//------------------------------//
// Infiltrations and Old Acquaintances 
// Story: Discord's Final Wish 
// by BaleonRosen 
//------------------------------//

Discord and Cake flew up the mountain at a swift pace, slowing only as they neared the top. When they finally reached the top of the mountain, they floated just below the edge, so as not to be seen. 
“Alright, here’s what we are going to do.”
Discord pulled a table out of the air and it floated in front of the two aspiring infiltrators. Cake watched as a large piece of parchment and a quill materialized on the table and Discord began to draw. 
“We will enter through this back door here,” he explained pointing to his surprisingly accurate drawing of the castle, “There should be a twenty second gap between the guard changes that will allow us to get in unnoticed.”

Cake finally voiced the question that was picking at his mind. 
“Won’t we be invisible though? Why the secrecy and planning?” 
“We won’t be invisible. Well, not really. We will just be ignored by anything that happens to be looking at us.”
“I still don’t see why there is the need for such intricate planning,” Cake told Discord.
Discord looked at him sheepishly before scratching the back of his head and looking away. 
“Well, mostly because I have always wanted to be a part of a heist or other crime that involved planning and teamwork. But there is also a major flaw with this magic.” 
Cake squeaked and Discord looked back at him. Cake seemed to be fine so Discord forgot about the sound. 
“That being?” asked Cake impatiently. 
“If any living being touches us, or we draw too much attention to ourselves, the spell will be rendered ineffective.”

Cake seemed to understand so Discord continued. 
“If, by some strange chance, we do get noticed, I should be able to create a diversion that will allow us to slip by.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” Cake asked. 
“Well,” replied Discord, “if it doesn’t work then we run like crazy and jump off the nearest cliff.” 
Shaking his ‘head’ Cake sighed. 
“What?” Discord snapped, disliking the derogatory actions from his servant.

Cake began talking in an uncharacteristically calm and assertive manner. 
“You, Discord, the one who could currently plunge Equestria into eternal chaos, are scared of getting caught by some everyday guards.”
Discord opened his mouth to yell at Cake but Cake continued; his calm tone had been replaced with a more aggressive one. 
“There are a variety of ways that you could have entered the castle, we both know it. Instead you use the most asinine method you could think of, the escape plan of which involves running and jumping off a cliff!” 
That’s strange, I don’t remember telling him very much about Equestria. Or me for that matter, Discord thought this over in his head while Cake continued ranting, almost yelling now. 
“So after three decades you finally come back to Canterlot and you are too scared to even enter the castle!” 

This last statement caused Discord to snap back to reality and grab hold of Cake’s wings. An audible yelp came from Cake’s beak as Discord tightened his grip around the creature’s wings. 
“Who are you?” snarled Discord, his face almost against Cake’s own. 
Cake chuckled slightly and closed his eye. 
“How did you figure it out?” he asked Discord. 
“I hardly told Cake anything about Equestria or me. The only things he knows about are what happened today, and that I attacked the royal sisters a long time ago. Even I don’t know how long it was,” Discord replied coldly.

“I guess I got too carried away,” Cake said, as a green aura began to surround him.
After a few moments, Cake was nowhere to be seen. Instead, just under Discords claw, was a changeling, its bug-like wings keeping it level with Discord. The changeling was far smaller than Cake was, probably no bigger than a foal, and had brown-orange eyes. Said eyes confused Discord, as he had only ever seen a few changelings, and they all had blue eyes. 

The changeling noticed Discord’s staring and interrupted his inspection. 
“I’m Titian Drone,” said the changeling, extending a hoof, “an odd name, I know, but it’s mine nonetheless.” 
Discord reached out his paw and grasped the offered hoof, tentatively shaking it. 
“Gee, you are different to what I imagined,” Titian sighed, “I thought you would be cooler. But you’re just a scaredy cat.”
“I’ll have you know that cats can be quite fierce, and aren’t nearly as timid as you insinuate!”
Discord reacted more strongly than he expected.
Must be the feline part of me, he thought before turning his attention back to Titian. 
“And you, miss- uh, mister- um…” 
Discord’s sudden burst of energy was stopped in its tracks by his lack of knowledge regarding changelings and their genders.

“We changelings aren't technically colts or fillies, but we usually act like one of them anyway.”
Discord wondered what this changeling referred to itself as. As if reading his mind, Titian flew upwards slightly so the two were eye level and began to speak. 
“I am a filly. Sort of.” 
Discord shook his head before he remembered something important. Cake was missing. 
“Where is Cake?” he asked Titian, anger and fear mixing into one. 
She just chuckled and placed a hoof on Discord’s shoulder. 
“Don’t worry, he is with the Princesses. I just asked if I could have some fun, that’s all.”

Though he still wasn’t convinced Cake was safe, he relaxed slightly, knowing that Celestia wouldn’t destroy him if she had him. 
“He had better be,” Discord growled, his eyes fixated on the changeling in front of him. 
She laughed again and began to fly toward the ledge above them. 
“Come on,” she called to him, “let’s go see the Princesses. They want to see you.” 
Discord was hesitant.
I could be walking into a trap. They could have made new Elements of Harmony and they are just waiting to turn me to stone. I just met this changeling, why should I trust her? 
A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind as he floated there. A sharp nudge from Titian brought him back to his senses.

“If we don’t go soon, the castle will be packed. The sun is almost rising.” 
Titian gestured to the horizon and Discords followed her movements. He turned in the air to face the changeling and sighed. 
“Come on,” he said, seemingly unhappy with his current situation, “let’s go already.” 
Titian smiled warmly and took his claw in her hoof. Before Discord knew what had happened, the two had disappeared, letting the table that was floating drop. 


-----


Discord felt nauseous as the two reappeared somewhere inside Canterlot Castle. 
It’s one thing to teleport, another to be teleported.
After he had stopped feeling ill, Discord looked around the room he was currently in. It was a large, circular room, which was also quite tall. His first thought was that they were underground, but that thought was quickly dashed when he saw a window that allowed a view of the land below. He walked over to it, amazed by how serene the land of Equestria was at this time of day.
How can they be so calm when there is chaos to incite? He asked himself, not expecting an answer.

“Enjoying the view, Discord?”
The voice that broke his concentration on the calm land below made him freeze in fear.
No, you can’t be scared Discord. You are stronger than them. Even if they have new Elements, this is what you wanted. A goal. Or something fun to do. How about outrunning the enraged rulers of Equestria and saving a useless creature made of cake. That sounds fun, right?
His internal monologue was right. He wasn’t going to get anywhere being afraid. He took a deep breath and turned to face the newcomer that stood in the doorway. 

“Hello Celestia,” he choked, trying to hide the fear that he felt, “fancy meeting you here.”
Celestia chuckled quietly and stepped forward, closing the door behind her with her magic. 
“Well Discord, I can tell you are nervous, so why don’t we get straight to the point of this visit?” 
Discord knew that it wasn’t so much a question as it was an order. He cleared his throat and began his speech. He had read it at least twice, so he was pretty sure he could remember it. Probably.

“Very well then. Celestia, I have found myself bored as of late, and all attempts to alleviate that boredom have been unsuccessful. After careful thought, I have discovered what I need to be less bored. A goal. I want a goal to aspire towards, so that I may spend my eternity doing something. But you see, I can’t think of what my goal should be, and I was wondering if you and Luna could help me to find my goal in life.” 

Discord took a deep breath and then began breathing normally.
Reciting the whole thing in one breath? Bad idea. Discord made a mental note and then turned his focus to the sun Princess. Celestia was standing silently, her eyes closed.
What is she waiting for? Discord asked himself, genuinely wondering what she was doing. A few moments passed before Celestia opened her eyes and looked at Discord. He wasn’t sure if the slight smile on her face was comforting or terrifying. 
“I believe there was one other thing you were going to say Discord,” Celestia’s voice held a calmness that he found uncomfortable, “wasn’t there?” 

Discord frantically thought of what she could be talking about, not wanting to upset the Princess any more than she was already. Then he realized what she meant. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and then spoke. 
“Celestia, I am sorry for how I treated you when we last met.” 
He tried to make his apology sound as genuine as possible, and the fear in his voice helped. 
“I forgive you Discord,” Celestia said calmly, though Discord noted that any anger had now left her voice. 
Sighing with relief, Discord slumped to the floor, his back running along the surprisingly smooth stone walls. He closed his eyes and sighed again.
“That’s good,” he muttered, allowing himself to relax.

“Titian was right Discord, you have changed.”
Celestia almost seemed sad as she said this, and Discord couldn’t help but feel angry at this pity she was showing him. 
“I don’t need your pity Celestia!” He yelled, teleporting into the air beside her. “I just need to know if you will help me!” 
Celestia remained composed, even under Discord’s hateful glare. 
“I do not pity you Discord. I was merely stating a fact.” 
The way she smiled when she said it made Discord even angrier, but he didn’t continue. 
“Follow me Discord,” ordered Celestia, turning and opening the door with ease. 

As she left the room Discord followed, using his claw to close the door behind him. 
“I think it would be best if I stayed hidden, Celestia,” the spirit whispered, dropping into the sun Princess’ shadow. 
“While you may be somewhat of an oddity in this castle Discord, nopo-” the Princess tripped over her words for a fraction of a second before continuing almost immediately, “no ONE will bother you while you are in my presence.” 
Not quite convinced, Discord’s eyes poked out of the ground and gave Celestia a questioning look. 
“You may get a few stares though,” she laughed, and Discord decided it was easier to stay hidden.

That was until they walked into the longest hallway he had ever seen in his life. It was enormous, at least three times longer than the Princesses’ throne room and twice as wide. The walls were lined with windows and what appeared to be magical lamps. Said windows and lamps threw light across the room haphazardly, eliminating nearly every shadow along the vast hallway. 
“How am I supposed to get through here?” asked the shadow, glaring at the Princess. 
“I guess you will have to follow me normally.”
Celestia shrugged slightly and Discord noticed the almost evil smile on her face. 
She didn’t need to go this way at all; she is just doing it to torment me! Discord cursed Celestia in his head and slowly began to leave the shadows. Just before he did though, a wicked thought came to his mind. 

Instead of Discord’s very distinct form rising from the shadows around her, Celestia watched herself hop out of the ground with a spring in her step. 
“Discord. Change. Back. Now.” 
Celestia’s smile had vanished and she was giving her doppelganger a very vicious look. 
Knowing that this angered the Princess, he decided to torment her further. 
“Titian, please don’t copy me while we are walking around the castle, it will confuse everyone.” 
The look of anger and shock on Celestia’s face at this statement caused Discord burst into laughter. 

The Princess gritted her teeth and began walking down the blindingly bright hallway with the laughing clone following her every move. Many ponies (and a few changelings Discord saw) stopped to stare at the angry and laughing duo walking down the corridor. When they had reached their destination, a large wooden door, Discord reverted to his normal form. He was still snickering at how easily he had gotten under the Princess’ skin and said Princess had an expression of pure hatred on her face.

“What I don’t get, Celestia,” started Discord, breaking the near silence, “is why you got so angry at that harmless joke? I mean, it’s not like I hurt anyone.” 
Celestia sighed, letting her hateful expression melt away. 
“I was angrier at the embarrassment you caused me. I am also going to have no end to the questions about my student’s obedience.” 
She cleared her throat and held a hoof to her chest before putting on a mocking voice. 
“Princess, is it true that your student is pretending to be you? Am I talking to the real Celestia? Will Titian be reprimanded for her behaviour in front of others?” 
Her tirade finished, Celestia relaxed. Discord just looked at her. 

“Sounds like you have become tired as of late Princess.” 
She just nodded before turning to the door. 
“They treat Titian like a newborn, as if she has to be taught everything. I just wish that they would let me relax every once in a while.” 
The tired Princess shook her head and the tell-tale glow of magic surrounded her horn. The door slowly opened in ward and as Discord stepped into the dark room, a large object was hurled at him and he blacked out.