Edited by frieD195
Discord was running as fast as he could, he was close to panicking but he had to keep running. His heart felt like it was thumping so hard that it would pop through his chest at any given moment. He gritted his teeth and groaned. Luna was a fast flier. He knew firsthoof as they used to race eachother when they were younger. He quickly dismissed those thoughts and skidded around another building.
’‘STOP!’’ He heard Luna shout to him. He looked back to see that she was quickly coming closer and closer.
’‘SHIT!’’ Discord accelerated slightly and went around another corner. If he kept running around buildings, Luna would have to slow down so she wouldn’t crash into one.
’’We just want to talk!’’ Luna had come closer again. Discord was starting to panic again.
’‘Pfftch-yeah right!’’ Discord stomped on the gas and kicked up a cloud as he continued his running.
-----
Back on stage, Celestia was stuck in an awkward silence. Nopony said anything. Even Pinkie Pie was quiet. Somepony in the crowd coughed, emphasizing the awkwardness. Celestia took a deep breath, she could handle this without her sister. She had ruled on her own for a thousand years before Luna returned from her banishment on the moon. Celestia smiled and adressed the crowd by clearing her throat, taking another deep breath.
’’So, a gryphon, a pony and a diamond dog walk into a bar-’’
-----
Luna was starting to get tired from chasing him around Ponyville. There was no point in trying to talk him into stopping, he would just run faster. She knew that Discord was also beginning to get tired, as he was taking the narrow turns a little sloppier than what he did the first time. This gave her a window to inch herself closer to him. Discord finally made a mistake. He had ran out to a field surrounding Ponyville.
Discord was cursing himself for not looking where he was going. He was now on an open field close to the tree he had been sleeping under for the last week. His legs were starting to get numb from the constant abuse they were taking. He groaned as he realized that he was slowing down, even when he was giving it all he had.
Luna was rising slightly in attitude for her last move against him. When she was satisfied with the altitude she was in, she got into a dive heading straight for him. This boost of speed was exactly what she needed to bring him down. She banked a slightly and flew into his right side, tackling him to the ground.
-----
In town, everypony was roaring from laughter from the joke that Celestia had told them. Many ponies were lying on the ground clutching their sides and gasping desperately for air. Celestia grinned as she saw that her joke had the intended effect. It didn’t take long until she started giggling softly to herself but it soon became a full out laughter, tears and everything.
Nopony expected that the princess would know such a perfect joke. The build-up for the joke made one want to hear the rest of it and the finish of the joke was just priceless. Laughter continued to spread across the crowd as ponies started to repeat the joke by themselves.
-----
Discord was far from laughing. He was lying on his back, groaning in pain from the sudden hit. He cracked his eyes open for some very unwelcomed sunlight. As soon as he had opened his eyes he had shut them due to the light. He shifted around and could feel something weigh him down, he was too tired to care at the moment.
His eyes had finally adjusted to the light, he looked around to se shredded pieces of what once was his cloak. He laid his head down to the ground again with a thump. Apparently, thumping your head to the ground when you have a headache is stupid. Don’t do it, kids. His eyes shot open as he realised that something, or specifically somepony was touching his chest.
Discord lifted his head to see Luna lying on top of him, her cheek against the base of his neck. The rest of her body was also lying on top of him. Awkward. Discord started wiggling out from Luna’s grip, who tightened as he moved. He looked down at her again, she was staring right into his eyes. He couldn’t help but to think that she was still beautiful, even after everything that happened between them. He wiggled desperately a few more times, but this time with more force.
Luna sighed and climbed off him. Discord jumped to his hooves, only to collapse again as he couldn’t put any weight on his left front hoof. He had hurt it when Luna tackled him, Lovely. Discord gritted his teeth. Luna looked like she had just seen a small fluffy animal with big shiny eyes die.
Luna opened her mouth to talk, but she couldn’t find any words. This was Discord, she could feel it. It just seemed strange to see him as a pony. She had imagined him to be a little taller and perhaps a little bulkier. He was about a head shorter than her, his build was a little more muscular than an ordinary stallion. She noticed just now that he also had wings. He was an alicorn. Not surprising as he could fly and use magic as a Draconequs.
’‘You wanted to talk, then talk.’’ Discord was clearly not amused by all of this. He spat some blood, as he had taken the entire hit for him and her.
’‘Celestia and I, we wanted to-’’
’’-Encase me back in stone, I know that already. Seems like instead of a draconequus, you’ll be getting a pony this time.’’ Discord scowled.
’’No... We just wanted to talk with you... Make a deal...’’ Luna was fighting hard not to shed tears. This was not the Discord she once knew.
’‘So, the perfect Godesses, that also work as Princesses, wish to deal with the Devil himself.’’ Discord smirked, this could prove to be interesting.
’’We wanted to talk about the imprisonment and the Elements.’’ Luna was starting to back away from him. She needed Celestia right now. As if on cue, Celestia landed gracefully besides her. Luna breathed a sigh of relief as she saw her older sister. Discord seemed to shrink back a litte before he stood back up and stretched as much as he could while balancing on three legs. Celestia’s pupils shrank as she got a good look at Discord and his current form.
’‘Discord..?’’ Celestia asked carefully, not daring to make any direct assumptions.
’‘Nooooooo, really?’’ Discord stuck his tongue out and acted stupid for a while. ’‘If I understand correctly, Lu here said that you two wanted to talk to me about the Elements of Harmony, correct?’’ Luna seemed to cringe as he said that nickname that nopony had used for almost three thousand years now.
’‘Exactly.’’
’‘Ohohoho, this is gonna be good!’’ Discord limped towards them, one of his trademark grins plastered on his face. ’‘Hold that thought, for a while.’’ Discord’s horn started glowing with a crimson aura, who slowly turned yellow. A red and yellow mini-tornado appeared around his damaged hoof. A snap echoed from the limb, and the tornado dissappeared into thin air. Discord stomped his hoof to the ground to test it. It was fully healed. With another stupid grin, he took another step towards the princesses who both took another cautious step back. ’’Oh come on, My breath isn’t THAT bad, is it?’’
Luna giggled at Discord’s joke, gaining a shifty look from Celestia. ’’We came here to propose a deal. No hurting the Elements of Harmony and you will not be turned back into stone. You can come with us peacefully, or we will be forced take action.’’ Celestia’s gaze or tone never wavered or showed any hint of weakness or lying.
’‘Killjoy...’’ Discord muttered.
’’Do you accept, or will we have to do it the hard way?’’ Celestia stretched her neck to its full extent. She almost towered over Discord.
Discord just got a crazed grin and a twitch. ’’My way...’ He growled as his horn blazed to life with his periculum.