Glaring at the bright and scorching sun above the crowded beach, Discord snapped his fingers, clouds blocking out the sun as rain began to pour down. Ponies glanced at Discord, then the clouds, before packing their stuff and bolting out of the beach. He could only imagine them, running to the former Princesses and shrieking up a storm about how the Element of Chaos was back to bring ruin to Ponyville. He snorted and rolled his eyes as thunder boomed throughout the beach.
With a flash, Princess Celestia appeared before Discord, her eyes narrowed as she looked away from him and at the heavy rain landing on the two of them.
“As soon as I heard them tell me you caused a thunderstorm, I knew that you weren’t here to take over Equestria,” Celestia scoffed. “You’re more creative with your tricks than that.”
“Do you even know what I’m here for?” Discord growled.
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” Celestia stared at him with that same stoic expression that she had when she showed up on the beach, and Discord’s ears flattened as he hissed the name through his teeth.
“Vermillion.”
Celestia’s eyes widened as her mouth opened with no words escaping from her for a few moments, and then she spoke.
“D-Discord, we’ve talked about this,” Celestia stammered. “I couldn’t let you out, even to say goodbye to him. You would’ve taken him and escaped, caused more chaos, possibly killed me or my sister. I couldn’t risk any of those possibilities, I had to protect my ponies.”
“But there’s another pony who loves me just like he did,” Discord explained. “And I’m not about to lose her like I lost him.”
“What do you want me to do?” Celestia frowned.
“Make me mortal,” Discord told her.
“What?”
“You heard me,” Discord snapped. “Do you think Fluttershy will be happy as an alicorn, having to watch all of her animals, dearest friends, and foals die before her eyes? Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about me destroying Equestria if I’m dead.”
“Discord, I wouldn’t worry about that anyway,” Celestia shook her head. “I trust you enough to know that you’ve changed. But your magic is unlike that of any creature I’ve ever known, even with Grogar’s bell, I can’t make you mortal. After all, all that magic has to go somewhere. Remember when the Legion of Doom had it? When Pinkie had it?”
Discord cringed at the memory, and Celestia spoke again before he could.
“Besides, I don’t just make anypony immortal,” Celestia added. “If I did, don’t you think my lovers would still be alive? It is only Twilight Sparkle, the one pony who proved herself, that I’ve kept alive. Not just because I love her, but because of her diverse abilities.”
“This is why I brought up Vermillion,” Discord smirked. “Think of it as a trade, dear. You took me away from that darling stallion, and now to make up for it, you will find some way for me to have my dearest Fluttershy.”
“And if I don’t?” Celestia narrowed her eyes.
“Well, then you’ll just have to look Fluttershy in the eyes and tell her why we can’t be together,” Discord tilted his head. “I’m certainly not going to share her that news by myself.”
“Oh for my sake,” Celestia groaned, placing one of her wings over her head. “Fine, we’ll go speak to Fluttershy and see what can be done.”
“Excellent,” Discord grinned from ear to ear as he petted Celestia’s flowing mane. “Knew you’d be able to see it my way, dear. We shall head straight to Ponyville, no need for Flutters to cry anymore than she already has. Poor thing.”
Discord winced as he imagined the mare in tears, and grabbed Celestia as he teleported both of them out of the beach.
Moments later, as the clouds disappeared and the bright sun returned in all of its glory, Princess Luna stepped onto the beach and looked around in every direction.
“Sister? Tia? Where did you go?”