4/22/16; Glimpse of the Past

[Mal]

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Princeshë Celestia watched with somewhat rebellious eyes as he moved to the side for her to be able to escape. However the next thing he said brought her to a screeching halt with hoof raised mid-step. Perhaps it was his comment about friends, the draconequus's persistence, or even the 'question' that was mostly towards himself... her facade shattered and the millennia showed as she slumped. His sarcastic comment was all but unanswered as she waged an internal war and lost horribly. At the mention of a chimera her eyes regained focus and she shook her head. "No... No, I would rather nopony got hurt this night." she'd say with a resigned voice. "You want to know what troubles me? Fine." She quietly gathered her wits about herself. "What yourself and Luna have now reminds me of something that is far beyond my reach. If you feel up for a laugh ask somepony about a somewhat recent incident involving one of star swirl's mirrors and myself." she bitterly spoke as she turned from the draconequus.
Princeshë Celestia didn't want to look at the draconequus as she said the next part. "You and Luna will have each-other until the end of time lest something happen. And what do I find myself feeling? Envy ~ And perhaps even jealousy. I, of all ponies, have no right to feel neither envy nor jealousy in regards to Luna and yourself after what I did to her. She deserves every modicum of happiness to be offered to her. Neither of you need a failure such as I darkening the doorway. Just let me rot with my demons; we deserve each-other." this was said with a bitter tone of voice. A century was a long time to develop a somewhat unhealthy amount of self loathing, no? Even if those were the thoughts that typically never saw the light of day.

Princess Luna rose at her usual time, though she found the bed empty; that in itself wasn't entirely unusual as Discord was known to flit off for one reason or another, as he was wont to do. She rolled out of her bed, pausing to consider straightening it before she went off on her way, but thought better of it, and turned to her usual grooming. Her mane and coat, brushed, and her regalia put on. She shuffled her hooves in her silver shoes a moment before she made for the door and went down to the dining room, where she could eat breakfast before it was ever time to raise the moon. Sometimes she skipped breakfast if she were to sleep in just before such a time, but on some days it was wide to have some food before the night began in earnest. To much her surprise, Luna heard familiar voices beyond the double doors leading into the dining room and came to a halt in the shadow just outside them, listening. Through a gap she made, she could see Discord and Celestia.
Princess Luna didn't mind seeing them in the same room, in fact, it heartened her that they were getting along, though it seemed that such a moment as this was serious. Celestia was talking. The moment the mirror was mentioned, the lunar princess stiffened and strained her hearing; part of her felt bad to be listening in on something like this, but it gave her a chance to hear how her elder sister was truly feeling. Tia was jealous of what she and Discord had? She understood jealousy all too well, and having been present during such an incident as was mentioned.. Luna wanted to step in and comfort her. She just wasn't sure if she should go nosing in, though..

Discord Draconequus had thought she would all up and leave. In all honesty sometimes all he had were his sarcastic comments and sardonic quips. It was usually what allowed him to keep his hearty bluffs standing strong against even the most persistent of ponies. The words envy and jealousy came up, causing him to laugh softly. To think Miss Perfection had to deal with them too. Well that shattered his view of her, not that he was ever one that put her on a pedestal, but he had thought that sometimes Tia was maybe incapable of just having romantic mare feelings. It was squishy little emotions that made ponies -- ponies. He pushed to stand, turning his slender body to the side so his barrel faced Celestia in a most telling shift of body language. He could have remained a sarcastic cretin and held up his tail or pranced about, but his slithering showed perhaps he was trying to be understanding. His chuckles became lighter, the strange sound of amusement rumbling from the spirit.
Discord Draconequus was not offering mocking cheer built of hubris, nor was he finding merriment in her pain. "You are so obstinate sometimes Tia. Honestly, this is exactly what I told you before. You're just an ordinary pony ... with power. Jealousy and envy are the natural result of a pony who is capable of love." His words slowed down as that made a decision for him as well. He seated himself and looked away. "I cannot say there is no creature that has sentient thought that does not suffer from this -- even dogs hold envious thoughts towards their loved ones." He sighed deeply and moved to walk towards the mare of the sun. "Oh how I wished to have been the one to corrupt you and make your heart weep, at least when I was like that...." He seemed longing for such. "But Tia, you should know the power of words. Speak them, and they will come true." He warned. "You don't want to become a Nightmare do you~?" Oh yes, yes this was that was it not? His lips curled up deviously.
Discord Draconequus could cruelly express all manner of things! But -- he was trying, albeit begrudgingly, to be a friend. Old habits died hard. "I can't believe I am the one telling you this, but Lulu's little fall into dissent... could have been avoided if everypony just faced one, simple fact..." He cocked his head and walked around the mare. "You all want to be loved." It was a peculiar mental disease. No cure as far as he knew. Groddy really. Raised his paw and cocked his head. The large fingers of the lion's hand dug into his feathery coat.They way he sat was quite regal, even if he was a hodgepodge of beasts. He had his pride after all. "As your former ruler, rival, and I suppose charismatic leader of all things chaotic...." He moved to pet her bare mane, his head still toting her tiara of leadership. He looked around to make sure no one would be witness to his moment of weakness. "You're a good girl Tia, so much so that you get on my nerves." He groused.
Discord Draconequus sat on his haunches to place her crown back on her head, removing it from his possession. "A princess, isn't like a king. They are loved because they are ordinary ponies, but can do amazing things." he rolled his eyes. "As a king of chaos, well I am a feared tyrant who doesn't see the grey areas, or chooses to ignore them." He sat up, crossing his forelimbs over his chest. "What I'm saying.... thanks for trusting me enough to tell me. You worry too much about the strangest things. Time is incalculable. I may have forever with Luna. I may have only this week. I may have until the next moonrise. Time doesn't stop for anyone, not even a god of time. Meetings, partings, comings and goings are all an important aspect of living in the breathe of change. It is better to love, and loss, than to never have loved at all -- because you become me. I try hard not to think about it myself -- that I may sabotage Luna."
Discord Draconequus probably would, if she became something -- manageable. he was not a being of constant. "Love changes to. You, others, things you see. As utterly nonsensical, and maddeningly sappy as it is... love saved me. It can destroy too, but I think it's a lot like chaos, except warmer. You can't control it but you can learn to flow with it." He didn't think Tia understood any of his backwards rambling... it made no sense really. He knew he understood what he understands that needs to be regarded, but irregardless of the records -- he was loveless.

Princeshë Celestia glanced back at Discord from the corner of her eye and was brought to pause by the way he... took a more understanding pose. He continued to speak on an then he began to walk towards her. It was all true after all; she was but a regular pony with all too much longevity.... Alas the statement that she 'didn't want to become a Nightmare' caused her to pause an let out a quiet snort. "Already happened once.... The end results still haven't settled very well on my conscience ~ Even after over nine centuries... so I think I'd rather pass." The white alicorn turned to look away but alas Discord started to circle her and that effort was put into vain. "Of course we do.... all creatures at the very core do ~ even if they forget that fact." she'd say with a look at Discord. Oh yes she understood a good bit what the draconequus meant through all of his ramblings but alas... "The only problem is... How many times can a pony have loved and then lost before it gets to be too much for said pony?"
Princeshë Celestia glanced towards a window. "After all, that saying was born from creatures who could look towards their final day as a day of reuniting with those they have lost." a mirthless smile was on her features at that. She stepped forward and would have aimed to gently embrace and wrap a wing around the draconequus if she was able to. "Even still.. thank you, Discord."

Princess Luna, despite better judgement, remained lingering at the doorway and listened as the pair talked- most of it Discord's rambling. Some of it made sense, in a weird kind of way. What surprised her, though, was that Discord was talking with Celestia about it, as though he were trying to help her understand. The mention of Nightmare made her ear twitch; she couldn't imagine Celestia ever.. Nine centuries? She knew none of this, and part of her yearned to know more. The conversation as a whole, even on Discord's part, showed her that he had learned quite a lot since his release from his stone prison. She was kind of proud of him. Luna felt that she had listened in for far too long as it was, and opened the door wider with her magic; the calm, cool presence of which was perhaps enough to alert the others to her if they were aware enough. Luna stepped in, quiet, after Tia's thanks for the draconequus; to see such comfort offered between them was a good sign that things were mending.
Princess Luna wasn't sure whether to cough to signal that she was there, had they not noticed her already, or to simply speak. It was an irrelevant, but hard, decision. "Good eve, you two." Luna settled on the latter, offering them both a smile as she approached; would they know she was listening in or should she let them know? "All things aside, you still have us, my dear sister, constants in a universe of change." Luna had to say something.

Discord Draconequus chuckled. "And no creatures wiser than those who spent, comparably, a microt in what is for them a lifetime." He mused, ears folding back as the solar mare's wing came over to hug him. He tightened his wings, making an annoyed looking face. "That's for you to decide." He noted. "You can choose to continue loving those fragile mortals you're so fond of...you can ignore them in their plights, or you can always go the route of chaos -- and doing as you please. Damned be the consequences." But, by that -- what did he mean? Well that was for another time one supposed. "You ponies and your short, overcomplicated lives." Compared to him -- Tia's lifetime was hardly a life. "You learn... Tia. You learn how to deal with the hurt." He raised a claw to brush her back, since his right paw held him up and he had his left shoulder to her. He peered back over the alicorn's white wing only to spy the dark mare. "Oh not you as well with the encouragement of feelings."
Discord Draconequus protested, but he had not moved, nor gone to deny them. He grunted and stared off. "I'm not much for constant... but you can depend on my variability. After all a wizard arrives exactly when he must, so you needn't worry too much princesses. I'll always be a step behind after you. After all you owe me a kingdom." He pouted.

Princeshë Celestia closed her eyes and just let herself dwell on the draconequus's words. "Of course." she'd say with a quiet chuckle only to fall unerringly silent as he listed the so-called 'choices'. Alas the alicorn shook her head. "I'm afraid I am far too fond of the 'fragile mortals' as you call them. After looking after them for many a few life-times one begins to find them somewhat endearing in their own way. Just about the time the claw brushed her back she heard Luna's voice pipe up from behind her. She stiffened and made a quiet sound akin to an 'eep'... However the mare just let it go and sagged again. "of course... Even if I... " she shook her head to cut herself off. "I will still have you two, that is far better than a decade ago." she finally pulled back and put a good distance between herself and Discord. After all; Discord and Luna were the two that were together; she need not get in the way.

Princess Luna overheard the trailing rest of the conversation and couldn't help but let her smile become mischievous at Discord's protest. It disappeared quickly as she stepped up to them, noting the way Celestia inched away from the draconequus. Luna wasn't a jealous pony- in a way, she had been, for the sake of love, of being admired and appreciated as her sister, but she knew the situation here to not feel that pang at the sight of their closeness. "A kingdom we might share together, would that not be the best? Chaos and harmony, like a wheel, ever turning despite the rise and fall of life. Balancing each other out." Luna mused as she stepped up to the other side of Celestia and planted herself there, making to lean against the pale alicorn as she tried to retreat from Discord. It was something she need not do now that she was in the room; she wasn't bothered by it in the least. It meant Celestia and Discord were still getting along, still learning to get along. Indeed, and we will always be here."

Discord Draconequus felt the solar mare pull away, but why he didn't know. He was not as hurt as he would normally be by such, as the rainbow donut was having her own issues. When Luna came up she offered her sister suppose. He rolled his eyes at the sappy moment. "Oh, what the Tartarus." He shrugged and waddled over towards them before moving to drop on them like a giant cat-dragon. Which, to be fair, he was a giant dragon at times demanding of attention, greedy for it. But he preferred to be a nuisance. "You two.. worry far too much." He moved to scoop them up in a hug as he stood on his hind legs. "Besides who will stand up to the challenge when I rampage again if you're not up on your game?!" He smirked. "It would be so boring~" He smirked, ears pinching back. "Why Tia, I'm sure Luna can come play with us today as well.... court may very well get interrupted by a wild beast." He raised his claw threateningly.

Princeshë Celestia pulled back from the hug but she quickly found her means of rtreat cut away by Luna planting herself there up against her. The alicorn blushed and turned to give a similar embrace to her sister. If long enough to satisfy the hug deficit by one more tick. She pulled back and smiled softly at the two. "There cannot be harmony without chaos; just as there cannot be chaos without harmony ~ or even order ~ lest the words simply loses all meaning." She was hardly able to get that out before the draconequus seemed to decide to scoop them both up in a hug! And the blush intensified just a bit. "It is in my nature to worry, Discord." she'd say only for that impish grin from before to return. "If you go on a rampage Luna could always just take away your time to romp in the hay ~ as it were." That was in a sing-song voice there. Cheeky alicorn! "But in all seriousness, Discord. I would rather nopony got hurt..." After all letting a 'wild beast' into the castle could get ponies hurt!

Princess Luna tittered softly in her sister's embrace, leaning into it and extending one of her wings to wrap briefly around her elder. "Worry? Not I." The lunar deity managed to retort before Discord swept them both up. Her legs folded against her body, tucking there the moment the floor fell away from her. "It sounds fun. When all other villains have given up and gone home, who will be left to challenge?" Luna quipped, turning her head a little so she could give Discord a look out of one teal eye. Such subjects were dropped upon hearing that tease from Tia, of all ponies, and Luna's face lit up a bright pink. "S-Sister!"

Discord Draconequus chuckled at the white mare's attempt to get him to curb his behavior. It wasn't until Celestia spoke that string of words that the spirit's ears would fold back and his body stiffen. His mind raced. Would Luna deny him such a thing? He still felt quite troubled after the last interruption! Unfinished business made a draconequus very -- clingy. His face fell flat, as if completely exasperated with the mare of the sun. "That's it." He opened his paw and claw to release the pair, floating up. A sour expression painted his features as his wings raised. Sometimes one could perceive that the spirit could fly and use his wings, but he oft choose to not. They were unnatural for him after all. "Moment's gone." He stated. "You killed it." He blamed Celestia as he sighed and crossed his forelimbs over his chest, letting his hindlegs dangle. "The reason, oft times, of our lacking of nice things, is indefinitely cause of you Tia."
Discord Draconequus glanced towards Luna, a faint dusting if pink feathering his muzzle. Damn it Tia. He fidgeted a bit, ears pinching. "Speaking of which... Tia I was curious about something." He scratched his beard a bit, struggling with the words. "Ahhh no matter. It is probably just a pony thing." He dismissed and spun around to face them. "Than, shall we play~?"

Princeshë Celestia fell back onto her hooves while dissolving into a fit of giggles as she caught sight of the pink on Luna's face. And then a look at Discord and she caught her breath. He had turned a little pink as well! She had a smile akin to the cat that caught the canary at that point. Oh, lonely or not, she was going to have fun with this! "I assure you the lack of nice things is not because of I, Discord, it is because we have to spend the money that would normally be used for said nice things on pudding cups. Pudding cups that have the tendency to disappear on the kitchen staff." that smile was still on her features. A smile that fell when he started to ask something and then diverted off. "Many pony things can be enjoyed by non-ponies." she left that to hang and shrugged minutely. "I suppose I can play for a time, if only to make sure nothing too problematic happens."

Princess Luna made a surprised noise the moment Discord's hold loosened, dropping her back to the carpeted floor. It was not too far to fall, so nothing hurt, and it was a scramble to drop her hooves from their folded positions so she could roll to them. "What is it you intend?" Luna had no answer for their short supply of nice things, not like her sister who was more quick to such witticism than herself. She unfolded her wings to give them a shake, mindful of Tia's earlier tittering, and folded them again, gathering herself after that quip. Her blush was beginning to fade and Luna tilted her head back to look up at the now floating draconequus, eyebrow quirked. Her sister was in on it too, from the sound of it, of which she was glad.

Discord Draconequus snort. "I am not to blame for the mystery of the missing pudding cups!" He defended, sounding almost offended, but twas not the case. He turned his head away. "You simply need to better prioritize Equestria's spending!" He pointed a claw at her. "What would your visiting ambassadors think if they knew you had such frivolous spending habits~?" Oh yes it would be a riot -- of literal proportions. He cackled a bit at the delightfully, tasteful thoughts. He lowered himself so he landed facing Luna, his side to Celestia. Folding his ears down he gave the white mare a pointed stare. He rather not ask the question, for even Luna was becoming rather nosy about it. "OOh yes let us play. Ditch court today my love, and I will take you two to a whole new world~ of which has wonders you've never seen!" Which was pretty easy when he had access to places like the Sock Puppet Realm. Shiver.
Discord Draconequus he stood and moved to nudge his skull against Luna's, very demanding. "Come forth ladies. These responsibilities do naught but drag us down!" And not that he was aware how far they dragged Tia, she could kiss her peaceful days good bye. Huwahhaha. The draconequus would pad along towards the castle's main gates, but make a zip toward the library, odd as it seemed.

Princeshë Celestia gave Discord a somewhat flat look. "They'd wonder why I don't spend more. Between centuries of investments and savings I have a rather large personal account in the Canterlot bank thank you.~" the alicorn glanced to the side at Luna but then just smiled at the sight of Discord nudged against Luna in a somewhat demanding way. The smile had a hint of..nah.. She shook her head and quickly moved to trail after Discord and her sister. She honestly rather wondered just what she was getting herself into but... she should be fine, yes?

Princess Luna had to give Discord a look upon the mention of missing pudding cups. She remembered the night of pranking they'd had, him leaving behind his trail of empty pudding cups- though she had no idea about Celestia's bed. The moonbringer kept her silence on that matter, however, and returned Discord's nudge with one of her own. "I suppose court could wait a while if you have something fun planned for us." Luna stated, glancing over at Celestia with a questioning look; what did Discord have planned? Luna fell into step beside Celestia upon being lead off towards.. the gates, and the library? She was confused, but intrigued.

Discord Draconequus pushed into the library, floating up off the ground. He enjoyed pudding, mostly because it annoyed the others. It was a fun messy thing to eat that was quite obnoxious when used properly. He looked back towards the mares as he vanished, appearing atop one of the shelves. "Oh yes, I was preparing an adventure you see." He moved his paw, levitating several books out of their shelves. "And in such I have learned that some of your books here have forbidden knowledge." Due to Luna's pride he was given access to a secluded section of the library. He only needed to be there once to remember how to arrive. One such book appeared in the middle of them all. "And here I thought I erased all the books regarding my-- historical take over." The library doors would suddenly slam closed, sealing. "Whoops~" Was he annoyed or simply up to mischief?
Discord Draconequus lounged upon the shelf top, paw moving, manipulating the tomes. "You have a remarkable collection.... I'm jealous." He cooed. "But here is what I propose... let's play a game. I'm feeling quite --- hmm nostalgic~" He cooed, glancing down at the sisters with that expression of his. He was up to no good. "Would you play with me, this game my loves? Grant me consent..."

Princeshë Celestia glanced to Luna as she said that perhaps court could wait. When the questioning look was sent her way she dipped her head and smiled. "Of course.. I'm sure ponies shall not begrudge us some time to spend with one another." she leaned over to give her sister a nudge only to turn to follow Discord a little more consciously.. Soon enough they arrived at the library and she felt a tingle of discomfort when the draconequus languished upon the shelf and spoke of the 'forbidden knowledge' that was there. "It is quite remarkable what somepony can find when in the right place at the right time." she smiled only for that spine tingling sensation to once again begin. "What game do you wish to play?" she wasn't about to speak consent until she knew just what the draconequus was up to. She wanted to know what she was agreeing to!

Princess Luna followed after the draconequus after returning her sister's nudge, into the Canterlot Archives, with some confusion. What were they doing in the library of all places? The lunar mare, as was her way, remained silent for the most part as she listened in, letting her sister do most of the questioning. "Had you now?" Why would he want to erase any sign of that time? Was it done out of spite, or shame? Or was it just Discord? Luna jumped when the double doors slammed shut behind them, the noise frightening her in the silence that had mostly been filled by Discord's voice. "It is a great store of knowledge for ponies who seek it. We would be nothing without it." Her eyes went to the one book he had spoken of, brow furrowing down. "Indeed." Luna thought to agree with her sister, peering up curiously. There was a part of her that wanted to join in on this game of Discord's, not as given to show caution as Tia was showing, but alas~ She would await the answer.

Discord Draconequus disliked how Celestia's studious nature infected Luna, who would have jumped at the game. "Now, now Tia. I told you, an adventure." He snorted, head turning away. "I swear no one listens to me when I talk." But he also spoke vaguely and in riddles so that made it difficult to trust his word unless he spoke directly. "Don't you trust me?" He asked, ears folding back as he pulled the book toward him and came to rest upon it like a sphynx. "I mean you can always go work... but I am not going to let you out til you get at leeeast thirty minutes of free time. After all I wouldn't want you becoming isolated Tia... and Luna becoming a busybody~" Tsk tsk. He hissed a bit of laughter. It seemed he wasn't going to make much explanation of his game, unless they agreed, but it was tug and pull at this moment.

Princeshë Celestia gave the draconequus a long look. Did she trust him? Well ~ Did she trust Discord? She was inclined to say.... yes, but it was in his nature to cause chaos. Did this particular chaos seem appealing? It took her a while to mull through her thoughts but she finally sighed. "Fine... I agree to this adventure game of yours." she'd say with a small smile his way only to give Luna a bit of an unsure look. She would trust him... this time. If that trust turned out to be mistaken there was hopefully always the next time. If not... well she'd haunt him! If something happened to Luna... well, nothing had better happen to Luna. She looked between the two; just a mite bit unsure about what was going to happen.

Princess Luna snorted herself, but it was a noise of amusement at the way Discord whined. "Nonsense, Discord, I trust you." She could say so more readily than Tia, considering how close the pair of them were now, but still what shenanigans did Discord plan? Luna moved to lean against Celestia, brushing her shoulder against the white mare's, briefly, in subtle comfort. "Tis an adventure you promise, so very well, I would be willing to join in on it. A change of scenery, so to speak." If it was, she had no idea what this adventure entailed, but adventures usually implied going elsewhere. But why they were in a library, Luna had no idea.

Discord Draconequus seemed to be struggling as he read through the tome. Tsk tsk, too many things in here, very naughty things. He smirked and glanced over at the princesses as they accepted his plea. "Well, I am glad to hear that..." That mischievous grin drawing over his features. "Than, my dears, I shall regale you with a wondrous magic trick I learned fro ma bookworm." He sat up and snapped his paw, but nothing seemed to happen. There was magic slowly filling the air as he sat atop the shelf with the book open. That magic seemed to come directly from the book itself! It took mere seconds for the magic to full fill the air, but the spirit was having trouble snapping his softer paw.

Princeshë Celestia leaned against Luna in return and gave her sister a thankful nudge. She was oft times far too cautious for her own good. She had an idea what this 'adventure' might entail ~ given their presence around books. She was rather aware of the incident involving a certain comic book and her student, but... Discord was able to replicate that with his book? With a shake of her head she finally smiled and waited for that magic of his to take effect. However when he seemed to be having trouble snapping his paw.... She looked on in concern but... she was trusting him. Probably a bad idea.

Princess Luna's eyebrows went up. She could only assume one pony when he talked of a bookworm; who else would there be? There was a moment of realization, having forgotten him in his absence- Mirage. He seemed to like reading as much as Twilight. Possibly Azure. Regardless of those trailing thoughts, she knew who he was talking about. Luna could feel magic gathering as Discord made to do.. something, but she could only wait and afford Tia some attention. Luna smiled up at her reassuringly, bumping one of her cheeks against the side of Celestia's swanlike neck in turn.

Discord Draconequus gave a sigh and moved to roll up his invisible sleeves, the draconequus threw out his paw and claw. Standing atop the shelf a black swallowtail coat with a white frock appeared on his body. He arched a brow, his top hat appearing with a grey rabbit sitting on top with a cup of tea, and a bowler cap of his own. Clearing his throat the spirit flicked his wrist and manifested a magic wand, the book levitating in front of him as if he were a conductor. Tapping the top of the book the sound of a tear could be heard behind the mares. A rip in the fabric of space and time would peel open revealing a large, open meadow free from the obstruction of buildings and other ponymade machinations. The sound of rushing water and a vision of a world between day and night. Stars were sprayed across the sky as the sun began to set, a comet rocketing towards the land, plummeting in the field in a smoky crater.
Discord Draconequus's costume would disappear and silence would fill the room as the backlash of a sonic boom could be heard rippling over the land. Dust flew into the library from the portal, edges of the rip fluttering in and out like a tattered curtain. The spirit appeared on the ground, perked up in amusement. "Come on~ though I do suggest you don't touch anything or meet your passed selves. It might destroy reality...." He warned seriously, only to break out laughing. "No, don't worry. This is just a book. We're reading between the lines for a bit though. I am curious just how much information was left in this book." The nice thing about old Equestrian it doubled as spell words, many of which Discord still uses today for his hypnosis. He slithered passed Celestia and Luna, his body brushing up against them like a thieving cat. floating through the rip he would wait for them.
Discord Draconequus's story was a different one. The spirit had gotten rid of many of the historical documents involving his reign over Equestria. Many scholars who were left from that time that wrote of his era had either been driven mad by the chaos or he made sure their words could not properly portray the chaos that was wrought in those years. Perhaps they had been a thousand years, perhaps only ten -- maybe more. In such a reign time ceases to flow. For such a story to remain Discord wanted to see just how much the scholar had written. The accuracy may be questionable, and some things all but made up. Discord was, truly, feeling a little nostalgic being with the sisters again and regaining that familiarity. What was truth and what was fiction.

Princeshë Celestia gave the draconequus a look as he rolled up his sleeves in a coat with white frock. However things got even more stranger as a top hat appeared with a grey rabbit sitting on top wearing a... bowler hat? Wait, didn't she read a story once where there was... nah. She was cut from that line of thought by the tearing sound! She spun and flinched back from the tear in space-time. However she... was curious. Just as she stepped forward there was a titanic crash as a comet struck the land. She was no stranger to time magic, but this was definitely not something she was familiar with. Alas, this was just a story yes? There was so much that she herself forgot in the thousand years of rule that... this was actually rather exciting! What might they find beyond the tear? She was probably the first to step through... Alas little did they all know there was somepony else in the library. When the blast shook the room several books were blown off the shelf revealing a curious blue eye.

Princess Luna gave the draconequus's costume change a quizzical look, but she didn't dare question him and interrupt his spellcasting. A multitasker he probably was- regardless. The reference was more unfamiliar to her, and all she did was stand there and watch as he did whatever he was doing. She also jumped a little when the world tore open behind them, and she whirled, her wings lifted slightly from her side.. Huh. It looked to have opened on an earlier world, before the spread of civilization, but she remembered nothing of a comet. Who knew, much of her memory had been scrambled a little during her banishment- so far as to forget fun. Luna cocked an eyebrow at Discord; an exploration through the book itself, as though it were real. "Hmm." Luna made a noise and let her sister go first before she followed her into the ragged rip, oblivious to the extra spectator in the room.

Discord Draconequus's lashed his tail, sewing up the rip so no unexpected visitors got in while they were exploring -- but it seems he would miss one as he stared at the scene before him. "Isn't that just like them?" He hovered about, tucking his claw against his beard and raising his back legs. "They never knew, I suppose." the draconequus manifested a pair of thick, bifocals on his muzzle as he pulled out a copy of the book? It was best not to ask on paradoxes. "It seems they believe that, you two came from a pure, untouched land beyond Equestria's soils,, born from the flowers and butterflies -- where I..." He snapped the book closed and let it vanish. Among the flowers two, young fillies played. They were hardly beyond their youth, but close enough to their adulthood that they began showing signs of mature ponies: growing into their limbs, but their case was different as they had wings and horns, a spectacular combination of pony.
Discord Draconequus's gaze turned toward the meteorite as it cracked open, smoke hissing out as a ferocious looking draconequus, the likes that neither had only seen once -- in the throne room when the spirit had pushed through his powers to consume the darkness within Mirage. That festering beast of gore and hell rose as if birthing from Tartarus itself. Its wings flapped out, the egg of space crumbling beneath its steps. The two fillies stood to face him down, powers glowing and with a boom, the three powers met and warped the three forms into the lands of Equestria. "Odd, I don't remember it quite like that..." he tapped his chin. "I was around a long time. I may have had such a form at one point or another, but it was inconvenient, maybe it got boring." He glanced around. "No it wasn't like this. This field was never here." Once spoken the scene changed, his words having power here. The mares' would too were they to speak change.
Discord Draconequus looked to the left where a usual looking him sat perched in a tree, not unlike a dragon. His wings hung at his sides and his head rest over his paw and claw, which crossed over the branch. "I remember watching them for a while, these strange ponies I had never seen, though I can't quite recall how old they were at the time." It was long before Equestria, a place that was littered with trees and flowers, not an open field, not a place where a lost filly could be found easily. The spirit's rewriting had his true form sitting in the tree. "I went from realm to realm, timeline to timeline often. This place was a little different. There was not much to destroy, so I liked taking naps here." He tilted his head. "If I recall it was an oak tree." It's wide, low hanging branches were perfect for a lazy spirit.

Princeshë Celestia examined the scene before her in fascination; and with a little quirk of a smile. The imagination her little ponies sometimes had.... However when the meteor split and the twisted form of the draconequus emerged her blood chilled. She remembered that creature quite well... even if she'd only seen it once! However just as soon as things began it was gone... She let out a quiet giggle. "That is indeed not how it happened..." She fell quiet though as Discord seemed to begin to re-write the scene. Meanwhile Bygone was hidden in some bushes with naught but the top of his hat visible in the shadows. Did anypony notice he was there? It only took Dissy saying a word to re-write the scene. Oooh ~ what would be cool?! He could make anything he wanted here! Alas his thoughts were distractedly muttered.... "What do I wanna see in a book of awesome! There should be a dragon, no... a giant kitty! NO.. Dissy in a giant robot! (?uhh Bygone?)" Thankfully he was muttering quiet but the damage was done.

Princess Luna made a face, evidently confused with the nonsensical writing presented by the book. One, she noticed, he summoned. She shook her head at the meteor and the monstrous version of Discord. "It is nonsense." The scene had already changed before she'd spoken her agreement with Celestia, but she had to voice her opinion on the ridiculousness of it. Her eyes went towards the tree, and the Discord in it; if Discord said it was, it was probably something true worth learning about him. Huh. Some strange sort of change happened, however, and Luna stood there, squinting with puzzlement.

Discord Draconequus nodded and blinked. He looked over watching a strange machine materialize. "Wait a moment..." He harrumphed. "That doesn't..." He looked around in suspect. "No there were no giant robots. That is a whole other story altogether!" Or was he thinking of some other deculture? Well, no matter. He waved his paws. "No, no. I was sitting in the tree, sans the giant jaeger and was watching you two, but I don't quite remember what you were doing, nor how you looked." Twas up to them to repair that part as, in the book, they looked as they were now as adults, but filly sized. It looked quite weird seeing mini Luna and Celestia in such a way. Even Discord did not look as such as a smol one -- well shrank he did, but not small. "It wasn't split between day and night either. I don't think this place had the same time as the other one. It was slower. Perfectly synced to half day and half night."
Discord Draconequus would often try to distort any sort of order. "I didn't want to make a pair of fillies cry coming down looking as I did, so -- I altered myself a bit." He seemed to shrink down, a bit smaller, half Discord length. His body was the same, primarily, but fluffier, his horns a smooth, round pair of nubs that were hardly intimidating. He nodded astutely. "I was the cutest thing..." His wings were small against his back, not the full size he wore them now. "The book had originally written I was only of my fifteenth cycle here.... but I could assure you I've already lived enough cycles to fill a library." He huffed. Discord lowered to the grass and looked around. There were many trees, bushes and other foliage that tightly knit the ground. If somepony else was here -- he couldn't see them and in such a place a pony's usual sense of things was skewed. It now stood up to Celestia and Luna to write their part of the story.

Princeshë Celestia made a face as she tried to think back. "I think... It was somewhere around sunset and I was taking Luna to see a group of rather fascinating insect pony creatures I had stumbled upon once. I'm not sure if they are around anymore, though... I think they might have been the ancestor of the Breezie." she mused with a shake of her head. "We were coming from...." with that she looked upward and pointed one direction. "That way! And..." Dear heavens there was a lot of time to get back through in order to get to these memories! Occasionally she'd glance at Luna in case she had anything more accurate to add. Meanwhile Bygone had delighted upon a particular idea. A box of cupcakes had appeared and he was snacking on them! This book was wonderful!

Princess Luna couldn't make heads or tails of the strange metal machine, and Discord giving it a name certainly didn't help. Whatever it was, it was lost on the lunar deity. She shook her head as it disappeared at Discord's bidding, and he wove the scene before them. Her quizzical gaze settled on the younger versions of her sister and herself; she remembered some of it. Bits and pieces that slowly came together with what Celestia remembered aloud. "When we were young, we also did not look like that. Tia's coat has always been the same, but her mane was a single shade of soft pink.. My coat was lighter, and my mane pale blue. We did not have the power we do now." Luna commented, staring at the unfolding scene; perhaps slowly becoming an unfolding memory. It was interesting, in its way.

Discord Draconequus rolled his eyes. "You got into trouble without me." He assured. The book had suggested the trio fought some monstrous battle that scarred the land, but as they repainted the scene the scars cutting through the soils vanished and were replaced with piles of stick buildings that colts and fillies tended to make in their time of play, many times kick down and trample for the hay! "I came down, but was having trouble walking and well, you know the rest I suppose." A clumsy little spirit fell about, head over heels and would eventually faceplant at the bottom of the hill, muzzle full of grass and hindquarters in the air, dangling over him. The fillies had been playing, their coats nigh recognizable from their adult pelts. Discord was without his beard, brows a thin brown rather than the wizened grey they knew. He looked their age. He was not an Alicorn, nor was he -- anything that had ever been since they had been.
Discord Draconequus choked out the grass chunks and stood up on his haunches, giving a shy wave. Discord rolled his eyes and crossed his forearms over his chest at the sight. "The book goes on to say after our great wore we tore the realm asunder and our battling spilled out over the land eventually known as Equestria." But he was pretty sure -- something else happened. So this place was not that place, and he did visit here on occasion, but what did come about to vanquish the mares from their place of creation? "I lived many lifetimes, by now I really was interested in playing with sentient beings. Ha, I wasn't evne interested in anypony yet, go figure. You spend a few eons alone and the first thing on your mind is playing house." His gaze drifted towards Luna before he stared off. "I didn't know what I was thinking approaching a pair of filly. I felt like such a loser." Asking them to play...

Princeshë Celestia pulled her head aback and looked unsure for a moment or two. "Ooooor... perhaps we were playing." She was staring at the little constructs that were surrounding their two smaller selves. Luna's description of them both caused her to nod even as she fell strangely quiet. It was... rather stunning to see them both in their younger selves. Free of any woes.... Her ears laid back and she internally wished for but a moment that she could speak to her younger self and warn her of the things ahead. But... this was but a book; a story being told. In fact, this was eerily similar and little more than a dream in a sense was it not? Bygone peeked out from his spot and his ears perked at the form of little discord bouncing down the hill. However having seen a de-aged Draconequus before it never even crossed his mind before he ran out from his hiding spot. "Hi Dissy!" Hence the pounce-hug from the little changeling to the story character.... If they could interact of course.

Princess Luna watched the way things changed from the exaggerated writing of a history become something more realistic. It was their memories, after all, though it was so long ago.. The sight of a small, pudgy Discord made her giggle softly. "I remember being quite intrigued by you, a curiosity, a creature I had not yet seen before. Though, being a young pony, there was a lot I had not yet seen.." Luna nodded in agreement with Celestia as she piped up after her paler sister. "We.. never acted against you until that fateful time when you tried to take over Equestria and upset the balance, but that was further ahead in our young futures." The moonbringer mused quietly and stiffened as she saw a certain familiar somepony bounding out towards the smaller Discord. Luna stared, puzzled. Surely her thoughts about Bygone wouldn't also influence the strange book realm? "What is.. ?"

Discord Draconequus glanced over to Luna at her words. He shifted a bit before settling on the grass on his haunches. The draconequus brushed at his chin and tilted his head. "I could not say I was fascinated with a pair of filly," given his age at the time. "But I suppsoe I was always fond of playing with them... they were not like adults, bound by a sense of duty." He chuckled, eyes pinching up. "I said sense." He murred before he looked toward Celestia. Was she unused to facing herself like this? Well given he lived in many dimensions parallel and forward to this one, meeting himself and various kinds was not -- odd. He shifted his weight and pushed to lean forward when Luna spotted something. "Is that..." Discord's paw slowly slid up to his face as he smacked it, facepawing. He opened his jaw, reaching out his paw expressing a most confused look of how even this what you doing? He shrugged and waved his claw and paw dismissively.
Discord Draconequus shrugged it off and let it roll. "I suppose every story needs an observing element. So you befriended a changeling, and he played with them." Just let Bygone have his fun. "So do you remember what it was that opened up the realm? I could only recall all the fun we'd been having." He scratched his chin and looked up. "I don't ever remember seeing your parents, but it was a rainy night." The book said that they had tore open the thin veil which allowed other realms to open such as the Breezies and woke ancient terrors that had been deep sleep. A deep raincloud rolled overhead, darkening the landscape. The pudgy little spirit wrapped his arms around the changeling and hugged him. Perhaps he just always had a fondness for odd creatures who were not ponies. "Neither of you were ponies.... neither was he. I grew a little attached to such oddities." Alicorn were not something he had ever seen. Not til, not since.
Discord Draconequus lowered himself to his stomach and settled in the cooling grass. The temperature changed, even they could feel it -- or could they? It was all determined by their imagination. What had separated them that night? The storms had raised the rivers and muddied the grounds.

Princeshë Celestia still had that soft smile of hers, but even still there was that notion of pain. She'd been in memories maybe... thrice? What was in the past was oft best left there. It made the mistakes all the more difficult to forget. Alas she made a rather strange look when a peculiar creature ran out from the bushes not too far from them. What is... who is.. From the expression on her sister and the face palm from Discord they knew who that was. With a bit of a frown she'd just shake her head though. The question caused Celestia to shake her head. "To be honest, no... I think though... Maybe we were attacked by something? I possibly remember my leg being injured the next day I think." Her attention was however seized by a few monsters suddenly appearing. A manticore type creature or a chimera? Bygone however saw this as an opportunity to use his leet comic skills! "We can be super heroes!" Thus the little changeling, young alicorn sisters, and pudgy little Discord were now dressed up in spiffy power pony outfits! "Get it!" Thus the crazy little creature ran pell-mell at the 'enemy' and, uh... threw explosives at it! Yes, because super-heroes throw bombs.... He's Bomberpony?

Princess Luna had heard most of what Discord had to say, mindful of his part of the history he was telling, but her eyes were focused on what appeared to be Bygone. How did he get here? It was, by what she could tell, not possible for it to be her own wandering thoughts causing it if the scene was altered by what Bygone was shouting. Little sneak. He must have somehow found his way in after them. Maybe? Discord's attempt to recover drew some amusement from Luna, a soft huff. "Ah, indeed." Luna said, her gaze flicking up to the sky and change in weather. She couldn't remember the details of this too clearly, with her mind half distracted with Bygone's play. He probably deserved to act like a kid sometimes. "Yees.. I think so." Luna agreed with Celestia, catching her voice. "We.. did not really have parents, we were raised by other alicorn. If any of them were are parents, I did not determine; I was younger than Tia and so most of my memories are hazy."

Discord Draconequus rolled his eyes. "Aside the riveting childhood games." Discord sat slung up on his tail like a kangaroo. His paw was crossed over his chest while his eagle's arm rest perched on it, claws rubbing at his brows. He was -- overly amused with Bygone's tomfoolery. He was trying hard not to laugh his tail off, but it was growing more ridiculous. "Maybe we did play superhero, but I am sure as hay I would never be a sidekick." He looked over to Tia, glancing back towards the fiends that charged the foals. "I felt like a sidekick. You two had real magic, powers. Mine were only made for playing jokes." The heroes below would have to face creatures even adults couldn't face alone. The Chimeric beasts were quite enraged by the explosives and lunged at the small group. Discord turned away. "I was never much of a fighter." His memory was of him being the first running away and hiding.
Discord Draconequus was always a bit of a coward to face harm to himself. better another than him. He was not so bad these days, but still unwilling to really put himself in harm's way if it could be avoided. He chuckled and let his book appear with his bifocals. "It was around this part the author decided we needed a big, flashy exist, so the portal opened ripping us through, but as I remember it, Tia was injured defending Lulu -- and the little changeling was not harmed, but probably soon found his explosives did more harm than good...." He peered over the book as the beast moved to slash down at Luna, but Tia would be injured in the stead. Discord let the objects vanish and it did not take much for the 'page' to turn and they were in the middle of a mountainous range, a strange ecosystem between woods and stone. "You know where we were, right? The writer said we landed in the heart of present-day Canterlot, but that isn't quite true."
Discord Draconequus noted it was much farther, as far west that they were nearly at the breast of the San Palomino Desert.

Princeshë Celestia could not help but let out a trill of laughter as she watched the small versions of themselves led by one little changeling in an attack on the 'monsters'... She turned to Luna as she spoke and nodded in an affirmative. "Our little community was... well, everypony was a mother or a father for the foals... Our, if I recall, biological mother disappeared shortly after Luna was born." Whenever Discord mentioned he would never be a sidekick she glanced his way. "I wouldn't ask you to be..." Did she feel the look was some form of accusation? The alicorn's ears laid back as the scene progressed. The little form of Discord ran from the fight while the filly form of herself got between the creature and Luna. She winced in sympathy as the story form of herself took the strike but she made a bit of a face as the little changeling bounced up and clung to the creature's face with a cry of anger and... proceeded to pummel it? She stared in shock... And hardly noticed the change in scenery. Should the beast also disappear Bygone likely fell flat on his face.

Princess Luna looked amused, not just because of the game Bygone was playing, but the way Discord was humoring him; even if the changeling couldn't hear such. "Maybe there was a point to your powers that you did not see, and still may not." Luna commented idly, quietly, watching as the far scene played on. She, too, cringed at the sight of her elder sister getting injured in her stead; but it also reminded her about how she had always cared. Her eyebrows went up at 'flashy exit.' It was hardly considered history if the authors thought it was fine to take such liberties in writing. Falsities. She snorted. Luna's head turned a little as Celestia spoke up about their mother. As a baby, of course she wouldn't have remembered it, but she also couldn't remember if she had ever asked Celestia about her. If she had, she had forgotten. Luna turned back to the scene with only mild surprise when Bygone went for the face, a tactic she was coming to notice was quite common with him. The scene changed to another landscape and Luna studied it. "Of course it isn't true."

Discord Draconequus looked around at the scenery. It was all unfamiliar, or maybe he was too small to remember how big everything was? "After that I was stuck in my more youthful form. Tia was hurt and I felt it was my fault. I never considered how fragile others truly were. I wasn't sad though." It wasn't an emotion he felt before. "I was angry..." As if how dare she become injured, and look cooler than him! Bygone and the three specters of the past lay crumbled in the field in the aftermath of the battle, the Manticore corpse flopped dead. It didn't survive the implosion of the portal, the general plummet from the sky. If not for his soft corpse the trip would have seen doom too. Oh he had no problem with Bygone building his own story. Maybe it would teach the little foal how to better use the chaos in his body. It made him proud~! Ah flittering aside the spirit moved to look back at Celestia who seemed entertained. Her mood shifted up and down and he was rightly unsure what to make of it.
Discord Draconequus would keep up his game for now. Padding along the large draconequus bound toward a spot to levitate, peering down into the vale where Bygone and the three had landed. "They say we landed in what would be the center of what would become the capital of Equestria, but do you remember where we really landed?" The land had no name, but it was many days from any civilization. Equestria had yet to be formed and Ponyville was but a dream yet to come true. The migration left many ponies displaced and without homes. Some sought to eke a living in the Ghastly Gorge, but hauntings from a people that once lived there would keep the ponies at bay. They were at the edge of the Forest of Leota. Deep in the woods a path had been carved where a creature had sought to isolate themselves from the rest, but if they remained in the open plains they risked the unnatural night of this realm and the terrifying creatures that roamed it.
Discord Draconequus looked to the sisters, wondering what they remembered. "This land had no law. The sun and moon set at the leisure of a great power, one that corrupted the creatures of the land with magic." He noted, but the storyteller spoke of a paradise untouched by pony, and when the terrible dragonequus arrived, all fell apart. In such the land began to die, but when the group arrived, even a little specter of their own, it seemed, they were still at peace, but there was tension from that remained from the creature's aggression. "Do you remember what happened after we were spit out into this place?" He wondered.

Princeshë Celestia looked a little guilty hearing that the sight of her hurt had troubled the young draconequus. "Indeed... You possess power for creation as well as destruction. Sheer force of change." she muses with a small smile at the group of younglings plus strange little hat wearing unicorn. Alas the alicorn found herself looking about the scene they were in. "I remember... This moment is burned into my memory." she quietly replied as she looked towards their younger selves as the little Changeling had taken it upon himself to even apply rudimentary first aid to the younger form of herself. It was actually rather adorable. "I believe... we made for the only cover we could see... But it seems our little friend is hijacking the story a bit." Indeed he had... From the small one's imagination had created them a cart to place the younger form of herself on whilst the little unicorn pulled it.

Princess Luna couldn't determine what she could remember about this place, the passage of the many years having worn down such memories. Discord's voice filled the silence as her eyes went back to the four over yonder, Bygone putting in effort to help the past version of her injured sister. It was.. sweet. He was still a child, despite the cruelties of ponies. So pure. Her eyes briefly moved over to the manticore with, now, a small twinge of sympathy. It made her think of Melvin, but she didn't know she could speak manticore until further on in her life. "I do not know of a greater power, but I do remember the unicorns of that tribe were once responsible for the sun and moon. Perhaps a time later than this one?" Luna mused. "Indeed this is not Canterlot that will be; nopony had moved to settle there until Celestia and Starswirl after my banishment. I think I remember this forest, and being worried for Tia's wellbeing."

Discord Draconequus floated over the rainbow mare, scoffing softly. His forearms remained curled over his chest as he dangled most ominously. "You remember what was in that forest right?" Behind the group little Discord marched with his mismatched limbs, head down, almost dragging on the ground with his round pot-belly inches from the dirt. 'Let's just go back.' He stubbornly stated, but he did not want to leave the group, feeling anger well up from the little white mare's actions. 'We could still play if you didn't do something dumb like that.' His voice accused. The older Discord settled down on the grass, legs crossed. "Honestly I was such a brat back than. I guess I didn't like the idea of such little fillies getting into such troubles. I mean I was a god of chaos. I toppled nations, not ponies, or dogs, or cats..." he recalled. He just never could express his emotions as they should have. He never had to.
Discord Draconequus watched as the group marched into the dark woods. Hooting Owlbears lurked the edges of the shadows. The snarling hiss of curious creatures of shadow peeked from beneath the bushes. The shadows played tricks on the eyes, trees looking ready to consume the tiny ponies. The original story dictated that the three continued to battle deep into the Everfree Forest before it was named, goring a gorge that split the land, but in truth they had been lost among the shivering leylines of power that responded to the chaotic existence that had never before existed in this realm. "I must say Bygone is a very good storyteller. I must get his card." Now Discord didn't discourage Bygone, in fact he was a little glad the foal wasn't anything like he was when he was younger. Not even a foal, just a younger, stupider him. The woods were dark and at the end of them was the ancient foundations of a manor. It did not belong to a pony, for they had not yet occupied these parts of the land.

Princeshë Celestia followed along with the group as they moved. "Indeed... apparently the sun and moon had been raised and lowered by unicorn for generations I believe... But each time drained those involved to near critical levels." she'd say with a quiet voice as she thought back. The scene ahead continued much as normal save for when the small party approached the woods. Bygone looked on not with fear but with a competitive glint in his eye. This was a world he could control! Nothing hurt his friends! "We can go into the forest with my toys! " And with that he reached into his hat and pulled out eight figurines; a couple Canterlot guard ~ his trusty duo ~ and even on tiny one of Dissy which looked somewhat new. The animated figures were placed down and then he hummed. "Oh~oh! Life size!" And thus they grew to be as large as their living selves! "Get along you two!" he chastised the Daring/Ahui duo who had begun to fight over the now larger wooden relic. "We have a hurt Miss Celly!" he grumped and stomped his hoof down. The two quickly shot to a stiff stance and saluted. Eight guards for the little caravan. It was still scary dark though and the little changeling turned to a guard. "Yous be a paladin and light our way!" he smiled. Thus the figure now glowed and took the lead ~ projecting a soft light upon the surrounding forest. Celestia tittered in amusement at the sight and shook her head. "If only this really was how it was.... I believe we were nearly eaten countless times that night...I just slowed you two down." Her head lowered. Knowing what was to come; perhaps it might have been better if she wouldn't have made it... Would everything still have fallen apart so fast?-e-

Princess Luna kept pace easily enough, relieved that they had moved on from the manticore's corpse. She could hear the younger version of Discord griping ahead of them, a voice she hadn't heard in a very long time. "Indeed. I was a tad rankled that you would chastise Tia for protecting me. She was just being my big sister." Luna smiled faintly, nodding in agreement as Celestia confirmed the rotation of day and night, the strains it had on the unicorns' magic. She looked on on as Bygone made his little figurines life-sized and commanded them, all for protecting the younger version of Celestia. It brought a wider smile to her face, it was all just too cute. Her eyes flicked up to what lay ahead, pondering something. "After the dangers of this forest, I cannot help but wonder if it was something that prompted me to deal with wild beasts later on in life. Protecting ponies." Luna shrugged, uncertain. "We.. I would have never left you behind. We have spent our young lives together thus far, and I was adamant about not leaving you."

Discord Draconequus wasn't even their age, but -- still felt a little bit responsible for his comrades at the time. As Bygone led the way they arrived at the manor. "It was abandoned," Discord noted. "If I recall it belonged to some old creature who long since died, but it was occasionally visited by a wily old pony who took the artifacts of magic from inside. Books, crystals... you know which pony I am speaking of don't you? We spent much of our time in that castle, passing time by. We'd forage when there was light and decorated spots as our rooms, but -- alas that old man returned, following the scent of magic." The scene would change again, Bygone and the others would be inside the castle. Baskets of apples here and there, misguided attempts at cleaning ancient tapestry, leaving it wrinkled and hanging from the chandelier. Discord had grown a bit into his noodly body again, some of his powers returning.
Discord Draconequus led the adult mares up toward the top floor of the old mansion where a wall had collapsed in, allowing moonlight to bleed in during the night and the sun filter in at daybreak. "While the book dictates you had defeated me, sent me running.... in truth I had grown angry with you." His younger looking self, though eons old, only mimicking such a form to get along with the young alicorn, he stood, accosting the darker mare. 'That is stupid!' He held out one of Bygone's little figurines. 'My magic is more powerful than yours, you're just a filly still. I'm older than both of you so I get to decide what game we play now! Playing heroes is dumb!' After all he was a spirit of chaos. He wasn't for spreading order.... He was also not used to sharing, or sharing them. He hated when they teamed up against him. But too he never had anypony to play back at him like this.
Discord Draconequus Was growing content being spoiled when they let him do as he pleased. He became content with foregoing his duties as a god of chaos. He became content in the idea that he, perhaps, had found somepony fun to play with. 'We play what I want!' He throw they toy at Luna. He seated himself and watched. "I wasn't good at using my words because all the creatures I had come across were stupid, witless mortal entities that were gone the next moment I exhaled. Yet you two remained. I became greedy. If I couldn't use you how I wanted, no one should be allowed to play with you." It was his mentality than.<e>

Princeshë Celestia turned to Luna and leaned in to give her sister a nudge and a nuzzle. "I do have to thank you for that... Even if it IS the older sibling's job to protect the younger." she'd say with a slightly teasing tone as she turned her attention back to the unfolding story. "Oh yes... I remember this place well." she began with a somewhat cheerful smile. "If I recall I began to learn about the surrounding area form the library there. It wasn't like I could do much else at the time." she observed the younger forms playing and...blinked. The little hat wearing one that wasn't a part of the story didn't even seem to notice that the scene had changed. In fact, he was playing with the group like it was normal. That was... borderline concerning? But anyways young Discord was getting into one of many quarrels that developed.... Something that brought a regretful look. Alas even as the argument broke out Bygone had a concerned look. "But Dissy you can make the most amaaaazing dungeons! Oh~oh! Make puzzles, traps, fun stuff! Oh ~ Use the blue flower from outside for some! It has a fuuuuun effect when made into a water balloon" the changeling sing-songed with an impish grin.

Princess Luna peered at the manor, a place that had been a temporary shelter for them, even if it was a little run down. "Do you speak of Starswirl?" He was the only wily old pony she had ever known with such an interest in magic. She was beginning to recall more of this, such as the interior when the scene changed yet again to show it. Ah, yes. The argument between her younger self and Discord. Luna had been stubborn then, just as she always would be. One of her eyes closed when she felt her sister nudge her, of which she moved into with another smile for her. "It is not often so. I do recall you always had your nose in a book, always learning." Her tone was only slightly teasing; Luna had been the more active sibling. Luna turned her attention to Bygone, chuckling softly with how he tried to fix the heated situation.

Discord Draconequus gave a bit of a wince when he thew the object at Luna. They were both pretty stubborn. He turned his mismatched ruby eyes to Celestia, tail swishing against the stone wall behind him. "Hmm, I can see why you fancy Twilight so much." He mused before turning his back to the situation. His paw and claw came to rest on his knees. "I would have maybe been more appreciative of this place..." They could have lived there forever, together. "Yeah, that old pony was pretty nosy." The story had said the destruction found in the area had been due to Discord during a battle with the Princesses, but that time had yet to come. No right now the little tyrant raised his claw, chaos magic twisting. He would have his way if he had to make them see chaos was more fun! Before anything could happen, or even little Bygone could convince the cranky snake, the old wizard appeared, laughing. 'What's all this magic afoot now?!'

Princeshë Celestia blush some as Luna brought up memories. "I-I had always been told to know everything about a situation before I act rash... We were in an unfamiliar locale." she pouted in a somewhat unprincessly manner and scuffed a shoe-clad hoof. She caught the glance from Discord and did she actually turn a little more red? "I've always been more of a scholar than a fighter... Unless I get angry." she turned back to the scene in order to try to turn the conversation from herself. Alas the familiar form of Star Swirl appeared and the very sight of her old friend caused the alicorn to still. How long has it been? Alas her train of thought was brought to a screeching halt when Bygone saw the newcomer. "By Miss Luna that beard is huge! No, it's gigantic! The most hugest beard of beards! It like... could fill the whooole room it is sooooo big!" ~ And alas... it likely soon did so thanks to the properties of the book.

Princess Luna made a bit of a face as the scene played out, her younger self getting fussy with the younger Discord for throwing something at her. She heard both of her present day companions talk, her face furrowing in thought. Was this the day.. ? "Ah, yes. I never wanted to do the same, I always preferred to do things rather than read up on them. To learn magic, without dusty books." Luna smiled at the face Celestia was making and turned to watch as, with Starswirl's appearance, Bygone made his beard.. grow? Luna took a step back, chortling softly. "Starswirl always did have a magnificent beard. I remember at the time it was.. brown, I believe? This may be when he spoke with us about being princesses.. or perhaps it was another time when he brought around the leaders of the three tribes as representatives to speak with us about it.. Yes, I think that was it."

Discord Draconequus moved to float away, down, around to the back of the mansion. He was still without sight, and earshot, of the mares, but he was a distance off the ground and staring off toward the back gardens. A dilapidated fountain sat there, having gone dry, much of the forest had taken over the mansion and it was only a matter of time before it consumed it completely. This was when it began... that hate growing in his heart. It was what made something inside him click. The wizard laughed at the sudden increased size of his beard. 'That's never done that before! Amazing! The magic in this place has made quite the impression, does it belong to you two! Amazing I have never seen ponies like you!' He bounced around them, Discord lowering to all fours glaring at the old man. Celestia and Luna were not ponies..... 'The wings of a pegasus, but the horns of unicorn!? I wouldn't be surprised if you had the strength of earth ponies!'
Discord Draconequus's twisted self glared daggers at the old, crazy pony. 'T-they aren't ponies....' The draconequus mumbled. 'What? Of course they are! And what are you? A pony? Or a not pony?' The crazy wizard declared. Above the mansion the full-sized 'cord grunted. "He went on and on, like a broken record. A pony that didn't need my help becoming mad... something about him rubbed me wrong though. Maybe it was my first dose of jealousy." It had only ever been Discord for millions of years, than suddenly he had two playmates (and a changeling) and now somepony came to try and take them away. The original story said how Starswirl granted the two Alicorn the titles, but what it didn't tell was how reluctant the three representatives were to give such power to fillies. The scene would change again: a pegasus, earth pony, and unicorn arriving with Starswirl. They stared at the group.
Discord Draconequus's smaller self sat between the sisters, if he could, glaring at the gross adult ponies. They would do to corrupt his playthings, make them do work! There'd be no more time for playing. No more time for him. In a fit of anger he opened his paw and threw a flash of magic towards the crowding ponies. They would, luckily, dodge the spell, but when it hit a nearby pillar it collapsed, threatening to topple on the old mage and three leaders. He raced off through the manor until he made his way out to the back, into the depths of the Leota forest. "I felt, maybe if I did something, he couldn't take you away from me." He watched his younger self race off. It didn't help. It only isolated the draconequus. The story claimed that Discord tried to assassinate the leaders, but thanks to the sisters' efforts they were saved.

Princeshë Celestia closed her eyes an let out a rather long sigh as the scene progressed. Looking at it from an outsiders point of view she could, perhaps, see the way the young draconequus was reacting. Especially when the representatives arrived. She remembered... ah, there it was. The young draconequus lashed out at the small group... If she recalled she and Luna acted to save the group of ponies with a few spell to catch the pillar but... She blinked. What happened to the fourth? The hat wearing one was... gone? She shook her head and returned to the unfolding tale. Perhaps the young one was still about and had grown weary with playing as he had been. "If only things had happened differently. I was so confused as to why our new friend had so quickly tried to bring harm..."

Princess Luna was amused by the past Starswirl's antics, sudden beard growth or no. He had always been an odd pony, but madness sometimes came with greatness. She could still hear Discord talking, narrating what had happened, or how he'd felt on his part. The scene changed, and it was as she remembered- the three representatives that had joined with Starswirl to see the alicorns. Luna made a face, part of it sympathy, some of it a cringe, the way the younger Discord acted. "I did not understand it either, at the time. I do now. We were young and did not know our draconequus friend too well to determine it. It was all we could to protect the ponies and see what they wanted."

Discord Draconequus looked around. Where had Bygone went off to? Well, for now it didn't matter... he's make a showy entrance. Goodness knew how this time. Shifting his weight so he floated on his back he would manifest the book again with his bifocals. The draconequus hummed. "I suppose I didn't respond well to any of it." And well the book continued to explain how the princesses built Equestria up from nothing, when it had been the ponies who had done so. They came, seemingly, from nowhere, and were pushed to become leaders. Discord remained in the forest, plotting. The draconequus stalked them, watched as the princesses were put to work. They stopped playing. He began to miss their realm, where there was naught to do but play. So -- he would do what he did best. He would bring chaos to the country they loved more than him. "I guess even now I felt it was the best course of action. Causing chaos was all I knew." He explained, only this time it was done so, maliciously.

Princeshë Celestia frowned some as she watched the story progress... This was much easier to remember, though... For what reason she didn't know. "Indeed, but... I suppose I should apologize.... I somewhat did to you the same thing I did to Luna years later... We should have sought you out again. At the very least to see how you were; and.." she'd start as she turned her head from the sight and thought back. "When the ponies made us their rulers I put everything I had behind it; anything to distract me from the fact we were in a strange unknown land. Helping them build a kingdom was just... such fun at the time! I had only ever read of such things in my story books.. I was so absorbed I never even.." she sat on her haunches and brought a shoe clad hoof to the bridge of her nose to rub. To have made the same mistake twice in a sense..... That just ~

Princess Luna had taken a moment to realize she could no longer see the little changeling anywhere. Where had he snuck off to? She tore her gaze away from the scene to focus on Discord, and the book he manifested. Her ear tilted towards Celestia and her face became thoughtful. "We were caught up with helping them. We as alicorns represented the three pony species' strengths, and we would have been able to rule them without playing favorites. It was quite an important and exciting moment in our lives, though I too feel sorry that we had forgotten you."

Discord Draconequus let the book vanish and rolled on his side. The spirit lounged out and shrugged lazily. "It doesn't bother me much anymore. I guess we all kinda made mistakes." He glanced back at Celestia who seemed to most regretful on the matter. It was not as if Luna was not, but they had crossed a few bridges, Bygone burning a few himself. Vanishing he would reappear beside the white mare, his claw crossed behind his back while his paw offered a handkerchief. "You make a lot of mistakes. But unlike some ponies you own up to them, in time." He snorted. "How boring your kingdom was though! It took me a while but I razed it down good." He laughed out, putting his paw and claw on his belly. "I wanted to show you a good time , show you I was cooler than your stupid, fragile ponies. I felt it necessary to do more than just turn your rule to ash..." Yes normally Discord would simply fell a kingdom, but in this case he took theirs.
Discord Draconequus was a spoilt child, in which he had been always alone and done always what he wanted to do, no others. He did not want them to play with the other ponies, to abandon him. He wanted to hurt them so took away their kingdom and slowly destroyed it before their eyes. War, Wrath, Famine, Pestilence, even Death, were about. The horses rode out under their brother's chaos across countries. Star Swirl had once sent a group of scholars to Saddle Arabia, but War had hid among their ranks and plunged the two countries into a hundred year war that only ended because Famine had taken their armies, leaving Equestria at the brink financially. With bits sparse, Nobles fought under the whisper of Wrath. Death had a delicious time, one could be sure. The Discordant tyrant took his throne atop the very piece of land they had first arrived on from the realms... It was a call to challenge.

Princeshë Celestia let out a nod at that and frowned. "Indeed... they saw us as... I suppose a means to an end at first. Then when we didn't fail they decided to keep us ~ Even if at times even that was in question. She was thinking to those times: The war, the plagues, the fighting amongst the nobility. Her mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "I was perplexed as to what had gone wrong. Bad luck? Whatever it was I was scrambling to put out the fires wherever I could." Those were some rather poor thoughts... "I forget what it was that alerted us to the fact it was you... Was it reports from our scouts?" She always looked forward; rarely to the past.... Hence after this long it rally was difficult to recall in places!

Princess Luna lost sight of Discord when he teleported in that way of his, close by Celestia. She merely watched the two, her head tilted slightly. "To us it made you look like you were threatening Equestria. You.. were, but.." Luna trailed off with a little shrug as she looked off, thinking about the past. What all of it she could remember. "It was small things we had to deal with at first. Reaffirming territory with the griffons, when we took over, the dragon and the Crystal Heart.." Luna lapsed into silence as she thought about it. Of course there was King Sombra and herself later on, but.. it was far later. "I cannot recall, myself. It may have been. Strange goings-on in a peaceful nation do not go unnoticed for long."

Discord Draconequus looked over to Luna when she spoke. Their lack of memory of the matter -- was probably his fault. "I tried to find a way so you'd forget this place. Bit by bit I tried to rip it out from tis foundations, hurt you make you fall apart so that I could build you back up again." He wanted to become king so he could make the rules. "I traveled around helping along the madness that fed the other small ones I set on their tasks. Each of us was made for a duty and my rage was on Equestria, my loneliness and pain were upon it." He moved around overhead before, below, appeared a new scene drawn out, not all that dissimilar to the chaos brought to Ponyville, only darker. The magic that fed the land was pushed back by the princesses over time, their occupation. His goal was to set loose those leylines at once and obliterate this continuum. For him to do such a thing was against the rules, but he never did follow his rules.
Discord Draconequus curled his lips before lowering down to sit on his haunches. He walked toward the edge of the hill where the painted memory of himself opened a bag of seeds. "I went searching for relics. This one would be your demise were my calling card to fail. I had all the confidence in the world, of course." The power that swelled beneath Equestria was his goal. It was an ancient power he could use to destroy its very existence. He wanted to return to that place they were because the longer they were from it, the more comfortable they seemed to become here. As he was, Discord could not stay in one place long, especially one that was so harmonious and full of order. He just wanted --- to destroy them. He had long lost his intent to simply show them who was better. "The original verse says that, with intent to annihilate evil, the princesses marched off to battle in full regalia." The spirit hadn't forgotten about By, no in particular he was worried.

Princeshë Celestia grimaced in particular. "Indeed... I was torn between those I had taken vows to protect or... my friend." her head jerked to face the draconequus when he admitted to the fact he was probably to blame for difficulty recalling that time period. However she deflated and felt she really shouldn't be surprised.... But that was the past and she'd do best to just move on. "I remember getting reports of such things... Whole nations were searching for you...." Including Equestria of course, but she hadn't wanted him found to be harmed. Meanwhile still no Bygone... what had happened to him?! Celestia let out a snort when a 'battle in full regalia' was mentioned. "Equestria hardly had the treasury to support regalia with the troubles... Especially taking them into battle."

Princess Luna sighed, mostly through her nose, and made to sit down. They need not stand or walk when the scenes of their past played out for them, right in front of their eyes. "I remember the other alicorns, but not from whence we came nor that it wasn't a part of this realm. I remember what little they taught us, such as the Royal Canterlot Voice. Still there are great gaps in my memory of so early a time." Luna put in idly, her ears pricking while Discord described others. She'd had no idea he wasn't alone in the undoing of kingdoms or countries. Luna nodded in agreement with Celestia, snorting softly. "We were as we were, bearing naught but our crowns and the Elements of Harmony. Perhaps the first time we would use them, and against a friend. I wish such troubles were not so."

Discord Draconequus motioned his paw. "Oh please if you came in full regalia I would have been defeated through laughter. What good would armor have done against me anyway?" Arrogant as ever. Somethings would never change. Discord's past, was shady, at best. He didn't speak of it, but there probably would never be time were he to have! He looked down at his paw before raising it up to press to his feathered chest. "I raised chaos enough chaos that ... it nearly blinked out a reality." He made realities, he twisted them, but to destroy one? It would unravel quantum physics itself! Had he done so, had he succeeded -- "I am a little glad you did. I don't know the damage I had done to the world in my rage. I am sure it still pays now. Gates to Tartarus opened here, shifted realities there." His ears folded back as he glared angrily down at their fight. "Frankly you cheated." He groused.
Discord Draconequus would have never thought Harmony could defeat him as it did. His power .... Even in the throne room at that time, facing the Darkness he recognized well-- he barely scratched the surface of his chaotic tendencies. He moved to float off the ground and turned from the battle. He had played it over many times in his head. He wouldn't win, with or without the stones of Harmony. His intent wasn't to kill them... it was to make them his toys. It was a gross feeling now that he thought about it. His feathers and fur would bristle as he settled down at Luna's side, his back to the scene. The draconic, pony-like creature lowered his head to rub it against Luna's back before he craned his neck so he was cheek to cheek with her. "Truly foul, all of it. A stone in time, rippling down to even today. These lies plastered in these books made sure I cannot be myself in the modern world. I had to perfect my disguise." He grinned menacingly.
Discord Draconequus tested it out on Tirek first and it turned out -- wonderfully. But he realized that he just wanted to play with his friends and be them -- his Harmony. He didn't go back to that realm, so far away. He stayed here, making himself a place within the quantum realm and existing close enough to hear them whisper. "I still say a stone prison was a bit much." He teased, tail tuft twitching lightly as the scene ended with him in stone, the princesses saviors.

Princeshë Celestia made a sound of agreement. "During that day in time, of course, but alas these days there have been some progress into research on chaos magic..." Of course she didn't know of some of the results of ponies foraying into that which was forbidden. She couldn't keep up with every minor detail no matter how much she tried. Things just... slipped through the cracks. "If it is any consolation this is probably the only copy of this particular book." The solar alicorn saw Discord rubbing his head upon Luna's back and smiled softly ~ Though there was perhaps a bit of a sad note? She turned away from the two and took several steps away. "Unfortunately I can only control what is in Equestria... even my best attempts were limited." Perhaps she'd always had some small grain of hope that the draconequus could be redeemed as he had been? As all this was said a small shape emerged somewhat nearby in the scene. The small figure of Bygone looked at the stoned Discord and frowned. Then he got a wicked grin and drew a sharpie mustache and goatee on the statue... Which he then hummed. "You can move when ponies aren't looking!" Thus the statue now moved like a weeping angel... Because Bygone is weird like that. At least now Dissy could move! Best part Bygone wasn't a statue so he could move yes~yes? Did bygone think himself a pony? That was really complicated.

Princess Luna snorted quietly. "If I recall, you were laughing at us anyway.. In your own way." The way he had mocked them and took Celestia's tail. To think he could have destroyed everything, though, was sobering. Luna turned her head a little when he rubbed against her back, and leaned against him when their cheeks met. "A stone prison was not what we intended to do. We did not know what the elements would do. We wanted to stop you, to put an end to the chaos, and.. you were stone." Luna explained and glanced over at Tia, nodding with a little frown. Motion ahead in the scene drew her eye and.. was that Bygone? There the little troublemaker was. She couldn't say much on what else Celestia had been talking about, but.. "Chaos magic is too much for any one pony to meddle with who does not understand it." The Discord statue moving on its own.. it was a little eerie.

Discord Draconequus rolled his eyes and pushed to stand, though in doing so he would levitate slightly. Turning the draconequus would float toward the white mare of the sun and lower to the grass once more. Pressing his paw to the ground, as it was his longer limb, followed by his claw he would stand, slowly sinking down to ground. His tail would raise up to drape around Celestia to attempt and pull her down. "You think far too much, and that is your greatest fault." He assured. "The very fact you have the idea in your head that you can control anything -- if you cannot control me, what hope have you for unpredictable ponies?" He was a predictable creature after all. he followed his nature and was inclined to not follow the rules he set for himself to keep balance. Ponies could always be expected to do exactly what you'll never expect. "Beside--" His speaking trailed off when he looked down to the garden scene.
Discord Draconequus stared as Bygone made his statue move about. "....he brings he such pride when he does creepy things like that. I didn't even have to teach him that. He's figured out the book all on his own." Like a proud parent Discord was. His tiny little chaos bringer. He was about to snap his fingers but stopped himself. "Well -- he can have his fun." Why did he stop his spell, and what was he going to do? No it wouldn't be a good thing to cast within the confines of the book. He could collapse the reality. It was Negative Space after all. Resting his chin on his paw he hummed. "Hmm you are right to worry Tia, and Lulu is correct that no pony can handle it. You can see evidence of their trying to comprehend it during and after my reign. The throes of madness are a result of these failed attempts. Books full of senseless gibberish.... hurr I was going to warp your minds as well so you could no longer speak of Equestria...."
Discord Draconequus was evil at the time, and still, occasionally, naughty. He let the book appear in front of him. "Bygone has added some interesting things I think we should keep him in the story. It may do his confidence well to know that he was named after somepony so chaotic..." He chuckled in his throat. It seems Discord was rewriting its pages as they cleared up some things. "I had decided such a history could never be remembered, so anypony recording it was driven mad or driven to their death." Evil.. "Alas it seems I missed one. I guess even all powerful chaos gods make mistakes." He glanced towards Celestia before turning his head to Luna, smirking. "My love, you know we should as it Tia would like to come with us~" He looked to Celestia in a side-glance. "You may become better equipped at dealing with the chaos these ponies of yours are tempted by, if you knew it a little better." He looked to Luna in question. Should they bring Tia to their little vacation?

Princeshë Celestia let out a chuckle at the memory herself. Indeed the draconequus had been laughing at them anyways. Of course the draconequus was half mad... but that was only a perspective, no? The alicorn was pulled down with nary much resistance. If Discord tried to tip her over she'd tip right over most likely. "OH I know very well I cannot control ponies. I can only plan for the worst and hope for the best. And of course hold karaoke night. That is quite important." she'd say with a inclination of her head and a bit of a dry laugh. She found her attention turning to the statue and the little hat wearing creature once again. "I... Don't even know what to say to that." she'd find herself saying. "That is..." Bygone had climbed up on top of the statue's head and had curled up. The little changeling might be getting rather tired! "A... vacation?" color her curious. Now she really was envious... a vacation would be nice, but then again who would watch over Equestria if she went to?

Princess Luna straightened back up to follow Discord with her eyes, and in doing so, noticed that Celestia had moved some hoofsteps away from them. She made to move over, determined not to leave her sister alone unless she made it clear she wanted to be left. When attention went towards Bygone, she couldn't help but chuckle softly, hiding the noise behind a hoof. "Indeed." Luna fell silent as Discord brought up that suggestion and she glanced towards Tia, eyebrows raised slightly. Karaoke night? What was? "She could." Luna said as she looked back over at Bygone. Sleepy, as foals became, when they tired of playing. It was cute. "It would be fun to see Chaosville together."

Discord Draconequus closed the book and pricked ups ears. It was the end, getting out was easy enough. Motioning his paw the tear would open behind them. The spirit stood, picking up a stone as he did so. He would attempt to warp the stone and Bygone to switch places so he had the foal in his arms. Hopefully at this distance, such worked. "Oh yes, we will have tea, scones and movie night with the boys!" He tittered. He narrowed his eyes and glanced toward Celestia, pressing his claws to his muzzle in the most belittling manner possible. "Oh don't worry Tia. In Chaosville time flows differently. I'm sure your ponies can survive without their leaders for an hour." Which would equate to perhaps a week or more playing in Chaosville. There were many things Discord wanted to say, but he had hoped the little walk through the past was enough. He never wanted to become enemies with them.
Discord Draconequus could have very well destroyed the book when he found it. Luna had been distracted enough with their scavenger hunt. He could have done all manner of things to their ancient trove of knowledge. He could have ended what he started all those years ago and gotten rid of every memory of that time. But he did not. He wanted to fix them. A very stubborn means of apologizing. "Mares first~" He teased, motioning his paw to the opening. It would lead them back to the library, where their little adventure began.

Princeshë Celestia turned to look at Luna and then at Discord. "Chaosville? Your... home?" she was curious herself! She'd never seen the home that Discord had made. Sure the 'movie night with the boys' caused a questioning look but it was the specific words that 'In Chaosville time flows differently' that caused the alicorn's eyes to widen almost comically. "Can we go there now? tomorrow? We can stay there a whole day! She had no idea just how different time flowed but if she could twist an our into several.. or half a day into a full day or better yet two... she'd be so happy to get away for some relaxation! No need to even have to raise or lower the sun; oh that sounded so nice.... The alicorn's eyes had a somewhat glazed over look and... she had to actually shake herself out of the state when the portal home tore open. The promise of a nice relaxing time was just so enticing! Bygone was easy to retrieve since he was starting to snooze and once Discord had him he'd probably try to hug him?

Princess Luna had an inkling of who 'the boys' were, if memory served her well. The cockatrice. She hoped there would be precautions made against their petrifying gaze. That utterance drew her attention from the scene which had ended on Discord in stone, and a little changeling in unicorn form on his head. An hour? It brought her some relief, too. Luna got to her hooves upon seeing that rip, and the Canterlot Archives tall shelves beyond it. She didn't move towards it quite yet, catching her sister's evident excitement with a chuckle. Celestia probably needed escape. Luna lingered just a moment to watch Discord retrieve Bygone before she made for the portal, to step through it and leave this part of their past behind.

Discord Draconequus tried not to look amused when Celestia all but fangirled at the idea. Definitely Twilight's teacher... "Yes well, try not to dawdle princess..." He hissed the nickname coldly, but not maliciously. In jest. He felt Bygone move in his arms, causing the draconequus to frown a bit. He hugged the foal and tucked him close to his feathers. He was very protective of the little guy. He wouldn't be the gentlest spirit were anyone to hurt him. It was why he decided to keep Strife's disguise. He had yet to tell Luna, but aside from being able to control where the chaos moves he could also find the source. After Bygone was hospitalized and the spirit had given a piece of himself to the Changeling, he had been determined to find that man, find his research and destroy him, and it in one breathe. Discord still remember what he had seen in Bygone's memories. They haunted Discord's dreams and were hidden from the lunar princess.
Discord Draconequus floated through the portal and vanished, reappearing lounged on a nearby chair with his legs up and the small, sleeping Changeling on his stomach. He yawned and stretched his forelimbs over his head. "I may go nap in Lulu's bed with By and Ruby." He popped his old bones and settled to scratch at his beard with his claw. The book in question floated over the rainbow mare's head. "It's all fixed. You can have it back. I took the liberties of correcting the errors so you ponies have a better historical record of me rather than those tall tale, garish stories of an inelegant creature of time!" He was a rather proud creature of time.

Princeshë Celestia slipped through the portal herself and stepped to the side. "I will try not to slow you down, Discord." was the reply with a small smile. THe sight of the draconequus holding the foal in his arms was... rather cute, actually. She didn't know the draconequus had it in him. Or rather, she knew he and Luna were friends with a peculiar changeling but... this was that changeling? Nonetheless she smiled and inclined her head. "I believe it is probably late enough I should be catching up on my beauty sleep..." the alicorn took the book in her own magic and looked at it. "I'll keep this copy here as I always have.... Perhaps I can see if we can get the new edition printed. As a... historical work. Sure it could be considered historical fiction but why not. She could 'write' the 'history' if need be, right?

Princess Luna gave the library a brief look, glad to be back in a more present day setting, and fixed her gaze on her companions now that they were all through. Discord was handing the book over. "You may very well do so. It will leave me free this night to catch up on any of my duties I might have missed." She pointed out; he had kept her busy, away from court and her dreamwalking. Luna smiled at him, and Celestia, moving to gently nudge her sister with her nose. "You should get some sleep, and I hope it to be restful. I will bid you good night." Luna said. "'Twould be a good idea." She would turn to leave to leave them all up to whatever it was they needed to do- which was sleep. Luna had the night again.

Discord Draconequus yawned out a bit and stretched once more, vanishing, reappearing in a nightcap and blue, pinstriped jammies, totally matching to Bygone. Reality warping aside the spirit was sort of tired pulling open a temporary realm like that. Bookworms had it much better... it took too much energy. "Well, partings sweet sorrow... I'll see you two in the morrow." He would warp out and apepar over Luna's bed. Oh look it was already prepared! The sheets undone he would teleport little Ruby in. Tucking her and Bygone against his feathers he would curl up among the Luna scented sheets and sleep.

Princeshë Celestia smiled to Luna as she bade the good night. "Good night, Luna..." the solar alicorn replied with a nuzzle. She turned to Discord and inclined her head. "Good night to you as well Discord." With that the alicorn was left alone in the library. She pulled the book to her front again and smiled some... The book trailed after her as she began to make her way to the bedroom. This one was going to be in her personal collection! She could gemini spell a new copy to let the publishing house see. She made her way back to her chambers and climbed up onto the bed. Celestia was tired enough she barely had to snuggle into the sheets and she was out.

The End.