, even while using the Dreamscape.”

“I could not abandon those two to such a fate; not after Rarity aided in freeing me from Nightmare Moon’s grasp and Spike for what thou hath spoken of his origins and life of hardship as a dragon in a pony world, or his excellent skills as an ambassador allowing us to yet call the Republic of Girania our allies.” The Protector of the Night pushed herself to her hooves slowly, sauntering over to the windows of her room to peer out at the day. “I merely took a rest prior to attempting to locate their whereabouts once again. This time, I hath more than good news for the two honored friends.”

Celestia was on her hooves as well, quickly. She closed the distance between them and stood in front of the dark alicorn. “They are alive?”

“Yes, dear sister. They art alive; although I hath not witnessed their precise location, I was widely aware that their trail of dreams hath grown far beyond the storm that festers in the heart of the Ibex lands. Whatever dwells there did not impede their progress toward their desired destination.”

The words of the princess stirred quite a few emotions within the Princess of the Day. She turned her head and shut her eyes, a couple of tears running down her face. Celestia sighed in relief. “Thank you, Luna. I had feared that they had perished; that I had sent them both to their doom. I am beyond grateful to be incorrect in that fear.”

“Thou carest deeply for the dragon. I understood the gravity of thine situation once thou felt comfortable revealing where he came from, while I was imprisoned upon the moon. Rarity also hath a strong connection with thee, as she doth with me, along with the other Bearers of the Elements.” A sharp inhale caught the white alicorn’s attention, focusing her gaze on a now stern faced princess. “However, I come bearing other, darker news also. I was able to find thine charges, yes, yet I was also attacked…from within mine own dreamworld.”

Her face fell immediately, no longer elated at the prior news. “How can that be? You have never spoken of any injury sustained while in that state; nor have I ever experienced such a thing when I was the Steward of the Night,” she said, stepping toward Luna.

“No, for until this point nothing hath ever known of such an ability, let alone been able to corrupt it to such an extent. Shortly after I discovered that Rarity and Spike hath indeed ventured farther westward, I was cast out of the Dreamscape and into the wall there.” She pointed a hoof at the eastern wall of her quarters, prior to regarding Celestia again. “I felt imprisoned, as if frozen in the very place that the storm hath dominion over. I managed to break through the field and collapsed upon the floor, before I fell unconscious, likely for the entirety of the night.”

The Princess of the Sun placed a hoof to her chin in thought. I had noticed that it was more difficult to raise the sun this morning. “If only I had had more sense to understand that something had gone awry; I could have been here sooner to aid you, sister.”

“Thou need not concern thy self with such worries, dear Celestia. I hath fully recovered from mine injuries.” As if to demonstrate her point, the Lunar Princess lightly trotted across to the north side of the room, spinning about to face her. “I shall show thee,” she spoke with a confident smile. Her horn lit up in a violet aura, which was very soon encompassed by a brighter light and beam, wrapping around the alicorn’s dark form in a shield bubble of magic. Luna held it there for a few seconds, until letting the spell fall from around her. It was replaced swiftly with a wall of magical spears, swords and shields about her, posed to strike, prior to fading as well.

Celestia managed to grin at her, seeing a strength in her little sister that she had known for centuries. “Very well; if you are fully recovered, then I have council for you this day; one that I do not take lightly. I have spoken at length with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor while residing in the Crystal Empire, and we are of the same mind on this decision. They have however brought up concerns that I know all too well, yet with what you have just told me, I feel that it is all the more necessary.”

“Thou speakest of the release of Discord, doth thou not?” the Princess of the Night inquired, strolling forward as her mane undulated slowly in the air.

“Yes. I believe that he is yet another requirement for our survival of this coming dark. I wished to hold a council with all princesses present, but with Twilight and her friends off rescuing Rarity and Spike, and Princess Cadence required in the Crystal Empire, it would pose too great an opportunity should we gather at one place.”

“All is well, Celestia. I am well aware of our predicament, so thine explanation is unneeded…though appreciated all the same.” She granted her a soft expression, but turned afterward. The Protector of Dreams made her way once more over to the side table by the right side of her bed. “I doth not trust the Villain of Disharmony. His spirit hath forever posed a great plague upon this earth. If we should free him, what guarantee do we hath that he will not simply join with this old evil and cover all of the lands in a second darkness? I know what he hath conjured in the past; what he hath wrought upon ponies of eld. Entire villages vanished, with no pony even knowing that such places had existed.”

“We do not know that to be true, dear sister, and you know it. Discord is a trickster and a distorter of reality, yet I do not believe that he would have gone so far as to wipe an entire village of ponies off of Equestria. He desires attention, to rule, and with no ponies, he has no fun.” Letting out a soft exhale, Celestia wandered across the room to be by Luna’s side. “I know that this is difficult for you. It is not an easy decision to make on my part or Princess Cadence’s part either. We will not act, however, if you have any doubts pertaining to this task’s success.”

Silently, the dark alicorn quirked her head to view her; she shuffled her wings about along her sides, seeming to mull over her sister’s idea. “I see. Tell me of thine plan and I shall confirm or deny my involvement.”

The two alicorns stood before the statue of the draconequus, speaking not. Yet Celestia knew that Luna would have a thing or two to say shortly. I realize that you have a firm distrust for the Lord of Chaos, but at least in our current predicament, he shall be a benefit to our survival. I leave the final say to you, dear sister.

There was no wind today in the hedge maze within the grounds of Canterlot castle. The air was still, though it was not overly hot outside either. It was merely a calm day, with the resident birds chirping and flying about, looking for food or mates or some area to roost. The princess’ focus shifted from taking in the quiet of the day when Luna cleared her throat.

Her sister raised her head proudly, purple eyes slightly lidded, but did not shift from her position, staring straight at the stone statue ahead of them. “I agree. However much I distrust and despise his treacherous nature, it will be better to release him and ask of his assistance.”

“I am glad, yet make no mistake, Luna. If he should betray us, we shall place him back within his stone prison and find some other way to deal with those beings.” The two nodded at one another and turned their heads to gaze at the statue’s peculiar, mismatched form. Celestia finally allowed a smirk to form across her cheeks. “Well, Luna, go on.”

“What doth thou mean, sister?” the Princess of the Night quizzed, quirking her head to the right.

Celestia wasted no time in clarifying her words. “Do you recall what must be done to free Discord from his prison? One must start an argument, and I don’t see anypony except the two of us here currently.”

Seeming to realize what her sister was doing, Luna merely closed her eyes, though her brow was slightly furrowed. “I hath no reason to argue with thee. Canst we not perform some sort of spell release instead?”

She shook her head emphatically. “Oh, no, of course not; arguing is the only way to break the seal on him. Come along, sister, anything will do. Are you still upset about the toys that we fought over when we were younger, or when I stole and ate the last blueberry and chocolate waffle right in front of you at the table?”

“Thou art pushing thine luck, Celestia,” Luna responded, trying to maintain a level stare, still facing toward Discord’s statue. The Solar Princess could see that the corners of Luna’s lips were curling upward however. Celestia quickly allowed her teasing to subside and let a laugh escape her lips. “Yes, quite humorous, dear sister. I will be certain to steal the last waffle from the breakfast table tomorrow; I thank thee for reminding me.”

“You are quite welcome, Luna. Alright, I will release the spell,” the white alicorn confirmed, taking a stance and charging up her horn. A beam of yellow, orange and white light shot from it and contacted at the base of the statue. Celestia extended her wings as she concentrated, and very soon the statue cracked from where she was focusing her aura.

A moment longer and concrete broke free and fell to the grass as the magic receded. In the statue’s place was a stretching, yawning draconequus. His back cracked a few times before he relaxed into an upright position, scratching his back with his eagle’s claw and licking his lips. “Oh, boy, you have no idea how long I have been holding in that yawn, ugh; or desiring to itch that squiggly feeling in my back. So, what an argument you two had to release little old me. I am touched, honestly.”

“Thou overheard our conversation?” Luna questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Simply because those ponies placed me back in to that stone casing did not cause my ability to hear to dwindle in the slightest. I heard everything about whatever it is that you have been trotting on about for quite fine, thank you; after all, I have excellent ears.” Discord turned his head and whistled, sounding much like the quack of a ruddy duck, a Wilson’s phalarope and a xylophone all in one.

Soon, all manner of ears came bounding out of the bushes, the hedge maze, the open windows of Canterlot castle, even some fell from the sky. They each acclimated to his presence as the Master of Chaos crossed his arms and waited as each of the little disconnected appendages started hopping up his body. Each seemed to be a different size and shape as well; one being a pony’s ear, a dragon frill, a cat’s, they all placed themselves along the draconequus’ long serpentine neck until all was settled.

“Very well, may we continue now, so that I doth not needst to look upon thee and recall each of the atrocities that thou hath wrought upon our ponies during our long war-?”

“Hold that thought, miss still-speaks-like-she-is-in-the-days-of-eld Princess Lulu.” he interrupted, holding a circular jar with an empty thought bubble hovering within it up to the Night Princess’ muzzle. “I still appear to be missing one.” He pointed to a gap in his multitude of ears, located on the bottom right side.

“Lulu?” Celestia actually had a little chuckle about that name, before she quelled her humor as Luna quirked her head to her crossly.

“Do not think to apply that humorless attempt at a nickname for thine own sister, sister. Besides, in silence I hath dealt with the numerous nicknames that thou hath given me without my consent over our two thousand years. I require not another one.”

“Oh, never mind, I know what to do,” Discord spoke, gaining their attention once more. He flicked his wrist and materialized a small white crochet handkerchief in his eagle claw. “This will only take a moment, and then I’ll be on my way.” The Debauchery of Disharmony took in a breath of air, although to Celestia it seemed that he was in actuality growing thinner as he breathed, and stuck the handkerchief to his long nose before blowing, creating a sound like the trumpeting of an elephant’s trunk.

Afterward, the spirit stood quite proud of himself before the two princesses, almost as if doing that warranted a grand show of applause. If the Princess of the Sun did not know any better, she would have thought that Discord had indeed fashioned a stadium of himselves to cheer him on within his very odd head.

“I do not see-” Luna tried once more, stepping forward.

“Ah ah ah!” the Spreader of Chaos talked over her again, waving his lion’s paw this time. “Wait for it…and I thought that those ponies of eld knew of patience. I cannot be expected to hear half as well as I should like without all of my limbs here. What if I should mishear something that you say? Why, I could end up destroying Equestria instead of saving it. I don’t suppose any of us wants that.” In answer, the Lunar Princess ground her teeth and grumbled, giving Discord a very firm glare of spite.

Before any more could be spoken, Celestia’s ears perked to something rustling in the bushes right beside her. Out popped an elephant’s ear in rapid succession, amusing the mare greatly despite having to deal with the Chaotic Lord himself. The large grey ear seemed to spot who its owner was and snapped off to attach itself to the space between its brethren.

“Ah, now that is better,” he said, finally at peace that it appeared. The princess watched as he snapped his fingers and the extra ears vanished, before he floated into the air, held aloft by his odd pair of mismatched wings. “Oh uh, and if neither of you understood, I was fooling about the ear thing. I was in stone for four years after all. Well, it has been lovely catching up with you two, but despite only being encased in stone for four short years; I can’t say that I took care of that nasty crook in my neck from being there for centuries last time. Ta ta!”

In a flash, he was gone.

Luna harrumphed and walked forward, glancing back at her sister once she was barely in front of where the draconequus once stood. “Well, that went about as well as I hath suspected it to. Now we hath another threat to Equestria’s safety on our hooves.”

“Worry not, Luna. I think that Discord will surprise us this time.”

Her younger sister sighed. “That creature hath always been a surprise, yet not for the good of our ponies. Why doth thou hath such faith in him?”

The Sun Princess moved to speak, but a bright flash of light caused her to rethink her words. Before her stood, or hovered, the Chaos Spirit of eld again, only this time he seemed to have Luna in a single claw hold. He also seemed quite pleased with himself.

“Oh, drat, I actually just remembered that I have an appointment in the Canterlot mane salon at three thirty this very day. It was almost as if I knew that you were going to free me now, fancy that. That is what I will look after my appointment too, I believe. I know that you can’t wait to see me after, Lulu.” To Celestia, it seemed very likely that one more mention of that name would cause her sister to bite the claw of the God of Chaos holding her in a hug, though whether such an act would have any effect upon the spirit was not known to her. “If they don’t mess it up like the last time about one thousand years ago.” Discord released the princess and floated back a bit, adopting a calm seated position in the air. “Anyway, it looks as though I have no time to wreak any kind of havoc, disharmony or destruction upon your little Princessdom until that time has come and gone. What is this new threat to Equestria? I am dying to meet him or her- err…they?”

Luna had made a hasty retreat to be standing with the Princess of the Sun Guard again, still appearing a bit upset to be so near the creature; the two exchanged glances momentarily, prior to Celestia inclining her head. I know what it is that you ask, dear sister. Do we really trust him to see what we have seen and still help us? Whether or not that he is good as of yet is of no consequence for now. He wishes to rule this world and all of its creatures while it is whole and put together. And if what you have told me holds true, those beings wish its total destruction. Saving this world is in his best interests as well.

Hesitating only briefly, the Princess of the Night adopted a stoic visage and dipped her head, before turning to face Discord. “Come forth, Spirit of Chaos. I hath a vision that thou must view to truly understand our plight…and when I say our, I mean thine also, creature.”

“Ho hum, yeah, yeah. I could likely fix this in a flash if I wanted to,” he replied with a toss of his claw and paw. He almost looked confused for a second, while he stared at his missing limbs, yet two new ones popped into place quickly, and he took a few steps toward the princess.

“Now disharmony incarnate, hold still,” Luna commanded, lighting up her horn and touching its tip to the chest of the draconequus.

Celestia watched on as his eyes began to glow and Luna’s starry mane and tail started to cascade in different directions with the breeze that appeared to pick up under her spell. It all lasted for moments, and when the Luna Princess wandered to her side once more, she picked up on a sudden change in Discord’s demeanor.

“Discord, are you alright?” she questioned, taking a concerned step forward and raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, I think I am going to faint.” He fell back in a heap, his serpentine upper half falling over his lower half. Celestia strolled forward and stared down at the ancient being, seeing that Discord had already sat up slightly and placed a claw to his goatee. “Hmm, a tad dramatic for me, actually; I suppose that Rarity really did influence me to some extent. But nevertheless, what you have shown me is troubling.” He sagged back in his seat, falling backwards onto the grass and seeping into it as he turned to liquid.

The Princess of the Sun felt a weight on her side and regarded the Debauchery of Disharmony with calmness in her mind, while he leaned against her. “This time, I really am all ears to this little plan of yours, Celestia. And as an added bonus, I will not turn you into a fish like my inner audience wants me to.”

She raised a questioning eyebrow. “Yes…thank you, Discord. I must say that I appreciate not being turned into a fish.”

The draconequus inclined his head a few times and took two steps away from the alicorn, with a clever grin covering his features. “Oh yes, and you would look so amusing as a fish too. Still, it is something to think about after we deal with whatever ancient evil your lovely sister showed to me. Is there going to be another zap of the elements then? A little taste of the rainbow, perhaps?”

“Unfortunately, we do not believe that such a strategy would be proficient in this task,” answered Luna. “Such a strategy hath only ever been performed upon a single target…and we hath reason to believe that there are more than one of these ancient beings, judging by the scrolls and tomes written of them in the Crystal Empire library.”

“Yes. We cannot rely only on the elements this time,” the Princess of the Day clarified with a shake of her head. “We fear that these creatures could likely appear in any number of locations all across the world, not only in Equestria.”

“So, you came to me because I am the Master of Chaos, can teleport anywhere I wish at any given moment and I am all around the best one for the job, hm?” he asked, hopping up once more to float, while leaning in toward the two sisters.

“Actually, no,” Luna deadpanned, without a single moment’s hesitation. “My sister seems to think that thou may be of help; I simply think that thou shalt be annoying.”

“Oh, you wound me, Princess Luna, really. I am feeling it right here,” he whimpered, pointing to the wrist of his lion’s paw. “That spot has always been a bit stiff, after all. Well, regardless of whether you two believe that is of no consequence to me either. I am being as clear as a being of chaos can be when I say that I am on your side for this one thing. If these things destroy this world then what am I going to rule over until the end of time, hm? Space? Ugh, it is such a dismal place; almost like you were the last time that I saw you, Celestia. Hopefully you have learned to be more fun in these four years. I know that I will find little entertainment value off of your sister.”

“None,” she corrected, still with a level stare.

Discord raised a claw in the direction of the dark mare. “My point exactly; anyway, as I was saying, space; such a drab affair it is. No air to speak of or gravity. No variance, everything is always the same there. I suppose that you wish to add that each planet and solar system and wormhole is enormously different, yet I have already experienced most unique things there. Mortals can’t live there, so I have no ponies to corrupt, and if I did bring one out there, they would only last for a few short seconds. I did eventually count after turning myself mortal once; oh it was such a trial, trying to breathe. You would not believe how quickly I snapped my fingers in order to restore my immortal self. Have you ever asked the ponies what it is like being mortal? I have always wanted to know, but ruling over them and causing chaos wherever I go always took precedence.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow in slight disbelief. “Discord, I believe that you are going a bit off topic here.” And I hope that you have never actually taken one of my ponies out into space.

“Oh, yes, of course. I digress. Where was I? Oh, right, I don’t care if you don’t trust me, can’t rule a world without a world to rule and my inner audience is going absolutely wild at the moment. Perhaps it was the ear thing. So, as to speak in the tongues of eld for a brief time, pray tell me what hath thou planned to restore this world to its rightful glory?”

Celestia and her sister exchanged glances once more quietly.

Moments later, Celestia and Luna sat at their thrones within the castle, Discord sitting in a floating chair of his own. He crossed his goat leg over his lizard one and rested his lion’s paw and reptile claw over his knee. It was still early in the day, although the princess was waiting patiently for Luna’s guard to arrive through the double doors of her hall. She sat eloquently, one hoof in front of the other while she wore her shimmering golden regalia, possessed of a pristine wisdom of the last age; however, Celestia also knew of impatience.

She had experiences with such things herself from time to time, though she never allowed it to show through her elegant and collected pose. Watching from her seat now, she could tell that the Chaos lord was wishing rather harshly to manipulate this room until nothing within it resembled any normal object and then likely turn all of those things upside down. He clearly did not possess the same level of restraint. The Solar Princess smiled. That is only supposition, of course, she hummed to herself. “Discord, is something the matter?”

He jerked his head toward her momentarily, prior to glancing the opposite way, in the direction of the gargantuan closed doors. The action and view of the back of the draconequus’ head, while he yet sat with the remainder of his body still facing toward her, made her a touch uncomfortable. “It is this place, Celestia. It is still so boring.” He lifted his hands from his knees and twisted his head forward again, although in doing so, he completed an entire circle atop his neck. “All of these glass portraits of ponies saving the day, standing up on their hind legs. Where are the draconequus’? You know they can always stand on their hind legs. Draconequui? Draconequus’s?” He shrugged.

“These stained glass windows show what brave things the ponies of the past hath done out of the love and admiration that they hath for Equestria and their fellow citizens,” Luna growled, at once standing from her throne to stand at the top of the golden staircase. “Why wouldst thou believe that either Celestia or I would possibly create any paintings of thine species? What hath thou accomplished for the betterment of this Princessdom?”

The chair instantly vanished, yet the Master of Disharmony did not shift in his pose, except to lean forward and raise his arms. “Why, I created fun! Oh, I know that you have not heard of the word, Luna, but I know that Tia knows what I mean.”

“Tia?” Celestia repeated, magenta eyes growing wide as she glanced at her sister. Luna looked to her with an unimpressed visage, lidding her gaze and returning her focus to the mismatched creature. “How do you know that name, Discord?”

“Oh, I heard about it all of the time when Luna spoke with you. Come along, we’re talking about me.” He pressed a claw to his chest and quickly shot his eyes to his right and rapidly, he looked glad. “Speaking of whom, there is a draconequus.” This time, he did step down from his floating, making a show of acting like the chair had yet to disappear, the princess assumed with a subtle smirk. She watched as he stepped up to the painting of himself being vanquished by the Elements of Harmony. “Who is this handsome devil anyway; surrounded by six beautiful, charming mares. He needs to be in more paintings. Do I know him?”

“He is thou, whelp,” Luna retorted without missing a beat.

With a shake of her head, the Princess of the Day stood from her place and sauntered over to her side. “Now, Luna, I think that that is quite enough. Discord has already agreed to aid us in our plight. There is no reason to belittle him at every turn.”

The creature of chaos snaked his way up the Dark Princess’ side, earning her attention and the focus of Celestia when she had only seen him standing patiently near the stained glass moments prior. “Yes, Lulu, I was only trying to light up the situation a little bit. It is all so dreary here with the war being thought of. Without Pinkie Pie, who is to spread cheer but me, hm?”

She saw Luna’s eye twitch briefly and surrounded her in her aura to prevent her from leaping on the draconequus and ripping him to shreds. The hold only did so much though and her sister did manage to take a few paces toward him, although he quickly hopped away toward Luna’s throne. “Sister! Do not let him into your mind. He might be helping us now, but he has always been a mischievous spirit and cannot be expected to not wish to provide some disharmony among ponies. Even with that said, you will need to behave yourself if you wish to remain in this hall, Discord.”

He shrinks at her stern glare, a few inches in fact, his mouth gaining a surprised countenance. The serpent vanished in a flash of magic and reappeared on the steps toward the thrones, one mismatched foot in front of the other. Celestia glanced over in time to view him bowing in her direction. “But of course, my lady- err…princess. I humbly serve to please Her Highness; as long as I can have a strip of land that I may alter in whatever way that I see fit.” He spoke the last sentence at a blinding speed, yet she heard it clearly all the same.

“No,” the Solar Princess answered concisely, not shifting in her position ahead of him. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Luna wandered toward her throne, prior to turning her head to see the draconequus straighten up. Well, at least as straight as his serpentine body can allow anyway.

“Ah well, can’t blame a god for trying. But I never could say no to you, Tia,” he spoke sweetly, lightly touching his paw to her muzzle.

She grimaced and surrounded the digit of his paw in her aura, gently pushing his arm and the rest of his form away to her left. “Unless what I say is to ask that you stop causing destruction and heartbreak.” Celestia descended the steps and began meandering toward the double doors.

“Well, you can’t expect me to grant the impossible, Celestia. You do know what fun is, right?”

“Yes, I do,” she remarked, continuing on without glancing over her shoulder, swishing her multi-colored tail about. “Yet there is such a thing as too much fun, Discord, and I am afraid that you do not comprehend the line between the two.”

The doors began to open in that moment, causing the princess to cease in her stride and stare on in silence. As they drew open, she noticed that the Spirit of Debauchery had once again appeared at her left side, yet he too was taken aback by the doors and simply floated there.

“Ah, Dusk Darkhelm,” Celestia announced with an astute air, while her mane undulated gradually, “it is good to see you again. How goes the training?”

The dark unicorn bowed low, showing the back of his helm to the princess. “Your Highness,” he spoke calmly, rising to his full height once more shortly after. “Your Day Guard is progressing efficiently. I am rather impressed with their dedication thus far.”

“I am glad to hear it, ser. Now, please, join us in the hall.” She took a step to the right and turned to be facing Discord, gesturing for the stallion to begin walking with her. He obeyed, yet he first exchanged a gaze with the Master of Chaos.

“Your will, princess; however, what is the Spirit of Disharmony doing here?” he questioned.

“Not a spirit, thank you, though I may need one if this day continues to be as dull as it has been so far.” He conjured a tall glass and looked it over fleetingly, before he snapped it away.

Paying no heed to the whining draconequus, Celestia locked eyes with the Captain of the Lunar Guard. “We shall explain all to you in detail, Ser Dusk, yet for now we shall say that Discord is on…stone prison probation.”

“Oh, ha ha, Celestia; and I thought that you did not have a sense of humor,” he spoke with a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes as the three came to a halt at the foot of the stairs.

Princess Luna was standing at the top step, eyes cast down at her guard. “I would advise that thou taketh a few paces from that chaos spirit, Ser Dusk.”

“Your Grace?” he quizzed, with a raise of his brow.

“Given that thou art not as powerful as my sister or I,” the alicorn elaborated with a stern countenance, while she sauntered down the steps, “one should take precautions with an unreformed creature. Discord doth enjoy tormenting ponies; mostly those who would have no chance should he employ his full ability.” Luna glanced his way for a second, before resuming her attention on the unicorn. “I doth not mean to deride thine abilities, even so you are not an alicorn.”

Dusk exchanged silent stares with her for a moment, yet inclined his head. “Very well.”

Sister, the Princess of the Sun pondered with concern, watching as the guard took position upon the princess’ right. His dark eyes wandered toward Discord a second time, this time in confusion and wariness. He is correct in being cautious with a being of his nature. He is after all, not reformed. Even so, I fear what this distrust is doing to my sister.

“I believe that I am sensing a bit of hostility.” The serpentine creature crossed his arms and fluttered his wings.

Stating the obvious now, are we? she thought for a mere moment. “I realize that tempers are rising,” she interrupted the silence and garnered the attention of the collected group. “Some of us are unaccustomed to working together; however, time is short and our need for a plan is great. Discord is here to aid us in the nearing conflict,” Celestia informed, addressing the helmed stallion. “He is of the same mind as us; whether he wishes to create havoc upon this land, he yet does not have a desire to witness this world disappear altogether.”

Ser Dusk tilted his head, stepping forth. “What do you mean, Princess Celestia?”

She in turn locked gazes with her younger sister, who nodded her head in response. “I shall show thee the latest vision that I hath seen of the future turmoil that couldst plague our civilization and all others, should we fail.”

While the three stood before the throne, her sister and her Lunar guard sharing a vision of what could be, joining horns together, the white alicorn wandered fleetingly. Celestia halted ahead of the first stained glass window painted in honor of her student and her five friends, yet unbelievably thankful that they had been able to free Luna from her hating prison of Nightmare Moon.

The vision of having to be the pony to place her within the moon still haunted her some nights. Yes, although it seems as though she yet has some hateful feelings within her, Celestia brooded forlornly. Hopefully it does not lead to my sister committing a mistake which blame cannot be placed on the possession of some nightmare force. She took her sight from the Night Queen, eyes downcast at the tiled floor, prior to viewing the painting of the lavender unicorn turned alicorn. Hopefully Twilight, when you locate Spike, you will be able to contact us from your position.

We will need you before the end.

Author's Notes:

Hello everyone once again,

This is another chapter uploaded. It could have been finished sooner, yet I was distracted with other works of this sort and my own book as well. Still, I truly enjoyed writing this one. I did not know how it would turn out initially, whether I would be able to create a chapter of this sort that is this long; however, I believe that you will have had a few laughs and a few theories after this chapter is read.

Unfortunately, I know not when the next chapter will be made available, I have had some recent problems that also likely led to the delay of this part. It was only three pages from being complete even so, so I persevered and it reads quite well to me.

Hopefully, you enjoyed the addition and some found it to be a surprise.