It was raining outside the Castle of the Two Sisters. It was also raining inside the Castle of the Two Sisters, except for a single room armed with protective spells, and filled with supplies, the warmth of a small magical fire, five foals, a princess and a dragon.
None were in excellent moods.
"I don't know, okay?" Twilight said, her whispered voice as fierce as possible. "I don't know!"
Even the small outburst caused two of the five foals nestled against her side to start squalling softly and Twilight quickly lifted them in her magic, gently rocking them until they settled once more.
Spike gave a soft sigh, the rumble vibrating though their small dry haven and into the expanse of the empty castle. Long ago, they had considered turning it into a tourist attraction, but the Everfree was too dangerous for it to be practical, and the project had been scrapped. The abandoned castle had been Twilight's emergency bolt hole of choice for years, a place to escape, and a place Celestia never thought to look for her. Much too close to home, and filled with far too many painful memories. It was unexpected, and perfect.
The room was stocked with food, water, toiletries, several hundred thousand bits, stocked on several different pre-paid crystals, as well as some recently added bags of diapers and dehydrated baby formula. Twilight had always liked to be prepared.
"We can't stay in the Everfree forever, you know." Spike said softly.
"Well I know that!" the alicorn snapped as quietly as possible, before putting her hooves over her head. "I just need to think"
"Hey..." Spike reached out to put a claw on Twilight's shoulder.
"I know, I know I'm being hysterical." She pushed the touch away. "I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm okay!"
Pushing herself up to almost a sitting position she took several seconds to breathe deeply, just until the walls of the room stopped seeming so close. Stumbling, she attempted to get to her hooves, wings fluffing outward in an awkward attempt to balance herself. Rarity woke up, and immediately began to whimper, several of the other fillies beginning to stir soon after.
Spike stood up, and, picking up Rarity in one arm and reaching the other out to Twilight.
"You're alright, Twi. It's okay. Everything's okay." He said, gently pushing her back to a sitting position. "It's all okay"
"I just- Everything is- I don't know..." She struggled to stand against his claw, stringing together a few breathy half sentences.
"Shhhh...Shhhhh...."
Finally, with Spike's soft ministrations, Twilight lowered herself back to the ground, tucking her forelegs up to her chest, breaths steadying once more. There was a long silence.
"Thank you, Spike," the soft murmur broke the quiet, as Twilight looked up, eyes clearer. "I...I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, Twi." The dragon's soothing baritone voice was warm "That's what I'm here for"
A small smile graced Twilight's face, before she gave a sigh, expression turning to thoughtful focus. "Alright, a plan."
Reaching out with her magic, she rummaged around until she found a small hinged box made of dark wood. Biting her lip, Twilight considered it through narrowed eyes.
"Do you think..." She spoke slowly, "this would be a good use for the Favor?"
"Is that the best option?" Spike queried back.
"I knew this would happen eventually, so I have some preparations, but putting them into effect would take months at best. He could do it in hours"
"Do you trust him though?"
"I don't know...but his silence could be stipulated in the Favor." Twilight folded back her ears "Besides, I don't think he would be eager help Celestia."
Spike and Twilight regarded each other for a moment.
"Alright." he said.
Surrounding the fillies in a soundproofing spell, so they wouldn't be woken, Twilight opened the box, taking out a delicate blue sphere. She raised it above her head, took a deep breath, then smashed it on the ground. The instant it hit, It dissolved into a glittering puff of smoke and then into nothing. For a moment, there was silence.
Then a presence settled into the room, slowly, Twilight looked up.
"Why hello there, Sparkle!" A cheery voice greeted, it's owner lounging in a solid gold chaise on the ceiling.
"Discord." Her voice was wary, measured.
"Ah! I've missed you!" The draconequus somersaulted down from the ceiling, to stop directly in front of her and 3 inches off the ground. "You look fabulous, not a day over three hundred, let me tell you. Not a wrinkle in sigh-"
"Cut the games." annoyance now distinctly flavoring her tone, Twilight flattened her lips into a thin line.
A pout crossed Discord's face. "And here I thought we were friends." Ignoring the darkening in Twilight's expression he continued, "I know we had a bit of a falling out...but..." There was a pointed pause. "I think you've come to see the truth, isn't that right?"
A stormy silence filled the room as he muttered, "You can't say I didn't try to warn you"
A low, menacing, growl emanated from Spike "She said, cut the games."
Discord didn't even look the dragon's way, instead meeting Twilight's gaze "So you have come around then." A grin spread across his face, before he planted a paw on it in mock surprise "Oh! But where are my manners?"
With a snap of his eagle talons a cake materialized, covered in pink frosting, decorated with gum paste pacifiers, and sporting the words Congratulations On Your Quintuplets!
"My treat for the proud mummy, and my, aren't they just adorable..." In a flash of light, Fluttershy appeared cradled in his arms, cooing gently as two butterflies materialized in front of her nose and flittered gently above her. Discord's expression was almost gentle.
Shy was immediately snatched up in Twilight's magic, a sound almost like a snarl emanating from the alicorn. "Don't touch them!"
Lion paw and eagle claw raised placatingly. "Alright, alright..."
Twilight never took her eyes off Discord as she returned Fluttershy to her side, slowly spreading a protective wing over her and the other foals. She narrowed her eyes.
"No need to elaborate. I see how it is." After his catty tone and expression merited no reaction, Discord caved. A suit jacket materialized onto his serpentine frame, and a briefcase into his arms, and after adjusting his tie, he folded his arms on his newly appeared mahogany desk in a business-like manner. "So what do you want, Princess? I'm assuming you didn't call me for a friendly chat."
"I need your help setting up some aliases. Me, Spike, and the girls, that's all. Not airtight, just believable. I trust you can do that quickly and without Celestia catching on?"
"Under Celly's nose? Oh, ho, ho!" A chuckle burst from Discord, before he stroked his beard suspiciously, squinting his eyes. "Are you sure you're really Twilight? Not some pod-pony? Changeling perhaps?"
"Can you do it?" Twilight's voice hardened.
A scaly claw gave her a condescending pat on the head "Now there's the naive young Twilight again." Discord flashed her a grin, zipped open a hole in the wall and stepped through. As the hole closed itself, Discord voice came back to the group, "Try to give me a challenge next time."
The next morning, a strange looking group sat together in a small town cafe, talking with each other intensely. Two purple ponies, a male and female, sat in a booth opposite a large grey stallion. In a cluster of baby seats on the end of the table were no less than five foals of all different colors and races. Several ponies looked on curiously, a few even attempting to eavesdrop on whatever was being discussed but any serious thought into the matter was always hampered by sudden acute distraction. Did they leave the stove on? That coffee smelled amazing. Was that waitress mare hitting on them? Where was their pancake platter anyway?
Discord gave a low whistle. "Color me impressed. Joint illusion and diversion spells? Not too shabby."
"I've picked up a lot." Twilight's expression was distinctly blasé.
"Well, let me show you what I've done."
In a puff of smoke, a folder appeared, and Discord flipped it open, spreading out several papers on the table for Twilight to see.
"I picked some common names that were similar to your own, just to make things a bit easier." He used his flexible tail to separate and push several papers towards her, then clapped his paws together and made a stage magician-esqe gesture with his arms. Despite the fact that the diner was lit by windows, somehow the lights around them dimmed so he could narrate in a more dramatic spotlight. "Without further ado, allow me to narrate your life story."
Twilight's eye roll at that moment was quite possibly the most impressive in recorded history.
"Your new name is Twilight Prose, a twenty six year old aspiring writer, who worked several odd jobs while trying to pen your future novel. One such job was foalsitting for a group of close knit families, all of whom you were very close with, and all of whom had young foals of about the same age. One of the occasions you were sitting for them was the fateful day of the Fitte's Magic Corp. disaster."
A wince crossed Twilight's face. The accident had destroyed nearly a block in Canterlot several weeks ago when a volatile magical artifact had destabilized in the middle of being transported to the other side of the city. Several restaurants and other shops had been entirely obliterated. The tragedy had then been transformed into a hot-button issue into the safety and practicality of the newer developments into magic power and technology.
Discord continued without missing a beat. "All five foals were orphaned in the incident, and you made it your mission to gain custody of the foals so they wouldn't be separated by the system, and would be raised together as their families intended. The legal battle was settled in record time, thanks to everyone being incredibly touched by your story, and now you have decided to move to a small town and start over with your brother," he gestured to Spike, "Emerald Stone, to help you raise little Pinkie Berry, Shy Leaf, Rare Heart, Rainbow Dancer, and Applejack."
Twilight slowly covered her face with her hooves. "Discord...nopony, is ever going to believe that. Ever. It’s absolutely ridiculous!"
"Oh ye of little faith." Discord grinned, "if anyone chose to look into your story, they would find it completely airtight. They could talk to the judge who granted you custody, look up the five families killed in the disaster, even find records of you attending several writing seminars. In fact, you'll find ponies who vaguely remember hearing about it, though they aren't sure where..."
Twilight pursed her lips.
"You're welcome, by the way." Discord prompted.
"That still won't stop Celestia from catching on in a hot second. The names are practically the same, you didn't even change Applejack's!"
A grin from Discord. "You forget how good I am at hiding things. All those names? Even yours? They're everywhere. Unique as dirt. Did you know there are over seven hundred Rainbow Dancers in this county alone?" A smug expression crossed his face. "In fact, I think I've outdone myself. This town is pretty tiny, and not too immersed in magictech, so you shouldn't have to worry about too many pictures or documents of your little family getting into the word, and you should have individual recognition covered with your library of perception manipulation spells. I'll keep Celestia looking in all the wrong places and as long as you-" An eagle talon booped Twilight on the nose, "don't do anything stupid....you're golden."
Twilight made a grudging expression. "I hate to admit it...but you're good, Discord"
"Aren't I always." The draconequus gave a theatrical bow, he handed her a card with a handwritten address on it. "Look for Seaside Library and a pony named Banned Books. They've agreed to let you stay in the loft above the place until you can find a home."
Discord gave a quick salute and raised a paw to snap himself into a puff of smoke, before pausing. "Oh...and, Sparkle?"
Twilight looked up, "hmm?"
"Take care of yourself, eh?"
A tiny smile tugged at Twilight's lips. "I'll try...thanks."
Then Discord was gone.
Slowly, Twilight stood up, picked up the foals in her magic, and distributed them between her and Spike's back, comfortably nestled between their saddlebags. They had nothing else. A nervous quietness hung between them.
"So...how do I look as a stallion?" Spike asked, he shook his green mane and gave an awkward laugh.
"You look fine Spike." Twilight said softly, before nudging him in the ribs and added with a sardonic smirk "We'll have to beat the mares away with a stick"
They both chuckled, an actual laugh this time, then walked to the door, pausing there. Twilight took a deep breath, leaning her shoulder against Spike's. "Here we go."
Then she stepped outside.