Miracles.
The hospital mental ward. It was a place few went willingly. The only individuals that really wanted to enter the sterilized interior were relatives of those inside. Friends of those that were lost in their own mental prisons would come by every now and then.
Today, however, they had a very special guest.
A certain draconequus.
He was currently masquerading as a ceiling tile, moving from corner to corner, and ceiling light to ceiling light. There weren't too many ponies that were permanent residents at the mental ward in Ponyville, most were there for simple overnight stays and evalutations. Of those that had longer stays, well it was either at their own voalition, or those of their relatives.
There was one case, however, that had piqued the draconequus' interest.
Contrary to what many would say, he was far from a heartless individual, as his interactions with Fluttershy showed to all the world. For the most part, the events of that day were left to churn in his mind. Friends. Such an interesting concept.
The little pegasus had awakened memories and a part of his heart that had long since been sealed away, turned to stone like the statue he used to be.
Now now, Discord. Dwell on your affections later. She'll be back at the castle, as always. For now, find that pony.
He sighed. His own thoughts could be so boring sometimes! But, his internal goal-oriented self had a point.
He was here, because a challenge had presented itself.
Of course, he knew Celestia had been goading him on. Why else would she mention something that “Even you cannot solve?”
If that was not a challenge, Discord didn't know what was. Whatever her intentions were, he didn't care anymore. No, he wanted to prove her wrong.
Say it.
No! I refuse.
Say it.
Fine. He gagged. And maybe make somepony happy.
See? That wasn't so hard. Wouldn't Fluttershy be proud!
…Touche.
Discord snorted, or rather, the ceiling tile version of him did, a puff of steam emanating from the otherwise ordinary object.
It hovered dangerously close to smoke detector.
Oh, that would be so delightful!
It would also delay what we’re doing here.
He gave a soft growl before dispersing the cloud of vapor.
A whole new type of chaos had been shown to him by Fluttershy, anyway. True, there was a different kind of satisfaction by causing long-legged bunnies to chase ponies hither-and-thither, but it was a start.
He would still wreak chaos, of course, but with certain stipulations. Celestia called it “using your powers for good.” Fluttershy put it more simply (and softly) as “Just be nice.”
However it was phrased, Discord knew what they meant, and intended to take full liberty of such statements. He had never imagined that chaos could be manipulated for a more... “nice” purpose.
Of course, he hadn't often tried.
This trip was to make his friends happy, and satisfy his lust for disorder.
And, it would make who else happy?
I don't know who you're talking about.
Liar.
Nope.
Liiiiar.
Am I really having a conversation with myself?
Yes. Yes you are. Now say it. Who else would be happy?
….Celestia.
Good boy. Now go find the pony.
Today, there would be chaos.
A few doors down, a bark sounded, echoing through the long hallways.
A dog, here?
No. You dunce. That's our pony.
Ah. Excellent.
A few ceiling tile movements later, and the draconequus was looking down into the plain room, where a straitjacket clad mare dwelt.
There was a split second where Discord actually took pleasure in the scene. A pony acting like it should not—that was chaos, plain and simple!
And yet...
The eyes on the ceiling tile narrowed with displeasure. There was more. Another mind was trapped inside this body. Some individual in this room was in utter agony.
How we have changed. You would have loved to see this scene repeated across Equestria but a short time ago. Now, it actually causes you pain.
Shut it. It is chaos, but it is not the kind I cause now!
Pish. You are growing soft.
I am not! I am no murder or torturer, although some may disagree. I delight in randomness, not...suffering!
And yet you do. You did. For centuries you laughed at ponies like this.
There was a price to being brilliant. You could lose an argument with yourself. Discord vowed to bring this up to Celestia later, because the dichotomy was causing him no small sense of dissatisfaction in his heart. He wanted to like seeing this pony utterly insane, but why was such a sight now displeasing?
Once again, his mind gave the answer.
Because of him.
Discord looked down, and saw another pony, embracing the occupant of the cell.
“Hey there.”
In response, the straitjacket clad mare barked, and Discord could see the pain in the other pony's eyes.
“Having a rough day, Screw Loose?”
Screw Loose. That was the name of the crazy pony. How fitting.
Before the draconequus could even be a bit amused at the pun-ness of the entire ordeal, the other pony began to speak. The visitor, a stallion with a silver coat and a fatigued demeanor, sat down and looked at Screw Loose.
“The doctors still have nothing. They say maybe upping the dosage would have an affect...but I don't know.”
Screw, or the pony-dog that was in her body, simply whimpered.
“S-sorry Screw...I'm so so sorry.”
“Go away! You stupid dog, let me talk to him!”
The ceiling tile actually jumped a few inches in fright as the mare's loud voice rang off the cell walls, her eyes becoming clear as she looked to the visitor.
“Silver...”
The two ponies broke down in tears, holding each other with a tight embrace.
That was when it smacked Discord with the force of a hammer.
They were in love.
The draconequus's heart seized up as he realized the situation. Even as Screw began to bark, Silver's voice echoed around the cell.
“I won't forget about you. I'm not giving up on you.”
He couldn't resist. A brief probing of the stallion's mind was all it took.
Engaged!? To her?!
Oh dear.
✦✦✦✦✦
Celestia was abruptly yanked from her throne room, from where she had been reading the newest set of laws to go into effect, and found herself standing on a large pink cloud, which seemed to stick to her hooves.
“Discord! What have I told you about—” her voice stopped as she saw the mismatched creature floating, staring at his claws.
“Discord?”
The draconequus looked up to her, a faint smile on his features.
“Ah. Hello 'Tia. Sorry to yank you away, but this is urgent.”
Very few times in his long life had Discord ever been truly serious, and he had always wanted to keep it that way. Yet this moment was another addition to that short list.
Mainly, because it concerned a part of Discord's life that, until recently, had been a knife in his heart.
“I visited the pony. The one you said couldn't be healed.”
Celestia sat down on the cotton candy cloud, giving the mismatched creature one hundred percent of her attention.
This was new....
“The spells failed because the doctors are naïve. They are dealing with two creatures in one body. Two separate minds. There is no spell to take the mind of a pony and shove it into another body, or in this case, the mind of a dog.” Discord's voice was unusually flat, lacking even a smidgen of peppiness so characteristic to him.
“Can you help her?” Celestia couldn't keep the eagerness from her tone. The situation had been brought to her attention by no small number of inhabitants in Ponyville. When Twilight Sparkle's magic failed to solve a problem, rarely did the librarian rest until something was done about it.
“Yes. No small task, mind you. I will need your...help. But yes. I can do something about it.”
Celestia didn't buy it.
“Then why are you so sullen? I know seeing happy ponies makes you gag—”
“This is different!” he roared. For a second, the draconequus' face was wreathed in a vicious snarl, one not seen by a pony in over a thousand years.
Any normal pony, anyway…
“How is it different?” she asked. "Tell me."
✦✦✦✦✦
“Tia, she's still engaged.”
Celestia failed to understand, and could only blink as she pondered.
“I know...” The alicorn struggled to keep her tone level and not too annoyed. Was he really having issues with the lovey-dovey aspect of life again?
The draconequus got up and began to pace the cloud, his thoughtful state another oddity presenting itself.
“You don't get it. Her fiance loves her, even like that. I...I don't understand it.”
Oh.
Knowing he was not the most affectionate creature to exist, Celestia opted for a simple hoof prod to his chest. “You don't have to.”
The sudden touch seemed to snap Discord out of his pensive state, because he quickly floated skyward, a mischievous smile edging back onto his features.
“Too true 'Tia. I think that is enough thinking for today. As for the mare, let me know when I can be scheduled to help. Until then, there are some ponies in need of confectionary attacks.”
Seeing Celestia's disapproving glare, Discord held up his paws in defense, an innocent smile on his face.
“They're camping, 'Tia,” he said, pointing to the forest below them, which she was sure was not there a moment ago. “S'mores supplies will rain on them from above, nothing harmful.”
He then disappeared with a 'pop', re-materializing above a clearing, where a large group of school fillies and colts were gathered.
“Well…” Celestia began, her eyes somewhere between narrowing and rolling. “I suppose a slight scare wouldn't hurt.”