//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Celestial Tortures Book I: Monster // by Rarity Belle //------------------------------// “Time went by and I fell so in love with you. Leading myself to believe what wasn't the truth.”   The two of them had no idea knew for how long they kissed but what they did know was that it was long as the sun began to descend. The both of them slowly opened their eyes, as the kiss broke ever so gently. “I love you, Celestia,” said the draconequus with a loving voice.         “I love you too, Discord,” the white mare replied in the same tone.         Both stared deep in the eyes of the other. In which they slowly began to lose the track of reality. The more they lost track, the less the feeling of pain became. Harmony and chaos didn't clash each other anymore. But became one thing for each other and that thing was love. ---   Meanwhile Luna trotted happily back into the palace after her visit to the planetarium and went to her sister's bedroom. “Tia, you have no idea what you missed! It was amazing to see it all, to look into deep space!” she said as she walked in the doorway. But when she opened her eyes, the mare took notice her sister wasn't there. Luna pulled up her shoulders and spoke to herself. “Maybe she is with mom and dad in the throne room.” The young alicorn closed the door again and made her way over to throne room. All in the hope she was there and to tell her parents about her experiences.         The dark blue mare trotted the long way to the throne room through the many halls of the palace. But in a split second had she decided to take a little of a different route. A detour by walking outside and through the garden, more specifically: the lunar garden. Luna had always loved the sight of the lunar flowers which illuminated under the bright full moon. It created an ocean of light and was always a beautiful sight to behold. Luna sat down on her behind and forgot the grasp of time for the moment. She just enjoyed the scenery for what it was. “This must be the best place in the whole garden,” she spoke softly to herself as her eyes fell on the light show.         Father had created the garden in such a way that it was always night. It was just a optical illusion, but one that worked very well. “Mother and father probably want to hear about my day,” she eventually spoke to herself. The young mare had one last look at the flowers before she spread her wings in an elegant manner and took off in a gentle way. She flew towards the throne room with elegance and accuracy. But it was tough for her to leave the wonderful ocean of light behind her.         Mother and Father sat on the throne and cuddled each other in a lovingly manner. There were no important businesses to attend to, their children were gone, so they had the time to cuddle, nuzzle and kiss each other. They brought their lips slowly together for a long and loving kiss when an all too familiar giggle did its turn through the throne room.         “What did we told you about sneaking up to ponies, my daughter?” said Father before he gave a gentle kiss upon the lips of his wife.         The giggle went silent on itself and a dark ball flew into the room. The sphere landed before the throne and wings unwrapped itself only to reveal Luna who giggled lightly. “To not do it. I am sorry mother, father, but you two just looked so cute like that. I didn't want to disturb you, on which I failed a little,” were the words of Luna after she came into view.         Mother chuckled lightly and Father smiled to the mare her words. “That is something we have to work on then,” he said with a playful tone as he turned his attention over to his daughter. “Now my daughter, nestle yourself between us and tell us about your day.” Luna giggled again and jumped over the steps of the throne. She nestled herself between her loving parents and began to talk in scents and colors while Mother and Father listened to her every word in delight. ---   Back on the plains had both Discord and Celestia been watching the sun setting and the raising of the moon. A wonderful sight to behold for the both of them, but it caused the night to fall in slowly. Something that made Celestia break her promise of getting home early. The draconequus turned his attention to the moon and said under a deep sigh. “I, I think, I think I should head home...”         The mare was shocked by the words he had spoken. “B-But what if some creature catches you? Please, come with me, my home is safe and not that far away.” Discord looked a little bit uneasy at her for he knew she was right. And nopony would miss him in his homeland anyway. A near outcast of his own species but the thought to return home, stayed with him for some time as he started to think everything over. It made the young creature doubt even more than ever.         After what appeared to be minutes for him, but it were only mere seconds in real time he brought out his final decision on the matter. “W-What will your parents say, about me, about us?”         The white alicorn looked him comfortable and reassuring in the eyes and placed a hoof on the young draconequus’ shoulder. “They will understand. Do you want to come then?” she said.         Discord couldn't do much else then give a nod. She smiled at the nod and lifted up the flower and took another sniff from it. “Beautiful, just like you my love,” she said. He blushed a little and Celestia started to walk back towards the Castle with Discord to her side. ---   “My, my, sounded like you had quite the splendid day, my daughter,” said Mother just before she nuzzled Luna after she had heard the entire story..         “It was! Everything just was so amazing to see! All the stars, planets and other mysteries! It just is amazing. Shame Tia didn't want to go,” said Luna enthusiastically, but then her voice dropped a bit, “speaking about her, where is she if I may ask?”         Father would be the one to answer that in a calm and comfortable manner, all while he stroked the mane of his beloved daughter. “She went to the plains this afternoon, I assume she is still there, or on her way home. I am not going to be surprised if she lost herself in that beauty.”         Yet when Father said those words, it was Mother winced gently in pain and tried her best to hide it from the other two. “I, I am sure she is on her way yes,” she brought forward as normal as possible. Father took note of the wince however, though as his look turned a little suspiciously to his wife but held a straight face as he started to tickle Luna a little as a distraction.         At the tickling the young mare couldn't do much else then just laugh and that is what she did. She giggled at first, but the more Father tickled her, the more the giggle turned into an all out laughter. “Go easy on her honey,” said Mother as she winced again. “S-She has to go longer with us then just today.” Father kept his eye on Mother but also kept tickling Luna. A Luna who was laughing uncontrollably by then and unable to notice the winces of her mother.         All the sudden were the doors to the throne room swung open and in the opening stood a figure, a figure they all knew too well. The figure held a sunflower in the air with the help of her magic. Mother started to smile as Father stopped tickling Luna whose laughter slowly died and turned her attention to the figure as well. When Father looked at the figure he also had a wince of pain, but didn't let it notice to his daughter or wife.         “Tia!” shouted Luna at the figure which slowly walked up to the throne. The mysterious visitor indeed happened to be Celestia, who came forward as her pink mane covered one of her eyes.         “My lovely daughter!” Mother spoke up with a smile. “Where have you been all this time?”         The white mare giggled at her sister and stood before the throne. “Evening mother, father. Excuse me I am this late from my walk over the plains, but there is somepony I want to introduce you to,” she spoke to her parents in a dreamy voice. A tone they weren’t really used to.         Mother, Father and Luna all looked to the white alicorn while they tried to figure out what she was talking about. “And who is this pony you want to introduce us to?” asked Mother curiously. Father tried to not show his own curiosity but certain hints on his face gave it away. Luna stood up and sat regal ever so regal on the throne looking in interested to her sister.         “Somepony I met on the plains themselves, mother,” added Celestia just before her eyes fell back on the door opening. One that only revealed the fact that nopony standing there. “Excuse me for a moment.” The young mare let out a gentle sigh before her lips curled into a gentle smile.         The mare placed the flower aside as she trotted back to the grand door. Seconds later she disappeared out of their sights. Mother, Father and Luna all looked at each other with the same look on their faces, a look of surprise but also a look of not knowing.         Some mumbling sounds came from the hallway and Mother was able make out her daughter's sweet voice and she tried her best to listen. She didn't catch anything because of a wince that did its turn again. Mother released a soft moan due to the pain and it was caught up by their other daughter. “Mother, what is it? Are you hurt?” Luna asked in a soft but worried voice.         “I, I am f-fine my daughter,” she managed to bring forth with a lot of trouble.         Celestia eventually walked back into the throne room and sat before it, she looked at the door opening once again. In the opening it could be seen that there was a head which slowly a head peeked in. A set of different sized pupiled eyes looked into the throne room and saw Mother and Father, which resulted in its retraction.         Mother noticed the behavior of the head and blinked a couple times before she stood up from the throne and began descending off the steps in elegance, past the white coated young mare and towards the doorway. Then it was Father’s turn to blink a couple time as he looked a little surprised, Celestia and Luna followed his example soon enough.         Mother kept walking towards the doorway but winced only deeper in pain the closer she got to it. She felt something that clashed deep against her inner harmony. She knew what kind of creature was able to do such a thing. “D-D-Dracon, draconequus,” was all she could bring out and started to take steps back. Celestia's pupils became small as she looked to her father who got a serious look on his face.         “I want every guard on that creature right away! They know they are not welcome here, why do they show their filthy faces here?” Father spoke in a demanding way as the guards started to walk towards the doorway. He was almost bellowing the order but managed to maintain himself.         Discord found himself hiding in a corner far away from the doorway as the order reached his ears. As counter for it be began to shiver in true fear. He didn't know what to do and all he could think of was curling up while hoping for the best, which is what he did. “I knew it would end bad... You are a fool, Discord, always have been,” he whimpered to himself.         While more and more guards started to make their way over to the doorway it was Celestia who was faced with a choice. A choice she rather didn't had to make. Her eyes fell upon the doorway and back to her father, who sat on the throne with his eyes set on thunder. She had to choose between her new found love or her family. ---   But something in her actually made the decision for her. Celestia stood up and walked towards the doorway. She rushed passed the marching guards and her mother who was still slowly stepping back. She stood in the doorway and blocked it for the guards while pointed her horn at them, slowly charging it up. Father, Mother nor Luna could believe this turn of events. This was something their daughter and sister never did.         “Celestia!” yelled Father in the traditional royal Canterlot voice. Something that caused the room to shake a little. “What is going in your mind! You know we do not tolerate their kind. We leave them alone so they don't harm us. But if one enters the palace, it shall feel our wrath!” Luna only looked shocked over to her father and as much as she wanted to argue with him, she could understand his reasoning behind it. he had to keep his image up of being one of the most powerful creatures within the lands.         “Stand down or you shall be punished!” he yelled to his daughter while his eyes kept themselves fixed upon the white alicorn. Celestia didn't wanted to stand down under any given circumstances.         Mother looked at Father and then back to Celestia, where Father tried to solve it with action, she always did her best to solve it with words. “My daughter, will you please stand down, discharge your horn, and I will stop the guards. After which you can explain yourself.”         But the mare didn't listen to her father. She kept charging up her horn and more and more magic began to collect in it as it started to buzz lightly due to the power stored in it, keeping her eyes peeled on the guards and her father. The white alicorn listened to both her mothers and fathers words. The mare wanted to believe her mother but her father was known for canceling orders sometimes. Celestia gazed with a near dead stare to her Father for a moment.         Luna couldn't stand it anymore and she jumped off the throne. The blue alicorn slowly made her way over towards her sister. “Tia please, l-listen to me, w-what is going on? W-Why are you d-doing this?” The closer Luna got, the more Celestia calmed down but kept her horn charged with the magic. She was more than ready to unleash the power stored in it. “Sis, calm down and we talk it out,” spoke Luna. She then stood in front of her and slowly moved in for the hug. A shock of surprise went through the white mare as it happened and she wrapped her legs tightly back around her sister, finally discharging her horn. ---   The moment she discharged it was Mother who signaled the guards to return to their posts, but was still wincing a little. Father's look changed back to normal as he didn't say a word nor moved. “Please, my daughter, explain, what is going on,” asked Mother in her calm voice. She laid her eyes upon both of her daughters. Her desires to have it solved peacefully were still as high as ever, but her hope not.         Celestia nodded and gently broke the hug with her beloved sister before she turned her attention over to her mother. “I, I shall, I shall explain.” Relief suddenly flowed through Mother. Celestia sat down in the doorway and looked over to the curled up Draconequus. Without a word spoken she got up again and made her way over to his spot where she laid down next to him. Celestia curled up around him while she started to hum softly in an attempt to comfort her new found love.         Mother shook her head a little in surprise and disbelief at what her daughter just had done and allowed her eyes to fall on Father. Who on his turn let a deep sigh of disappointment. She then gazed back to the doorway and stood up, slowly she made her way towards it and through it. The closer she got, the more she winced in pain but she tried to get over it for her daughter's sake.         Mother made her ways passed the doors and allowed her eyes to look a little around. But in a dark corner did her ears caught a soft sound. Her attention turned over to the particular spot just before a white ball fell in her eyes. She quietly walked over to the white ball but kept being in pain as she gently laid down a couple hooves away. She listened to the humming and remembered it was the song she always hummed when Celestia needed some comfort. Mother couldn't help it as she began to hum softly along.         An ear rose up from the white ball and turned to the direction from the new sound and the humming from the white ball stopped and a head rose up, a head with pink manes. “Why mother?” was all that was being said out of the mouth.         Mothers humming slowly died away as she pondered her thoughts over the question her daughter asked. “I do not know, my daughter... You know how short tempered your father can be at certain points. I am afraid, this is also one of those point...”         “But he doesn't know him!” said Celestia in an almost shouting manner. “I am sorry mother, for my outburst. But also, I am sorry Discord, for my parents treating you like this, I had wished upon a warmer welcome.”         While Mother listened to the words of her daughter, she nodded to accept her apologies but was surprised at the words over the draconequus. “It, it is alright, Celestia, I know I wasn't welcome in pony land, but you, you made it worth going to, your beauty is unmatched... That is why I fell in love with you, your looks, but above all, your personality,” spoke Discord softly but loud enough for Mother to hear it and placed his hand under the chin of Celestia.         “And I love you for your beauty and personality, my love,” replied Celestia with a loving voice. One thing was for certain, the both of them were deeply in love. Was it the exoticness of their species? A draconequus that had never seen a pony and vice versa? It seemed reasonable.         Mother was struck by surprise as many emotion ran through her. Anger, guilt and happiness were just some of them. She didn't know how to feel. Angry because of her daughter went with a chaos maker? Guilty for not giving him a chance? Happy because her daughter found love? She just didn't know it at the moment. She slowly stood up and spoke softly towards them. “Come back, when you are ready.” After which she made her way back to the throne room.         Celestia began to cuddle Discord in a loving way and gave him a small kiss. “Let's give them some time, then we go in sweetie.” He nodded and cuddled softly back. All that the draconequus wanted now was his love to be with him, nothing more, nothing less. ---   Mother walked back into the throne room and up the steps of the throne, she took place next to Luna. The young mare had taken her place back on the throne while she was cuddling Father who had calmed down and cuddled back. His attention turned to his wife as his eyes spoke a thousand words, that questioning look, was more than enough for Mother to open her mouth. “Honey, what I am going to tell next, I want you to stay calm afterwards, rash actions are the least of our priorities.”         Father let go a small chuckle as his first response. “As long as I have my little star here cuddling me, my day can not be broken and you know that,” he said in a playful tone.         Mother nodded under a deep sigh. She didn't know it was true what he said. She spoke with a little sadness but also with happiness in her voice. “There is indeed a draconequus in our hallway... But hear me out, he is causing our winces of pain, but something about him is also off... Normally the winces are much more powerful.”         Father listened with care to her words and nodded while he kept cuddling Luna. “That is true yes. I felt them but they were not powerful at all. But that does not explain Celestia's part.”         “That is the part I want to talk about. Celestia is in love, with him.” After she said that, Mother began to prepare herself for another explosion to go off. One was bound to happen.         But Father tried to keep his promise and actually managed to stay calm. He cuddled Luna even deeper, it seemed to be that that took away some of the stress on the matter. Enough to have him act normally. “Our daughter, is in love, with a Chaos Maker?” he spoke in disbelief. Mother nodded to that and awaited Father's reaction, who only signed deep at the confirmation.         “I think we should be happy about it. I mean, she found love in somepony, shouldn't that be appreciated?” said Luna as she kept cuddling. The both of them looked in surprise to Luna and then to each other, knowing they made a big mistake.         “Y-You are right, Luna. An apology should be in place to say the least,” said Father to them. He began to look a little sad out of his eyes but kept cuddling his daughter. “We shall give them time for now. Whenever they are ready, they shall reveal themselves to us.” ---   Back in the hallway Discord’s eyes peeled through it and saw that was illuminated by countless candles and he looked towards the windows and out of them, he gazed upon the moon before they rested themselves back on Celestia's eyes. “S-Shall we go?”         The mare looked deeply back in his eyes and nodded as she spoke in her sweet and loving voice. “If you are ready, we shall go.”         Discord got back up on his feet and offered Celestia a hand of his. Who took it without a question and he pulled her back up on her hooves. The Draconequus gathered his guts for a much as he could and said with confidence. “I am ready. Are you, Celestia?” The young mare nodded before she placed a hoof in his hand and smiled to her newfound love. Then they slowly walked out of the dark cold corner and towards the throne room. Towards her parents, towards the rulers of Equestria.         Father kept cuddling Luna while Mother held her eyes peeled to the door to see her other daughter. “My sweet, little moon mare, I can stare into your eyes for hours,” spoke Father with a loving voice towards his daughter. The young mare let go a soft squee and looked with big puppy eyes towards her father. “Oh, are we going to play it like that?” chuckled Father when he stared back into them. But before he could do anything else, Mother tapped his shoulder and pointed her head towards the door. Father looked up and in the doorway stood two figures.         A pony and a draconequus had revealed themselves. Celestia and Discord stood in the door opening, holding hoof in hand. A sight that was never expected to be seen.         Despite the grudges against the other race, Father did have a weak in his heart and sighed. It wasn't a sign of sadness, it was an emotion that couldn't be described. Mother looked at the couple and wiped away a small tear as both walked towards the throne, hoof in hand. Luna crawled back up and sat regal on the throne as the lovebirds approached.         It was after a short time stood the two before the throne hoof in hand and Celestia looked in Discord's eyes and then to her family and spoke up. “Mother, father, I met him, during my visit on the plain. And we...” A big blush appeared on her face and she giggled while looking back to Discord. “We are in love, with each other.”         Mother looked at her daughter and smiled, even though she was in pain from Discord's inner chaos. Father let go a small smile and Luna giggled lightly. “Celestia, Luna, if you want to leave us alone with, what is your name again?” said Father.         “The name is Discord, your majesty,” answered the draconequus while he bowed while he still held Celestia's hoof.         “We will father,” spoke Luna to him. Within a second had she stood up and she hopped of the throne. The white mare let go of Discord's hand and she walked alongside her sister, back to her room. Celestia looked at Discord as long as she could before she left the throne room and the door was shut by two guards. Then he suddenly was on his own once again. On his own by the royals.         In the throne room Discord started to fear a little what was going to happen to him. He, a draconequus after all, a chaos maker. In love with the daughter of the rulers of Equestria. He started to prepare himself for the worst and stood with his hands behind his back in a relaxing way.         Father sighed a little and spoke his words in a regal voice. “Discord... A draconequus and in love with my daughter... At one end I should just send you back to where you belong, back over the stone wall, but that would be an act of selfishness. I will not judge you, not yet.”         As he heard the words that came from Father’s mouth, they were the complete opposite of that that what he had expected. The draconequus kept listening closely to Father's closing words. “Make my daughter happy. More, I do not ask from you Chao- I mean, Discord.”         “I, I will do my best, your majesty,” said Discord, who was literally flattered at the words he got to hear. He had to hide a little blush from his cheeks.         Mother took over the words as Father didn't had any left and she spoke with a regal yet caring voice. “You are free to stay in the castle, sleep in the same room as my daughter but you will be given your own room just in case you need to be alone. One of the servants will show you it.”         Discord had a little twinkle in his eyes, he was released, released from the tyranny of the draconequus land. He didn't had to return to that cursed place. He could stay with his new found love and for that, he cared the most.         “Now please, go Discord,” said Mother with a slight smile on her face.         Discord bowed with respect before the two and spoke his words. “I thank you, the both of you.” He stood back up and walked with the servant to his own room.         As the door to the throne closed once again, Mother looked to Father. “Are we doing the right thing? I mean can he, a Chaos-Maker, make our daughter happy?” he spoke to his wife while stroking a hoof through her mane.         Mother pondered her head for a short time and closed her eyes in a relaxing manner. “His heart says yes, but his mind, is unclear about this matter,” she eventually spoke up.         Father let out a deep sigh and made his reply. “All we can do... Is hope then...” ---   Celestia and Luna talked to each other about the happened events until somepony knocked on her door of Celestia’s bedroom, the room the two sisters took refuge in. “Come in,” said Celestia and the door slowly opened. The two looked up and in the doorway stood Discord.         The younger sister stood up and walked towards the doorway. “I shall leave you two alone, for now,” she said giggling with a wink. Discord made way for Luna to pass and smiled friendly at her. The dark blue mare returned the smile and trotted over to her own bedroom. In there she would continue on her many experiments or just watch the skies of other worlds.         Discord looked into the bedroom of the alicorn and noticed the big bed. One big enough for the both of them, a desk with chair and pictures on the wall of Celestia and her family through the years. The windows had beautiful maroon colored curtains before them. The walls had a loving wallpaper on them and Discord just felt the harmony the room gave away, striking against his own chaotic nature, causing him to winces a little in pain, but it slowly disappeared. Celestia didn't notice that as she stood and looked out the window as her attention slowly turned to him after the wince.         “You must be very tired, coming from that far, all the way to here... You need some rest, right?” said Celestia to him, inviting him to the bed already.         Discord nodded and walked a little further in the room. He closed the door behind him. “I, I am tired, yes,” he said, “I walked for chaos knows how long before I met you and add the walk to the castle. My legs are, honestly, killing me.”         “Then come, sleep with me, my love,” said Celestia just before she charged up her horn a little and the blankets moved away.         The draconequus didn't really know what to do but let Celestia enter the bed first. “Ladies first,” he said like the gentlecolt that he was. Only after she made herself comfortable in bed, he would join her. He smiled a little and then came into bed with her, covering them with the blankets using his very own magic.         Celestia came closer to Discord. She started to cuddle him a bit, as he started to cuddle back, they looked each other in the eyes and got lost in them again, bringing their lips closer together and resulting in a small kiss. After a short while they broke the kiss and just kept cuddling the other. Neither of them wanted to let the other one go.         “Night Discord,” said the white mare with a loving, but tired voice.         “Night Celestia,” said Discord in the same manner.         They kept cuddling but slowly their sleep caught them and both fell asleep, still hugging each other. The both of them entering a wonderful dream as the night passed them by.