Dear Discord Eleven

                                                             Dear Discord
                                                           Chapter Eleven




    Hardly three days later, I woke up, and my first thought was, I'm getting married today.

    Everything had all been set up the night before. Even though Fisheye had been just as generous, if not more so, as he always was by saying we were free to spend whatever we wanted for the wedding, we only had so many resources, and time to get them. No one knew what Celestia would do once she found out we were here. It seemed like we brought danger to our loved ones no matter what we did now a-days. Still, we'd have a nice ceremony, and a decent party. Music, food, though it'd have to be things we already had, small and simple, though Pinkie made sure they were elegant, decorations, etc., etc., etc.
    We'd have it out on the beach, there was no doubt about that. And though it was very simple over all, it didn't matter to me. Not when I was marrying Discord. I could marry him in rags, on the front porch of my old house, with a stranger as our only guest, I loved him so much. And, indeed, the only thing that saddened me about the whole affair, was that my parents weren't here, nor had any means of getting here.

    Rarity gently tucked wild beach flowers gathered from outside into my curly mane, and placed the tiara and veil on my head when she finished. The other girls behind me were helping each other fasten dresses, and put on shoes, and other such things. Their dresses had gotten caught up in the rush. Since Rarity hadn't as many supplies, there were six dresses to be made, and time was pressing, she made simple, long, dark red dresses for all of them. “Red as Discord's eyes that I know you adore so much,” she had said. And what of the gold in his eyes? All of the dresses were dusted in a light, golden shimmer of some sort of fabric glitter, and golden sashes on their waists. It was just a hint of the color done in a bit of a rush, but they were beautiful dresses. Spike, who I hadn't seen in ages either, hadn't been left out. Rarity had kept a suite she made for him long ago, and he wore it again now, being the ring bearer for a second time. The rings had been extremely hard to get. We would settle for anything we could get, naturally, and, indeed, we were only able to get two, plain, golden rings. But they were here, and at least we had them. To me, they were the most beautiful and exquisite rings ever made. They had, amazingly, been able to get them engraved. Discord's said: Till the End of Eternity... And mine continued: Will I Love You.
    A soft violin started to play, faint from the source on the beach out the window that it played from. It wasn't playing a song yet, just random tunes to make sure the instrument sounded good. None the less, it was a cue for all of us, and Twilight squeaked. “Come on, come on, hurry up, girls! Behind me!” she urged quietly, making her way out the door to where it led down the aisle outside. Behind her, in order, went Fluttershy, PinkiePie, and RainbowDash. “You feeling alright, darling?” Rarity asked, glancing back at me a little worriedly. I had felt myself pale a little, and knew now that it had shown. My nerves were finally catching up to me. But I grinned. “Yes, I'm fine. Really. Now go!” I assured. She ran after Rainbow, and Applejack gave me one last unsure glance before following her.

    I panted slightly, forcing myself to calm down, and not think about it too much as I clutched my stomach. It was more alive with butterflies than I could ever remember, and it made me feel slightly dizzy. Oh my gosh...I'm getting married! I shook my head, and took a sip of water. It helped quite a lot, and I took a little more, walking out to the door before I'd miss my turn to go out when the song played.
    Keep yourself together. There's no reason to be nervous when you've longed for this to happen for so long. One second. Two. The ponies already here were sitting in the sand, Fisheye in the front row. My friends stood, the first three on my side, the last three on Discord's, and Luna, the one to marry us, behind him in his blue suit and top-hat. The one that I loved so much. That he looked so handsome in, especially when he did that signature smile of his. I stepped out of the shadow, and into the light right when the violin played its song. Our song. The song that had brought us so far with its words, and were now bringing us farther still. The song that, even with its name, had been perfect for its job before, and was almost even more perfect for its occasion now. The song, I Love You*.

    Discord beamed brightly when he saw me in my wedding dress, and held my hooves in his hands when I at last stood before him. All around us...the ponies didn't disappear, but, rather, seemed to blend together till they were simply unnoticeable. Except for Luna, only standing out because she spoke. Yet her recited words became muddled, and blurred at first, though they were the most wonderful I've heard in my life. Because they were the ones bringing us together. All he and I could do, though, as we waited for our turn to speak, was smile at each other, and never let our eyes roam anywhere else beyond our partner's.
    “Do you, Prince Discord Draconiqques, take this, Princess GoldenDream,” Luna began. We had slightly protested at those titles being used. But Luna promised it was for the better. Those titles were always used when uniting two immortals, and she wasn't going to take any chances by skimping out on things as far as we were concerned. “To be your lawfully wedded mare, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, for better or for worse, till death do you part?” she asked, smiling. Discord touched his paw to my cheek, smiling more. “Yes... With all my heart, I do,” he hummed, pressing my head to his, and letting out a soft and faint purr as he slipped my ring onto my horn. I grinned, all but melting inside. “And do you, Princess GoldenDream, take this, Prince Discord, to be your lawfully wedded colt, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, for better or for worse, till death do you part?” she asked, turning to me now. I have no idea how much one can smile, but it felt like I couldn't possibly smile enough at the moment. My heart felt it'd burst. It was thrashing inside me like a bird trapped in a cage. “A thousand times, forever and always...Yes. I do,” I promised, putting his own ring on his finger. Luna said we could kiss, and he and I both paused, almost nervously. It lasted a fraction of a second, and then he beamed at me. “...I love you,” he whispered. I smiled. “I love you too!” And then, we finally kissed. Our first, real, true, kiss. And that did it. My heart exploded inside of me, and all of the love ever contained and ever held back, let itself out by showing itself in the passion of it. It only lasted about a minute, which is still long for a kiss, but it left us breathless, and deaf to any sound around us till after we stopped. When we did, we heard loud cheering, and turned, almost surprised, to the guests that were jumping, cheering, clapping, and whistling with celebration. He and I laughed as we watched them, and smiled at each other again before he took me in his arms, and kissed me again. Luna was close to tears, yet it was obvious she could hardly hold in her happiness and excitement. “I pronounce you mare and draconeqqui... Ladies, and gentlecolts, may I present to you, not only Mr. and Mrs. Discord, but, also, for the very first time...your own King and Queen!” she announced.     Discord and I swung to face her, astonished, the cheers going even more wild. “...Are you serious?!” he exclaimed. Not angry, just...stunned, as I was. Luna laughed. “What do you think happens to titles when Princes marry Princesses? They don't decline, they go up! It doesn't mean you have to rule, or anything, you know.” Discord, once gaping, looked back at me, and laughed slightly, a little overwhelmed. I smiled, and kissed his cheek. It was a lot for me to take in, too. But I wanted to assure him that it didn't change a thing between the two of us.




    After the second round of even louder cheers came from our friends and guests when Discord and I walked down the aisle, they began to file after us for the party we had arranged. The tables in the large dining room had been moved into another, where we'd eat in later. But the larger room that we entered was decorated with white Hearth's Warming Eve lights, all sorts of flowers we had both bought, found as decorations around the house already, and wild ones from outside, growing along the dunes of the beach. The violin player that had done our song for our ceremony came inside, and took her seat at the head of the large dance floor there'd been made room for, playing the first of many songs we had asked to be played once every pony was inside. Naturally, Discord and I had the first dance, and he had suggested that we do the same one he had both danced with me, and, at the same time, taught me when he had taken me up into the stars. It was an old dance that young Alicorns, and any other young immortals in court, learned to dance. Dancing it again with him brought back so many memories. They made me feel happy and devastated, and feel like both laughing and crying. Infact, I did cry as we circled around each other, and smiled weakly up at him. He understood. I knew he did. And he smiled down at me, kissing me again. Only, with that one, it felt like he'd never let go, and that it'd never end.
    And when at last he did pull away, he grinned, and laughed, spinning me into the arms of another colt as anyone wanting to dance now came in time for a more lively song. Naturally, Discord took the chance to dance as crazy and hectic as he wanted, sometimes coming to me to spin me around in a wide circle, or going to some other pony, and doing something similar with them. It made me laugh to see him like this, and many times he danced in such a way, that someone would flat out cheer him on, and we'd all start clapping in time. Many times, he dragged me into it with him, making me very shy when he did so. Pinkie, of course, was no different. Especially with her way of jumping into everyone's face only to blow a noise maker in them. Fluttershy mostly kept to herself when she wasn't with us, but many times I caught her dancing with SwanLight, and talking with him. Once, I saw her walking to another part of the room with him at her tail as he said something to her. And in order to stay even closer to her, I saw him gently catch hold of the end of her dress in a sweet manner.
    But though there were many laid-back and tender moments throughout the party as well, Pinkie, as well as the rest of the girls, and even Princess Luna, combined with Mr. Dizzy over there, made for an amazing and fantastic, if unusual party.

    Discord had finally taken a break, and was sitting with me at our own table, drinking some chocolate milk. As he sat down with it, he smiled at me, and snapped his fingers to make me some vanilla milk. He'd do that every now and then, to cheer me up when I had been the most sad when we were on the run, and it always made me smile just to see it. Drinking it made me feel ten times better, because, like all of his self-made sweets, it was the best vanilla flavored thing I had ever tasted before. We playfully clinked our glasses together, and sipped at them. When he had downed most of the milk in his, he bit off part of the glass, and chewed it. I gave him a questioning look. Discord just smirked at me. “It's quite good, actually!” To underline his statement, he ate the rest of it, milk and all. I laughed, and shook my head, drinking more of what he had given me.
    When I set the cup down, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned to them, smiling politely. “Might I steal your bride away for a dance, my Prince?” asked Fisheye, smiling. Discord just smirked, and waved us off. “Go on, have fun.” Fisheye bowed his head to him, and escorted me to the dance floor, holding one hoof out, and placing his other on my waist.      “I never got a chance to thank you for your extraordinary kindness,” I said, smiling up at him as we swayed among the other dancing couples. He smirked down at me. “Oh, please, you don't have to. Really. What else could I have done? You suffered injustice, and merely for doing something I have always regretted not doing myself. Of course I helped in any way I could. I only wish I could have done more to perhaps make this even more splendid for the two of you,” he said. “It's already more beautiful and wonderful than I could have imagined it, Fisheye! So I do thank you. And none of us shall never forget your kindness for as long as we live. Even when rabbits write books, will we still remember you,” I said, grinning in an almost playful manner. “Don't rabbits write books already? I dare say Fluttershy's probably could!” he joked, making us both laugh.

    A stallion came up behind Fisheye, and tapped his shoulder. We paused mid-dance, as he turned to see him. “May I?” he asked Fisheye, nodding to me. My partner glanced at me with a smile, and I nodded. He bowed to the two of us, and I curtsied back to him before he let me dance off into the crowd of dancing ponies with this new colt. I didn't recall seeing him, but he must have been one of those already having traveled here to help search for us. He had black mane slicked back, and a midnight-blue coat, which made his red eyes stand out almost alarmingly. Like fire. “Hello, my Lady. We meet again, though I dare say, you look far more lovely in that dress of yours. And don't you and Discord make a beautiful couple?” he jeered suddenly, his grip on me becoming much more harsh. I gasped at the tightened embrace, and felt my heart race faster in fear. “What are you-?” I stuttered, eyes wide. “What's the matter? Don't recognize me? Well I dare say that's not surprising. But look around you, my dear. I think you'll start to notice something most unsettling,” she growled low with a wide, crocked smirk. I didn't want to do what he said. All I wanted to do was get away from this maniac, and run back over to Discord. But something made me look around, and I felt fear grip me ever tighter. There were countless ponies with the same coat and mane color as he. Nearly the same amount, if not more than, the guests that were already here. How had they been so over looked? Everywhere I turned, there were only more of them. “Who are you?! What are you playing at?!” I gasped, trying not to sound too panicked. But his smirk widened to a grin at my fail to do so, and his grip tightened so much more, I almost yelped in pain. “Don't you recognize me by now, sweet, innocent mare?” he sneered silkily, shoving his eyes close to mine till I couldn't move to look at something else even if I wanted to.     That red. It was just barely familiar. A perfect and flawless red, but not warm and inviting like Discord's ruby ones. These were biting, and cold, and sickly violent. Like blood. In just one flash of memory, I remembered him though that voice, and those flaming red eyes. Red eyes that hovered above me and my aching head, that glared into Discord's red and gold eyes with contempt, that shone with defiance as their owner spat into my face.

    At the top of my lungs, I screamed for Discord. But it was drowned out by shrieks and screams from those all around me, as the swarm of ponies over took all of our friends, and guests. It made me sick to hear such a sound as that. And it didn't stop. Infact, it just got louder, and louder. I saw Twilight being tackled down, having her horn smothered, and wings tied down. She put up a good fight, nearly bucking all of them off. And Rainbow, too, nearly got away, along with Luna. But the doors were shut, barricaded from the outside, and all the windows closed. No one could get out of the room. Thus, Rainbow was soon tackled down, though Luna escaped attempt after attempt to catch her, and tried her hardest to bang the doors down, or at least break one of the windows.
    Right as she was about to, the colt I was struggling to get free from rose his voice above all the screaming and shouting going on. When I say struggling, I mean struggling. I kicked, and bucked, and punched at him, even bit till I drew blood. He winced and growled a lot, but, to my horror, never even loosened his grip. “I wouldn't try that, Princess!” he shouted. Everyone's voice and screaming slowly died down, and Luna halted, turning to look at him. Her eyes had become as dangerous and unfeeling as snow, and she looked more furious than a rabid animal. Discord, too, looked over to me, and nearly paled with shock and anger when he saw us. “YOU LET HER GO, OR I SWEAR, I'LL-” “You'll what?! Kill me? Ha! I'd like to see you, any of you try to use any kind of magic on us! You see, our kind solar Princess was cunning enough to cover us all in protective magic. And being an Alicorn, they're far more able to protect us than any normal unicorn's magic could,” the stallion clutching me laughed, his expression hard and cruel. A few ponies yelped with fear, some tied, and some held forcibly down. The Lieutenant pulled me about with him, holding me so tight now, that it was getting much harder to breathe, let alone struggle. I gulped in my breaths as he moved about his captives. “Oh, shhh, shhh, my ponies. We'll not hurt you, I promise! After all, what do we want with you?” he said, voice high as he mockingly tried to calm them, looking at them all with an innocent look. Then he turned to Luna, and I croaked out a weak, “I can't breathe!” Discord looked downright scared for me, but still he snarled at him to let me go, rather than lower himself to begging for it. The stallion ignored him, and did no such thing. It was as if he were trying to make a point with me. “They can go... if you, the Elements, that rat of a King over there, and this one here comes with us. As ordered,” he said, face and tone serious. Poor Luna, still mad as a wolf, looked at a loss of what to do. “Why do you even want any of us anymore? They're married, GoldenDream is immortal forever now, no matter what my sister does. And I know she would never kill her. Why do you want her now?” she demanded. “To keep them apart, of course. You have no idea how much pain you've all put her through! Every one of you deserves everything you get out of betraying her,” he growled. My breathing was getting thinner and shallower, and my sight was going in and out of blurred and focused. “She brought it on herself! She didn't have to do any of what she did! Any and ALL pain she's ever felt is her OWN FAULT!” Luna cried angrily, stomping her hoof. I expected the colt to rage at her. But instead, he did a smart, and nerve rackingly calm smile. “Don't try and negotiate with me, Princess. You'll have plenty of time for politics later, don't you think?” My head finally felt light, and I feebly tried to suck in more air a few more times. “So what's it going to be, then. Hmm?” My head lolled back, and I heard Discord yelp, “Goldie!” before I passed out.




    When GoldenDream fainted from lack of air, he finally shoved her to the floor. I struggled, and lashed against the guards holding me back till I was free from them, and rushed to her side. That idiot stallion, thankfully, made no sign he even noticed as I carefully picked her up in my arms, and cradled her protectively against me. He and Luna stared at each other in silence, and I glared up at him, wanting no more than to smack that stupid smirk of victory off his face. I glanced over at Twilight and her friends, all bound tightly in ropes, and gagged. Fluttershy was shivering, and crying in fear, breaking my heart further. How dare they touch any of them!
    At last, Luna heaved a sigh. “Let the others go. We'll go with you,” she murmured. I knew she was doing what was best for her subjects, but I still stared at her in disbelief. Surely she hadn't just given up! She gazed at me sadly, and turned her head away as the stallion grinned further, and clapped his hooves. The guests and their host, Fisheye, were let up, and filed out of the home. When Fisheye passed the girls, he touched his hoof to Fluttershy's, and looked at all of them. “Don't loose hope, you lot,” he muttered encouragingly before shoved along with a grunt. He bowed to Luna, refusing to let any of those in here lower his dignity; and when he looked at me, and stopped before me, he said, “I'm so, so sorry...truly, I am,” in a thick voice. Finally, he glared over at the Lieutenant, and punched him so hard, he staggered backward in surprise, obviously not prepared for it. Fisheye shook his hoof, smirking a little. “And that's for everything you've caused,” he said quite pointedly as he was more forcibly pushed out. I stiffled a laugh by quickly covering my mouth, and shot his back a grateful look. Rainbowdash didn't bother holding hers back, and the others snickered as well as the stallion picked himself up, and wiped the blood from his mouth. “Shut up! Get the rest out of here! Come on, move them!” he bellowed, face red with anger. His stallions shuffled every pony out as fast as they could, except for SwanLight, and stayed all around the house as we were forced out, too. SwanLight simply refused to go with the others, and made a point to stay close to Fluttershy as he kept a comforting hoof around her shaking frame when they flushed us out. “Shh, it's ok, Fluttershy! We'll be ok, I know we will!” he murmured to her, trying to smile, and keep her spirits up.


    All ten of us were split into fives. Twilight, Luna, GoldenDream, which was being carried in my arms, Rainbow, and I were made to go into one carriage, and the others were put in another. The Lieutenant stuck his head inside ours, and smiled at Luna. “Lulu, dear-” “DON'T...call me that,” she hissed, refusing to look at him. He rolled his eyes, and continued. “Do you mind saving us all the trouble, time, and energy, and teleporting us all to the castle?” he asked. Though the way he asked sounded more like a threat.
    Luna glared at him for a long, long time fore she finally jerked her head away, and let her horn glow. Three seconds more, and a bright flash later, we stood just as we had before, at the castle doors. Luna got out first, and we were brought in behind her. The huge doors swung open for us, and I saw Celestia right away. The Lieutenant trotted up to her, beaming. He bowed very low when he came up to her. “Your Highness!” he flattered, gently taking her hoof, and kissing it. Suck up, was all I could think as I screwed up my face in disgust. “At last, Princess, we have them. All of them, just as you asked.” Celestia said nothing as she looked blankly at all of us, though some alarm showed through her mask when she saw GoldenDream, and the Element's condition. She threw an almost angry glare at the stallion. “Untie my student and her friends at once! And tell me what's wrong with GoldenDream! You know I meant for no one to be hurt in all of this!” she spat. He recoiled away from her as though burned from a fire, and signaled one of his guards to do as ordered. “GoldenDream is fine, majesty. Just knocked out,” he muttered. “Only because you squeezed her so long, she couldn't breathe!” Rainbow snapped, eyes alight with anger. Celetia flared, and stared menacingly down at her Lieutenant. “I'll deal with you later,” she sighed.     “Meanwhile, I want all guards to keep my sister out of the dungeons. Twilight and her friends can go back to Ponyville, but GoldenDream and Discord will be put in a cell. I know what happened between them today...they may share a cell for this one night, and just this one night only,” she ordered, growling low the last command. “Princess, please, don't do this!” Twilight begged, trying to reach out to her teacher in her distress. “Indeed, sister, see reason, I implore you!” Luna added as Celestia turned away with a pained look, and walked off, deaf to the many pleads and protests the girls threw her way. Just before she totally left the room, she glanced at us once more. “Let them say a quick good-bye, and then do as ordered.” The guards saluted her, and stood off to one side to let us say farewell.

    Luna held GoldenDream as all the girls hugged me tightly, crying bitterly. When at last they tore themselves away, they each went to GoldenDream, and gently hugged her, as well as kissed her cheek. My heart tore in two for her and them. I was glad she might not have to endure the pain of this moment by missing it, but I knew she'd be devastated to hear she had, and would probably never see them again. They finished, and Luna also hugged her close, and kissed her before handing her back to me, and hugging me too. “This isn't over. We're not going to give up. I promise,” she breathed so softly I almost missed it, even though she said it right into my ear. I smiled through my tears at her, gratefully, and was then forced away by some guards.     Fluttershy and Twilight in-particular both sobbed harder and louder as I was pushed away, reaching for my hand that I held out to them to hold onto me for as long as they possibly could. And then we were wrenched apart, and I was pushed none too gently down the hall.
    I last saw Luna gathering the sobbing girls to her in comfort, trying to both calm them, and say good-bye to them herself before I lost sight and sound of them. Then came a weary, and endless trip down to the cells. No matter what wrongs they may have done, Celestia always kept her prisons in good shape so no one would get sick, or anything of that sort. So when we got down there, we found a clean place fairly lit, and with hammocks as beds. We passed by many ponies, all of which recognized us, and only a few of which I recognized back. Many of them that knew who we were, wailed in loss of hope at seeing us here. Whenever I heard them do so, I always smiled kindly at them. Tried to show them that not all was lost, and they at least, might be let out.

    The cell we were locked in was the size of two, with a little wooden table with food and water on it, and one bed big enough for two ponies inside it rather than a hammock. I gently laid my new bride (oh how surreal, even in this place, did that sound!), on the bed. I tried not to pay attention to the clinking of the lock, but my heart sank further despite, at the sound. Lightly shaking my head, I started to undo the back of GoldenDream's dress, and slip it off her, also taking off her tiara and veil that had stayed on all this time. The memory of not many hours earlier seeing her in that beautiful dress was something I would never forget in my whole life. She looked more beautiful than an angel. I smiled fondly as I folded it and the glittering veil, setting both on the concrete floor, under the bed.     I left her mane the way it was, though. With flowers still clinging to it in beautiful defiance. I fingered one of the flowers, and smiled weakly at her sleeping face. Turning to the table, I picked up the pitcher of water, poured some into a bowl, dipped the cloth beside it in the water, and rested it on GoldenDream's head. She stirred a little, and slowly came to as I dabbed the rest of her face with it. Finally, she sighed, and her eyes fluttered open. She didn't move, nor speak. All she did was stare up at the ceiling. At first she looked confused, not knowing where she was. But then understanding slapped her in the face, and her eyes filled with tears thick and fast before she turned to look at me.
    “Oh, my dear! Hush now, shhh! Shh,” I soothed, hugging her close to my chest. She sniffled, and tried to keep back her tears. But no matter how hard she tried, eventually, she choked out heart-broken sobs that wracked her frame hard, and sent hot tears streaming down my fur. “Don't cry, my dear!” I comforted, my own voice thick as I kissed her head, my own tears betraying me as they splattered onto her mane. I was trying to stay strong for her. I really was. But I suppose trying to be strong for the other didn't matter now. The damage had been done, and it had left both our hearts broken and trampled on the floor. There was no use in pretending otherwise now. So I curled tightly around her after laying by her on the bed, and cried nearly as hard as she did, though I tried to sooth her all the while. Her cries and whimpers were muffled as she cried into me, all the while making my fur more and more wet. Not that I cared. I didn't. I just hugged her as close as physically possible, sobbing myself many times.

    At last, when it must have been night, we had both cried every last drop of water in us, and couldn't cry more even if we wanted to. When we stopped, I gently pried her off of me, and wiped away all her tears before passionately kissing her. There was no doubt Celestia was only letting us stay in the same cell this one night because it was only ''proper,'' being the night of our wedding. She was like that. Even with things she held such grudges on, she was polite to the last. However, if that wasn't how my bride wanted to spend her last night with me, then by Luna, it would not be. Whatever the reason. Didn't feel ready for that yet, didn't want to do it in this horrid place, or even just because she'd rather spend it being held close in my arms all night, I just wanted to do what'd make her happy. So I asked her in a whisper, stating plainly just why I was even asking: Because I wanted her happy above all else. She smiled lightly up at me, and clutched at me again. “Not here...not in this dreadful place,” she shuddered. I rested my hand on her back, and pressed her to me, kissing her head. “As you wish,” I murmured. “I love you, Discord...so much!” she whispered, hugging me tighter for a moment. I smiled at the words, feeling as light as I always did whenever I heard them, and said them back. “And I love you too, my beautiful GoldenDream.” “...Discord?” She sighed sadly, after a moment of silence. “Mmm?” I hummed, rubbing her back. “...I wanna go home,” she hiccuped. I winced, and cuddled her. “I know...I do, too. And soon we will be home again... I promise,” I said quietly.
    I just hoped it was true.