Canterlot castle had a myriad of rooms, all with their own purpose. One in particular, in the lower floors of the castle, had a strange symbol etched into it. It looked kind of like a Minotaur, but was smaller and thinner. It was also missing horns and hooves. It was just... weird. Rainbow Dash hovered in front of the door, waiting for the chaos spirit to reappear. She considered sitting down for a bit, but she wanted to keep active so she wouldn't fall asleep. She had been awake for the last thirty seven hours waiting for him to pop his ugly head out. She had seen Discord enter the broom closet, which wasn't too weird, but when she saw a bright light from inside and the Sigil on the door glow, she knew something was up. She checked inside and he wasn't there, so she had stayed there waiting for him to come back.
Rainbow grinned when she saw the Sigil on the door flash. "Got you now. Let's see what you're up to." Discord opened the door and walked out whistling. "So, that's a nice broom closet you got yourself there, isn't it." Discord didn't even bat an eyelid. The chaos spirit turned to face her calmly, wearing his usual grin.
"It is a very nice room indeed. Surprisingly dirty for a room made for the purpose of cleaning. Quiet chaotic I must say. So what about you Dash? What are you up to, spying on little old me."
"I not... well I am technically, but just because I know you're up to something. You're planning something, I can tell."
"I am doing nothing of the sort. Just a bit of work. I do have a life, outside of making Equestria more fun."
"Then why did you sneak off?"
"I did not. I just walked off. No sneaking whatsoever. Besides, I have to find something to amuse myself, especially when Celestia forbids me from meddling."
"You walked into a broom closet and teleported away." Rainbow deadpanned. "Seems like sneaking off to me. And what's with the symbol thing?"
"You can't expect me to remember which doors lead to which realms, can you?"
"Huh?" Rainbow looked at the draconequus confused.
"It's complicated. Do you like art?" A question mark appeared in Discord's hand.
"Hey don't change the subject. What are you planning?" Rainbow glared.
"Still on that, huh? Fine, if you really must know, I was painting."
"Painting on what? The castle? Some poor animal?"
"You think I would use some poor defenceless animal as a canvas, how cruel do you think I am? Well, maybe I would paint on that rabbit of Fluttershy's, but other than that, no. I wouldn't use any animals as a canvas. I was actually painting you." Discord smiled, shoving a painting in her face. Rainbow recoiled in surprise. What the hay is that!?
"That doesn't even look like me! The hair is close, but that doesn't even look like a pony. Doesn't even have fur!" Rainbow looked at the portrait with distaste.
"It doesn't? That's odd, I thought it would transform into pony form as well. Well that's something to tell Twilight."
"This is hurting my brain." Rainbow rubbed the bridge of her muzzle.
"Yeah, something like this would confuse you. At least this might cheer you up."
"What will cheer me-" Rainbow's sentence was cut off when she was teleported out of the room.
The gala this year was going as planned and Celestia hated it. Every year was the same, excluding the year previous when Twilight and her friends had attended. But even they were behaving this year. Celestia sighed. Just a few more hours and it will be over.
"Well, hello Princess. It is good to see you away from the foyer for once. It must get tiring shaking all those hooves." Fancy Pants smiled.
"It does get a bit monotonous, but nothing I cannot handle."
"Yes, well at least we have someponies to break the cycle this year." He pointed to Twilight, who was talking with another guest. "What are they planning this year?"
"Anything would be better than this." There was a loud popping noise from above. Celestia and Fancy looked up and smiled. A few of the other guests also looked above, which caused others to look as well. Soon the whole room was staring.
"Finally." They said in unison.
Above them was a chandelier, which was nothing odd in itself, except for the fact that it was now a giant cupcake, with four legs sticking through the bottom and Rainbow's head poking out the top.
Celestia leaned to whisper in Fancy's ear. "Let the fun begin."
That was when the door to the castle garden burst open and the animals came pouring in, with a yellow pegasus following behind. "Stop running. Please love me!" Her voice echoed through the room.