I walked through the halls of the castle, going over the daily schedule in my head. It was an interesting day to say the least. Star Swirl was coming to Canterlot.

I hadn't had the chance to meet him officially during the whole Pony of Shadows debacle. Rarity said he was a bit stubborn, but brilliant.

Celestia and Luna had always looked up to him as a sort of father figure. I found myself on edge thinking of meeting a pony that had been such a big part of their lives. It was intimidating to say the least.

"He's just a pony. A pony.....who was the forefather of a majority of modern magic."

I pulled out my anxiety medication and swallowed a pill.

"No need to panic."

"Or perhaps there's every reason to panic."

I came to a halt in the hall.

"Today of all days Discord?"

The draconequus slithered from under the carpeting, a mischievous grin on his face.

"We have a standing feud, do we not?"

"A prank war."

"And we agreed anytime, anywhere."

"Except my meetings."

"You agreed to one meeting, as long as it was a boring one. Nopony in this kingdom is more boring than Star Swirl. Well...you might give him a run for his bits."

I scowled and stepped around him.

"Can't this wait for later?"

He flew ahead and snickered.

"Not on your life."

He snapped his claws and-

I looked around. Nothing... My anxiety began growing fast. I threw back another pill and took a deep breath.

"What did you do?"

Discord's grin hadn't diminished in the least.

"Have a nice visit with the old fossil."

Another snap and he was gone.

I took another breath and slowly made my way through the castle halls, peeking around every corner and checking every doorway, window, and nook.

Nothing.

I growled in frustration.

"What did you do you damn billy-goat?"

I turned another corner and arrived at the door to the throne room. The guards opened the doors and stood to the side. As I got closer, I noticed their eyes were watching me. What was with them?

I moved into the throne room and the doors closed behind me. For a second, I thought I'd heard something like muffled laughter.

Was there something behind me? I whipped around. Nothing.

Unless I was the only one who couldn't see it?

"Great."

The doors opened again to reveal a tall, grey pony in a robe and hat. I felt a small panic attack forming. He was early! Celestia and Luna hadn't arrived yet.

Star Swirl walked into the room.

"Good morning. Would I be right in guessing you're the Right Hoof?"

I nodded and held out a hoof.

"You can call me Shade."

He shook my hoof and smiled.

"Star Swirl. But I'm sure you knew that already."

"I did. And you're early. Celestia and Luna won't be here for at least another twenty minutes."

He huffed and stuck his nose in the air.

"I'm never early. Or late. I came when I meant to."

He lowered his nose and smiled again.

"I wanted to meet the stallion who's been doing my job."

I chuckled.

"I doubt I'm doing half as well as you did."

"How long have you been with them?"

"About three years now."

"And how many times have you wanted to lock them in their towers due to their...maturity?"

"At least once a week."

He chuckled.

"It sounds like you're already doing better than me. It was near daily for me. Then again, I dealt with them when they were still children. Those younger years definitely added a fair amount of grey to my beard."

"I'm glad my hair is naturally grey. I'll never notice."

"Is it? Then you'll definitely notice through that dye you have in your mane."

"Dye?!"

I tried to look up at my mane, rather unsuccessfully.

"What did he do? What color is it?"

Star Swirl seemed confused.

"Um...purple?"

I growled at the air.

"Damn you Discord!"

Star Swirl smiled as he connected the pieces.

"Ah. A visit from the draconequus, eh?"

I sighed and sat down.

"A stupid wager I made with him. We're...trying to outprank each other."

"A rather silly wager to make with the Lord of Chaos. You've set yourself up to lose."

"Oh, I'll get him back. I don't know how yet, but I will."

"A pity about your mane color though. I thought it complimented your natural coloring well."

"Most everything goes with me since I have such a dark coat."

Star Swirl broke eye contact.

"Um..."

I froze.

"No. Don't say it."

"I do apologize. But-"

The doors opened to reveal Celestia and Luna. Celestia was beaming.

"We heard you were here already! Why didn't-"

She stopped in her tracks. She was trying not to laugh. Luna peeked around her. Her eyes found me and they grew as big as saucers.

And then they both started laughing uncontrollably, falling to the floor.

I felt a shiver roll down my spine, fear setting in as to what Discord had done.

Star Swirl summoned a mirror, setting it in front of me.

I was bright yellow with a purple mane. I felt my blood boil.

"DISCORD!!!"

---------------------------

The spell had faded after an hour, but I remained in my room the rest of the day. Celestia and Luna had both apologized profusely.

I was the one that needed to apologize. My new look was the first of many pranks to come.

Most stressful month of my life.

I could never figure out what to do to get back at Discord. He was in and out before I could even react to the pranks he pulled. I'll grant him that he never bothered me in my meetings like we agreed, but that didn't stop him from messing with me right before or after.

There were days that Celestia and Luna fell victim too if they were in the vicinity. And did they shake it off and leave it alone?

Of course not. They joined the war. Discord was more than happy to add participants, especially the Princesses.

I learned quickly that Discord wasn't the one to fear...

Celestia was a cunning strategist. And Luna was a master of stealth. They were the perfect team for pulling pranks.

The final week of the war was what I liked to call the End of Days. I kept a record of the pranks pulled on me, for history. Ponies needed to know how sadistic these mares could be. Where to begin...

- Trapped in a bubble all day,
- Rained on indoors.
- A swollen tongue just in time for meetings.
- Sank into the floor like it was water.
- Body made weightless outside.
- Intimate dreams of Rarity interrupted by circus clowns. (Thank you Luna)
- Things popping out of books that shouldn't have been in there.
- A grand total of seventeen pies to the face.

It was on the last day of the war that I finally got all three of them.

I'd been walking in the hall when I heard snickering around the corner. What made it worse was I could tell it was all three of them. They'd joined forces!

What happened next was completely by accident. Whether anypony believes that or not is up to them.

All three of them sprang into action. Celestia and Luna went high while Discord went low.

I dissolved.

My body faded into a shadow-state and all three of them passed through me. The feeling made my stomach turn.

My body began reforming and I turned to my attackers.

All three of them were trying to wipe a black substance from their bodies. Discord was visibly distraught.

"Of all the lousy tricks! Do you know how hard it is to wash dark magic off?!"

I looked at Celestia and Luna. Their manes were stuck together by a small piece of shadow. Celestia scowled at me.

"I just washed my mane!"

Luna jumped in.

"I just had mine trimmed!"

I couldn't help but look between the three of them, struggling for freedom from the excess dark magic, and smile.

"I think we can all agree this war is over."

---------------------------

A week or so after that fiasco, I was getting ready to head to Ponyville for a short break.

I went to say goodbye to Celestia, heading for her study. I was surprised to find Luna standing outside the study.

"What are you-"

She threw a hoof over my mouth and pulled me into a headlock.

"Shh. Celestia is rehearsing."

I wrestled my mouth free and whispered.

"Rehearsing?"

Luna nodded.

"Twilight asked her to be a part of the school play."

"What part?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Herself."

Oh boy.

I leaned forward. The door was open a crack, so we could hear Celestia perfectly.

"It's time for a new day in Equestria...It's time for a new day in Equestria...It's time for a new day in Equestria! Perfect!"

I looked at Luna and she nodded.

"Yeah. I plan on being in the front row."

"She's just...practicing right? She's better than that."

Luna shook her head.

"She loves the theater but can't act worth shit."

"What do we do>"

She shrugged.

"It's not our problem. I'm sure Twilight will break the news to her."

"And if she doesn't?"

Luna was grinning.

"Should I buy two tickets?"

"You can't be-"

"Therefore! Shall we make a new county of harmony? County? Oh, country! Country. That makes sense."

I flashed Luna grin.

"You get the tickets, I'll buy the concessions."

Luna chuckled.

"A far better ending to the prank war than your dirty trick."

I arched my brow.

"A prank on who?"

"Twilight I suppose?"

We couldn't help but giggle as we continued listening to Celestia. This was going to be an interesting play for sure.

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