//------------------------------//
// Sticks and Stones 
// Story: Don't you remember? 
// by PinkieIsMahWaifu 
//------------------------------//

When you came to, you were laying in the open part of the field. It appeared you had been dragged there, since there was a faint trail of blood staining the glass. You had obviously lost a lot since... well, since your tail had been crushed by a Royal Guard. You winced in pain at the memory, before turning back round to inspect it. To your surprise, it was bound in cloth and a plaster-like substance.

'CAREFUL! Child, it is still wet! You must stay here until it is set.' 
You looked up and saw looming over you a black and white striped pony. You didn't even listen to what she said before you panicked and ran away into the forest. Where you belonged.
'CHILD, COME BACK! You are not well! You tail could snap, who can tell?' She called out, but you were too scared to listen. That is, until you heard the voice of some-one you could trust.

'Discord? Please, come back! She won't hurt you!' Came a sweet voice you knew so well. You peered out of the bushes to make sure it was who you suspected. The little white filly had fear spread across her face, not just for your well-being, but also for the fact she might not see you again. Not that you knew. 
You couldn't say no to Celestia, and you cautiously re-entered the field. 
'It's okay... Zecora is a friend of mine. And has been a friend to the family for centuries.'
'Centuries?' You mused. She looked so young.
'It is true, my little dear. I am much older than I appear.' She said in a voice thick with an unfamiliar accent.
'How... how did you find me?'
'I just came back to where I found you the first day. When I saw you, you'd collapsed and you were in a pool of...' Celestia gulped, obviously still shaken, 'A pool of your own blood. I didn't know what to do, so I tied a tourniquet around your tail and...'
'A mighty good one I might add, my dear. Without it, he would have lost his tail, I fear.' Zecora cut in. Celestia blushed slightly before continuing. 
'I was panicking, so I went and found Zecora... She cleaned the blood up... Before coming to the conclusion your tail was broken.... In eight places......'
You flinched at her words. It was clear now your tail would not be healed for a long time. 
'She put your tail in a cast, with a splint to keep it straight. It... it might take a while, but it should heal without any problems.' 
You looked at her, gazing deeply into her violet eyes, and one question struck out at you. It burned away at your soul, desperate to escape. Eventually you choked it up through tears.
'....Why?' You sniffed.
'What?' Celestia gasped.
'Why would you do this for me?' Your voice was laced with agony. Zecora could see that this was not a good time to be around, and so made her excuses and galloped back into the woods. 
You stood there, weeping, waiting for your answer. 
'Discord... I... I don't know what you mean....' 
'Yes, you do. I'm a monster, Tia. Your father said it himself, he- oh my god!' You remembered something terrible.
'What, what's wrong?'
'You- you can't be here! Your father will murder you if he finds out, he told me to stay away from you!'
'I don't care. You don't just abandon your friends because your family doesn't approve. That's not true friendship.'
You were astounded by her selflessness. 
'I'm... I'm your friend? Even after you finding out what I am?' You stuttered.
She looked at you and nodded.
'You can be whatever you want, Discord. But you will always be my friend.' Her words melted your heart.
'Oh, Celestia!' You cried as you threw your forelegs around her. You were held there, in an embrace, a bond so strong yet so fragile. You took in her scent as her hair rippled in the wind. 
'Forever.' She whispered.

She wiped away your tears and looked you deep in the eye.
'Now, let's finish our flying lessons, shall we?'
You smiled and nodded. 
And so that's what you did for the rest of the day. You were a bit off-balance because of the cast, but you could still manage.

'Okay, Discord... 3....2....1!' On her count, you both pulled yourself off the ground with your little wings, beating them for all they were worth. You both gasped when you realized, even though you were barely two feet off the ground, you were flying.
'This is amazing!' You whispered. 'I- aa-aa-aaachooo!' You sneezed, knocking your wings out of motion and sending yourself tumbling down onto the ground. Celestia flew down beside you and you both began to laugh. She halted, and looked at you more seriously for a moment. Your giggling stopped. 

'D-Discord....' She shuddered, visibly cold. You wrapped your arms around her to keep her warm. 
'Yes?'
'I have to tell you something..' You turned to face her as she obviously had something important to say.
'I'm going away for a while, Discord.' Her voice seemed full of regret.
'Away?' You asked. You were a little upset, but you had no idea how upset she was. She was very good at hiding emotions. You also had no idea how much the little filly had sacrificed for you.
'Yes... You remember last night, don't you?' You flinched at the memory of Celestia's father, but nodded regardless.
'Well, daddy didn't want me to come after you, but I screamed at him. I said about how friendship isn't about species... It's about honesty. So I was being honest to him about how you were my friend. It's also about kindness... I couldn't leave you scared on your own. It's about laughter, too. The laughter we share together... And generosity. Like when you came into town with me even though you knew you shouldn't. You were so generous, Discord. I shouldn't have been so selfish.'
She tried to hold back a sob, but tears cracked through. She fought past them, desperate to finish what she was saying. 
'Finally, it's about loyalty. I told him that, and that was why I had to go and find you. He said I had one day, and then I had to break all connections with you.'
You felt sadness well up inside you. 
'But of course I said no.' Your eyes widened with shock.
'You... You what?'
'He said you were a monster, but I told him 'Sticks and Stones'. Then he got angry. Really angry.' She withdrew slightly.
'Oh my god, he... He didn't hurt you, did he?' You gasped.
'No, no he didn't. But... tomorrow I'm being sent to Trottingham.'
'TROTTINGHAM?!' 
'Yes... There's a magic school there. I'm going to stay there until my father lets me back. He said... Five years.' She said, sorrow evident in her voice. 
'But...' You began, but she didn't let you finish.
'I'm so sorry, Discord. I never...' She wanted to say more, but decided to leave it at that, and simply wrapped her forelegs around you. A tear ran down your face as you took in her scent one last time. 
'I.....I have to go,' Your heart ached as you nodded, unable to speak a word. 
'Bye, Discord. I'll see you again, some day...' 
With that, she left you alone in the forest.





Years went by with no contact from anypony, save for the occasional visit from Zecora. You matured, but you never lost memory of that filly from your childhood, and the short but blissful time you spent together. Your tail healed and your wings broadened, as well as beginning to develop magic. Every day was looking the same, until one day you heard something dreadful. A voice you always hoped never to hear again.


'Hello, son.'