Today was an exciting day by Twilight's standards. Hopefully, she might get some very important mail today. Harry going to the Crystal Empire later today, so Twilight had the whole day to herself and one other pony if she could make the journey. She had been eagerly awaiting a chance to "hang out" with her sister-in-law-slash-former-foalsitter, Cadance. And with Harry up north and Spike having plans for (most) of the day, Twilight could dedicate her whole day to sisterly bonding and friendship!
"Mail's here!" Spike announced, holding a stack of papers.
Twilight yanked the mail out of Spike's claws, sifting through the pile of letters. Twilight scanned the letters, skimming the actual contents, looking for a royal seal.
"Please be a yes, please be a yes, please be a yes..." She opened the one with the royal seal in read the latter as fast as she could. A grin split her face. "Yes! She can make it, she can make it!" She jumped up and flew around Spike in circles, dragging the dragon along for the flight.
"Going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that Princess Cadance said she can come this weekend!" Spike shouted as he started to lose his balance.
"I'm finally gonna get to spend some quality time with my sister-in-law! This is the best news ever!" Twilight declared.
Twilight's energetic rant was interrupted by a quiet knocking at the door.
Fluttershy peeked her head in. "Um, so sorry for barging in like this... but I'm so excited, I just couldn't wait to tell somepony!" Fluttershy pulled out a letter of her own. "The Equestrian Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures have given me permission to observe the rarest, tiniest, most adorable magical creatures in all of Equestria: the breezies!"
"Wow, Fluttershy, that's fantastic!" Twilight congratulated her friend. Everypony knew Fluttershy loved little animals, even those she was scared of, like dragons.
"Oh, it's not just fantastic; it just might be the best news ever!"
There was a resounding crash as Pinkie Pie busted down Twilight's door. The pink mare bounced about excitedly. "I just got the most incredible mail anypony's ever received in all of recorded pony postal history!" She pulled out a flyer, an advertisement. "It's a flyer about a one-day sale on used patio furniture! Could this day get any better? Woo-hoo!"
Twilight and Fluttershy rolled their eyes.
Not long after the sudden announcements, Twilight, Harry, and their friends met up at the train station to say their goodbyes to Fluttershy. In the process, Harry had jokingly stated they had separation anxiety, which was nervously laughed off.
"Here's a wrap, in case it gets cold," Rarity said. She deposited the rolled-up item in Fluttershy's bag.
"And I packed you a basket of nice fresh apples in case you get hungry," Applejack offered the basket forward.
"Have a great time!" Twilight said.
"Oh, I will. And I hope you have fun with Cadance," Fluttershy replied.
The train whistle blew and the conductor stepped out. "All aboard!"
Fluttershy boarded the train and looked out the back of the caboose. "Goodbye! Goodbye, everypony!" she shouted (as loud as Fluttershy could shout) as she waved.
The train started moving. Pinkie Pie suddenly broke into a full gallop after the train with a cry of "Fluttershy!"
Everypony stared, a little confused, at Pinkie's antics.
Twilight sighed a bit. "Oh, I'm a bit nervous about Cadance's visit!"
"What could you be nervous about, Twilight? Cadance just loves you to pieces!" Applejack said.
"I know, but I really want her visit to go without a hitch!" Twilight insisted.
"Oh, why wouldn't it?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"You just had to say that, didn't you?" Harry deadpanned. "Do I have to mention the last four visits? I was only here for two, and both went sideways."
Twilight nodded. "Harry's right. So far, all of our visits haven't exactly been worry-free."
"The fate of Equestria has hung in the balance during most of your visits with her," Rarity noted.
"Exactly," Twilight agreed. "Cadance and I haven't really had a chance to just enjoy being friends again. Which is why it is so important that this visit be about the two of us having some real quality time together."
"I'm guessing you've gotta plan that'll keep it that way," Applejack said.
"The timing couldn't be more perfect," Twilight announced, pointing at a poster of Star Swirl the Bearded, only one of the most famous unicorns in all of history. "For one day only, right here in Ponyville, the Star Swirl the Bearded Traveling Museum! Cadance and I can spend the whole day looking at Star Swirl the Bearded artifacts!"
"Sounds like a perfect drama-free way to spend the day with Cadance," Rarity agreed.
Twilight saw Harry lean over to Pinkie Pie out of the corner of her eye.
"Why do we keep jinxing this?" Harry whispered. The excitable mare just shrugged. Twilight chose to ignore Harry's pessimism.
"Not counting the drama surrounding which of the bells from his cloak they've chosen to put on display. Spoiler alert: it's this one!" Twilight pointed at the rightmost bell on the drawing's hat. Of course, who wouldn't know which bell was on display? It was obvious.
Rainbow Dash gagged. "Uh, sorry. Something in my throat... like a big ball of 'lame'!"
Harry scoffed. "Rainbow, if it was a Wonderbolts Traveling Museum, you'd be just as excited. I'm sure Twilight will have fun."
"Yup, definitely sounds like you two will have some real quality time together," Applejack said.
"Exactly. Just quiet time," Twilight said.
"Strike three," Harry sighed.
A train whistle claimed everypony's attention. A crystal train was bearing down the tracks at high speed. The wheels froze up, creating a terrible sound reminiscent of nails on a blackboard. The trains ground to a halt. A blast of horns preceded a red carpet being rolled out.
"Your Highness," Candance said unexpectedly, bowing to Twilight.
Twilight responded with a bow. "Your Highness."
Cadance laughed. "I'm only teasing, Twilight. We're sisters-in-law. We don't have to be so formal." She nodded back at her guards, who returned to the train. She turned to Harry. "The train will be back this way in half an hour, you can take it to the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor tells me he's got something special for you today."
Harry nodded with a quick "thank you" before the train took off again. The two sisters-in-law walked away, ready for a fun, stress-free day. Twilight quickly moved away from Cadance to dash over to the group. "You guys—"
"Now, now, don't you worry about a thing! We will make sure that nothing—but nothing—interferes with your visit," Rarity promised.
"Go on, have a hootenanny with your kinfolk." Applejack insisted.
"You really are the best friends a pony could ever have. Coming, Cadance!" Twilight called as he galloped away.
Pinkie Pie sighed happily as the two princesses walked away. "Two sisters-in-law bonding. Well, I for one am gonna make sure that nothing spoils their day!" she declared.
As soon as this was said, Harry noticed a swirling thing rapidly approaching the train station. He hadn't seen anything like that before, but what did he know?
"Hey, um, is that normal?" Harry pointed at the thing.
"Whatever it is... duck!" Rarity shouted. Everypony dove for cover.
"Rarity, that doesn't look anything like a duck!" Pinkie Pie said.
Rarity was quick to drag Pinkie to the ground before it hit her. The thing missed the group and flew into a nearby tree.
"What is that?" Rainbow Dash said.
"No, not a 'what', but a 'who', dear," a voice said.
"Oh, no..." Rainbow Dash realized. "That sounds like..."
"Achoo!" The tree was incinerated in a blue flame, revealing the only draconequus in Equestria.
"Discord!"
"What in tarnation are you doing here?" Applejack shouted up at the draconequus. "And why the jumping June bugs are you blue?"
"More like a shade of cerulean, to be precise," Rarity corrected.
"Whatever color you are is the color of trouble!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash, I've changed, surely you remember? I was reformed by lovely little—" Discord started sniffing. "F-F-Fluttershy—" Discord sneezed, and some poor pony's home floated off its foundations. Harry cringed, knowing that somepony was going to have to reverse that, likely Twilight.
"What are you, sick or something?" Applejack asked.
"Well, of course I'm sick. The blue skin? These sneezes? Could somebody find me a fainting couch?"
Everypony looked at Rarity.
"What?"
Pinkie Pie dragged a pile of luggage for Discord to rest against. The blue creature rested against it tiredly.
"How charming, thank you. I can't stop sneezing and wheezing. In short... I need help."
"If you're so 'sick', why have you come here instead of, y'know, staying home in bed and getting over your weird illness?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because this condition has left me helpless, simply helpless! Why, I can barely lift a spoon." As though to prove his point, Discord fumbled for a comically small spoon. Harry felt an eyebrow quirk up. "I came to find the one pony who truly understands me and could nurse me back to health. Where is that dear, sweet Fluttershy? I need attention! I need some care! I need—"
Rainbow Dash shoved her hoof in his face. "You need to chill. Fluttershy's out."
"Oh, of course, her trip to see the Breezies," Discord said, sounding disappointed. "Ah, yes, I had forgotten that was today."
"How do you know about her trip?" Applejack asked suspiciously.
Discord held out a letter from his bag. "Well, she told me about it in her last letter."
"You and Fluttershy write each other letters?" Pinkie Pie said, surprised.
"Why's that surprising?" Harry asked. "Discord has a total of..." He held up a hoof. Shame he didn't have fingers. "...one friend."
"Harry's right. We're friends!" Discord reappeared in an open-back hospital gown. "It's just such a shame that today of all days is when I really need her. Oh, well, I know what to do."
"Good thinking. Head on home; put your feet up." Rainbow Dash shoved Discord back to the station and gave him a hat and suitcase. "I'm sure eventually you'll have the strength to make yourself soup or something," she said as he flew away.
Harry turned around, and Discord was right where he stood before. Can this guy stay still for five seconds!?
Discord shook his head. "Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no! I mean, while she's gone, you ponies can take care of me! Isn't that what friends are for, taking care of each other?" He laughed as he pulled the five ponies in a group hug. "Let the healing begin!
Rainbow Dash wormed her way out of the hug. "Not it!" she shouted as she vanished over the horizon.
"Well, so much for the Element of Loyalty," Harry remarked as Rainbow's trail vanished.
Discord scoffed. "Right with you, Harry, that's some way to treat a suffering friend."
Pinkie Pie bounced up to the draconequus, throwing her hoofs around him in a hug. "Don't you worry, Discord! I'll give you cuddles, and read you stories, and tell you all about me! I was born on a Tuesday—"
Discord literally split himself in two to avoid the pink pony. "Oh, you're so sweet to offer, but Rarity, Applejack, and Harry already volunteered to be my own personal nursemaids."
"We did?" Rarity and Applejack said.
"I so hope you don't mind, Pinkie Pie," Discord said with the fakest sincerity Harry had ever heard.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I most certainly- Hey! Who keeps throwing away these perfectly good balloons?"
"Sorry, I'm heading out of town," Harry said. He turned to the unfortunate two ponies. "Sorry, but there's no way I'm not getting involved in this. He's going to sneeze and send me to the Island of the Returned or something, and I'm not dealing with my fanmares today. I have plans."
Applejack leaned in so only the three of them could hear her. "That's alright, Harry. Rarity, that joker's up to something, and whatever it is, the two of us are gonna keep it as far away from Twilight and Princess Cadance as possible."
They looked over to Discord, who was now in a hospital bed with a loud EKG beeping at his bedside.
"You're right," Rarity said. "We promised we wouldn't let anything ruin their visit... although I do so wish that 'anything' had turned out to be something else!"
The tree they were standing next to morphed into Discord. "Did I hear you two talking about Princess Cadance's visit with Princess Twilight?"
"Maybe," Applejack replied stiffly.
"Fluttershy had mentioned that those two were getting together today. Mm-hm. How wonderful for them both. It is so rare that those two get to see one another. I don't know about you, but I sometimes wonder how close they could actually be. All those years apart before being reunited?
"They're close enough," Harry answered firmly. He didn't like where this was going: downhill.
Discord nodded. "And if they're not, this rare opportunity to focus on their friendship will certainly bring them closer. Unless..."
The three friends looked at each other, panic settling in at the implications.
"Don't even think about it! They mustn't be disturbed!" Rarity insisted.
Discord looked offended. "Disturb them? I wouldn't dream of it. Not when I have two such dear friends of my own who have already offered to take care of me. And at such peril!"
"Peril?" Harry asked.
"Why, yes! This flu of mine is highly—" Discord sneezed all over the three "—contagious."
The three of them shuddered as their fur shifted into the same sickly blue as Discord. Harry took a shaky breath. He felt sick, really sick. He hadn't felt this bad in years, and the Dursleys had kept him locked up to keep him from "infecting Dudley with a freakish disease." Oh no, I was going to train with Shining Armor today! Now this guy's gone and gotten me sick with "blue flu".
"ACHOO!" all three sneezed with great force, flinging themselves backward.
"Oh no, I've gotten you all sick," Discord said.
"You did that on purpose you misshapen jigsaw puzzle!" Harry shouted, which spiked a headache.
"I said it was contagious, no need for name-calling," Discord said. "But with you three sick, whomever shall I turn to now in my time of need? "
"Discord! I'm going to—!" Harry sneezed and his head throbbed. He felt awful. "...go lie down."