That night, once I noticed it was almost 8pm, I began heading out of the palace, on course for Ebony's little get-together at The Shadey.

As I opened my room's door, I was met with Celestia, about to knock. She looked rather shocked, but shook herself.

"You know," She said, putting her extended hoof back to the floor. "Your timing is unreal sometimes." This was one of those times where I could tell she was hiding her feelings, I just didn't know what that feeling was.

I shrugged as I walked past her, she began walking by my side. Seems she's going too. "Just lucky I guess."

She smirked. "Yes, you are. Are you heading to Ebony's gathering too?"

"Yeah. Looking forward to having that guy back again." I said, nodding happily.

"Queen Vicissit is very happy with you, you know." She turned to me as we walked. "If you hadn't 'taken Ebony in' she wouldn't have ever managed to get here."

I snorted. "Yeah, and if I hadn't 'taken him in' I doubt he'd be alive right now, considering your reaction." I gave her a slightly sour look.

She sighed. "Dan, I was biased. Blind. If I knew what I know now back then; things would have been different." She slumped slightly at the topic of our conversation.

I put an arm over her neck. "You pulled through in the end. That's all that matters." She gave me a sad slime. "Even if I did have to drag you through." I added, jokingly. She rolled her eyes and pushed me away slightly, I removed my arm. She didn't stop smiling, so it was more of a playful gesture.

We continued walking in silence. Not an awkward silence, but a mutual agreement of 'I don't have anything interesting to say, stay quiet so I don't have to bore you with my words'. We walked through the halls, but Celestia had taken a different route to the one I used to leave/enter the palace, she knew the place better than I did, so this was probably a just a short-cut. As we passed a couple large stained windows that were slightly open, I took the opportunity to take a look at the weather; a couple clouds here and there, but not that bad. I looked to the ground for a second and noticed someone sitting outside I had to talk to.

I turned to Celestia. "Hey, I don't want to be late to Ebony's thing, but-"

She stopped walking and raised a hoof. "I will tell them that you'll be a little longer." She looked out of the window for a second, her eyes narrowed scanning the area suspiciously. "Go do what you need to do." She said, sounding rather forced, before she turned around and left me there. Erm... okay, she's acting weird.

I looked out of the window again, it was at least two stories up. At the bottom of the wall was a small garden, part of the larger garden that worked it's way around the entirety of the palace. It contained a half-occupied two-person bench and a small pool of water. Very peaceful.

I needed to find a way down there. I looked back into the halls around me. No guards, great. I walked along the row of windows, keeping an eye on where the garden was, while also looking for anyone that could give directions. Eventually, towards the end of the windows, I saw a guard turn a corner in front of me. I quickly flagged him down.

"Hey, guard guy. How'd I get to that garden down there?" I said, pointing to the windows.

He peeked out one of them and recoiled slightly. "Your... sure? Sir?"

I crossed my arms. "Yes. Make it quick, I have somewhere I need to be."

He nodded to me sharply. "Follow me Sir."

He led me into what seemed to be a utility stair-case of some kind. It was clear that only employees such as guards and those servant-like guys were supposed to use them as the walls were all unpainted and lacked the smooth finish the rest of them did. We went down a couple, very tight, flights of stairs before leaving though a door that seemed to blend into the wall on the other side. We surprised a couple guards with our sudden entrance, but they let us pass without a word.

He stopped just short of a set of double doors. "These lead to the garden you wanted, Sir." He said, pointing to the doors.

"Thanks, go do... whatever you do." I said, waving a hand to the distance.

He nodded and left.

Leaving me in front of two dark-wood doors, each with a large square of stained glass featuring diamond-shapes in a variety of colors. They looked very warm and welcoming. I turned the left door's knob and opened it. It lead into the garden I wanted alright. A thin, cobbled path lead to the small, brick-rimmed pond. Four benches circled the pond, all equally spaced. The light from the sun barely reached the area as the tall palace walls surrounding most of the garden's edges blocked it from view, despite this, the plants were very well maintained.

I took a step in and closed the door behind me. I walked as quietly as I could while maintaining a causal stance and pace, then sat on a bench, one that was near the one that was already half-taken up. I wanted a conversation, not an awkward encounter. Plus, it probably helped to keep my distance.

The draconequus sat in the bench just 'round the pond from me looked up from the still water and gazed at me as I sat. He had a rather solemn look about him.

I met his look with my own. "Just wanted to come by and say thanks... for catching me a while ago." I said, shrugging slightly.

His face lit up slightly, then eccentrically waved a paw. "Pshhh, I only did that to see that chase play out. And boy was it worth it! Thing's that interesting to watch don't happen very often now-a-days."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Well, thanks anyway. I owe you my life, basically."

His eyes narrowed and a smile spread across his face. "Oh? And what if I wanted to cash-in on that little dept?" His voice slipping into a tone I was not comfortable with.

I blinked. "I would ask you what you wanted, hear you out, think about it for a couple days, then most definitely say no."

He slumped dramatically, letting out a large sigh. "And here I was, thinking you were going to be fun."

I shrugged, smirking slightly. "Sorry man, if you had came to me and asked me for something when I first got here, I would have jumped at the opportunity, but now... now I have a reputation to uphold. You know how that is."

He chuckled slightly. "You know I know. I know you know I know, because I know everything that you know." He shrugged. "Figuratively speaking."

"So... what you're saying is... you know this place is a..." I hesitated on the last word, in case he didn't know.

"Yep." He responded. "Always have, always will. It's a shame you had to spill the beans to Celly a couple months back. I was having such fun teasing her with it!"

I snorted. "Can't blame you there. Messing with the ponies is quite fun sometimes." He nodded in approval. "What do you do now? Like, now that your all..." I gestured to the palace walls around us. I really didn't want to say 'reformed' or something.

He rolled his eyes. "It's horrible! They tend to all of my wants and needs, except for the really important ones! Like, just yesterday I asked for them to re-locate that mountain!" He said, pointing to one of the many mountains in the distance. "But they said; 'noooo, it's the forth time this week, why do you need to move it again anyway?' Ugh, they can bring me useless things like chairs and food and inflatable duck-shaped floats but they don't do anything if it includes even a little effort!"

I shrugged. "That's ponies for ya'." I said, not exactly sure what to say. "Speaking of which, I really have somewhere I need to be." I continued as I stood from the bench.

He gave me a smirk as he held up a clock that simply materialized in his hand. "Oh really? I think you have at least another half an hour until Ebony's little meeting."

I blinked and looked at the clock. 7:30. I looked to him. "I have multiple questions." He rolled his eyes and slumped slightly. "But I know it's better to just not ask, I'll be on my way." I said as I made my way back to the doors.

"Say hi to The White One for me!" He called as I closed the door behind me.

Seriously, how'd me know about Ebony? Or when I was leaving? Ah well, this is Discord we're talking about, chances are he can hear me thinking this, and can probably also see me writing this in my journal later.

I walked up to the first clock I saw. 7:31. Oh my god, he really...

I shook myself, knowing that thinking was not what I needed to do right then. Right then was one of the many times that it was better to just accept that it happened, not ask why, or how.

I quickly began making my way to the Shadey, not wanting to bump into Celestia or... past-me... if there was one. I don't know how this kind of time travel works, so it's better to play it safe.

I walked swiftly through the halls, finding the quickest possible route to the exit. In my rush, I did exactly what I didn't want to happen. As I tightly turned a corner, I walked straight into Celestia. Stumbling slightly, I quickly backed away from her.

"Dan?" She asked, concerned. "Is everything okay? What's wrong?"

I sighed, seeing no other way out of this. "Go to my door. My room's door. And lift your hoof like you're about to knock. I will eventually come out of my room. Begin leading me though the palace, but take me past the garden that Discord is sitting in, the one with the pond. I will ask to leave, when I do, cut me off and tell me to go do what I need to do or something. Ask questions tomorrow. Do NOT ask me while I'm walking with you, okay? Just do it."

She stared at me. "Surely I would see you go back into your room..."

I buried my face in my hands and groaned. "Just go do it!"

She narrowed her eyes at me, but still looked slightly worried for my mental health. "Fine. But I will want answers."

"Tomorrow." I said. "I need to go. Remember, don't leave the outside of my room before I come out." I pointed at her as I walked past and out of the palace. She gave me a strange look, before walking off.

Well, that explains why she was acting weirdly earlier. Goddamn it Discord.

I quickly made my way to the Shadey. I don't know why I was rushing, I had no reason to get their any earlier. I guess the whole situation was just stressing me out a bit, it's not every day you have to tell someone to direct a past-you in the right direction. God knows what happens if I screw up the timeline.

I pressed my hand against the bar's door and took a deep breath. Trying to calm myself. I pushed inside and the door swung shut behind me. As my eyes adjusted to the dim interior I was met with a chorus of gravely cheers. Confused, I walked up to the first member of staff I could find:

A waitress who had just finished asking an older couple if they were having a good time.

I stopped her from politely walking past me by raising one of my hands and stepping in front of her. "So sorry, but erm... do you have any reserved tables?"

She smiled and pointed to a large table near one of the more secluded corners of the bar. "That one is reserved under the name 'Ebony Towers'. You know him?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it seems I'm a little early. A bunch of us are meeting here." She beamed at the prospect of more business. "Thanks." I began to walk to the table, but stopped myself. "Oh, and do you know why these guys all yelled when I walked in?"

She laughed and shook her head. "They like you. Well, perhaps not 'like'. But either way, your... unique appearance has made you... somewhat of a mascot for the ponies who common this place. Same with Luna and that changeling ponies see you with."

"That changeling is Ebony."

She grinned. "Well, I'll get the kitchens on high-alert. That bug knows how to drink."

I was kind of annoyed at the whole 'bug' thing, but she didn't seem to mean it in an intentionally offensive way. It's probably just what they call him here, considering she didn't know what his name was.

"He sure does. Thanks." I said as I walked past her. She smiled to me and continued of her way through the tables, asking ponies if they needed anything.

It's nice to see that kind of thing. Ponies were so demoted to their jobs, not because they wanted the pay, but because they loved doing it. You could see it in their eyes sometimes. The proud looks on the guards faces. The way she smiled after helping me out. Really warms my heart, those little moments.

I sat at the table with my back to the wall. I didn't like having a blind spot when it came to sitting in a public place. This was not completely because of the 'Forge incident', I had started sitting like that years ago. I don't know what started it, but I was a very paranoid thirteen year-old back in the day. I can't help but laugh at some of the things that being paranoid back then caused me to do, I was about fifteen before I realized I was just being stupid, but some of the habits continued.

I acknowledged a couple of the tipsy grins I was getting from some of the bar's inhabitants with a nod and a slight hand-raise. A pony came by every so often, asking if I wanted anything, but I turned them all away. I didn't want to start drinking without the rest of them. I want to remember at least SOME of tonight. Plus, it would be rude.

After about 15 minutes of waiting, a large group of familiar faces walked into the bar, beamed at me and advanced towards the table. In the group was Ebony, Chrome, Dawn, Steve and Luna. They all sat around the table, Ebony next to me, Luna and Chrome across from us and Steve/Dawn on the side to the left of me.

I looked through the group of ponies. "So... where's Feather? Or Celestia?"

They all looked to Chrome and Luna. Who both shrugged. "Feather is away for the holiday season. She's still with her family in Baltimare." Chrome said.

Luna continued. "Celestia said she was going to get you when I last saw her. Have you seen her?"

I blinked. Time for some acting. "I er... I've been here for like an hour, she probably missed me." They all gave me strange looks, ranging from 'meh okay' to 'I'm super suspicious but I'm not going to say anything'.

We all made slightly awkward conversation for couple minutes, waiting for someone to take our orders. But before that happened, a white alicorn unceremoniously bumbled her way into the bars front door. She gave me a slightly scared look before smiling at everyone and sitting on the unused side of the table. That took us to a total of 7 members present to this little reunion.

"You get here okay?" I asked as she shuffled into her chair.

She gave me a look. "We'll talk about 'you know what' later. But for now," She said, looking to everyone else at the table. "I suggest ordering some drinks, they're on me."

The ponies around the table all gave a small cheer and as if on cue, a waitress walked up.

"What can I get for all of you tonight?" She asked, levitating a small set of pen and paper, ready to take down our orders.

We all looked at each other and silently agreed that Ebony should begin. The waitress saw this and looked over to Ebony. Ebony barely even raised his eyebrows and the waitress took something down on the pad. "Heh, the usual." She mumbled before she looked to me.

I thought for a second. "Eeehhh... Apple cider." I said shrugging. The orders continued being taken, going around the table, continuing in the same direction.

"Your best white wine." Celestia said.

Chrome shrugged. "Pint a' stout."

"Your best red wine." Luna said, giving Celestia a playful glare.

"You got any griffin-made vodka?" Steve said. She nodded. "I'll have your strongest." Seems griffins are this world's equivalent to Russians.

Dawn hummed. "Whiskey. Surprise me, but nothing too strong."

The waitress nodded and silently went off to get them, presumably.

Slowly but surely, especially after the drinks arrived, the night approached and then gradually faded into blurred images and distant memories. Though, from what I could tell at the time, we were all having a blast.

But some things are easily misinterpreted by the mind of a drunk man.

Updated: 12/11/15
-Fixed grammar
-Fixed anything else I spotted

Okay, I made a diagram of the time-loop. It makes sense, I think. I mean, as much sense as time-travel can actually make, since its such a hard concept to grasp. But I think this one is pretty solid.

Also, Discord finally had a proper conversation! I apologize for my rather lack-luster Discord, I'm not about to write that guy in the way he acts in the show, I mean... how far is too far? You know? Cus I don't. My justification is that he only does those things to mess with the ponies. (Shrug)

Welp, it's 2am again. I will finish this chapter off and publish it in the morning. Hopefully I get a proper night's sleep tonight. Yesterday my college sent me an email at 11am saying that my assignment had failed to send, and that I had a limited amount of time to fix that. Not the best way to wake up. Don't worry, I fixed it. I think. Let's hope I did, or I will be 'in for it' next week.

Nevermind, it's barely 'in the morning' anymore. Stupid vid-ya games. Distanctin' me.