“Whenever you’re ready, Twilight.”
The little alicorn nods and carefully steps forward, placing her hoof firmly upon the ground. She closes her eyes and concentrates as the cool breeze rustles the leaves of the many tall, yet unblossomed flowers that surround her, some of which tickle her sides as they move. She bites back the urge to laugh at the sensation, instead deepening her focus and clenching her teeth as tiny, yet painful sparks of light begin to shimmer across her horn.
“No, Twilight. I know it’s difficult, but you must resist that urge. Remember what I told you: this is not magic. You are not channeling a spell to reach the desired outcome, you are speaking. You are expressing to them what you want to happen.”
Twilight nods, her eyes still closed, and the sparks of unformed magic fade along with the pain.
“Each one is different. Some are eager to please, and will gladly respond to you. Others must be commanded. Listen to them and you will be able to determine how to best and most clearly communicate your intent.”
She nods again, her focus renewed. Several minutes pass in silence before the gentle voice of her mentor once again rings out above the breeze.
“Well done.”
Twilight opens her eyes once more and gasps in surprise. All around her, in an almost perfect circular pattern that extends several feet from where she’s standing, flowers have come into bloom. Their colors range from deep reds, to pinks, to various shades of orange and yellow, and when taken together, they almost remind her of the sunrise.
“I’m very proud of you, Twilight,” Celestia says with a smile, approaching the smaller alicorn to share a quick congratulatory nuzzle. “This is the first step on your way to understanding the Earth Pony aspect of yourself. We’ll need to wait for your magic to recover in order to move on to more advanced lessons, but the fact that you’re able to use your ‘voice’ so quickly is quite the feat. You never cease to amaze me.” She chuckles a bit as she steps away. “Don’t tell her I told you, but Lulu was absolutely awful at this when I first started teaching her, and I had serious doubts as to whether she’d ever be able to grasp it.”
Twilight giggles as well. “Don’t worry Princess, your secret’s safe with me.” She turns and trots over to examine one of the flowers, curiosity shining in her eyes. “It… it really was amazing. It was like I could hear their thoughts. By the way, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or read about this type of flower before. The patterns of the petals are so unique… what are they?”
“I’m not surprised, as they’re not indigenous to Equestria,” Celestia replies as she places a hoof firmly on the ground and closes her eyes. The breeze picks up once more, and almost in an instant, every single one of the remaining unblossomed flowers in the garden blooms. “These are called celosia cristata, and they’re only known to grow naturally in certain sections of Latigo. I have a bit of a fondness for them, so I had some brought over long ago to fill out this special section of the Royal Gardens.”
Twilight taps a hoof on her chin in thought. “Celosia? I… I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before, though I can’t really remember in what context…”
Celestia smiles again. “I believe I might know, but I’m afraid that will need to be a lesson for another time. After all, it wouldn’t do for Canterlot University’s new Professor of Post-Unification History to be tardy to her own class, now would it?”
“T-Tardy?!” The color drains from Twilight’s face as she notices the position of the sun. “Oh no! I need to go, Princess! Thank you so much for the lesson! We’re meeting again the day after tomorrow in Ponyville for the next one, right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Celestia answers as her faithful student rises unsteadily into the air with a few beats of her wings. “I suppose I’ll come see you at the library sometime a little after noon once things are settled at the cottage. Perhaps we can share a late lunch together with Spike. Fly safely, Twilight.”
“I will! And thank you again!” she calls back before disappearing over the eastern wall of the garden in a frantic series of flaps that leave several purple feathers wafting in the wind behind her. Celestia merely chuckles once more as she watches her student glide toward the distant clock tower that rises above Canterlot University’s quad and the many lecture halls which surround it.
“I wonder how far she’ll get before she realizes her lesson plan and notes are still in the castle?”
Speaking the question to no one in particular, she turns and trots from the secluded enclave of celosia flowers and into the gardens proper.
The frantic month of February led to a still-very-stressful March, but now that April has arrived, and with it the first hints of spring, things are finally beginning to regain a sense of normalcy. The Gardens are free of snow now, as is most of the Kingdom, and though her celosia flowers have bloomed early thanks to a little prodding, it won’t be long until most of the deciduous forests and perennials decide to awaken from their winter slumber on their own. Soon, waves of color will be visible in the fields as far as the eye can see no matter which direction one turns their gaze from atop Canterlot Mountain, and the thought of it causes a subtle smile to tug at the corner of Celestia’s mouth. No matter how many years pass, that awaited, calm and familiar echo of life— of a promised rebirth and renewal that spreads throughout the land during this season— brings her comfort. It’s a reminder that life continues to march on and thrive in Equestria, just as sure as the sun rises.
But this year… this spring is also special, and the thought of it makes her smile grow wider while the necklace holding a simple golden band patters against her chest in time with her heartbeat as she trots along.
A certain forest near Ponyville will be flowering soon, just in time for construction to wrap up on a little cottage being built nearby. Well, rebuilt would probably be the more correct term, but her current schedule doesn’t afford her the luxury to dwell on minor details. What does matter is that winter has passed, Twilight’s resumed her role as Ponyville’s librarian in addition to her teaching duties, and she and her human will soon be able to share the comfy little home she’s been dreaming of.
She almost has to stop herself from skipping along and drawing concerned stares from the guards or the Gardens’ visitors at the thought of it. Things have been so hectic recently, with the constant trips back and forth to support Twilight as well as visit her beloved… but once the cottage is done, she can spend most of her time throughout the week there! The extra bedroom she insisted on will be an office of sorts, with a magical mirror with a direct link to Luna and the Council to allow her to coordinate state functions and status meetings from home, but aside from that one detail it’ll almost be like those days they shared together as roommates! She’ll get to see him make that funny face he always does when she cooks him the spaghetti dish he constantly complains about but still secretly enjoys eating. She’ll feel the touch of his fingers brushing across her back as he goes about his chores, or whenever he happens to be nearby. She’ll curl up on the couch and watch him read the paper or a book in his recliner at the end of the day, content to merely enjoy the happy silence together…
A slight blush begins to appear on her snow-white cheeks. It’s true, she’ll be able to do all those things, but some things will be different, too. For example, there’ll be the daily rides through the forest they’ll share, and of course she won’t be sleeping on the couch any longer…
Her reverie is interrupted as she absentmindedly misses a turn and walks directly into a hedgerow, burying her entire front up to her withers in the dense, intertwining mass of branches and leaves.
“Oh, now this is just sad,” a voice snickers from somewhere within the hedge. “I know you’re prone to spacing out and getting lost in your own little world when you have something on your mind, Cotton Candy Head, but walking face-first into a bush? Now that’s a new one!”
Celestia’s entire body tenses, and instead of withdrawing from the hedge, she darts her eyes around in an attempt to locate the source of the familiar-sounding voice. A small ray of sunlight filters through some of the branches to her left, highlighting a tiny little draconequus perched nearby as he munches on some of the bush’s newly-ripened berries. She scowls as he finishes one and licks the remaining juice from his talons.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. You and I both know the Elements’ seal has been weakening for quite some time now. Even though this isn’t anywhere near the real me, I’m finding it much easier to get out and about like this.” He stands on the branch and taps her nose with his tiny paw. “Besides, instead of worrying about me, maybe you should be more concerned about how utterly ridiculous you look right now!”
Sure enough, the nearby guard keeping watch over this particular section of the Gardens has trotted over to check on her. “Um… Your Highness, is… there anything I can help you with?” he asks.
Celestia flushes with embarrassment and attempts to pull herself from the hedge to answer him, but the unexpected pulse of chaotic magic shining around the tiny draconequus’ claw robs the words from her mouth. Instead, he answers for her in a terrible falsetto impersonation, “Oh, no need to worry guardspony, I’m fine! Just checking these bushes for any unwanted pests, tee hee!”
And though she can’t see it, she can feel the magic also move her tail slightly as each word is spoken, creating a distinct impression for the poor guard that she’s talking from her butt.
“I… uh… I see. V-Very well, Your Highness… I… b-believe I’ll leave you in peace, then…” he stammers before briskly trotting away, his barely-restrained laughter threatening to ring out at any second.
“DISCORD!” Celestia furiously growls as she pulls herself from the hedge, various small twigs and leaves still stuck in her wavy multicolored mane. The tiny draconequus quickly appears nearby, floating in the air and doubled over with laughter.
“Oh, you should see the look on your face! Priceless!” he wheezes, paralyzed by his mirth. “I’d say that was easily worth another few thousand years in stone!”
The alicorn stews in her anger as she glances around the particular section of the garden where she now stands. There’s a bench here, with the ever-familiar statue of Discord positioned behind it. Thankfully, the statue’s presence tends to discourage most visitors from passing through this area, so the guard was likely the only witness to the prank. Cursing, she closes her eyes and casts an invisible ward on the surroundings to prevent any other ponies from stumbling in or overhearing the conversation.
“You’re intolerable as ever,” she grumbles as her magic removes the debris from her mane.
“Yes, hello to you too, my darling little sister,” Discord replies as he brings his snickering under control. “And come on, I don’t care who you are, you know that was hilarious!”
She shakes her head and lets out an exasperated sigh, followed by a slight giggle as her composure returns. “Yes, I suppose it was.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Celestia?” Discord asks, rubbing his eyes to make sure the alicorn before him is indeed who she appears to be. “The Celestia I remember would always spend the rest of the day simmering with righteous indignation before finally admitting that one of my pranks was maybe a teeny, tiny, infinitesimally bit funny. I’m on to you, faker!” He wastes no time in teleporting to Celestia’s back, immediately using his paw and claw to sift through her mane. “This costume is impressive, though. I can’t even find where you managed to hide the zipper!”
Celestia merely rolls her eyes at his antics and uses her magic to pluck the little pest from her back. Ignoring his curses and demands to put him down, she carries him with her over to the nearby statue and rests upon the bench there, safely depositing him on one of the statue’s outstretched arms once she’s settled.
“It’s really me, I assure you. After all that happened, I spent a good while staring at myself in the mirror to make sure of it… but it’s really me. It had been so long, but when all my burdens were suddenly cast aside for those fleeting few months, I was given a precious opportunity to remember.”
The little draconequus offers her some light congratulatory applause. “So, what you’re saying is you’ve mellowed out for the time being! That’s wonderful! Now if only I could get our dear Moody Featherduster to lighten up, maybe the two of you would finally start getting invited to parties that don’t involve a room full of nobles awkwardly hobbling around because of the giant sticks firmly lodged up their rear ends!”
“They were all like that because you put them there!” Celestia cries, an unpleasant past memory resurfacing in her mind. “Those poor ponies were traumatized for weeks afterwards!”
He scoffs. “Oh, come on, that entire debacle was a masterpiece! It was art imitating life! And I don’t care who you are, you know it was hilarious! Do you seriously mean to tell me that you didn’t crack up at the sight of Lady Bundersaddle trying to gracefully walk bowlegged to the punch bowl, completely unaware of what was going on?!”
Celestia snorts and quickly moves a hoof to her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“Why, I’m surprised you didn’t commission a stained glass window for that one! It was one of my greatest works!”
The alicorn facehoofs and allows the urge to give in to her laughter to pass. “Be that as it may, reminiscing about your past ‘works’ is not why I’m here today, Discord. I have a few important things I need to discuss with you.”
He crosses his arms and frowns. “Ugh. Now that definitely sounds like something Princess Buzzkill would say. I thought I was dealing with the new Celestia?”
She giggles. “I just told you, I’m me. I haven’t changed; I merely remembered who I always was.”
“Well, I suppose I’m not going anywhere anyway,” Discord grumbles, tapping the stone beneath him for emphasis. “Go on.”
“I have three things I need to tell you, the first of which is that I’m engaged to Anon. We’ll be getting married in a little less than a year’s time,” she says, reaching up to gently touch the engagement band resting in the center of her simple necklace.
Discord leans forward on his perch, his eyes wide. “Oooooh, I wondered what the new jewelry was all about. You’re not exactly one to change things up on a whim, after all. I suppose it was inevitable that one day you’d finally manage to grow up, Cotton Candy Head, but I can’t believe it’s this soon~! Congratulations!”
She frowns. “I don’t think you’re in any position to tease anypony about being immature, but that’s beside the point. Both Lulu and Anon told me about your involvement in the events that transpired, and—”
The little Discord holds up his hands. “No, no, no, no, no. Stop right there. I don’t want any misguided gratitude from you weighing on what little shred of a conscience I have left. In case you haven’t noticed, the considerable chaos produced by everything that happened as a result of tossing that odd little beau of yours into this dimension ended up weakening my thousand-year curse of stone to the point where it’ll break on its own in mere months. For you to think there was anything more to it than that is, well… arguably more delusional than your dear little Purplesmart was throughout the whole kerfuffle.”
“You’re a poor liar,” she replies with a soft smile.
He grins. “Well… I have to admit, I’m curious as to what this union will produce. Will they be ponies? Humans? Some kind of kooky hybrid? Oh, whatever they are, I’m certain it’ll cause a deliciously discordant uproar amongst the masses!”
“That is not funny!” Celestia gasps, shooting him an annoyed glare.
“Oh, lighten up a bit. I’m sure you’ll be a fine mother to… whatever it is you end up with. And I’ll be an uncle! How exciting!”
“You’ll be their late uncle if you’re not careful,” she sneers, her horn shimmering with excess magic.
“Yikes. Okay, okay. Well, I’m happy for you. If the boy’s already blabbed about our encounter, then you know you already have my blessing, and despite what you might think, I’m not crazy enough to ask for a wedding invitation, so I guess that settles it. Now, what’s the next thing on your little list for me?”
She sighs. “That doesn’t settle it. The reason I’m telling you all this is because I want you to walk me down the aisle.”
The little draconequus stares at her slack-jawed, completely lost for words. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, he finally manages to sputter, “A-Are you serious?”
She nods. “I’m serious. Obviously my father can’t be there, so it falls to my older brother to give me away at the altar. You’re aware of the tradition, aren’t you?”
Instead of answering, Discord turns away from her and stares wistfully at the sky.
“So, it’s finally happened…”
Celestia blinks. “What do you mean? What’s happened?”
“You’ve gone completely bananas. I’ve been waiting for this day for eons, but I have to say, now that it’s here… it’s a lot to take in. I’m going to need a moment.”
“I am not crazy!” she shouts, stomping a hoof for emphasis. The little Discord merely waves back at her dismissively.
“Yes, that is what crazy ponies usually say. Cotton Candy Head, do you really need me to explain the gazillion and one reasons why this is a bad idea? Is this some sort of trap to permanently do away with me?” He leans against the statue, shaking his head. “I… I can’t believe it, but… I’m at a loss here. Me! Completely at a loss!”
“Is it so unimaginable to you that I’d want you there? That I’d want you to take part in this?”
“Yes! Of course it is! Do you really want your trip to the altar to include a slip-’n-slide made of licorice and chocolate syrup, or your reception to take place with gravity inverted?!”
“And do you mean to say that for one day, you couldn’t find it in your heart to restrain yourself?!”
“I AM THE GOD OF CHAOS!” he bellows at a volume that far exceeds his current size.
“AND YOU ARE MY BROTHER!” she retorts in the Canterlot Voice, the barrier of silence surrounding them wavering as it struggles to contain the shout. “You are my brother, Clover, and… and no matter what happens, that will never change. Please…”
“Don’t use that name,” he growls, turning his back on her once more.
The alicorn slams her front hoof into the earth with such force that it shatters some of the stone tiles of the garden’s walkway and nearly knocks the tiny Discord off his perch.
“Tell me why you refuse to do this. I want you to state it clearly, in your own words.”
“You already know why. We’ve repeated this conversation how many times over the ages, now? This is not something I can turn off on a whim, Celosia. It’s not something I can resist. It’s what I am now. A fundamental part of my very being!” He raises his claw and snaps his talons, causing a small spark of chaos magic to shine before fizzling and fading away. “If I had access to my true powers at this moment, I’d already be on a rampage. By the time the wedding rolls around, I’ll be completely loose, and if you re-seal me with the Elements I won’t be in any state to attend. What you’re asking of me is utterly impossible and completely ludicrous!”
She closes her eyes and replies with a sad smile, “I don’t believe that. Not any longer.”
“Cotton Candy Head… you should know by now that it’s not about what you believe, it’s about what is.”
Her eyes open again, a calm strength shining within them. “And you should know that what is, is not what will always be. We have a year. Promise me that you’ll try.”
The little draconequus scoffs and averts his eyes. “That’s the same look you use on him, isn’t it? It must be, because you’ve obviously had practice. Very well, your sickening optimism has convinced me to try, but I’m not promising you anything, and if you really leave me loose during the wedding I can’t be held responsible for what’ll happen.”
She giggles. “You say that, but I can definitely offer you a promise that if you ruin my special day, I’ll bury you with my own four hooves, big brother. Just something to keep in mind. Though, another one of the guests could very well beat me to it if he decides to show.”
Discord perks up. “Well, now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Do go on.”
“Several months ago,” she begins, “Anon and I had an encounter with Agamemnon in the Everfree. I intend to extend an invitation to him as well.”
“What?” he recoils in surprise. “That old fossil? Why in the world was he out and about?”
“Oh, he was merely attempting to reclaim all of the riches I had stolen from him several months prior,” she replies matter-of-factly.
“You… do realize that you’re not doing much for your claim that you’re not currently bananas, right? By the Maker’s blood, are you really being serious with me right now? Is this some sort of deranged prank? You’re not making any sense whatsoever, and it’s actually making me nervous!”
She nods. “Prior to what transpired on that day, I would’ve agreed with you. I’ll spare you the details for another time, but something he revealed to me was so shocking that I nearly fainted. I don’t know if he’ll be interested in attending, but if he is, I will do everything in my power to accommodate him, because he… he deserves to be there just as much as yourself or Lulu, and we have much to discuss together in light of it.”
“‘Spare me the details…’ why don’t you just tell me now?!” he cries while spastically waving his arms around.
Celestia shakes her head. “I haven’t even told Lulu about it yet, and it’s not something I want to get into without her here.” She flashes the tiny Discord a wry smile. “Once you’ve freed yourself from that statue and you’ve settled into the accommodations I’ve prepared for you, the three of us will sit down one evening and discuss it.”
“You’ve really thought all this through,” he groans. “Honestly, I’m usually the one giving you the migraine whenever we chat with one another, but this time… ugh.”
“I’ve learned from the best,” she whispers as she turns away. “Discord, there’s one last thing I need to tell you before I have to be on my way, and please, promise me that you’ll take it to heart.”
There’s a palpable shift in her mood and the tone of her voice, and to the draconequus’ credit, he bites back the urge to tease her and merely waits for her to continue.
“Over the ages, I’ve cursed your name many times. I’ve hated you. I’ve said and done horrible things that I deeply regret. What I want to tell you now is that… the time may come, one day in the future, when he’s eventually taken from me… when I will curse your name, and hate you, and say and do horrible things to you for bringing him into my life.”
Tears begin to well in her eyes, and she steps toward the statue, pleading, “But I want you to know that no matter what happens, and no matter what I say or do, that I don’t really mean it, and that I’m thankful to you from the bottom of my heart! I’m so grateful that I was permitted to know this happiness… to know him! Promise me that no matter what happens you’ll remember this, my brother!”
Silence falls again, and a cold breeze stirs up and flows over the garden, causing her to shiver a bit as it whips her mane and tail around and pulls some of her shed tears away. After a few moments, the tiny spirit of Discord lets out a sigh and shakes his head.
“Oh come now, there’s no need for the waterworks, little sister. It doesn’t suit you… it never did, and nopony likes soggy cotton candy, now do they?” He looks to his eagle claw, the talons turning transparent as the magic that allows him to wander free from his prison for a time begins to fade, and he lets out an amused chuckle. “It’s true, our relationship wasn’t always the best, nor would I expect it to be given the circumstances. But I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again… no matter what happens, now or in the future, and no matter where this madness takes me… I will never stop loving the both of you.”
His body begins to vanish and drift away with the wind, Celestia’s eyes moving to track him as he shimmers and floats away. Just before he disappears, he flashes her a toothy grin and whispers, “So I promise. And you are very welcome, my dear.”
Celestia closes her eyes once more, blinking the last of her tears away, and with a final glance at the stone statue that will stand watch over this lonely section of the Gardens for just a little longer, she trots away.