Discord looked back at the latest addition to Ponyville with a fond smile, and a new sense of fondness for his friends. Yes, now he could admit it, all six of them were indeed his friends. Then he looked to see Celestia standing next to him. "There is much to discuss back in Canterlot, would you kindly give us a lift back?"
Discord gave a slight grin as the two fell through a trap door, landing comfortably in a pile of cushions in Celestia's room. At first, there was a short scream of shock from Celestia, but what came next he never expected to hear, genuine laughter. "My dear Celestia, are you actually amused?"
Celestia continued to laugh for a few more seconds before gaining control over herself and straightening up. "Sorry, it's just that I didn't quite expect that. It was," she paused to think about the ramifications before finally saying it out loud. "Fun!"
Discord looked astonished for a moment, but it was as if a spell came over him, or perhaps the humor of it all finally struck him hard as the two began to chortle together for a few good minutes. "Oh Celestia, it simply must be my lucky day! Do you realize how long I've been wanting to simply hear you laugh?"
Celestia just smiled for a few more moments as she answered, "Eons, I'm sure." Her face suddenly grew slightly more serious as she stood from the cushions. "Well, I'm afraid we can't just sit here and laugh about these little things. We do have some business before the day is done."
"Oh, can't it wait until tomorrow?" He whined while flopping down on the pillows. "I've been through so much more than you can ever realize. Not just on the whole life changing, mind altering day sort of way, but I haven't barely had a seconds rest for months!"
Celestia was already walking out the door at this point, but she took the time to look back at him with a knowing smile. "Welcome to the wonderful world of adulthood." She then trotted out the door at a brisk pace. "Come along Discord, you will want to hear what I have to say."
Discord looked up at the ceiling in exasperation, and only gave a sigh in response before uttering, "Fine," under his breath. He continued to stare at the ceiling for several more minutes. Finally he elicited an exasperated groaning sound before just making the cushions stampede with him on them. The entire way down the halls to the throne room, he sat upright with his head tilted back and tongue hanging out.
It didn't take long for the cushions to take him to the throne room, but by the time he had arrived there was already a long stream of drool hanging out the side of his mouth. "Ah, at last the guest of honor has appeared. And just as presentable to the court as ever."
Discord looked down from the ceiling at last, and brought his long standing groan to a halt when he saw the entire royal court before him. Luna and Celestia sat side by side in thrones, while Celestia was laughing behind her wing at Luna's comment, the younger princess acted as if nothing were the matter at all. "What was that Luna?"
"Princess Luna, if you please," she said with a slight snap. "Now, rise and come before us."
Discord looked around at all the posh ponies around him. How they whispered to one another behind hooves, and one or two actually dropped a monocle from their eye. He looked in front of him and saw the princesses reassuring smiles, and Celestia giving a slight nod, still holding the bouquet he gave only a few minutes ago. He knew what to do.
Discord rose from his seat and gave his most impressive bow he could muster before slithering on all fours up to the thrones, and lowering his head in respect. A few ponies gasped at the strange act, simply because it was so proper, and yet looked so strange for a creature like Discord to do it.
"Discord, master of Chaos and Disharmony, formerly known as the Ruler of Equestria, and prior as Master of the Sacred Wood of Germaneigh. You are brought here, not to vilify, but to honor." Celestia paused, leaving a moment for an applause that never came. "In your travels across the Gryphonian continent you have managed to once again assure our friends from abroad that we care not only for our own ponies and their future, but theirs as well. Not only that, but you had also gone above and beyond by moving ahead of the problem, and cutting off the flow of replicating bits before they reached East to Draconia, or south of Equestria to the Zebra Empire by heading to Saddle Arabia, the hottest country of Desertum, which is infamous for being terribly hot."
This time there was a smattering of applause in that Discord had managed to save face of the realm by doing his own legwork in these matters. "However," Luna said this time. "You had betrayed us all to Tirek. You stand here a hero that helped, and yet we wonder if you deserve such praise."
Discord stayed humble for a moment as the tips of his fingers tapped each other. "I don't," he finally answered. "Under normal circumstances, you would call me a bad pony. But I'm not a pony, and these circumstances are far from normal."
"Indeed they aren't," Celestia replied. "But not in the way that you think." She then lifted herself from her throne, and walked down the steps to Discord. "You had come full circle, from a fiend, to a friend and back again. Only once you saw what it is like to be on the receiving end of things, did you see what it is like to fall under cruelty."
Discord lowered his head ever further in shame, only for Celestia to lift him up to look at her with a gentle wing. "You have seen something that most ponies never truly will. To know what it truly is like to be on both sides of things. That is why we are here to honor you." She then looked into the crowd of ponies before her and said, "It is my belief, that with the events of not only today, but the past several months, Discord has truly reformed. And as such, I am proud to reinstate his title as Lord Discord of Canterlot."
There was some polite applause to the statement, even as a few ponies began mumbling to each other again. Words such as, "scandalous," "vile creature," and "punish him," were throne around.
Celestia ignored these ponies and continued however. "Furthermore, as of this moment the Ministry of Practical Chaos shall be reinstated, and lead by Discord after a week of sabbatical time to rest. As such, he will represent his ministry not only in this court, but in the new Court of Friendship, lead by Princess Twilight Sparkle."
Again, the mutterings began. This time, without any applause to even attempt covering. "And," Luna said with a smile. "If anypony here finds this objectionable, I suggest you step forward and submit yourself to voluntarily inspect and test products that the Ministry of Practical Chaos produces before the public receives them."
Silence suddenly rang out at that suggestion. Instantly nopony wished to object, because nopony wanted to test whatever they made in that building. "Then it is settled," Celestia said with a slight grin. I then declare this court session over, and that the Ministry of Practical Chaos will resume in one weeks time, in time to celebrate our newest national holiday, National Chaos Day."
As the words were spoken, everypony stayed silent, because despite how stuck up the nobles were, they would rather endure such a day, than have to live it every day by speaking now. But if anyone was in shock, it was Discord. As everypony filled out of the throne room, he just stood there stock still, unsure of how to react, or even what to do first.
It was almost an hour later when he finally moved. Leaving the silent throne room, only to enter his own quiet corner of the castle. It wasn't as chaotic as it once was when he used to stay there, but it was silent, and still had what few objects he actually owned. He was still silent when he began to sit at the simple desk, and summoned some paper, quills and ink. Finally, he continued to stay silent as he began scratching out the first of many letters he had to write.
Dear Fluttershy,
I don't suppose you would know the news yet, but I have something to tell you, and all my friends...
One Week Later
"And it is with great honor, and humility that I pass the golden scissors to the first friend I ever had, and the best friends that I could ever hope for. Without these six, none of what you see here, would have ever been possible."
There was an explosion of applause for Discord as he stepped down, and Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all took center stage. All six of them smiled wide, even Fluttershy, even though she kept her face hidden in her mane.
Chaos Day had been a huge success with the ponies of Eqeustria. Despite the fact that nobles loathed the day, Celestia and Luna both embraced the madness, and even as the sun became a spotlight for the disco ball moon, and bananas ran through the streets chasing after chalk drawings of buildings, there was not a bad feeling to be found. Rather than a disaster, it seemed as if Equestria had a new most popular holiday, one that truly let itself go for laughs.
And as Twilight took center stage amid the slight drizzle of skittles that constantly poured over Rainbow Dash, she smiled and said, "We now declare this ministry, open!" All six of them closed the scissors over the ribbon, only for it to shatter like glass. More ponies stomped wildly for several more minutes before entering the new lobby of the strange building.
For several hours the party kept Discord busy answering questions, and being a good host in general. It wasn't until the music started that he finally found the time to go into a quiet corner to relax, and just feel the world move to the music. "Ah, I don't think anything could top today."
"Maybe not, but just wait until you see the bill today cost." He looked up and saw Random Thought, Fluttershy and Screwball standing before him. "So, working hard or hardly working?" Screwball said with a grin.
"Bit-o A, and a bit-o B," he said with a small grin. "Where's whats his name?"
"The author? He's around somewhere, showing off his latest story," Random said with a roll of his eyes. You sure you want him to keep working here?"
"Why not," Discord said with a shrug. "After all, I still need him for something."
They all sat down at the table, as Fluttershy and Discord gave each other a small hug. "Oh, that's so nice of you to let him keep working here after he accidentally let those bits out."
"Yeah, nice, but it won't do us any good if he keeps doing that," Random said with a frown. "What could you possible need him for anyway?"
Discord gave Random a dark glare in warning. It was short, and gone in a second as Discord just smiled. "Well, you remember how I went everywhere to collect those bits?" He then snapped his fingers, and a rather thick book appeared. "Did you think I would just do my work and nothing else?"
Curious, Screwball opened the book and flipped through a few pages. "It's nothing but names, what is this?"
"Not just names," Discord corrected. "But all names, everypony, gryphon, minotuar, mule, cow, bull, horse, zebra and dragon that has ever walked this earth." He then grinned wide as his fingers drummed around the binding of the book. "And so many ways to hook them up with each other..."