It was a quiet morning in Canterlot Gardens, the birds chirping sweetly, the sun slowly rising into the sky and bringing with it the warmth and light it could offer. Many citizens were still asleep, cozy in their soft beds and the ponies who were out held a smile on their faces as they continued their morning routine. Everything was perfect, everyone was happy.
Everyone except a certain draconequus sitting on a park bench in the same area where he once stood frozen in stone, that is. It had become a place of calming for him, but he was far from calm at that very moment.
Discord glanced down at the parchment for the umpteenth time that morning, having received the letter earlier from Celestia's phoenix, Philomena. He grumbled under his breath, muttering in annoyance, as his eyes trailed down the message.
Dear Discord,
I regret to inform you that due to the fear you may cause unneeded distress this night, on Nightmare Night, you are hereby forbidden to leave the castle grounds until dawn.
I do apologize, I know you've been looking forward to it, but I can not risk it.
Princess Celestia
"Can not risk it, puh!"
The draconequus lifted himself up and turned his gaze to the castle looming overhead, glaring at the balcony high up, that lead to the princess's chambers. He was quite aware the letter was not a joke and that only fueled his anger.
"I've been looking forward to tonight! How dare she think she can just strip my freedom like that! I am reformed but I still have my freedom!"
Very few things ever upset the draconequus. Very few. But one thing that annoyed him above all, was how Celestia thought she could treat him like a tamed animal. How dare she!? He liked chaos, he liked when things went out of hand - it was his domain, his realm in the land of the living - God of Chaos. But being told he was prohibited to enjoy the one night of the year (except April Foal's, of course) that he could break his reformation and have just a little fun, was frustrating beyond imagining.
He would be having a conversation with Celestia about this and in a flash, the garden was once again empty.
"Sister, pray tell, have you told Discord about tonight?"
Celestia looked up at her sister from her breakfast with a suddenly pained expression. She attempted to hide it, and succeeded, but Luna had seen it either way.
"Yes, he is aware he's not to leave the castle grounds tonight."
"You forebode him from leaving the castle?" Luna asked, rather surprised, and then shook her head and continued, "'Tia, that's probably not a good idea, you know how long he's been looking forward to this. Discord won't be all that happy."
The sun goddess swallowed another bite and smiled at her little sister and was about to reply when all of a sudden the great twin doors to the main hall were pushed opened and in came a rather upset draconequus - accompanied by two guards who were trying to keep him out and were failing terribly.
"Speak of the demon," Luna said under her breath and her sister shot her a warning glare to which she responded with a childish grin. Celestia lifted her head and faced the oncoming demon, she knew what this was about.
"What is this?" he asked, thrusting the piece of parchment in the air for all to see, "tell me this is some cruel joke!"
Celestia was about to respond but was interrupted - again - by the sound of Luna's chair grating against the ground as she stepped off and excused herself.
"I'll see you tonight, sister?"
Wait! Luna! Don't leave me to deal with him alone! Celestia thought, rather frantically and it must have been evident enough on her face because her sister only smirked and before she could say another word, Luna had already reached the doors and was out of sight. She turned back to Discord, and wished she hadn't.
"It's no joke, it's for the safety of my subjects and you should be able to understand that," she said, pulling her normal regal composure together again.
"Forbidden? To even leave the castle grounds? This is absurd! Even for you!"
Celestia blinked, her composure cracking for a mere milisecond before returning, "and what is that supposed to mean?"
The demon before her crossed his arms, tapping his foot as he appeared to lean on an imaginable wall.
"You know exactly what that means, princess," he growled, almost spitting out the last word like a vile tasting food. Celestia shook her head slowly and, lifting a serviette in golden magic, dabbed it on her lips and then rose from her chair, striding towards the double doors Luna had exited through.
"It's for the best Discord, please understand that. I let you get away with April Foal's and look what happened?"
"Hey! That wasn't even my fault!"
"Flooding the castle in chocolate milk wasn't you fault? You turned the castle's water supply into chocolate milk. Do you remember that?"
Discord stammered for a second, but he did respond, "How was I to know that tap in the kitchens was broken?"
"You're not going tonight," Celestia said sternly, glaring back at him, daring him to defy her. He did however, stomping towards her, tail flickering annoyed and causing the nearby guardsponies to shuffle and prepare to, at any moment, spring to her aid. Though it wouldn't be necessary.
"You can't treat me like some tamed animal," Discord growled, getting right up into her face. She glared back at him, pushing her head forward to force him away, which only made him stand his ground.
"Stand down Discord, I am doing this for the safety of Equestria, I know you were looking forward to it but after April Foal's I can not allowed you to roam free during-"
"I AM free - I may be reformed but I'm not your pet. You can not tell me what I can and can't do," he fired back, cutting her off and Celestia could feel his gaze intensifying with every word. She refused to move and did not respond, she merely waited. Sure enough the draconequus grumbled some more and lifted himself away, storming towards the door and then flashing out of existence, a crumpled piece of paper hitting the floor.
Celestia remained still for several moments, long enough to have one of the guardsponies worriedly ask, "Princess, are you alright?"
She closed her eyes and nodded, re-opening them in a much softer expression and briefly thanking the guard for his concern before assuring them Discord was of no threat. She turned towards the doors leaving them behind as she advanced down the hallway to her other daily duties.
Discord won't interfere with tonight, he might be the god of chaos but even he has boundaries. Everything will be fine.
Celestia will not stop me from partaking in Nightmare Night! I am the god of chaos and this is one of the best nights for pranking! I'll show her! Discord thought as he paced back and forth, once again in the garden near his original residence.
He stopped pacing and looked up at the balcony he'd seen earlier.
I'll show her. I'll show them all! This Nightmare Night will be a night they'll never forget!!