Prince Angel
There was a lettuce-orange-and-pineapple surprise waiting for Angel when he woke up. The white bunny looked at it distrustfully, smelled it a bit, then made a step back. He had dreamed of this dessert for years, ever since Pinkie Pie left one of her cookbooks in the cottage. A few times he had tried to get Fluttershy to make it for him, through bribery, cajoling, threatening, even a little begging, but she had never managed to get it right.
So why would it be here now? Curious, Angel hopped to the living room. No sight of Fluttershy there. She must have gone out to do some silly business with her friends. That meant he was in charge. Usually that made him happy - he could laze comfortably on the couch and order the other animals around. Today, though, he didn't feel like it. Something was bothering him, something he couldn't exactly remember.
Thunder shook the cottage. Instantly all the animals scurried for shelter. But not Angel- he was far too used to storms to let something as minor as thunder bother him. Although that might explain his mood. Despite being an indoor bunny, he did enjoy sunny weather. That way he could look out of the window whenever he wished and imagine he was exercising in the open, without having to move from the couch. Come to think of it, he could still do that when it was raining, even though it was just slightly less pleasant.
Gathering a few cushions, Angel jumped onto the couch, settled into a comfortable cushion throne, and looked at the window. Part of the couch was blocking the view. Annoyed, Angel thumped his foot several times. No sooner had he finished, than a few scared animals emerged from their hiding spots. The bunny then pointed in the general direction of the window, an expectant expression on his face.
The animals looked at each other hesitantly. Another round of thumping quickly made them take action. Angel was expecting to be able to look at the window and he would not tolerate delays. A huge bear moved slowly to the couch, lifted it with exaggerated care, then, careful not to discomfort or jostle Angel, moved it slightly backwards. Judging by Angel's expression, that was not the correct direction. Alarmed the bear quickly pulled the couch to fix the mistake. That only made things worse. An annoyed bunny, covered in cushions glared back, silently blinking a few times.
Thunder sounded again. Getting the excuse he needed, the bear vanished from the scene. Just in time too. Angel was about to have another tantrum. Only the absence of nearby victims changed his mind. Grumbling, he re-adjusted the cushions, positioned himself on top and turned to look at the... sunny day outside?!? This was hardly normal, even for here.
Fearing a calamity, Angel rushed to the door and, through some effort, opened it. A bolt of lightning landed right in front of him.
"Why, thank you," an all too familiar voice said, causing the bunny to cringe. There was only one being in Equestria that had such a voice - the one that Angel disliked the most.
"You know," a mouth and two eyeballs appeared on the ground, right on the spot where lightning had struck, "I really can't remember the beginning of that song. I did get the thunder and lightning right though, don't you think?"
Not wasting a moment, Angel slammed the door and locked it. A Discord visit was among his least favorite things. Usually the draconequus would come to see Fluttershy. That would then result in a series of pranks and minor hostilities between it and the bunny resulting in full out war when the yellow Pegasus wasn't looking. Needless to say that Discord always had the upper hand.
"So, king of the castle, I see?" the misshapen form of the trickster asked from the couch. "I understand completely. What is there except to enjoy the simple pleasures in life," he snapped a finger causing the cushions to sprout wings and flap about in the air. "A soft couch, time enough for a nap... Do you happen to have a small glass of milk? My throat is rather dry."
So, it had begun. This time, however, Angel would not let himself be beaten so easily. Unlocking and opening the door he pointed to the outside.
"What?" Discord asked innocently. "You prefer the outside? That's a surprise. I took you for an indoor rodent... Oh well, I guess I could accommodate."
Another snap of his fingers and everything changed. Angel was still standing at the door, but instead of pointing to the outside of he was rather pointing in. To be exact, the outside of the cottage had become the inside. Fields, houses, clouds, even the sun were in what appeared to be an endless version of the cottage, surrounded by enormous walls in the far distance.
Angel blinked.
"Changed your mind?" Discord snapped his fingers again bringing everything back to normal. "Listen," he appeared next to Angel taking the form of a bunny with a horn and antler on its head. "As amusing as it is to play, I am here on very important business. And I think you can guess what!" his eyes narrowed.
For the first time since Discord’s arrival, Angel felt somewhat threatened. Swallowing heavily he shrugged.
"You mean you’ve forgotten?" Discord said, changing into a bunnified version of Rarity and giving a dramatic gasp. "You have seriously forgotten the single most important day of your life?"
The over-dramatization quickly brought Angel back to his senses. Crossing his arms he looked at the Discord copy of Rarity and frowned.
"Why, it’s your birthday, of course!" The draconequus took out a small wrapped box from behind his back. A second later, the box exploded revealing Discord’s usual form amid a shower of confetti. "I would have thought that Fluttershy, of all ponies, would have remembered to tell you... But then again, maybe she preferred to bury that memory deep inside that lovely head of hers."
Angel looked at him, clueless and quickly getting frustrated with the intruder.
"Oh, you know," Discord waved a paw. "I'm quite sure that deep in her heart she’s sorry for the entire business. Wishing you away, and all that."
Angel still looked clueless.
"The labyrinth?" Discord hinted, a picture of three staircases forming a triangle appeared behind him. "My labyrinth? The one you are supposed to become prince of when you get old enough?"
Angel just shrugged, confusion replacing anger. He had no clue what the draconequus was going on about. At least he wasn't being his usual hostile self... yet.
"Honestly! One of these days I'll have a long talk with Fluttershy about this, then erase her memory. How could she not tell you about..." he paused a moment. "You know what, never mind! I'll tell you. A long time ago, when you were a much younger, but just as despicable version of yourself, Fluttershy... did something she didn't mean to do. As a result I took you to my kingdom of chaos and named you prince!"
A huge crown appeared above Angel. Far too large to fit on his head, it fell down with a clunk surrounding him like a golden prison.
"It was a game, you see. If Fluttershy managed to find you in the heart of my labyrinth in less than thirteen hours," a huge grandfather clock appeared next to Discord, "...give or take, I promised to give you back to her. However, if she failed, you would remain in my domain as my very own heir apparent."
That actually sounded interesting. Having climbed his way out of the crown, Angel looked at Discord, curiosity tempering his natural suspicion of Discord.
"The outcome?" Discord asked innocently. A second later his expression became dark and menacing. "She reached you on the last stroke of thirteen."
The crown under Angel disappeared with a poof making him flop on the ground. A moment later Angel disappeared as well, reappearing in a large arm chair. In front of him, behind a desk covered in books and scrolls, stood a very elegant Discord dressed in a fine black suit and wearing a lawyer's wig.
"You see, technically neither of us won," the draconequus put on a set of half-spectacles then grabbed the nearest tome. "The moment she found you was on the boundary between my promise to her and that to myself. A sort of “terra nullis”, so to speak. However, since she had been through so much... And I might have tilted things a bit in my favour, I let her go and keep you with her."
Another poof and Angel was back on the couch in Fluttershy's cottage... Right beside Discord.
"She came here and buried the memory of the entire event - with some help of the the alicorn sisters, I am sure -" the last was whispered clandestinely, "and continued with her ordinary pony life. But a promise is a promise. You were named prince of chaos, and prince of chaos you will become..."
Unease swept through Angel. Did he want to become the prince of chaos? Was it even possible? His ears flopping, the bunny tried to move back, away from Discord, but the cushions took hold of him, like a pot of honey capturing a fly.
"Why do you think I’ve kept an eye on you this whole time?" Discord laughed. "All those jokes, the little games we played... It was all to prepare you for the role. It is not easy being me, you know. Especially for someone as," a magnifying glass materialized in front of Angel, "order-shaped, as yourself. You have no idea how difficult it was for me to come up with ways to train your inner chaos. Any other being would have given up centuries ago... Not that you are centuries old. Anyway, all that is in the past. What I came to tell you is..."
Another click sounded. Everything went black. Stirring sounds and whispers were heard all around. One more click later all light was back. A giant seven layer cake stood in front of Angel, it's top layer brushing against the ceiling. Next to it, Discord, wearing the outfit of a royal Canterlot page, took a deep breath and blew into a golden trumpet. Ringing sounds emerged from the trumpet's bell.
"Ladies and gentlebunnies!" Discord announced loudly. "Today we celebrate the birthday of Angel Bunny, king of the cottage, friend of Fluttershy, and, most important, prince and heir of all chaos!"
Angel just sat there, half-annoyed and half in shock, incapable of moving. This definitely seemed like another of Discord's tricks. After all this time he had learned the draconequus’' repertoire by heart. The prince bit was new, though not enough to fool him.
"Well done, my boy!" Discord scooped him from the cushion, hugging him tightly with both arms. "Well done! I expect great things from you! Just remember, you might be a prince, but that doesn't mean you can bring anyone you fancy back home," he rattled a chain of golden car keys. "And don't go driving, unless you're on the back seat. I have an image to keep, you know."
Now that was going to far. Using all his strength, Angel pushed himself free of Discord's grip. Before the other could react the bunny grabbed the plate holding the cake and threw the whole thing at the draconequus. A huge splat followed, filling the entire living room with whipped cream.
Breathing heavily Angel grabbed the nearest thing he could find, which turned out to be Pinkie Pie's cookbook.
"Bravo," called a voice accompanied by clapping from behind him.
Confound it! He knew it was too good to be true. No way he could get rid of Discord that easily. Come to think of it, was there any way he could get rid of him? Although a complete nuisance, the trickster had powers he couldn’t dream of. Even now he was sitting comfortably on a director's chair, beret, dark glasses and all, applauding him.
"Just as I would expect from my heir! You are going places, kid! Mark my words."
And this is where Angel lost it. Tired of the endless games, the tasteless jokes and ceaseless ridicule, he slammed the book on the floor then turned his back to Discord.
"Now, now," Discord said reproachfully as he rolled his eyes. "No need to act like that. No one likes a drama queen, you know."
Angel didn't budge.
"Come, come, now, we don't have all day," he lectured as an hourglass appeared in the air, the sands of time flowing upwards. "We have a very busy schedule in front of us. There are so many things you need to learn, so many creatures to meet."
No reaction.
"You can't mean you want to stay?" Discord asked, shocked.
His back still turned, Angel nodded.
"What?!" Discord poofed in disbelief, appearing in front of the bunny. "Why? What good is it to be the prince of chaos if you are to remain," he cringed in disgust, "here? Why, just look at the place! Sure it can be fun every now and again, and Fluttershy is a nice pony to be around - I am quite fond of her, you know - but still. You are a prince. Why wouldn't you want take advantage of that? Anyone else would."
Silence.
"Are you sure?" Discord asked, imitating Fluttershy's voice. "Really? Really really?"
A single, emphatic nod came from Angel. It was clear what his decision was. For a moment, sadness filled Discord. The trickster had never imagined anyone could refuse such a opportunity. It had to be Fluttershy's influence. She had messed with Discord’s mind on multiple occasions. But was that a bad thing? After all, Fluttershy's kindness was the reason she had become Discord's friend. And, although he didn't show it, Angel had that kindness too. It seemed Angel was on the boundary between chaos and kindness.
"Oh, very well," Discord said in fake displeasure. "Be that way! Rebel, like any teenager, why don't you! You know what? I don't think you deserve to be prince yet! Who knows what sort of undesirables you'd bring home! You'd probably mess up the place anyway - arrange stuff, mow the lawn..."
A series of poofs filled the cottage. With every poof, part of Discord's chaos disappeared, until the place was just like it had been before his visit. Only the draconequus remained.
"I'll leave you to waste your life here!" Discord snapped his fingers and was gone.
Angel remained motionless for a few moments more. When no joke followed, he cautiously turned around. The spirit of chaos wasn't there. Could it be that he had really gone, or was this another of his tricks? Leaving nothing to chance the bunny went through every room. Nothing! He could hardly believe it! This was the first time he had managed to beat Discord in... in anything, come to think of it. How strange. In any event, the whole incident had made him quite tired. Maybe the best thing now was to get some rest and pretend this never happened.
As he went to his bed, Angel came across the lettuce-orange-and-pineapple surprise once more. This time the edge of a piece of paper was visible underneath. In the commotion something must have moved the bowl, revealing it. Curious, he pulled it out.
"Hello, Angel Bunny!
I am very very very very very sorry I couldn't be here during your special day, but Twilight and my friends needed me. It was somewhat of an emergency. I hope you'll forgive me and enjoy this very special surprise I have left you.
Happy birthday!
Fluttershy
P.S. Don't worry, Pinkie made the dessert, so it is perfect.
P.P.S. Eat slowly and don't forget to brush your teeth when you finish.
P.P.P.S. Please?"
Typical of Fluttershy, Angel thought. Leave it to her to be be so apologetic even when he wasn't there to glare at her disapprovingly. Still, that was one of the reasons he liked her, and wouldn't trade her even for the kingdom of chaos.
Once again he looked at his desert. The feeling of discomfort gone, it seemed far more delicious now, so much so that he could feel his mouth water. There was one small difference from the last time he saw it, though - one that he now understood and could accept. At the very top of the desert, on a cushion of whipped cream, stood a single cherry in the shape of a crown.