Back at the grove, the others were still enjoying their 'lazy day'. Globe had feasted on some juicy fruit, his lips splattered with red and purple, while Huckleberry was still catching some rays. Daring and Caboose were still snuggled together, while Big Red sat by the pond, dipping his hooves in its cooling waters.
"Ah, that's the stuff..." He sighed.
Moments later, Shine and Eclipse landed, exhausted from their flight.
"Well, that was fun." Shine smiled. "Nice moves, kid."
"Thanks." Eclipse grinned. "You weren't so bad yourself... for a Pegasus."
"Oh, really?" Shine smirked.
"Nah, just kidding." Eclipse chuckled. "You were pretty awesome up. All those moves were amazing. How'd you learn 'em all."
"Years of practice." Shine smiled. "Give it time, and you'll learn too."
"Sure hope so." Eclipse smirked.
"Boy, this is such a great day." Daring nuzzled against Caboose.
"Yeah." Caboose held his wife tightly. "Hopefully, Discord and Isis are having as much fun as we are..."
Meanwhile, Isis and Discord finally separated from their hug.
"So, now that all the mushy stuff is out of the way, what shall we do now?" Discord chased.
"Well, I'm still a little tired from the race." Isis admitted. "What say we take a cue from our mortal friends and take some time to relax?"
"Works for me!" Discord chuckled, flashing up some loungers for them. A table appeared next to him, bearing glasses full of chilled drinks. "Smoothie?"
"Why, thank you." Isis smiled.
The two immortals took their seats (Discord flashing up a pair of sunglasses for himself) and started relaxing.
"Ah, this is nice." Discord smiled. "Just hanging out with a good friend. I actually haven't been able to do this for a while."
"What do you mean?" Isis asked. "You have lots of friends."
"True." Discord nodded. "But most of them have families of their own. They don't really have much free time nowadays. ...Not even Fluttershy..."
"That actually sounds pretty nice." Isis sighed. "It's been so long, I barely remember what it was like to have any family other than Osiris."
"At least you had a family, once upon a time." Discord declared. "I never had that luxury. I'm a one-of-a-kind creature. I used to think that was a plus, but now, I'm not so sure..."
"Well, at least now you have a fellow immortal to hang out with again." Isis smiled. "That's better than nothing, right?"
"Infinitely so." Discord smiled. He held up his glass. "To having friends."
"Hear, hear." Isis smiled, as they tapped their glasses together.
After downing their drinks, Discord and Isis laid on their loungers, enjoying the warm sun. But all too soon, the sun was blocked out by clouds, heralding Osiris' arrival.
"Ah, there you are." Osiris smiled unconvincingly as he descended upon them.
"Do you mind, Osiris?" Isis growled. "Discord and I were trying to relax!"
"Oh, sorry." Osiris apologised. "I was just wondering if I could... borrow Discord for a moment?"
"What for?" Discord asked warily.
"Just a friendly chat." Osiris declared.
"'Friendly'?" Isis snorted. "You've been nothing but hostile to Discord since he came here."
"And I feel just awful about that." Osiris declared. "I wish to make amends."
"Well, why can't you do it here?" Discord asked.
"To be perfectly honest, I'm not comfortable expressing my emotions around Isis." Osiris declared. "As much as we care for each other, I'd prefer not to show my more vulnerable side to her."
"Don't hold back on my account." Isis said sourly.
"Just a quick, private chat?" Osiris beseeched. "Only the two of us? I promise it won't take long."
Discord mulled it over. While he certainly didn't like Osiris much, getting on more civil terms with the Deity of Death would help his relationship with Isis in the long run. If nothing else, it would ensure Osiris wouldn't be breathing down his neck all the time.
"Okay, then." Discord got off the lounger. "Let's go and... talk."
"Excellent." Osiris smiled. "Follow me."
Osiris took off into the sky.
"Be right back." Discord told Isis, before changing into bird form and following. "Wish me luck!"
Isis glared in Osiris' direction, as the two flew away.
"...Just what are you playing at, Osiris?" She frowned.
Osiris led Discord around the back of the mountain, coming to rest on a small cliff.
"So... what do you want to talk about?" Discord asked, changing back to normal.
"What do I want to talk about?" Osiris growled, the smile vanishing from his face. "How about you getting a tad too cozy with my sister?!"
"Excuse me?" Discord gawked.
"Don't play dumb," Osiris snarled. "I saw you back there, getting all close and snug with her."
"I, er... don't know what you're talking about!" Discord blushed. "Besides, I don't see how it's any of your business!"
"Considering this is my sister we're talking about, I'd say it makes it my business!" Osiris roared, loud enough to rattle the mountain.
"Okay..." Discord said nervously. "Let's just try and calm down..."
"Don't you ever tell me what to do." Osiris growled. "You insipid, irritating little Chaos Spirit."
"Oh, now you're just being mean!" Discord mock-pouted.
"Thank you for proving my point." Osiris said coldly. "Everything's a joke to you. Like everything on this planet is just toys for your personal amusement."
"I can't help what I am." Discord shrugged. "I can't stop being the master of Chaos any more than you can stop being the Deity of Death."
"Well, I don't have to like what you are." Osiris growled. "I was willing to tolerate your presence here in the short term. And how did you repay my charity? By feeling up my sister!"
"Feeling?!" Discord spluttered. "It was a hug! What, you've ever heard of hugs before?"
"I know what it was." Osiris growled. "And I refuse to allow this to continue. I couldn't let my sister fall under your sway all those years ago, and I refuse to do so now!"
"Isn't Isis supposed to have a say in this?" Discord frowned. "I don't think she'd be happy to hear you've been making decisions for her behind her back-"
"I know what is best for my sister!" Osiris spat. "She cannot waste her time cavorting with a trickster like you!"
"'Cavorting'?" Discord snorted. "Is that what were we doing? You need to get your eyes checked. Besides, having a little fun won't do her any harm."
"It does when it causes her to shirk her responsibilities!" Osiris shot back.
"Don't be ridiculous." Discord growled. "Isis has always lived up to her responsibilities. Hanging out with me won't change that, trust me."
"Trust you?" Osiris growled. "I trusted you before, remember? Or have you forgotten our little 'chat', all those years ago?"
"Like I ever could..." Discord shuddered.
Flashback...
It was the day of Discord and Osiris' first encounter, the terrified Spirit of Chaos trying his best not to show fear. But it was really hard, considering that Osiris was in his giant form, practically a skyscraper in size, and that was him coiled. Surely, at full extended length, he would be as tall as three skyscrapers.
"So, uh, what do you want to talk about?" Discord gulped, Osiris' threat of what he'd do if he didn't like he heard still ringing in his ears. "Current events, the weather?"
"Family." Osiris said simply.
"Family?" Discord gaped.
"I understand you've been spending time with my sister of late." Osiris declared.
"Sister?" Discord frowned. "I think you may be mistaken..."
"Oh, I'm not mistaken." Osiris glared at him. "My sister... is Isis."
"Isis?" Discord gulped. "Oh... I think I remember Isis mentioning having a big brother... didn't think she literally meant 'that big'."
"Well, she does." Osiris declared. "I am Osiris, the Serpent Deity of Death. Master over all that is the dominion of death and the afterlife..."
"How... nice for you." Discord smiled weakly. "Now, what exactly brings you here?"
"Well, it so happens that Isis told me about all the time you two are spending together." Osiris scowled.
"Oh, yes." Discord nodded. "She's great fun! She's got a great sense of humor, an excellent wit, and she's one of the best sledders I've ever see!"
"I'm sure she is." Osiris nodded. "But to be perfectly honest, I'm not happy. Not at all."
"And why is that?" Discord asked.
"Isis is the Serpent Deity of Life." Osiris declared. "As such, she has responsibilities she needs to live up to. Hence she cannot become distracted by 'fun'. Especially not the kind of 'fun' a troublemaking Chaos Spirit like you no doubt gets up to."
"Well, with all due respect, that's your opinion." Discord said boldly. "What does Isis think?"
"It doesn't matter what she thinks." Osiris said bluntly. "I'm her brother, and I know what's best for her. And what's best for her is to focus on her purpose in life, and not be led astray by the likes of you."
"Now see here!" Discord growled, affronted. Nopony gave him orders, ever. Even a titanic Serpent Deity of Death didn't have that right. "I haven't been leading Isis astray! We've just been having fun together! Is it so hard to believe that your sister wants to have a little fun with yours truly?"
"Oh, I believe it." Osiris growled. "But I don't have to like it. These past few weeks, Isis has been traipsing off, playing around with you, away from where she belongs. If I allow her to continue this... whatever it is you have together, she might get it in her head to try and use her powers in ways that would disrupt the natural order. For that reason, I cannot allow this relationship to continue. Henceforth, you shall cut off all ties with Isis, and never so much as look upon her, ever again."
"And what if I don't?" Discord snarled.
"Then you will suffer the consequences." Osiris spat.
"Oh, please." Discord snorted. "Your power over death means nothing to an immortal spirit like me. What can you possibly do to follow through on your little threat?"
"True, I can't extinguish your foul existence." Osiris admitted. "But that doesn't mean I can't harm you. After all, you would be surprised by what you can live through..."
"Go ahead and try then." Discord growled, rolling up his forearms, leaving his paw and talon floating in the air. "I've got some tricks of my own up my sleeve!"
"Very well, then..." Osiris sneered, as suddenly, his body glowed and he let out a demonic roar as he then shrunk down to his normal size, which was still bigger than Discord.
"And what was the point of that?" Discord frowned.
"I'm just making things easy on you." Osiris taunted him. "I don't believe in the term 'overkill' when I face my adversaries. But regardless of size, you cannot best the embodiment of death."
"What is death compared to the power of Chaos?" Discord boasted.
"Let's find out." Osiris smirked.
"Yes, let's." Discord nodded.
"I haven't had a chance to inflict pain in quite some time." Osiris chuckled. "This should be fun..."
"Don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're Isis' brother." Discord threatened.
"I'd be insulted, otherwise." Osiris growled.
Well, I hate to disappoint." Discord grinned. "No holding back."
"By all means." Osiris sneered. "Give me your best shot."
"With pleasure!" Discord growled. "It will be just a SNAP!"
Discord snapped his fingers, intending to turn Osiris into a worm.
But nothing happened.
"What th-?" He frowned. He snapped his fingers again and again, with no effect. "What's going on?"
"Oh, you odious fool." Osiris chuckled darkly. "Your Chaos Magic has no effect on me. Our kind are impervious to all but a few rare forms of magic. You can't hurt me, Discord."
"Perhaps not directly." Discord snarled. "But how about like this?"
Discord created a giant mouth in the ground, which reached up and swallowed Osiris.
"Who's the fool, now?" Discord gloated. "Ooh, I hope Isis won't be too mad about this..."
Suddenly, the ground rumbled. The mouth grimaced, before being torn apart, as Osiris emerged, unharmed.
"Oh, boy..." Discord cringed.
"Really?" Osiris frowned. "That was your best shot? You disappoint me, little spirit."
"...I'm just getting warmed up!" Discord yelled.
Discord turned some nearby trees into clawed arms, which clamped around Osiris.
"Oh, please." Osiris broke free instantly, shattering the trees.
"Yeah?" Discord growled. "Try this!"
Discord conjured up a squad of half-elephant, half-bat creatures, which dived toward Osiris.
"Points for creativity." Osiris smirked, before whipping him away with his tail. "The execution could use some work, though."
"Oh, I'll give you an execution!" Discord spat, driven to the edge of madness by his lack of success. He suddenly manifested an entire armoury's worth of cannons, crossbows, muskets, and various other projectile weapons. "By firing squad!"
"Ooh." Osiris smirked in mock admiration. "That might actually work."
"Eat this, snake boy!" Discord roared.
Discord unleashed the full arsenal at once. Explosions and dust filled the area, Osiris disappearing in the cloud. Discord, exhausted like never before allowed him a smirk. But it only lasted a moment; As the dust cleared, he saw that Osiris was still there, not a scratch on him.
"Oh, come on!" Discord spluttered breathlessly. "I'm not that bad a shot!"
"Are you done?" Osiris asked.
"For the moment... yeah..." Discord panted.
"Good." Osiris gave a snide smirk. "Now it's my turn."
Suddenly, Discord felt his body being lifted off the ground.
"What?!" Discord panicked, as he flailed around trying to move. "What's going on?!"
"Let's just say death isn't the only thing I have power over." Osiris jeered. "Allow me to demonstrate..."
With a flick of Osiris' head, Discord was sent flying, face-first into a tree.
"Ouch." Discord groaned, as he slumped to the ground.
"Here, let me help you up." Osiris snorted.
Discord was lifted back up, and thrown around by Osiris, tossed into a mountain, a fallen elephant-bat, and slammed into the ground. He was thrown toward Osiris, who batted him away with his claw, then repeated the process several times over.
"You know, just tossing you around is getting boring." Osiris declared. "Let's move on to the grand finale!"
"Or we could just skip that, and call it even?" Discord said weakly.
"Sorry." Osiris smirked. "I never leave a performance unfinished."
With a flick of his head, Osiris threw Discord up in the air. At the same time, his eyes glowed white, and the clouds in the sky turned dark, thunder cracking within them.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me..." Discord cringed.
A bolt of lightning struck Discord, followed by another, and another, and another. Discord, blackened and scorched, dropped to the ground, his introduction to physical pain complete.
"Gah..." He whimpered, hurting all over.
"Now then," Osiris chuckled, as he loomed over Discord, "Have you had enough? Beause that was just the warm-up. I made it quite clear that you can't harm me, but I can harm you. Would you like to maybe rethink your decision to stay?
"O-okay, okay." Discord gulped, as he struggled to his feet. "Maybe I was a little hasty before."
"Wise decision." Osiris growled. "Here's what going to happen, little spirit. You are going to turn the other way and go as far, far away as you can, so far that Isis will never see you again. Furthermore, you will not see her again. I don't want to even see a letter to her from you. Comply with these demands, and I will not have to show you what I am truly capable of... do we have an understanding?"
"Look, maybe we could negotiate." Discord said nervously. "Maybe Isis and I could see each other once a week... or month... or year?"
"Not unless you want to experience an eternity of agony." Osiris spat. "I repeat, do we have an understanding?"
Discord lowered his head in sadness.
"Y-yes." Discord nodded. "Of course... I'll leave right away..."
"Excellent." Osiris smirked triumphantly. "Goodbye, Discord. And have a lovely rest of your pointless life."
"...Can I at least say good-bye to Isis?" Discord frowned.
"No." Osiris grunted, "The only way Isis is going to learn to forget about you is have no further contact."
"But... she... she's my friend." Discord tried to not whimper. "I... I... I lo-"
"One important thing you must learn, Chaos Spirit. We are like that of gods. Gods must distance themselves from such distractions from friends... or love..." Osiris declared coldly. "And honestly, what do you know of either of that? You're a spirit of Chaos."
"That I am..." Discord sighed. "That kind of thing really isn't in the job description..."
"Now go. And don't let me see you again." Osiris growled, as he turned away.
"...Okay." Discord frowned sadly, as he turned into a kite, and drifted away on the wind.
"And good riddance..." Osiris muttered, as he too departed.
As Discord soared through the skies, he felt a pang of sadness over having to leave Isis behind. He felt something in his eyes, but Discord quickly wiped it with the kite's tail.
"Well... this sucks." Discord mused. "Isis was a real fun gal... and now I no longer have anypony to play with..." He let out a sad sigh. "What do I do now?"
As he glanced downwards, he noticed a small group of tradesponies, dragging carts down the road.
"Hey, isn't Equestria in this direction?" Discord pondered. "Maybe I might find some fun there..."
Discord flew off in Equestria's direction, his sadness diminished by the thought of attaining an old goal of his. A little chaos would help him take his mind off things. Or a lot of chaos...
The present...
"I thought we had an understanding, Discord." Osiris glared. "You were to never see Isis again, nor was I to see you again...yet here you are..."
"To be fair, I forgot about that 'understanding', because y'know, it's been an thousand years! And it wasn't an understanding, so much as a threat to do bodily harm if I didn't do what you want!" Discord glared back.
"Yet you were dumb enough to come back here after a thousand years." Osiris spat.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't think you'd be here too." Discord shrugged. "Does that help?"
"Not in the least." Osiris growled. "When you first arrived here, I considered ending your existence right then and there. If Isis weren't there, I actually would have done it. It would had been so easy..."
"I figured you'd keep our little talk just between us." Discord snorted.
"Well, I figured that you wouldn't be staying too long." Osiris sneered. "With all those new 'friends' of yours, I didn't think you'd spend too much time with Isis. But I was wrong."
"Well, it has been well over a thousand years since our last meeting." Discord huffed. "You can't blame me for wanting to catch up."
"Actually, I can." Osiris spat. "Having never actually seen you two together, I thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. Seeing you with her turns my stomach. It makes my skin crawl, the way you look at each other, the way she laughs when she's around you."
"Can I help it if I'm a funny guy?" Discord shrugged.
"Shut up!" Osiris snarled. "The bottom line here is that you were told to stay away from Isis, on pain of immense bodily harm! And if you don't take your little band of mortal friends and leave right now, I'll put you through an agony you will not believe!"
"Go ahead!" Discord snapped, "I'm not afraid of you! Not any more! I will not leave Isis all alone again, just because you don't like me!"
"Why do you even care about my sister?" Osiris challenged. "You talked of having gathered many more friends in your absence. What is so important about this one friendship you have with her that you would keep on coming back?"
"Because I... value our friendship!" Discord said hesitantly. "It was the first I ever had, after all! Even if I didn't quite know what I had at the time..."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Osiris glared.
"Well, it... means... I appreciate having her around!" Discord spluttered.
"You... appreciate her presence?" Osiris eyed him suspiciously. "Or is there more to it than that?"
"Well, obviously, I enjoy being with her." Discord mumbled. "She's fun, sweet, caring... beautiful...
"Oh..." Osiris gave a knowing glare. "I see... this was never about friendship... not even close... you... have feelings for my sister, don't you?"
"Well..." Discord blushed, before scowling. "What if I do? Would it be so terrible for me to be in love with such a wonderful, majestic creature?"
"This is just what I was afraid of." Osiris snarled darkly. "I wanted you gone because I knew that Isis having you for a friend would lead to her misusing her powers... but you are in love with her..." He then gave him a cold stare. "Which means I must make sure you stay gone this time..."
"Do your worst." Discord challenged. "I refuse to be bullied by the Deity of Death! Like I said, I am not afraid of you!"
"YOU SHOULD BE!" Osiris roared, his voice growing demonic for a second, as he raised his head higher to intimidate the Spirit of Chaos. "I tried to be civil, but if you will not leave quietly, then I will have no choice but to unleash the might of the Serpents upon thee!"
"What is going on here?!"
Osiris and Discord turned to see Isis floating before them, her eyes filled with anger and confusion.
"Isis!" They said together.
"Osiris, what are you doing? And what is this about unleashing the might of the Serpents?!" Isis demanded. "I thought you and Discord were making up!"
"Oh, we are." Osiris declared.
"Really?" Isis glared. "Then why were you threatening him?"
"I was just joking!" Osiris lied. "Tell her, Discord."
"Discord?" Isis asked. "Is that true?"
Discord stood still for a forward, glancing between the inquiring look Isis gave him, and the threatening glance Osiris threw at him. He took a deep breath.
"No." He said solemnly. "It's not true."
"Discord..." Osiris growled.
"The truth is that your brother was trying to threaten me into leaving." Discord told Isis. "Just as he did all those years ago."
"What?" Isis gasped. "He threatened you?"
"He's lying!" Osiris spat. "That's what he does!"
"Not just threatened." Discord admitted. "He gave me a savage beating like you wouldn't believe. All to force me to leave, and never see you again."
"...Osiris?" Isis turned to her brother. "Is this true? Tell me Discord isn't serious."
"Now, Isis, you can't possibly believe this fool!" Osiris growled. "He's the Spirit of Chaos, lying is-"
"Tell me, brother! Did you or did you not tell Discord to leave?" Isis demanded.
"Well, it's not quite as simple as that..." Osiris said awkwardly. "Many things happened that day... Several exchanges of opinions... temper were frayed..."
"I am not hearing a denial, brother!" Isis glared.
"And that is because..." Osiris began... before sighing, "It's the truth..."
Isis's jaw fell agape as she lied on her coils.
"I... I... I don't believe this..." Isis shook her head.
"Isis, please..." Osiris moved his tail over to hers. "I was just-"
Osiris's tail was slapped away, as Isis instantly lunged towards Osiris's face.
"How could you?!" She snarled, staring hate at her brother. "How could you drive away the only friend I ever had?!"
"Now, Isis..." Osiris retreated an inch, though still tried to sound like he was in control. "I was just doing what was best for you..."
"Don't give me that!" Isis said contemptuously. "You didn't do it for me. You did it for yourself!"
"You were beginning to shirk your responsibilities!" Osiris retorted. "Your interactions with that jester were driving you to distraction. He was a bad influence on you!"
"That's just crazy." Isis growled. "You know me well enough to know that I would never shirk my position! Being the Deity of Life is what I live for! But it shouldn't be all I am meant for!"
"You were chosen to hold that position by our elders!" Osiris reminded her. "The last Serpent chosen. I couldn't risk you leaving the sanctuary and throwing away the Life Deity legacy!"
"Leaving the sanctuary?" Isis snarled. "Or leaving you?"
"I..." Osiris started.
"You've always been so annoyingly overprotective of me." Isis growled. "Even before we lost the rest of our kind!"
"Can you blame me?!" Osiris retorted. "Ever since you were but a young hatchling, you always wanted to explore the world and meet the inhabitants! Never mind that you are a Deity! Deities don't and shouldn't have friends!"
"Why?!" Isis challenged. "Why should we live an seemingly endless friendless life?!"
"Because they aren't your friends!" Osiris snarled. "They are nothing more than scum! You are nothing more than an easy ticket for immortality and unlimited power to them! They lure you in with false smiles and great promises, but the moment you let your guard down, they will use you and you become nothing more than a object to them!"
"And how does Discord fit into this?!" Isis roared. "He had never once asked me to use my powers for ill-gains, even way back when!"
"Oh, and I am to believe that a Spirit of Chaos would actually befriend a Deity of Life, just for fun?!" Osiris challenged.
"Yes!" Isis growled, "Why is that so hard to believe?!"
"Because he is the Spirit of Chaos! An accident that the universe never rectified!" Osiris roared. "Ever since he was made, he never gave a damn about anybody but himself. And this whole 'learning the meaning of friendship' spiel? I don't buy it!" He then glared fiercely at Discord. "He is still that same cowardly, greedy little imp of a spirit!"
"No, he's not!" Isis yelled. "He's changed. You'd see that, if you weren't so blinkered by your petty hatred!"
"Of course you would say that!" Osiris roared. "Maybe you weren't so damn stupid and naive, I wouldn't have to constantly stop you from making these bad choices!"
Isis flinched, her eyes registering hurt. Discord's jaw dropped to the floor... literally.
"Stupid? Naive?" Isis whispered.
Almost immediately, Osiris realized what he just said.
"Isis... I did not mean it like that..." Osiris tried to comfort her.
*SLAP!*
Discord winced as Osiris recoiled from Isis whipping him hard in the face.
"Grr..." Osiris grunted, as he glanced at Isis, who seem to be on the verge of tears. "Isis... I'm-"
"Save it!" Isis snarled. "I have had enough of you! Enough of you coddling me, enough of you deciding what's best for me, and just plain enough of you!"
"Wh-what are you saying, Isis?" Osiris asked.
"I'm saying that this is the last straw..." Isis glared. "Not only did you drive away my only friend, but you led me to believe that he just disappeared off the face of the earth! I spent all this time thinking Discord had abandoned me for no good reason, hating him for leaving me all alone. But now I know the truth... and now..." She leaned into Osiris's face, "I... hate...you."
Osiris's pupils seemed to have grown small as he pulled his head back.
"Sister... you... you don't mean that!" Osiris spluttered.
"Yes, I do." Isis spat. "I don't ever want to speak to you again. I am done with you!"
"But... I'm your brother!" Osiris pointed. "Your family! I'm the only one you got left!"
"You should have thought of that before you betrayed my trust." Isis sneered.
"That is not fair, Isis!" Osiris snarled, though his voice seem to lack the intensity of anger it usually had. "Please..."
"Come on, Discord. Let's go." Isis growled, "We're done here."
"Yes, ma'am." Discord nodded, the family melodrama starting to get to him.
"Isis..." Osiris whispered.
Isis didn't even look back as she took off into the sky. Discord gave Osiris a half-sympathetic, half-"you-got-what-you-deserved" look, before changing into a bird again and flying off.
Alone on the mountain, Osiris had only his own regrets for company.
"RAAAARRRGGHHH!" He roared, slamming his fist into the mountainside, causing a chunk of it to collapse.
A short while later, the crew of the S.S. Cherryblossom returned to the airship.
"What a great day off that was..." Daring sighed.
"No kidding." Caboose smiled. "Maybe we should come by here more often..."
"I haven't felt this relaxed in ages..." Globe said blissfully.
"Me neither, kiddo." Big Red grinned. "Farm life kin be real rewardin', but if ya don't find the time ta relax every now an' then, it won't do ya any favours."
"This has been the best day since we started this crazy quest." Huckleberry declared.
"Oh, yeah." Eclipse nodded. "No doubt."
"Let's just hope Discord and Isis had things even half as good as we did." Shine declared.
As they neared the ship, Discord and Isis arrived.
"Hey, guys." Discord waved. "How was your day?"
"Fantastic." Daring declared. "Thanks again for telling us about the grove, Isis."
"Yeah, no problem." Isis sighed.
"What's wrong, big I?" Caboose asked. "You look a little down."
"...It's nothing." Isis shrugged. "Hey, do you guys mind if I sleep around here tonight?"
"Of course not." Shine declared.
"Great." Isis smiled weakly. "I'll go grab some supper..."
Isis flew off a short distance.
"What's up with Isis, big D?" Caboose asked.
"I'm afraid I can't say." Discord frowned. "It's... private."
"Then we won't pry." Big Red said solemnly. "Come on, folks. Let's get ta our own supper."
"With pleasure." Globe chuckled.
As the group went inside the airship, Discord looked in the direction Isis had flown in. He honestly didn't know how to feel. While Osiris wasn't exactly his favorite Deity, Discord couldn't help but be swayed by the heartbroken look on his face when Isis rejected him.
"Isis, I hope you know what you're doing..." He sighed.