//------------------------------// // Time To Remember // Story: What Once Was // by Chocolate Pony //------------------------------// Canterlot was starting to quiet down for the evening. Ponies were closing up shops, restruants, and other businesses, as the day was drawing to a close. Very soon Princess Celestia would set the sun so Luna's moon could take its place. Though before this magnificent occurrence could take place, other work had to be finished. Or more specifically was being finished. Locked up in her royal office, Celestia frowned with concentration as she attempted to complete the last of the days paperwork. Normally she'd have a smile on her face at the prospect of being finished with her work. But today was a bit different. She had, aside from setting the sun, one other task to complete that day. An unexpected one at that. Earlier when the princess had been enjoying some afternoon tea and cake, she had received a letter from one of the royal guards. It seemed like any ordinary letter at first. Nothing special about the way it was sealed, the color or style of the envelope, nor even the glue used to seal it. But the contents of the letter itself, and from whom it was written...was entirely different. Celestia shuddered at the mere thought. As though an unexpected breeze had just ruffled her feathers. Looking up at a nearby grandfather clock she noted how late it was getting. She sighed, pushing out her chair and standing up. After stretching her wings and back a little she exited the office. Luna was already waiting for her on her bedroom balcony. "Time to set the sun, dear sister" She said. "As at the end of everyday" Celestia replied. Her horn lit up with magic and the sun began to slowly disappear from view. Once it had fully vanished, Luna took over. The moon rose into the suns place, and stars appeared all across the now night sky. The two sisters stood and admired their work for awhile. Crickets and the sounds of ponies who were bedding down, or planning to do some stargazing could be heard faintly across the land. The laughter of colts and fillys who were not yet finished with their games of tag or hide and seek. Of other ponies enjoying association around a campfire. The smell of smoke rising from the burning wood, of marshmallows that would soon be made into decidant smores. All was well in the world ruled by the two sisters. Celestia flinched when unpleasant memories came flooding through her mind so suddenly. The pleasant sounds were replaced with screams and cries of the innocent. The smells resembling that of blood and death. There was no peace anymore. Nothing but fear, anguish, and...chaos. "Celestia!" Luna's shout brought her back to reality. She gasped for breath and attempted to clam her rapid heartbeat. She closed her eyes and placed a hoof to her chest, breathing calmly in and out. Once her heartbeat was steady again and her mind had been cleared, she opened her eyes. Luna looked upon her with concern, though she was not arrogant to the reason for Celestia's sudden panic attack. "Don't worry, sister. I have those moments too" Luna reassured her. "It's been ages. I should be over it by now" Celestia replied. "Time does not heal injury. Not that kind of injury." Celestia sighed heavily. Her sister was right. No matter how many years has passed since those days has occurred, it would always play in her mind like a broken record. Repeating itself over and over. An endless cycle of torment. Brought upon her by those who had saught to destroy her and the rest of Equesteria. "I must be off. I have important business to discuss" Celestia said suddenly. "He will do you no good. Speaking to him is like speaking to the devil. Nothing but a liar. Reformed or not" Luna replied. Celestia spread her wings, gazing at the night sky. "I know. But I'm not one to ignore others. Even if they have nothing good to say. Besides he...he said there was something I needed to remember. Something I'd long forgotten." With that, she took flight. Luna watched her disappear into the dark. Sighing deeply she decided to have a bit of tea and crumpets before bed. As she made her way to her own bedroom, she stopped to think. "What sort of thing could a Lord of Chaos remember that a Princess of day would not?" ******* Celestia landed gently on the doorstep. Which normally would've been challenging since the doorstep was upside down. Then again, so was the entire house. Raising a reluctant hoof the princess inhaled before knocking gently on the door. It wasn't long before the door swung open and a creature she was all too familiar with greeted her. "Hello? Ah who is this come to visit the house of Discord? Could it be? Princess Celestia herself!? In the flesh!? I've never felt so honored! Do come in your highness" Discord dramatically exclaimed, bowing as he backed far enough away for her to enter. Celestia calmly walked through door, not fazed by his typical childish behavior. She did take a moment to examine the odd and disturbing surroundings. "Do you like it? Decorated it all by myself!" Discord said. "It suits you" Celestia replied. "Cold and callous doesn't suit you though. I was expecting more...lively company." Discord snapped his fingers. From nowhere a sombrero appeared on the princess' head. Not to mention a mustache took residence on her upper lip. The beast before her laughed till tears were pouring from his eyes. She couldn't have been less amused. "Oh it never gets old. Well, enough fun for now. Could I offer you some refreshments before we get down to business?" Discord inquired, having recovered from his giggle fit. Before Celestia could even open her mouth to respond, a tray of tea and cake appeared before her. The pot lifted itself from the tray and poured some tea into her cup. A couple sugar cubes leaped into the cup, as well as some cream. A slice of what she presumed to be strawberry cake landed elegantly upon a small plate next to the tea. A fork and spoon literally danced their way over to her plate before taking their place on a napkin. "No need to thank me. I know just the way you like it. In fact, there's a lot of things I know about you Celestia. Some things you don't remember" Discord said. His normally playful and obnoxious demeanor had suddenly vanished into thin air. As though it had never exsisted. His face had taken on a serious and almost frightening expression. A look Celestia had only seen in their most...hated moments. "W-What do you mean?" She stuttered. This did not go unnoticed by Discord. A moment of weakness by somepony as powerful as Celestia couldn't go unnoticed. Surprisingly enough he didn't use it against her. For now at least. Discord stood from the pillow he'd been seated upon, pacing back and forth. He sharply turned to face Celestia, studying her. His eyes stared into hers, and she stared back. One attempting to read the other. To understand what they meant. "We've been enemies for many years, Celestia. I tried to take your throne and rule Equestria with chaos and havoc. And the you can your sister defeated me. Turning me into stone. When I broke free, the mane six returned me to stone. Then you gave me another chance, released me and helped reform me. Even when I tried to defeat you all again, you forgave me. I was betrayed by Tirek, and the mane six defeated him. Forgiving me for betraying them. And you. That's our story right? Countless battles that I started, but you won. Right?" Celestia gazed at him thoughtfully. True, the two had fought many times. And yes she had always been victorious. Friendship truly was magic. More powerful than any evil. But what did that have to do with "their story?" They had no story! "We may have had a rather...rough history but you're not my enemy anymore. I assure you I have for-" Celestia was cut off by harsh laughter. This wasn't just Discord laughing to tease or pick on her. This was him laughing to...mock her. Not playfully. This was intentional, and cruel. "You stubborn foal. You completely dodged my question. Our story! I was asking about our story! Has the petty little victories you've won over me gotten to your head? Are those things truly all you remember?" Discord hissed, voice laced with bitterness. Celestia suddenly felt threatened by his tone and his words. Rising from her seat she glared fiercely at him. "I don't know what you're talking about or what point you're trying to make, but I will not sit here and be mocked!" She exclaimed. Turning on her hooves she made for the door. Only to run face first into Discord's chest. Celestia prepared to demand for him to move. It only came out as a startled gasp when she was grabbed ahold of. "Honorable that'd you'd try and leave but I'm afraid that's just not gonna happen. Not till you've done one last thing" Discord said. Before Celestia could reply, Discord stuck his claw against the top of her head. Her eyes went from their normal magenta color, to swirls of green, blue, and yellow. Discord learned back and sighed. "It's time you remembered, Celestia. Remembered our true story. What once was."