"Absolutely not Luna!” Celestia bellowed. She was pacing up and down the length of the throne room as the sun began to set, breathing heavily, “I don’t know where or why you got such a ridiculous suggestion, but I’m putting my hoof down and saying ‘No’!”
“But why, sister?” asked Luna, “It would make an interesting spectacle.”
“So would having Discord whip me through the streets of Las Pegasus, but I’m still not allowing it!”
“Now, now Celestia, let’s not go that far.” said a slow, snide voice that seems to resonate throughout the entire room. They looked up at one of the tapestries that hung over the throne, just in time to see it shift and morph into the face of an old ‘acquaintance’, with the hangings turning into an antler and a misshapen goat horn, “After all, I think Manehatten would be far enough.”
“Discord.” Celestia groaned, as the face disappeared from the tapestry and the draconequus himself suddenly materialised in the centre of the room, “Now is really not the time for…”
“Discord, try to speak some sense to my sister!” said Luna, looking up into Discord’s yellow eyes, “She is refusing me to set up an event which I believe could be quite beneficial to Equestria.”
“Oh, really?” said Discord, twiddling his fingers as he looked over at Celestia with a look of mischief on his eyes, “And what, pray tell, is this idea my dear Princess Luna?”
“It is none of your business, Discord.” said Celestia, with an icy stare at her younger sister, “This conversation is between me and Luna.”
“Not my business?!” cried Discord, dramatically clutching at his heart and doubling over, as if in pain, “Oh, your words hurt me, Celestia! They get me, right here! How can you say such a thing, to somepony who has known you for many years, to somepony who is a close friend, and even dare I say, unofficial advisor to your student Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, the embodiment of the Element of Magic, somepony who has seen the error of his ways, and only wishes to do good in this world of ours…”
“Alright, we understand.” said Celestia loudly, bringing an end to Discord’s long-winded speech. She gave a deep sigh and began to explain, “If you must know, Luna wishes to stage some ridiculous sport I have never heard of here in Canterlot, and I or course have told her it is out of question and…”
“Oh, a sport!” said Discord, jumping up and down in excitement, “I do love to see a good sport, especially if they sound ridiculous. Please explain the logistics of this new sport Princess Luna.”
“It is called ‘Quidditch.” said Luna, looking quite pleased that somepony was actually taking an interest in her idea, and she burst into explaination about the rules of Quidditch, that the players have to be on broomsticks that can fly by themselves, the different type of balls used in it, what each player’s different role is and what the scoring system is and how the game ends and what type of fouls and special moves that can be made during a match.
She spoke solid for a good ten minutes, going back over points she had already made to counter balance her recent argument, and when she had finished, breathing heavily for talking so long without taking in breath, Discord just stood, looking blank. He turned to Celestia, who was still looking unimpressed and said, “You’re right, it does sound ridiculous. We must start making the preparations for it at once!”
“WHAT?!” cried Celestia and Luna together in unison, “Discord, are you serious?!”
I most certainly am.” said Discord, looking down at the excited face of the Princess of the Night, “I feel that this is a rather excellent idea, it could be an interesting way to bring ponies together, a new experience that could open up to newer ideas. Who knows where this could lead to? We might even be able to strike a deal with the Griffon Embassy for them to start their own team, of course I’m contemplating whether they should sign an agreement clause that allows them the rights to use this and…”
“You are not seriously suggesting that we sell this concept to other nations?” Celestia asked, looking shocked at what was going on in front of her right now.
“We must think big with these things, Celestia!” said Discord as he continued with his suggestions, “Now obviously, we shall have to invite the representatives of each nation to come see the match for themselves, we can’t honestly sell this on the idea alone, let them witness it live for them to get a taste. My dear Princesses, we could be on the verge of a brand new phenomenal international sensation!”
“Discord, before you start running off with posters and contracts,” said Celestia, silencing Discord again, “perhaps I should remind you of the impossibilities of what Luna is asking of us. How are we supposed to get flying brooms, fifty-foot poles, an actual pitch capable of this sort of thing and these ‘Bludgers’ and ‘Snitches’?”
“Ah, ah, ah, worry not Celestia,” said Discord, wagging one of the talons of his eagle foot hand at Celestia, “I shall handle all the niggly, tricky details. I shall get all the information I need from your sister, and I shall be able to have everything we need before you know it; you won’t have to lift a hoof.” Celestia however, was still not looking convinced, so Discord gave a deep breath and tried a different approach, “Celestia, I know that this whole thing may sound out of place, but what’s the point of not trying it anyway? Just give us this one match, and we’ll see what the outcome is.”
“I still don’t think…” said Celestia quietly, as she looked at her sister, her eyes wide and saucer-shaped, like a puppy who was begging for a treat from its master. Celestia closed her eyes tightly as if in deep concentration, until at last she said, “I guess I don’t have any other option. Fine, we’ll do it.” Luna gave a shriek of delight as she hugged Discord and Celestia tightly, screaming “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” and began souring around the room as if she were a young filly again. “But,” Celestia called up to her, causing Luna to fly back down to the ground, “you’re organising this whole thing, you are the one getting the teams together, you’re the one finding the location and you’re the one who has to invite the representatives; I don’t want to hear of you, both of you, slacking off, because if I do, I will end this!”
“I promise you sister, I shall show nothing but dedication to this cause.” said Luna as she turned to her new partner, “Now Discord, if you will accompany me to my room, we shall start planning, I already have ideas for the opposing team and a few suggestions for ours.”
Celestia watched as Luna and Discord closed the large doors to the throne room behind them with a dull thud. When everything was silent, she sat down in her throne, breathing heavily, “I honestly hope I’ve made the right decision.” she said to herself, looking at the setting sun though one of the stain-glass windows. She then found her answer to be ‘No’ when the doors opened again and Luna stuck her head back in to shout down the hall, “By the way sister, you’re playing as well!”