//------------------------------// // It Takes Two to Be Lonely // Story: The Sum of Her Parts // by IsabellaAmoreSirenix //------------------------------// Drip. Drip, drip. Dripping wax, the candle sitting precariously on Celestia’s desk burned low, just barely illuminating the scattered bundles of parchment. Her eyes squinted as her magic sent a quill racing across an official-looking document, yet there was no pause in her writing, not until she crammed a final paragraph into the bottom margins, threw down her quill, and stamped the corner with the royal seal. Right on cue, there came a knock from outside her chambers. Celestia didn’t bother answering, though. Only when she heard the soft clip-clop of hooves walking towards her did she say, “What are you doing up so late, Luna?” Though Celestia didn’t see Luna raise an eyebrow, the following silence was enough for the gears in her head to click into place. Oh right. Nighttime. In the past week since Luna had donned the night shift to ward off ponies’ post-war nightmares, Celestia had gotten better at not turning around in expectance of seeing her younger sister attached to her hip, but it was in little automatic responses that she slipped up. “I could ask the same of you, Celestia.” Luna stepped closer, and their billowing manes tangled into one, hers blue with stars, her sister’s pink streaked with gold. United, the golden rays clung to specks of light to form shooting stars, and the navy blue of dusk was filled with fluffy pink clouds. Then Luna leaned down and gently nuzzled her sister. “Writing to the zebras?” she inquired. “Of course,” Celestia said as she reread the letter. “Their military may not be strong, but they are key trading partners with the griffons and minators. It’s important to strengthen our alliance.” Luna paused, choosing her words carefully before heading into dangerous waters. “Sister, don’t you think you’re being somewhat paranoid?” “Better to be overprepared than under,” the solar princess brushed aside as she reached for another scroll, only to be intercepted by Luna’s swift hooves. Celestia looked up. “Sister, I understand how you feel. Yes, the war against the Shadow King was awful and should never be repeated, but this—“ she made a wide sweeping motion to her cluttered writing desk, “—is too much for you. You barely eat, barely sleep, and it’s upsetting.” Celestia remained silent, which Luna took as a good sign to continue. “I think you’re being too hard on yourself. It wasn’t a total disaster,” Luna reasoned. “We were able to stop the advance of dark magic from reaching Equestria, after all.” Celestia cracked at those words. “At the cost of a entire empire? That war was a failure, an absolute failure!” With a cry of anguish, Celestia buried her face in her hooves. “We weren’t sent here just to protect one country! It was our duty to bring Order to whole world! Don’t you understand?” she demanded, standing to face Luna. “That war is what happens if Order fails! It showed that we’re not powerful enough, I’m not powerful enough to stop it!” “Enough.” Luna’s hoof struck the floor, punctuating the command. When she saw her sister’s eyes begin to water, she said in a gentler tone, “Celestia, stop. You will only drive yourself into madness if you dwell on the past. Learn from its lessons; do not try to atone for a sin that you did not commit. There was nothing we could do to stop it. We are not goddesses. No matter how much power was invested in us, we cannot control ponies’ hearts.” The sun princess’ weary eyes flickered to the moon and back, remaining unconvinced. “Perhaps…” Luna suggested hesitantly, “perhaps you should take a break tomorrow. Catch up on sleep. Go into town. Visit Discord. The stars know he was lonely during the war.” “No, Luna,” Celestia said in her authoritative tone used only in court. “I don’t have time for any of that. Discord will understand, I’m sure.” “I’ve seen him. He's asked me about you. He said he wants to give you space to grieve and compose yourself, but he needs to see you. I could see the loneliness in his eyes.” Drip. Drip, drip. Celestia blinked, refusing to let any more tears fall. “I won’t risk seeing him, not now, not anymore.” “Don’t tell me you are blaming him of all ponies for the war,” Luna demanded angrily. “No,” she answered, turning her face away. “I just can’t help but wonder… what if he was the reason why I wasn’t strong enough? Maybe being around his chaotic magic has somehow tainted mine. Mother did warn me of such things.” “You know as well as I that life is not as black and white beyond the Gates. We cannot always apply their way of thinking here.” “I don’t know what to think anymore, but it’s too much of a risk to see him. I’m sorry, but I… Luna, I just… can’t.” Luna’s face fell. “I see,” she said, closing her eyes. “In that case, I’ll leave you alone. Think carefully about what I’ve said. Good night, my sister.” Celestia squeezed her eyes shut in pain as she heard her sister’s hoofsteps grow more and more distant. Only when the door swung shut with a soft click did she inhale with a sharp gasp, followed by a rattling sigh. With her blurred vision, all Celestia could see when she looked out the window was her sister’s silver moon trying to penetrate the thick canopy of the lonely Everfree Forest. I will not cry, she told herself fiercely. I will not cry. Drip. Drip, drip. The candle went out. “What… what happened here?” Gnarled branches, withered grass, and black leaves that blocked out the light surrounded Celestia from the moment she entered the forest. A cold wind blew past, setting her fur on end as it whistled through the threadbare trees with a lonely wail. “This place reflects my thoughts,” Discord explained as he emerged from the shadows. “And they were… dark when you left for the war. I didn’t want to see the sun then. I missed you too much.” A pause. Silence threatened to shatter her eardrums if not for Discord’s beating heart, drowning out everything else. “You came to see me,” he said while walking towards the princess as if in a dream. “I… I didn’t think you would.” “I couldn’t stay away,” Celestia answered. As much as she had tried, it was impossible. One could only live without a heart for so long, and right now she had never been more aware of its gentle strength moving in steady rhythm within her. Now she had to wonder how she could have possibly believed his presence in her life to weaken her magic when she had never felt more alive. “I’m glad.” Discord took a careful step forward, like someone trying not to startle a fawn. At that, silent tears began to pour down her cheeks. He was trying so hard to hold back, to not scare her, and all the playfulness he had had enough trust to show her before the war had now vanished in the wind. Throwing aside all inhibition, Celestia ran and threw her forelegs around the draconequus. “Don’t be scared,” she whispered as she buried her head in his fur. “Isn’t that what you told me when we first met? That chaotic ponies are supposed to be brave in doing what they believe in? Well, don’t be afraid of me then. I haven’t changed, Discord. I’m too orderly to change. You know that.” “Celestia…” The name was spoken like a prayer. “I’m glad to see you too,” she continued, her emotions flowing out with her tears. “I’m sorry I was too scared to see you at first. I didn’t know what to do when I came back. The war… it was too… too awful… for me to handle… there was so much I had to do…” “Shh, don’t say it, Celestia,” Discord murmured, running his claw through her shimmering mane, the only light in the darkness. “If you don’t say it, then it never happened.” Celestia was more than happy to oblige in his flawed logic. She closed her eyes as sobs hiccupped to the surface until they slowly faded into the calmness, until she was able to align each one of her breaths with Discord’s. Their chests were pressed together, and each time one heart contracted, the other’s expanded, creating a consistent lulling note. She looked straight into his eyes as she felt his touch outline the curves of her face, faltering only when he brushed against her cuts from battle. She winced, not from the pain, but the memories. There was a brokenness to her now, she knew. Perhaps in time such wounds could heal, and the slow passing of many years could return them to the nearly blossomed love they once shared. Which was why a gasp rose to the surface when he tenderly cupped her face in his hands and kissed each pale scar. Celestia was filled with a burning desire to speak, but the moment was too beautiful to ruin. So with hardened resolve, she bit her lip until she felt blood drip into her mouth. It was the only injury Discord didn’t kiss. Cradling a small piece of eternity, they held each other in absolute silence. Then it was broken in the most perfect way possible. “I love you,” he whispered. Even though she knew he had waited eight months to confess, Celestia couldn’t bring herself to echo the words. Still holding Discord’s gaze, her bright eyes were glazed with a foggy mist, dense and unreadable. “I know. Forgive me for leaving you alone.” Then it was silent once again. “So this is what you’ve been doing here.” Discord’s heart skipped a beat at that voice. Turning around, he saw Celestia walking towards him. The late afternoon sun rimmed around her head like a halo, giving her the appearance of a goddess. Sunlight was reflected in her soft magenta eyes, already filled with so much warmth and beauty. And all of it was directed solely at him. It was always a challenge not to fall to his knees in her presence. Her eyes were alight with curiosity and a bit of apprehensiveness as she looked at the body of a chicken torso sown to a serpent bottom, lying motionless next to the draconequus. Similarly mutilated animals were scattered around Discord, who glanced up at Celestia with guilty yet confident eyes. “I’m sorry for hiding this from you,” he said, “but I didn’t want you to react negatively.” “It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?” she asked, though Discord could detect no anger in her voice. “Trust me,” he implored, “this isn’t what it looks like.” “What is it supposed to look like?” she countered, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve never been good at abstract art, so to me this looks like you’re cutting up animals to use as toys.” Discord’s fur bristled. “They’re not toys,” he said defensively. “They’re my creations.” Celestia’s eyes softened with pity. Discord’s expression darkened. He hated that look of hers. Pretentiousness didn’t suit her. “Discord… if you were lonely, you could have told me. These things… they’re, they’re… dead, you know.” “They aren’t dead!” he snapped. “All of these animals were nearly dead, but I saved them. My magic’s preserving their vital organs.” “But why?” Celestia asked of him. “Why are you doing this? They’re just innocent animals, and you’re changing them! I’m fine with you changing a few things as long as nopony gets hurt, but this is going too far!” “Do you really think I’d be so cruel as to cause them pain?” the draconequus snapped, rounding on her. “I’m not a monster, Celestia! I thought you of all ponies would understand that!” “I am fully aware of that, which is why I was hoping for a decent explanation. But to me it looks like you’ve been going behind my back and reshuffling body parts for entertainment! That’s… that’s just wrong, Discord!” Discord’s eyes widened as he saw tears fill Celestia’s. Despite her anger, her legs trembled. She took a step back. “Wait!” he cried out, reaching for her hoof. Celestia looked at him with sad, confused eyes. “Wait, please,” he repeated in a calmer voice. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. “Clarification.” Celestia blinked back her tears at their code word, used for situations like this when their two worldviews clashed so violently. “Explanation,” she answered. “Have you ever tried being creative, Celestia?” Celestia’s eyes widened, the question so out of left field that it caught her off guard. “Y-You know I’m incapable of such things,” she told him abrasively. “Yeah, well, I’m not,” Discord answered. “You need an open mind to be creative, and that’s just what I embody. Please, Celestia, this… this is important to me. It’s the only form of self-expression I have. I know it’s strange and inexplicable, but when has anything I’ve done been easy to understand?” His heart beat wildly as it always did when they had these disagreements. It was scary, he knew, to continuously push her boundaries, to never know when a revelation would be too much for her to handle, and she would leave him alone forever. Discord nervously searched the infinite depths of Celestia’s eyes for a response other than repulsion and disgust. Then Discord smiled. He found it. Amidst the sea of fear and doubt, there was a spark of curiosity. That was all he needed from her to prove himself. “But…” She searched for words, just as her heart openly searched for answers. “Being creative is making something new, isn’t it? You’re just rearranging what’s already in existence.” “Don’t writers rearrange words?” Discord countered simply. “Don’t artists rearrange colors, musicians rearrange sounds? It’s not the tools that matter, but the creators. They’re the ones who think up the different combinations and show the world something new.” “But how?” she asked breathlessly. “How can you… just think up something so different from everything you’ve known?” “You… you don’t really think about it,” Discord explained. “Many times the idea comes to you almost randomly, and you just run with it.” Celestia settled herself on the ground and looked up at the chaotic spirit like an eager student. “So then, you didn’t need the idea to come to you. You would be fine without it.” “All works of art need to be created, Celestia,” Discord said, his bright red eyes alight with a fervent spark, “and all creators need to create. We need ideas, more than life itself. They come to us as gifts, but only we can give them the gift of life in return. They entrust themselves to us in the hope we’ll give them life. “That’s why I’m doing this, Celestia. I… I’ve been blessed to come to this world, to meet you. To pass up a chance to give back with something of my own would tear me apart.” Discord paused before adding, “But at the same time, you’re… you’re right. There is that escapism too, in wanting to use art to break the rules of this life. I want to create a world where I’m surrounded by similar creatures, where somepony having mismatched body parts isn’t reviled. I know it’s a dark and ugly world, but it’s the one I need.” “No,” Celestia breathed. She stood up and slowly walked towards him. At once, Discord wanted to close the distance between them, but he could only watch in awe as each of her movements fluidly slid into the next with a heavenly grace, like bending rays of sunlight. His eyes widened, wanting to fill to the brim with her radiant light. Of course there was the subtle illumination from her horn, but there was also a glow about her face that was entirely her own. It pushed away the darkness, every the ugly gloominess in his heart, for no shadows of any kind could fight against her. When a flock of birds overhead rustled some branches, letting sunlight pour into the forest floor, Discord didn’t even know the difference. Celestia stood on her hindlegs and with her forelegs pulled Discord towards her. There was something wonderful about being held by her; it felt like her touch alone made all his mismatched parts fit together. “Discord, this is beautiful,” she whispered. “So beautiful. Why… why didn’t you tell me about this before?” Discord hung his head. “Because I’m no good at it,” he admitted. “You… you know how I am. I’m so used to conjuring up things with a snap of my fingers. But when I get an idea for something new, something that takes time and care and effort, I can never stay focused enough to see it through. All of these are unfinished projects. They’re ideas I failed to bring to life. I… I feel so ashamed.” “Then… let me help you,” she said, looking up at him with shining eyes he couldn’t refuse. “Celestia…” Discord watched her chew her lip nervously. It was always amazing, her openness to change. “Are you sure?” “Yes, I think so.” She smiled eagerly. “You’ll have to guide me though, but if you need to focus, then I’ll keep you on track.” Discord merely nodded, but his ecstatic grin made up for all the unspoken words. He led her by the hoof into the forest’s heart, which suddenly didn’t seem so gloomy anymore. After a series of ridiculous twists and turns that seemed to go in circles, Discord stopped in front of a scraggly tree, nearly identical to those around it. He quickly ducked behind it and after a minute of clashes and cat meows that Celestia shrugged off as Discord being Discord, he returned with a songbird cradled in his arms. “Do you think it’s alright?” he asked, presenting it to Celestia. “I thought it’d be nice to start one together from scratch, and well… I’ve always wanted to create with this one. All the others are supposed to be made in my image, but having the first completed one be made in yours… it just makes sense to me. You’re the only face I want to see. It’s just been too intimidating, to capture your beauty. No, capture’s too harsh of a word. To release your beauty to the world, to have another piece of it around me, is what I want. I wish that all of Equestria were filled with pieces of you. Filled with those streaks of your mane that shine gold in the sunlight, your white coat like clouds awaiting the kiss of Dawn. I’d carve the world into the shape of your eyes, then set it aflame with a blaze that heals instead of burns, the same blaze only your eyes can hold. I’d take that warm blush around your cheeks which probably means I’m embarrassing you…” Celestia giggled. “You should try poetry next, Casanova.” Then she glanced down at the motionless bird, and her expression sobered. “You’re sure it’s not in any pain?” “On my solemn word,” he vowed, placing his paw over his heart. “If anything, we’re giving it a second chance to become something new and special.” “Still, I’d rather not cut it up,” she remarked. “Or, if you need to do it for creativity’s sake…” “Nah, some limitations are good,” he answered. “So we’ll keep it a bird, just one nopony will have ever seen before.” And over the next few hours, that was just what they did. At first Celestia was hesitant, only making slight color adjustments, but with Discord’s encouragement, they soon branched out into altering body parts. He laid out feather samples of birds from far off lands and let Celestia pick and choose like a filly in a candy store. From there the changes were more extravagant, until the poor creature looked more like than a cross between a draconequus and a feather duster than an actual bird. And while the ludicrousness did make Celestia laugh, she was certain the final product would have been a disaster if her design sense hadn’t scaled things back. But it wasn’t entirely fun and games either. In fact, it took many tedious, intricate spells to rewire the bird’s internal systems to accommodate for the changes. Each time Celestia noticed Discord’s tail twitch or his gaze wander, she tenderly lifted his face so he was focusing only on her eyes. Then he would jump back into the spell with fervent passion once again. She loved watching his fingers glide across its sleek feathers with an artist’s mastery, but more than that, his heart and soul working behind it as well. Then he would take her hooves and gently guide them over the bird, making it glow with her magical light. His body would press against her side, so close that she could almost feel his love and dedication rolling off him in waves. Then she realized just how much more intimate this was compared to some mere arts and crafts project. Mother Nature had become the canvas of the gods’ children. An act once seen as morbid was now beautiful, made so by the fact that it was being performed together. He was painting his soul for her to see, but more importantly, painting it with her to experience. In a sense, they were creating new life, something to call their very own. Finally, the alicorn and the draconequus stepped back to admire their creation. The once plain blue bird had become a rich brown with speckled black spots on the feathers. Its underside was a downy white, the same as the crest adorning its head like a crown. It turned over in its sleep, exposing the underside of its wing, which gleamed like gold like its eyes. Swirls of sea green and sky blue rimmed its eyes, reminiscent of face paint. Similar flourishes were given to its tail feathers, which flared out like a peacock. In the center was a single phoenix feather, altered so that sparks of gold fire would trail behind it as it flew. For a moment, Discord was rendered speechless. “I… I can’t believe it. I can’t believe we did it.” “It’s beautiful,” Celestia praised in breathless wonder. “Can it sing?” “Hmm, that’ll be hard, since I don’t know how to sing. Do you?” Celestia shook her head. “It was considered frivolous,” she mumbled. “That’s okay,” Discord said brightly. “I’ll work on it. After all, creations are more than the sum of their parts, Celestia. They’re infused with all the dedication and love a pony puts into them. In a way it transcends its maker by holding that special power. So if we want it to sing, even if singing is impossible for ourselves, it can still do it.” Celestia felt her breath catch in her throat. Maybe he can’t see it himself, but his soul… it shines. His hopes and dreams are pure, like a child. I wish I could see the world through his eyes. He sees so much beauty in the world, so much hope and joy and wonder. What… what would I be without him? Empty, cold, unchanging. I’d die before I’d live like that. That’s not a life at all. Then her blood froze at her own thoughts. I have to say it. I have to tell him. Never in her countless visits had she said goodbye to Discord. He never let her, saying that it was too open-ended. So instead they settled on arrivederci, see you soon. A parting with a promise of return. And yet when she looked into his eyes, she knew it was a promise she would break. Celestia felt the comforting presence of his lion paw holding her hoof. On the count of three, she told herself, I’ll let go and tell him everything I’ve planned with Luna for tonight. She took a deep breath to center herself, then used each inhale and exhale to measure her counts. One… Two… Three… Discord placed his eagle claw over his paw, keeping Celestia’s hoof firmly in place. “Tell me what you’re thinking of,” he requested. “Why do you always ask me that?” “Because that’s the only way I can tell with you. You’re always so mysterious.” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think a spirit of Chaos would find anything complex about a creature like me. I’m amazed that you don’t find me mind-numbingly dull, always doing the same thing every day.” “There’s a lot I never realized about Order,” Discord mused, “but more so about you. I don’t think you’re quite as orderly as you like to believe. If you were, I wouldn’t be this close to resorting to divination just to find out the reason why you’re beating around the bush instead of telling me why you’re here.” “And I know it’s important, don’t try to deny it,” he ordered. “You came without telling me beforehand, which an obsessive-compulsive scheduler like you never does. Plus, you’re wearing your regalia. You decided to see me last minute, which means it’s urgent and you need somepony to talk to before worry eats you up. Well, you don’t need to be afraid. I’m here. I’ll always be here for you, Celestia.” “But what if I’m not here?” she whispered. “What if I were to go far away, to a place where I would never see you again?” “Why would you go?” Discord could barely keep his voice from trembling. “You’ll be turning sixteen soon. Your coronation is in a few weeks. You’re not leaving… oh.” “Is that what this is about, Celestia?” He placed a talon under her chin and lifted it so she was staring into his eyes, his eyes that she could never lie to. “You’re scared that once you’re a princess you won’t have time for me anymore?” No, that’s not it… ! “Yes,” she lied, closing her eyes and swallowing the little ball of truth that had lumped in her throat. “Well, that’s a bit silly to worry about,” he teased her with his trademark smile. “We can’t stay children forever. We have to change. And change is a beautiful thing. It’s a natural part of life as order ensures, but it also shakes the status quo in a way only chaos can. It’s a union of who we are. How can anything bad come from that? Well, as long as you don’t stand me up too many times,” he added with a wink. “I’ll understand, Celestia, don’t worry.” Celestia could only manage a thin smile. “You’re right,” she agreed. “I feel a lot better now.” A glinting light flashed across his eyes. He didn’t buy it. “I-I should get going.” She stood up on slightly quaking legs. After all, cowardice wasn’t a good foundation for anything. “I’m sorry I have to leave so soon.” And I’m sorry for hiding this from you, she wanted to add, but I didn’t want you to react negatively.” “That’s fine,” he answered. In his arms he still held the sleeping bird, basking in the late afternoon sun. He gave her a brilliant grin, but his eyes were searching, seeking the answer she couldn’t, wouldn’t give. “Arrivederci?” he asked, for the first time uncertain of the response. She couldn’t speak. She only nodded. A twin pair of yellow and red eyes glowed with poisonous venom amidst the dark forest of the Everfree. Villagers called it a cursed place, condemned to damnation. In their ignorance, they made the rumors self-fulfilling. They locked their windows, skirted the forest’s edges, and ran away in fright. Their own actions had woven a curse of loneliness, one that could break even the most joyous of minds. The draconequus advanced on all fours, though his movements were more akin to the slithering of a snake. Next to him he levitated the sleeping bird, eyes closed to the encroaching darkness. It would always be innocent to the shadows, he vowed. He would only let it know the sun’s light, Celestia’s gift of life. There was the occasional squelching sound as Discord stumbled in his haste over the mismatched animals on the ground. If they felt any discomfort, they couldn’t express it in words. He hadn’t given any of his other creations a voice. There was only one voice he wanted to hear, and he couldn’t bear to have hers come from the mouths of monstrous creatures. Besides, he had been hearing enough voices. They whispered horrors in the darkness when Celestia wasn’t around, terrible horrors he would never let her hear. Spirits, they claimed they were, from the Forsaken Forest to the West. Silver-tongued devils trying to lure him with promises of power and freedom, a life without loneliness, a life where chaos reigned. One bold voice proposed to make Celestia surrender her kingdom and then force her hoof in marriage. It was a shame spirits couldn’t bleed. Tuning out the voices was harder than it sounded in a place as silent as the grave. He briefly wondered if this was what madness was like, enduring an internal cacophony that could never been turned off. It was too reminiscent of Eris, where there was never any peace of mind. Discord ran faster, which only spurred on the peals of laughter from the spirits. “Ooh, run faster, little boy,” taunted Kallisti, Spirit of Anarchy. “Run away from all the awful, spooky monsters in the shadows. Oh wait! You can’t. You’d have to run out of your own skin to do that.” Though Discord couldn’t see any of them, he imagined the wraiths floating right by his side, hissing in his ears. He squeezed his eyes shut and plunged through the brambles of the forest. Branches whipped at his face, sharp burrs caught in his fur, thorns cut through his skin, and still he ran, cradling the bird in a protective bubble of magic all the while. “Where are you off to in such a hurry, little boy?” Kallisti asked, her high-pitched cackle blending with the howling of the wind. “Don’t you want to play with your friends? How about a game of tag? You’ve had a lot of practice being it, haven’t you? When you walk into town, everypony’s already run away from you! Pity they all hate you too much to let you tag anypony.” The other chaotic spirits chimed in with a chorus of howls and squeals, emulating the frightened townsponies. Discord shut his eyes tighter, wishing he could also shut off his ears. “But wait! You were able to tag one. That little Virtue, Celestia. Is she who you’re running to?” But Discord would never dare run to her. He could only ever run away from them. “Such a pretty little thing,” Kallisti remarked. “Mind if we tag along?” “No! I won’t let you hurt her!” “Haha! Listen to the little knight in shining armor, everyone! Of course we wouldn’t, little boy. None of us would dare get involved with what she’s doing tonight. Oh, but hasn’t she told you about that?” Kallisti’s voice shifted to an accurate yet haughty impression of Celestia’s as a flickering projection of the young alicorn crossed Discord’s path. An illusion, he knew, but that did little to lessen the sting when she opened her mouth to say, “You really think you can love me? I, who deem myself to be above love, above any mortal emotion? You are nothing to me, absolutely nothing. There is only Order to me. Order and Chaos do not mix. If you love me, you will only be alone. You are a fool—“ The fake Celestia was cut off as Discord ran straight through her, turning her to green dust. It wafted through the air, and suddenly the whole forest came to life with images of her. She sneered down at the lone draconequus from the trees. Soon every patch of shadow was illuminated by a pair of her magenta eyes, multiplying until the branches seemed to catch on fire from her hateful glare. Her distorted laughter rang through the air. “Celestia…” A whimper escaped his lips. “I… I’m scared.” Taunts were nothing. Illusions were child’s play. Fear sent his heart pounding, though not because of what Kallisti was doing. It was what she wasn’t doing. Despite being showy, Kallisti was far subtler than this in her tactics to play mindgames with him. It was too obvious he was being tricked, which meant one of two things: something to do with Celestia tonight actually scared her, or she had finally gone insane. The really terrifying thing was that either was just as likely. No, Discord thought as he ran. Celestia would tell me if something was happening with her. I have to trust her. Trust her. Discord kept his eyes focused on the growing pinprick of sunlight just up ahead. Meanwhile, the bird in his magical grip began to stir. It shivered violently as another wave of dark Chaos magic washed over the forest, spurring Discord to run faster. Suddenly, the light was blocked by a swarm of thorny vines, planted with Kallisti’s dark enchanted seeds plucked from the Tree of Harmony. They towered over him like snakes coming in for the kill. With every beat of his terrified heart, Discord could feel their magic strengthen, leeching off of fear. So he reared up on his hindlegs and exposed his deadly sharp talons to his assailants before proceeding to mercilessly rip into them. There was no method to his madness, only desperation to reach the sun. His claw arched through the air like a scythe before striking down the foul plants dead at the roots. A disgusting black ooze drenched his claw when the vine burst apart, but that did not deter him. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he imagined each vine to be a vice holding him back from the sun. Pride. Doubt. Insecurity. All were cut down. Finally the sun was visible once more. Sharp pain tore into him from every limb. Sweat dripped down his heaving chest, leaving him gasping for breath. And yet he smiled as with one last stride he broke through the vines and stepped into the light. There he stood alone, a shadow against the late afternoon’s horizon. All of a sudden, Discord was acutely aware of just how quiet the rest of the world was outside the forest. To most, it would seem peaceful. To him, it felt… lonely? A cross between a cry and a gasp tore from Discord’s lungs. He winced in pain as he craned his head back to see dozens of tiny thorns embedded deep in his skin. He could feel the sting of their black venom mix with his warm brown ichor. It hurt. Discord called out for help, but nopony came. He glanced back at the forest, then down at the creature sitting expectantly in his hands. It would be all right, he tried to tell his rising fear. If this bird could escape the clutches of dark Chaos, he could too. All it would take was Celestia. Trust her. “What if I were to go far away, to a place where I would never see you again?” “Order and Chaos do not mix. If you love me, you will only be alone.” Discord’s hands, slick with dark magic of the vines, trembled so much that the bird almost tumbled out of his palm. “Fly away,” he bade it, the sole good creature wrought of his hands, and all the hope the bird carried for him inside. “Leave this dark place.” Holding the little bird in his gentle claw and paw, the young draconequus lifted his creation to the sun. With a flap of its wings, it lifted off to greet the sun’s glowing rays. Discord’s heart soared along with it upon watching it hover in front of him experimentally before building up force in its wing muscles, which would release to send him gliding freely over the horizon. Then its fragile wings fell off its body. The songbird crashed to the ground, a croak of pain from its twisted neck the only sound it would ever make. The sun set behind the horizon, wanting to shield her eyes. Then the shadow retreated back into the gloom. Up in the highest tower of Everfree Castle, Princess Celestia surveyed the surrounding forest. Her face was motionless, impassive, and unreadable to all ponies but two, the only two who truly knew her heart. Her eyes searched the dark treetops for one of those ponies, while the rest of her waited for the other to arrive at her door. Torn in two. Two yearning eyes. Two waiting hearts. Life worked in pairs, she had discovered. A pattern. A rule. A cycle, unbreakable in its inevitability. You couldn’t ask for more than what it gave you. Were we really only given two years? No, the answer came from within. Nothing’s free in this life. We weren’t given anything. We had to take it. And now it’s time to pay. There was a light knock on the door. “Sister, are you ready?” Luna called through the crack, where a sliver of silver light poured into the room, stopping just short of the alicorn inside. “It is time.” Time. Something she should have had more than a surplus of, but now she clung to every second of her racing heart. Terror gnawed in her gut as Celestia felt tears well in the back of her eyes. Angrily, she blinked them away. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Who’s supposed to be afraid of home? In an attempt to distract herself, Celestia started organizing the spellbooks littering her study, remainders of her late-night studies in search of an elusive enchantment that might be able to bring peace to the world in the blink of an eye. It was the whimsical idea of one in desperation. She had known where she needed to go all along; the only thing that had stopped her was fear. Fear was irrational. She didn’t even know what they would say, if they would come at all. But at the same time she knew that whatever happened would be the end of the frustrating, stressful, and beautiful life she knew and loved. Another light tap from the door called Celestia’s attention back to Luna, still waiting for an answer. No, she wanted to answer, but like so many other words in her life, they went unsaid. Idiot, she chastised herself. You were the one who came up with this plan in the first place. If you didn’t want to change, you should have stayed silent like you always do. Celestia raised her eyes past the Everfree Forest to the unseen lands along the horizon: wary zebras, menacing minators, hostile griffons. The world was a bomb waiting to go off, and Celestia knew it. Tensions were too high, tensions that pulled on hearts and tightened them, making them ready for another war. The whole planet was relying on the power of Order. Relying on her. She dropped her gaze back down to the Everfree Forest. Her heart squirmed with guilt. Today wasn’t a proper goodbye. You never would have been able to say it anyway. “I’m coming, Luna,” Celestia replied. As she walked away from the window like a pony condemned, she glanced back at the silent forest and allowed her aching heart one last indulgence. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Forgive me for leaving you alone.”