Rex Draco was still an egg, smothered in Discord's warmth. Perhaps it was the sweet, sweet fat of the draconequus, or his feathery lumps, but he was most certainly warm. He had come up after smacking (not physically you don't hit girls or well, anypony for that matter) sense into the trio below. He was out cold, his nap finding silence as the others found solace. He supposed sometimes he had to be a mean spirit to get pony's to understand how unbearably complicated they were.
Princess Luna had left in a huff that previous night, having found herself unreasonably rankled by Princess Cadance's treatment of her scribe. It baffled her that she would say such things, and when she didn't know Azure like she did. Sure Azure made her mistakes, but she was honestly trying. Luna could respect her for that. She supposed it could be chalked up to Cadance's pregnancy, but still. When Luna had heard the sound of her door opening, she'd chosen to pretend to be asleep so nopony would bother her in such a mood. It was just Discord, judging by the weight on her bed, but soon Luna was comfortable enough to have fallen asleep at some point. When she eventually awoke, she had to struggle up so she could shake off the last of sleep.
Rex Draco's was nestled in the coils of its caretaker, but Woona would likely find the fat end of his tail on her back, the tuft using her pillow. He was softly breathing, in a good sleep. He hasn't got much of this lately, but after having to square off with a young Alicorn, a broken Changeling, and short tempered Unicorn -- yeah. He was pretty tired. One of the princess' pillows were also half eaten, as somepony got hungry in the middle of the night.
Princess Luna grunted when she realized how the draconequus had oh so casually arranged himself. She tried to wriggle out from underneath his tail, her little wings a-fluttering. After a moment she was forced to give up, his tail was just too heavy for a filly like her. The little princess flopped down and tried to wriggle around to get her hooves up against his tail, kicking with one of them to try to wake him up.. Or at least get him to move. Discord seemed fairly tired last night and she had a feeling he probably hadn't been getting much rest as of late. She hated to wake him, but she needed freedom!
Rex Draco mumbled about cake and clouds raining gumdrops. Knowing him he could likely makes dreams come true. Shifting his body the spirit uncoiled himself, his tail falling more into the filly. He pulled the egg into a hug as his face buried itself against the pillow, letting out a soft sight. He seemed pretty peaceful sleeping. If not for his gangly limbs and filly crushing power he'd probably be cute. He seemed a lot more stressed when awake, but his dreams weren't always gentle either, so he rarely found peace. But after the nice things happened yesterday he was pretty relaxed.
Princess Luna flicked an ear at the sound of mumbling, but despite all her efforts, the draconequus did not wake. The little princess squirmed some more, but his tail seemed to just settle more heavily on her. She tried to fight it, though, she tried to fight it with her little hooves. "Discord!" Luna whined, finally breaking the silence; it seemed she'd have to try waking him up after all. "Please, you might crush me! Wake up!" She just hoped such pleas would reach him in his dreams. "I will call for Celestia if I must!"
Discord Draconequus was sitting up, the egg in his lap. "Can't even take a joke." He grumbled, pulling his paw and claw to his chest. His head turned away as he gave a deep yawn. "Such a party pooper Woona~" He teased with a high pitched voice. His paw and claw came to rest on his knees. "What are you so grumpy about, perhaps you should nap a bit longer." Geez, that got him up real fast! One supposed when ruining the spirit's fun he had a say in it.
Princess Luna's ears perked when she heard Discord's voice; finally, he was awake! "I am not grumpy, you are crushing me and I require freedom." She replied, "I have slept enough, and sleeping itself is becoming boring. As a filly I am forced to sleep that much more often." Luna sat up, should Discord have decided to remove his tail. "You can go back to sleep, but I have one question, what happened last night?"
Discord Draconequus looked to the little Luna suspiciously. "Oh, well everything was fine. You ponies seem to get along better with a bit of threatening." He chided, though he was probably joking -- hopefully. Discord had been doing really well as of late. Hopefully he doesn't ruing it for himself. "But -- Candy has decided to ...name Bygone. He's going to stay with her." He looked down at the egg and patted it. "Azure and I let go of our selfish desires. Though she took it a bit harder. I think Bygone will get better, though I do have worries for Azure. while -- you have faith in her abilities. Luna there is something terribly wrong with her. Do you know of her family?" He wondered if Luna had the whole story herself.
Princess Luna listened quietly, teal eyes on the spirit's face while he talked. So it.. turned out alright did it? She found it a relief to hear. "He would allow her to rename him?" The moonbringer echoed. "How odd. I hope he consents to that, but.. indeed, he will probably do well with Princess Cadance. I dearly hope she can take care of him with her own child on the way." Luna said and paused, frowning in thought. "I do believe I know.. something. I once found her having a nightmare about her father, but I have not heard anything of her family since. Why?"
Discord Draconequus looked down at Luna. He reached out to pet her mane. "Do you remember not having a name?" He wondered. "I...am not even sure this is my name. But being given a name by someone who loves you.... " At least he felt it was love... a mother's love. "I think in his tears was enough consent. He was really the happiest I seen him." He admitted. "I couldn't play a joke on that...." He sighed. "Though -- I didn't know the truth. That -- he was never given a name by another." He scratched at his chin. "Though I do worry for Azure. She does not have a good family."
Princess Luna allowed the petting and thought before she shook her head. "No, I do not. I have always known this name." She said, looking troubled. Though knowing it made Bygone happy enough to make him cry.. that cheered her heart. "I never knew either." Luna murmured and let out her breath in a sigh. "So what all do you know of Azure's family?" She asked with some curiosity. "I sense there is trouble with that, considering what I saw of her father in her nightmares."
Discord Draconequus grumbled a bit at the mention of her father. He laid his head down, moving to smoosh the lunar deity. "Well I have seen him, and was nearly deceived into torturing him! Perish the thought really. I have always been a raining down terror sort." He admitted. "Whatever this pony has done, I cannot say without causing offense to the balance of the universe, but the root of her imbalance isn't it something you can fix, without cutting the cancerous source. She will become a parasite Luna. While, in regard it is not your duty to help her, I was considering visiting him, would you perhaps accompany me?"
Princess Luna made a little squeaky noise when she was smooshed and struggled a little against the weight. She gave up in short time, considering. "I had figured that. Such problems as hers, mental illness, is never something easy to fix nor overcome. It will take many years." She said after a moment and looked up into the draconequus's face, all serious. "I would love to have a chance to speak with him, but.. I feel I would have a better effect if I could look more like.. myself. He will not take me seriously as a foal."
Discord Draconequus considered this. "Well... I think I have to consider a means, but I do believe I know a way to -- revert some of the effects of regression." He knew how to take it off but he had things to do. "But it seems because I used a peanut butter cookie recipe there is a certain prerequisite before --- such." He moved to sit back, resting on his forearms and chest. "You'd need to make a genuine connection with another pony... friendship. Now while it seems rather ironic that this too was my only means of being rehabilitated -- forgiven, however you'd like to pose it -- but it seems its a common requirement to break spells. A kiss, friendship. Really. For now I can only remove a portion of the curse." Cause he was having too much fun. "Since we are bitter frenemeies, I believe it is different. You are a friend but my challenge." He cooed.
Princess Luna waited with bated breath for Discord to finish talking, hoping for an answer and a change to her situation. "Make a friend?" It sounded easy enough, at least for most ponies. For her, however.. it could be a little difficult, considering she didn't really get out much. She also wasn't into the habit of making many friends.. though she certainly had made a few over the course of some months. "I will gladly accept such a challenge, but I must ask, how is it that we are.. 'frenemies'? How am I a challenge to you?"
Discord Draconequus was surprised he got away with that hug lie. Princess of the moon, not princess of common sense. He kept his forelimbs and looked to her. "Frenemies. We are friends, but bitter enemies. You are for peace, I am not. But I hold doubt we would ever bring harm to one another, and you share my ability for illusions, dreams, trickery. Not many ponies hold such fond hobbies. Bygone was one of the only others who would truly provide me with a bit of chaos to do. And you." He offered.
Princess Luna listened to his explanation with curiosity, utterly silent until all had been said. She never really knew they shared similarities, at least in the matter of dreams. "This is true.." The princess responded at last. "I hold high hopes that Princess Cadance will allow Bygone to return to us for visits. You know, Discord, I thought of keeping him here under my own wing. I do not think I would fair well as a mother, but, I would have kept him to guide him regardless. So he could have stayed. But he has made his choice and I will not overstep it." Luna said, reaching out a hoof to his paw, smiling a little. "Hopefully we can keep things interesting, no? So how about lifting this trick of yours?"
Discord Draconequus snorted. "I did a bit more than simply overstep my bounds." And he was sorry for it. "Alright, don't blink." Now he could have easy removed the entire spell, but what fun was that? He raised his paw and booped her nose. He would remove about half of it, her size was that of a young mare, but he would have also removed her wings, and cutiemark completely replaced. "If you're going to masquerade as a pony, you have to look like one of them don't you?" Though would that mean Alicorn were not normal ponies and hardly like or unlike -- well--- hmm.
Princess Luna gave him a sympathetic look, but did as she was told. It was a little difficult not to blink, not when he'd reached over and booped her right on the nose! She allowed herself a flinch, regardless, and felt an immediate change in her proportions. Her view, too, was not so low. Luna looked around at herself once she realized there was something she wasn't feeling, and found her wings missing. "M-my wings!" She squawked. She was used to having wings, she'd always had them, and now she would be forced to do without. Of course.. Her cutiemark wasn't as much of a problem, but it made her question if it changed her talent and ability to move the moon. "I see.. this change is acceptable enough. As long as I am no longer a filly, I am content."
Discord Draconequus was completely beside himself with delight. Nothing invigorated him more than getting away with absolutely everything. His lips curled back into a grin. "I think it looks cute~" He teased, for were Luna to give a proper look her Cutie mark was that of a single yellow butterfly with bubbles surrounding it. He snerked. "I believe your ability has changed, give it a try." He offered her. Though even he did not expect what was to come of such a drastic cutie mark change. "But you have until midnight tomorrow dear Luna---" Why was it always midnight?
Princess Luna snorted a little when she turned back to Discord. "This appearance suits me well enough. It is what I once looked like before the heavens filled me with such strength." She pointed out idly. "I have little idea as to what such a cutiemark entails, nor do I feel sure enough to try it. Regardless," Luna said and paused, eyeballing Discord when he set that limit. "What nonsense.. and tomorrow is Hearts and Hooves day." Luna grumped, having little interest in what it celebrated, but.. "I will take up your challenge."
Discord Draconequus raised his brows a bit at her princess bravado. "Oh, princess, you are so quick to take a challenge, but it is no challenge, but a priority, a -- necessity. If you cannot engage in what ponies call a 'healthy relationship', well -- the magic may never wear off, and you would put me in a situation where my life may be forfeit. Without the Elements of Harmony, your turning me to stone is as good as gone, so there would truly be no way to heal you. You have to heal yourself." Because if he didn't break the spell, no one could! "But worry not! I will watch you from a distance. I shall lend you a paw where I can." he wiggled his claw in amusement.
Princess Luna gave Discord a level look, her lips slightly pursed. "With you, there always seems to be a challenge. I have been made responsible for changing myself back, akin to some curse right out of a mare's tale." She pointed out and waved her forehoof at him dismissively. "I know you, you will no doubt try your best to hinder me, all so you can keep this up." Luna gestured at herself next, skeptical. "It seems I have no choice but to put faith in you, but the Elements should be of no concern. Unless you try to cause town-wide havoc again."
Discord Draconequus had to stifle his laughter. Luna knew him a little too well. Perhaps these sleep overs had to stop! Ho ho ho! "Oh it would be too much fun not to hinder your progress. I am quite glad they are gone, one less thing to worry about, and come now -- city-wide havoc is my specialty." He murred. "But don't you worry your fluffy, little head. I'll try to limit it to pony-wide havoc with a few good pranks every so often." He laughed obnoxiously.
Princess Luna snorted, vaguely amused by his answer. "Yes, I suppose so. Pony-wide havoc does not sound so bad, but I would like to insist again that I get in on some of those pranks. I did promise, did I not?" The idea of pranks sounded like a much better idea to her than trying to make friends on Hearts and Hooves day; the last thing she wanted was another pony getting another unrequited crush on her! "So where am I meant to go tomorrow?"
Discord Draconequus scratched at his chin. Pranks with a princess. Oh this would be fun~! Yes the spirit did find pranking in a team was more fun than alone. "Ooh well I have been considering a fun little game with smooze if ever you are interested princess~" He laughed, crossing his forepaws. "Well I do not know if I could be visibly present during the event. There are some visiting from Canterlot I hear, and other places -- my presence would bring ...disgruntled attitudes." Being unloved on hearts and hooves day. "I will be accompanying Fluttershy. Maybe her stare will ward off predators of hate." he motioned his claw and paw over his eye, mimicking the stare, which had no effect from him, the goof.
Princess Luna finally smiled when Discord showed interest, this time. He might have been in too down a mood the last time she had to insist to find much joy in it. "I would be very interested in it! Who is this Smooze?" She queried, her eyebrows tilting up in sympathy. "That is a shame, but perhaps sometime during Hearts and Hooves day I can come and talk to you and dear Fluttershy." Luna thought to say, and chuckled lightly at Discord's imitation; she'd never seen nor heard of Fluttershy's 'Stare,' it sounded.. strange.
Discord Draconequus tittered into his paw when he realized that dear Luna had not been to the Gala. "Oh you must meet them! They are great at parties. They wanted to be in charge of the kissing booth this year. It's for a good cause~" He mused. "Oh, she is a scream, those eyes are precious." The Flutterstare was almost enough to get him down -- into stitches. "Well I would not mind having a bit of fun when you are princess sized again, but that means you'll have to try extra hard tomorrow-- hindrance or not." He felt a bit better talking to flutter about the things Azure put into his head recently. It left him with a bit of anxiety, to say the lease.
Princess Luna looked interested in this, and had a feeling that the 'kissing booth' was one of their pranks. She giggled lightly; she couldn't wait to see what exactly would be going on with that prank. The mention of turning back to normal quickly turned her mood serious and she nodded, looking determined. "I shall. Surely it is not so difficult to make a friend? Even in such a place as Ponyville." Luna mused, looking down at her bare hooves. She wouldn't let herself fail this.. but she also had to tell herself that she shouldn't use this opportunity or another pony to become normal again. Friends were always good.
Discord Draconequus laughed. "What a silly princess." He mused. "I will also be working hard to learn what this love is. Azure and Cadence made me ponder on it. Flutter has promised to help me in the morrow. If I recall the festival is about -- love." While he had no experience with it -- beyond his general understand. Chaos did not need to love, but perhaps it need not be so isolated. "Well princess do work hard. I look forward to your efforts." He chuckled, always a game to find!
Princess Luna quirked an eyebrow at him at first, before she remembered who she was talking to. Of course Discord probably didn't know much about love.. She may have never been in any sort of romantic relationship with anypony, but she at least knew enough about it. "I could try to help you in that regard, too." Luna offered, nodding. "The festival is indeed about love, from what little I have learned of it. I have never attended it nor celebrated it, I am afraid, so I have little idea of what to expect."
Discord Draconequus never celebrated it, but was organizing it which was a classic case of irony. Why was he organizing it? Because he had yet to locate the whereabouts of that missing pony. Nessie would be assisting him and attempting to keep things in order until they could find out who foalnapped him. Whoever it was did not seem to be missed, perhaps visiting from another city. "Yes, I think we can, together, discover this. I, unlike you, have not had a sibling for very long. I do not believe my love for Bygone extends very far, for there are extensions of affection, or something. Well you ponies have very strange rituals, but I'll try to learn them." Though he was a pony too -- in a way, but that was the trouble with draconequui wasn't it? Left to their own devices, neither dragon nor pony.
Princess Luna tilted her head at Discord's answer, eyebrows raised. "It is hardly a ritual, but emotion we hold for others. There are.. types of affection, indeed. I love my sister dearly, for she is all I have until the end of time should we both survive eternity together." She paused, thinking. "The love you hold for family and friends would be far different than loving somepony that you want to spend your life with. Somepony to be intimate with, to exchange affections such as kissing." Luna knew little more than that, but she'd been around long enough to know of it, to know why ponies would want to get married and create a family together. Her explanation probably wouldn't help as much, if he was as clueless as he seemed. Oh well. "Surely once you find that 'special somepony' you might understand it."
Discord Draconequus grunted. he hardly understood it, but did seem to grasp the idea this somepony, that was special, would be with you always. He did not see that for himself in any spectrum. He planned on staying around for a long time.... He curled up and tucked his head into his coils. While it seemed he was not bothered by her words, the defensive body language. Hiding his face, stiffening his body... The egg would be tucked into his coiled as he grumped for a moment. "Maybe. While the idea is nice, I do not stand in a position such as you, Celestia -- or any other pony." Though what did he mean by that? Flutter had made mention of his immortality -- but twas no blessing. It was a curse of never knowing when.
Princess Luna noticed the way Discord responded to her explanation, curling up as though closing himself off. She looked puzzled and made to inch closer to throw her forehooves over one of his coils, although she wobbled a little. Now she had the task of readjusting all over to having long legs again; and even before she became the dark, starry-maned mare she usually was, she had been tall. Luna huffed. "Whatever do you mean by that? Surely.. you would still have Celestia and I as constant companions, now that you are back."
Discord Draconequus glanced up from his coils. Yellow-red eyes turned in her direction as his mind played at the idea. She was naive -- though she was not much younger than he, nor lived any shorter. "I suppose there is comfort in that." He couldn't tell her. Even immortality wasn't guaranteed. Being locked up in stone not only made him question that, but times of powerlessness. Tirek had only taken a his energy. He would have eventually regenerated it over time. The parasite mage, though, could had done damage plenty were all their powers combined -- What had him so distressed was that, in such a state, he could have lost everything. Thus he kept sharp eye on Woona wherever she waddled. "I suppose you'll too need be comforted that I will be with foooreverrr." He drawled, dropping his head back over her back like a dying snek.
Princess Luna smiled faintly, though it was briefly replaced with a look of annoyance when he dropped his head over her back. She didn't like to be squished under him, but at least now she had a little more strength to fight back. She wouldn't, though, not unless she needed to leave the room for any reason. Probably could.. but what would there be for her to do? She no longer looked like an alicorn, nor had her cutiemark, for the guards to identify her. "Indeed. I have grown too used to having you around, that your absence.. you would be missed." Luna said. "Aside from such talk, I do look forward to tomorrow."
Discord Draconequus dropped his head against her side, yawning, just an annoying, snuggly dragon. Discord never showed any malcontent toward physical contact. If anything he lacked any perception of personal space and often abused it. He shuffled the egg close to his body and closed his eyes. "You indeed would be very bored without me!" As he would be most troubled without them. Sometimes he couldn't admit to himself the truth of the matter, because he did not want to see a world without he friends he was making -- but he would never be alright if he had to be separated from the sisters again. It was why he wanted to get rid of the Elements, push the mane to level up. If it happened again, he'd be crushed. "Well I guess tomorrow we will see how little hermit Lulu does." He closed his eyes to nod off to sleep.
The End.
