Retirement
“Retirement?” Discord croaked, air catching in his lungs.
“Yes! It’s a great idea, don’t you think?” Celestia beamed. “Luna and I can finally get a well-deserved break, I don’t think either of us have had one since we were foals! And Twilight will finally be able to stretch her wings, well, so to speak, and gain confidence as a ruler.”
“Retirement…” Discord breathed out in a whisper. “You’re retiring…”
Celestia’s face fell, but only momentarily. The Alicorn perked up as she picked up a tea kettle with her magic, a pink aura surrounding it as she poured more tea into her cup. A nervous chucked bubbled up from her throat.
“Well, yes, but it won’t be permanent, of course.”
Discord stared down at his paw and claw, resting against his torso. A paw and claw. Just another way he’s different. But, one couldn’t ignore how useful they were, like holding things you love close to you. His head hung and maw hanging open in pure shock. His ears hung low and brushed against the back of his head.
“Where will you go…? What will you do?”
“Oh, well, of course, we’re thinking of doing some travelling. But, I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we get there!”
Discord sat silently, letting the pony’s words consume him. She… She was leaving him. Again. Just when he thought things were getting better. Just when he thought they were getting closer. Just when he thought things would be like they used to be.
A memory made his heart pang with sadness. Sadness and grief and regret and pain… All things that could be frowned out by the numbing joy of chaos.
Nothing could hurt you if nothing made enough sense to hurt you in the first place.
… A snow-white filly with wavy pink hair and eyes of sparkling rose quartz, her legs too long for her body. A draconequus, a mischievous mishmash of many beasts, who loved her more than tragedy loved to befall both of them. Oh, how they loved to play together, how they loved to trick and fool and play pranks. It was perfect. And then it wasn’t. Because she insisted that she doesn’t have time for playing games anymore, Discord. She has a nation to worry about, Discord. Her people need her, Discord.
You’re a draconequus, Discord, and everypony hates draconequui and they’re all murderers and hateful and cruel and they’re monsters and-!… Well, okay. She didn’t say that. But, it felt like it!
… So, when it came time to choose her people and her steadily spiralling and increasingly chaotic coltfriend…
She sealed him in stone.
“I’m very sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner.” Celestia said softly. “I figured now would be the best time, considering Luna and I were planning on announcing it to everypony else, as well.”
“It's… Okay.” Discord lied, pausing a moment. “… When were you planning on leaving?”
“Today, at the soonest.”
“TODAY?!”
Celestia flinched, eyes wide at the draconequus’ outburst. Her dining partner seethed from the opposite side of the table, panting loudly through his snout. His sharp teeth were bared and a growl built up in his throat.
Pink eyes trained on Discord, not willing to leave him. “Discord, I…”
Discord shook his head, eyes screwed shut, leaning against the tabletop. “No, no, this wasn’t supposed to happen… I… I thought…” Discord blinked open his eyes, training on Celestia’s hoof, resting against the surface. Hesitantly, he reached out with paw-
The princess quickly retracted it, flinching at the draconequus’ movements.
Tears bubbled up in Discord’s eyes. “Celly, I thought we…”
“Oh, Discord, is that what this all about?” Celestia sighed. The princess bit her lip. “Discord… We… We’re not like that, anymore. I don’t- we… We can’t go back to that. So many things have happened and changed. It wouldn’t be right.”
A sob escaped Discord’s throat, wracking through his entire body. He wrapped his arms around himself in a vain attempt at comfort. His body seized up and seemed to attempt to fold in on itself as he cried.
This wasn’t fair! This wasn’t right! This wasn’t supposed to happen!
“Discord, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you still felt so strongly-”
Why didn’t she remember? They were in love! She loved him and he loved her and they loved each other and they still do, they’re supposed to! So, why-?
“But, you have to understand… We’re just not those kids anymore. We can’t be like that together. It would be irresponsible-”
He was good again, he was so good, he was getting better, even! So why… Why wasn’t he enough? He loves her, he deserves her. And she has to love him, too! Why else would she-
“-I truly am sorry. I may have been a bit tone deaf, and inconsiderate. So many times I try to teach my little ponies to be caring and considerate of others, when I couldn’t even realize the pain you must still be feeling-”
Maybe… Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe, it was just like before. The outside world, the other ponies, everything else… Tricking her into thinking he was bad for her, that he wasn’t a good influence, that there were more important things at hoof. And after all this time, she still hasn’t unlearnt it.
“-And for that, I am truly sorry. I hope you can forgive me. Even if we can’t be together exactly like you’d want. But-”
Then, Discord supposed, the outside world will simply have to go away. Oh, Celly will get her vacation, alright.
Momentarily, a feeling of guilty gnawed at him, before he mentally cast it aside. This was good. This was right. Discord was good. This was the right thing to do.
“-I hope we can still be friends.”
“No…!” Discord growled.
“What?” The hurt in Celestia’s voice almost made him whimper.
The draconequus easily reached over to grab at the princess’ hoof, dragging her over to press her body against his. Underneath his fur, Discord’s body was alight with fiery warmth at the feeling of Celestia against him. His growls turned into purrs as he nuzzled against her.
“Discord, let go!” Celestia squirmed in his grip.
Discord chuckled, tilting up her chin with a finger. “Not this time, my dear. I let you go once, and looked how that happened. I’ll never let you go, again.”
The snow-white alicorn glared up at him, (oh, she was so cute when she was mad!) her horn sparking with a pink aura.
Oh no, she doesn’t!
With a simple snap, her horn disappeared completely, alongside her wings. She was completely powerless and at his mercy.
Another snap, and they were both in another building entirely, much smaller than the castle, certainly. Outside the windows, Celestia saw an endless expanse of chaos, with no meaning or rhyme or reason.
Her heart beated against her ribcage. This was his dimension…
“You’re powerless now, Celly,” Discord crooned, nuzzling against his beloved. “And you’re in my world now.”
The former-alicorn seized up in fear, eyes darting about in confusion. “H- how did- why- how did you-”
Discord chuckled. “I’m much more powerful than you think, darling. The only reason I didn’t do anything like this when you first banished me is because I had a soft spot for you and Lulu. I wanted to give you a fighting chance.
And now that I’ve changed, I wanted to be good. I wanted to reconnect naturally. I wanted to do it for you. But, no… Of course not. You don’t want that. You wanted to leave me all over again!”
“Discord, please, I’m truly sorry, please, just listen-!”
“No… No more Mr. Nice Discord. Don’t worry, love, you’ll get your vacation. How does a few eons, just you and me, sound?”