Canterlot, thousands of years before what you know of it today. It was known now as Havok, the chaos capital of the world. But the chaos then is also before what you know of it today....
The king yawned on his throne, scratching his cheek with a taloned hand. He may find ruling boring but he needed to do it. Somebody did. "Is it time for sleep yet?" he whined, looking over to the second, smaller pair of thrones. One was empty.
The filled one held a tall pony, one with both wings and a horn. Her pelt was a beautiful white, and her multicolored luminescent mane flowing without wind. She shook her head, catching Discord's yawn. "Not...not yet. Luna's raising the moon now." she murmured sleepily.
Discord groaned and snapped his fingers, and an image of Luna appeared, her eyes clenched closed and her horn sparking as she worked on her spell. "Not...now...please, Discord..." she grunted. Discord shrugged innocently, his mouth gone completely. Celestia giggled at that.
After a moment, Luna was enveloped in a bright light as sge raised her hooves up, the moon finally drifting into the sky.
Panting, she turned to the display of Discord. "Yes, your Highness?" she asked. Discord winced.
"You know I don't like being called that, Luna." he pouted. "Anyway, can you make sure tonight is extra...nighty?" he asked, receiving a blank stare. "I want to sleep like a filly."
Luna just blinked and sighed. "Of course, once I figure out what that means." she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Excellent! I'll stay up with you tomorrow night, I promise. I hate to let you feel lonely." Discord quipped. "Now, I shall be retiring! Even Chaos needs rest!" he chuckled, flying towards his own room.
"Discord, can you wait a moment?" he heard a voice behind him. Turning, he saw Celestia trotting towards him.
"Eeeyess?" he asked, in a playfully annoyance. She knew he was only joking, however.
"I just wanted to thank you. For what you said to Luna." she said. Discord blinked.
"What did I say?" he finally asked in confusion once he couldn't figure it out.
"'I hate to let you feel lonely.' I think she hates being the Princess of the Night since no one is awake during her turn." she murmured.
Discord shrugged, not used to sincere thanks like that. He was a fair ruler, but it was a thankless job. Ponies expected him to be good, so they didn't feel the need to thank him.
"We're young. Especially Luna. We couldn't handle both the subjects and the control of the sun and moon. We're glad you stepped in to help." she continued. Discord was bashful under praise, running the back of his neck.
"Please, I'm no older than you. It's nothing. This place is fun anyway, lots if chaos to control." he said. Celly just smiled and hugged her.
And in that moment he knew. He suddenly knew what he felt.
He loved Celestia.
It all made sense. The time together, the affection and kindness uncharacteristic for a chaos god. He respected her maternal instincts towards her sister.
Discord blinked. Blinked hard. Something down in Havok probably changed from how hard and confused he blinked.
He looked down at the mare hugging him. He slowly returned the hug, patting her back. "Celestia...I..." he began, then froze.
"You...?"
"....hope you have a good night's rest." he said, and he was gone, leaving a confused alicorm in the halls.
~~~
The next morning, Discord was awoken by sunlight filtering in through his window. He yawned and stretched, standing up.
Then his memories from the night before hit. What was he supposed to do? Ignore it? Confront it? Use his magic and change it?
No...he wanted to feel it. More than anything.
He had to talk to her.
He darted through the halls to the throne room, his eyes locking in on the duo thrones. They were empty. His heart skipped a beat.
"Oh, hello, Discord. Have a nice sleep?" Discord jumped at the sound behind him, turning to see Celestia walking through the doors.
"Uh, oh! Yes, I did. And you?" he responded nervously, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"It was a good rest. Luna did indeed make it very 'nighty'." she giggled at the word he had used earlier. Discord chuckled.
"Listen, Celestia, I have...I have a question for you." the spirit of chaos murmured, tapping his talons against his paws.
Somber by his behavior, she sits down and nods curtly. Her mane flows around her face, framing it perfectly.
"Uh...uh...a-as you know, I am a queen. Uh- I mean a king! I'm king here, but I lack a companion. Not that you aren't a companion, o-or Luna for that matter, b-but I was thinking something deeper..." Discord took a deep breath.
"Celestia, I am in love with you."
Silence.
Did he say it or think it?
"I-I said-"
"I know what you said." she murmured, her ears down and eyes distant. "Discord, I don't think...I don't think that can happen..." she murmured. "I'm sorry."
Discord was silent. After several moments, he opened his mouth, soundless.
"Oh. My sincerest apologies." he replied solemnly. "I shouldn't have..."
"You're too...unpredictable, Discord. It's impossible to know what you'll do next. Impossible to be stable with you. Impossible to settle down.
You're too chaotic."
Celestia blinked. Discord was gone.
~~~
"Have you ever been to the Morello Circus in Riverbend?" Luna asked the king as they sat together on the observation balcony as the moon neared its center point in the sky.
"No."
"You really should! I went once and they had some amazing acts. I saw a fire eater, sword juggler, tightrope walker..."
"Mmhmm."
Discord was forlorn, lost. Broken. You're too chaotic.
How dare she?
"...and I thought he was going to fall for sure!..."
She didnt know the definition of chaotic! She knew nothing! If she thought him to be chaotic, then he should make sure she's not wrong.
He would show her chaotic.
Discord snapped his fingers and Luna's mouth vanished. "You talk so much. I know it's because you have no one to talk to, but take a breath onnce in a while!"
~~~
Weeks later, Discord's shows of chaos had gotten worse and worse. Ponies were acting strange, trees were growing upside down and most of the water was on fire.
"Sister, we must do something." Luna said, Discord having given her mouth back. "He used to be so kind...I don't know what happened to him..." she sniffed. She had liked the draconequis. He had been one of her only friends.
Celestia looked away guiltily. "Yes, we should. Remember those gems we found in the forest some time ago? I believe we could use them to destroy him. At the very least, imprison him." she said.
Luna nodded. "I had almost forgotten of those. We need to stop him before he does something...drastic."
Around the corner, the king turned his gaze downward to his own talons and paw. How was this for chaotic, Celestia?
He hoped that they did it soon. Since he couldn't die, this was the only form of escape he could hope for.
~~~
The rest of this story is history. The battle happened, though Discord didn't fight back. He was sealed with a look of joy at the chance to escape, until the cruel joke came into the light to reveal that he was completely conscious.
Cruel, cruel fate.
To this day he acts as if he doesn't remember any of it. He remembers every single moment.