//------------------------------//
// Magic 
// Story: To Get a Christmas Tree 
// by Michael Hudson 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight glanced up from her book as the ground started to shake. Stampede? Regular? She stopped and let her jaw hang slack as a giant bulldozer went past her. “Discord!”

The draconequus looked out the window and tilted his hard hat to her. “Hello Princess. Is there something you need?”

She flew up next to the machine as it made its slow progress through the forest. “Yes, and that is to know what you’re up to. You normally don’t try to destroy a forest!”

Discord baked up from the loud pony and then smiled at her. “I am sorry Ms. Sparkle, but I have made a deal with myself to get a Hearthswarming tree and that is what I am doing. See, you can look in this.” He summoned the contract, a document rolled tight but still the size of a pony and tossed it to Twilight who promptly disappeared with a thump.

“Well, that should take care of that.” He pushed down on the lever and the engine growled to life. Minutes ticked by as he thought of what ornaments might look best on the tree. Maybe a little angel with buck teeth and big ears? He blinked a few times and then shook his head. “I really should do something to that stupid little bunny. It’s starting to get to me.” He raised his mug of coffee as he sipped it as thoughts of rabbit stew danced in his mind.

“You’re breaking your own contract.” Twilight fell back down to the ground while Discord spat his coffee into her face.

“Will you not do that!”

“Will you not read fifty-thousand page documents in about thirty seconds?”

“No.”

“Well fine, but I won’t stop batting you down then.”

Twilight dodged Discord’s claw as it sparkled and saw the falling sparkle explode midair. She glared at him and stated, “You can’t do this. Your contract forbids it.”

Discord raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

She crossed her arms. “Yes. You aren’t allowed to use magic. This was made by magic I’m guessing.”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course it is, but I summoned it outside of the forest which is allowed.”

She smirked as her point was won. “Yes, but you also can’t kill the trees, and those look pretty dead to me.”

Discord glanced back and groaned. “Are you going to punish me now? Get to do all you have ever wanted to do to me before?”

Twilight deadpanned at him and stated, “Your target tree is behind you, isn’t it? I’m not going to kill your tree for you. Now fix those trees, get rid of this bulldozer, and talk to me.”

He frowned and raised an eyebrow all the way to the sky. “Why would you want to talk?”

“Because you aren’t an idiot and this is about as stupid as mistaken loopholes go.”

Discord smiled wider. “I am honored that you think so highly of me princess.” He stopped for a moment and then shook his head. “I would rather not. This is somewhat… embarrassing as it is.”

“Is it because of the mistake, or because I now know you’re giving Flutters a gift?”

He paled at the comment, but only for a moment. Discord put a claw to his head and moaned, “I need time to recover, heal, get over my terminal case of stupidity.” He opened a single eye and saw Twilight just sitting there still. “Please?”

Twilight shook her head. “Fine, but don’t go destroying Equestria just for a tree. I will punish you then.”

Discord crossed his chest with a small x and stated, “I promise, despite how tempting your offer is.”

Twilight sighed. “I’ll ignore the fact that you probably have a pair of crossed fingers behind each tree here and leave you be. If you need something though, just come find me.”

The draconequus watched as she flew away and sighed. Maybe I should– “No! Bad Spirit of Chaos! You have a tree to get.” He sat down back at the edge of the forest and summoned a drawing board to start all over with again.