x by Escapade

https://desuarchive.org/mlp/thread/25600347/#q25680734
https://poneb.in/u/Mendicant

---

>”Do it again! Do it again!”
>… 
>You are Nightmare Moon. 
>Empress of the Equestrian Empire. 
>…
>And currently, you find yourself sitting in your study, reading a military report regarding recent actions in the Badlands. 
>Or at least, that is what you /were/ doing. 
>”Oh ho! ho! Where’d the flowers go?” 
>As you sit on your reading cushion, your eyes and ears can’t help but wander to the sight before you. 
>Midnight Melancholy is cheerfully playing with her favorite friend. 
>Discord. 
>The Spirit of Chaos. 
>...
>”It’s behind your back Uncle Dissy!” 
>You smile, watching Melancholy enjoy herself. 
>”Oh, I don’t /think/ so!!” 
>The draconequus reaches behind Melancholy’s ear, and pulls a comically large, colorful bouquet of flowers into view. 
>Melancholy’s eyes light up as Discord giggles.
>”How’d you do that Uncle Dissy?”
>He hands her the bouquet, which she pulls tight, and sniffs. 
>”I can’t say — A /real/ magician doesn’t give away all his secret!” 
>As she inhales the undoubtedly sweet smelling air, she smiles. 
>”Thank you so much! Can I keep them!?” 
>”I promise I’ll take good care of them! Honest!” 
>Discord looks briefly toward you as Melancholy once again buries her full face into the flowers. 
>Certainly unbecoming of a proper mare, but at her age, forgivable. 
>He nudges his head toward the flowers, clearly asking for an answer to her question. 
>You nod. 
>He smiles, and turns back to Melancholy. 
>”I think you can this time! But make sure you put them in chocolate milk, or they’ll get all dry and ugly!” 
>You take a breath, before looking back down at the report in hand. 

>Taming Discord has been a wonderfully beneficial decision. 
>Being Empress, it’s difficult for you to find the time to fully care for and entertain Midnight Melancholy’s foalish energy. 
>Countless meetings, briefings, and court sessions steal the majority of the night from your grasp. 
>Discord however, had no such obligations. 
>Instead, he seemed to /thrive/ off of Midnight’s enthusiasm. 
>On numerous occasions you’ve found Melancholy, having expended all her energy even before bedtime, tucked tightly against Discord; his body curled into a impromptu sleeping cushion. 
>His malleable form could be wonderfully soft and warm if he wished; a skill which he used to ease Melancholy into sleep on any number of occasions. 
>From the corner of your eye, you see Discord rubbing his chin. 
>”Now… where could we put these flowers…” 
>Getting an idea, he snaps his fingers, and seemingly out of thin air, a small vase appears. 
>”How about this?” 
>Intrigued, you look up at the pottery in question. 
>… 
>Your gaze narrows as you realize exactly which vase he chose. 
>The shape and patterns are instantly recognizable. 
>/You/ made that vase centuries ago — before your banishment.

>He uses his magic and pulls it close, grasping it in his hands, and holding it before Melancholy. 
>”Careful now, you won’t want to break your auntie’s vase…” 
>With abundant caution, Melancholy tilts her head, grasping stems of the flowers in her mouth, as she carefully places them into the contain. 
>…
>Perhaps you didn’t have a use for that particular piece anyways. 
>Having placed the flowers into the vase, she lets go, and looks at her work. 
>”It’s so pretty!” 
>Her eyes fill with awe as she stares at the surprisingly simple bouquet. 
>Discord quickly spawns a cup of chocolate milk, and pours it into the vase as well. 
>As it settles in the vase, you feel his magic activate once again, presumably changing it back into water. 
>”There we go! Now — me put this somewhere safe…” 
>He snaps his fingers, and instantly, the vase disappears.

>For nearly an hour, Discord entertained Melancholy as you read your evening’s set of paperwork. 
>Being the Spirit of Chaos, Discord was… surprisingly creative with his antics. 
>From hosting a tea party and creating balloon art, to placing Melancholy in bubble and playing pin-the-tail-on-the-dragon. 
>The list of activities was nearly endless. 
>Of course, in typical Discordian fashion, his “list of activities” was kept on a physical list, which was, to the best of your understanding, very well organized. 
>Everyday he would read from the same scroll, and cross of an activity after having completed it with his little friend. 
>As one activity was crossed off, another would appear at the bottom to take it’s place. 
>Surprisingly, each item seemed to keep Melancholy entertained and excited. 
>… 
>While the two did create a substantial amount of ruckus, with the assistance of muting spells, you were able to do your work in peace. 
>Instead, the provided the occasional moment of refreshing reprieve. 
>Whenever Octavia would deliver a snack, or a cup of coffee, you would take the moment to simply sit, and observe.

>As Empress, and Melancholy’s feminine role model, it would be improper of you to frequently participate in such activities; lest she misunderstand the manners expected of a proper mare. 
>However, even simply watching them play brought you a certain degree of happiness. 
>No doubt you’ve inherited that from your sister. 
>Luna was always fond of foals, and took special care to ensure their wellbeing. 
>And with Melancholy, that concern was even more pronounced. 
>You were responsible for her finding proper courtship. 
>You were the one her permitted her to continue her bloodline, and experience the essence of a higher stallion. 
>This foal; Melancholy, was a much a product of your oversight as she was a product of Octavia’s womb. 
>To see your favorite foal happy brought you a sense of pride — of hope. 
>/This/ plan, however minor it may be, was successful. 
>… 
>You can only hope the same holds true for your Empire.

>Time passes. 
>You turn the last page of your briefing andy gently close the folder; laying in next to the candlestick, which is coated in the freshly melted wax. 
>You glance over at your now cold coffee, and quickly flash it warm again. 
>As you bring the cup to your lips, you look up, and see a familiar sight. 
>Melancholy, gently sleeping against Discord’s side, as his body surrounds her, forming a small ring on the carpet. 
>Quietly, you stand, and walk toward the mixture of fur and scales before you. 
>Looking down, you stop for a moment, and just… watch. 
>… 
>The coffee warms your mouth as you take a long, yet shallow sip. 
>Both of them look peaceful, their sides slowly rising and falling with each breath. 
>Discord’s body was in an almost protective position around the filly, as if somehow expecting an imminent in your private quarters. 
>Melancholy’s flank is tucked underneath Discord’s jaw, his snout laying gently on her side. 
>Her breaths cause small ripples in his fur, and moves his small, delicate tail feather. 
>No doubt they could sleep through the evening here if permitted. 
>But unfortunately, that was not an option. 
>… 
>You gently nudge Discord with your hoof. 
>Instantly, his eyes shoot open, and look toward the filly in his grasp. 
>Realizing she’s not awake, he slowly look toward your hoof, the source of the disturbance, and then up toward you. 
“Come, we have work to tend to.”
>The reports mentioned that you’ve captured a high ranking officer from the Badlands, one who is believed to have caused a number of attacks over the last few months. 
>Certainly he had information which would be of use to your guard. 
>Discord’s eyes narrow, and nods gently, before looking toward Melancholy. 
>Slowly, he cradles her body in magic, before uncoiling himself, and levitating to the left of your shoulder.

“How was she today?”
>Both of you are now looking at Melancholy, who is floating a few hooves off the ground. 
>With Midnight asleep, Discord’s voice is significantly calmer. 
>”She was fine…”
>You smile. 
”Oh?”
>He nods. 
>”We made a house of cards, and colored on my scales…” 
>He does a small roll, revealing what appears to be paint on his side.
>You snort gently.
“Such tasteless tendencies you have.”
>Instead of his usual witty reply, you notice him take a breath, as if uncertain if he should speak. 
>Out of interest, you look toward his serpentine form. 
”There is something you wish to say…”
>He thinks for a moment, eyes locked on Melancholy. 
>”She said that she’d like to play with you more often.” 
>You turn, and look at Midnight as she sleeps.

>”She wanted to have a tea party…” 
>He pauses. 
>”I tried to have one — to make her happy — but I could tell that she wanted…” 
>You interrupt. 
“Our Empire is in difficult times; certainly you know that.”
>He shakes his head. 
>”I don’t care about the /Empire../ — all /I/ care about is Melancholy…” 
>You look at your servant, and then back to Midnight. 
>”She looks up to you…” 
>… 
>… 
“She… wanted to have tea with us?”
>You curse your weak voice. 
>He grins and nods; his energy instantly returning. 
>”A tea party!! with cupcakes and candy, and-“ 
>You speak, your tone much more confident and firm, silencing him before his ignorance woke the filly from her rest. 
“We shall arrange for afternoon tea tomorrow, before supper…”
>His looks up, before offering a more reserved, gentle smile. 
>”I’m sure she’ll enjoy it.” 
>You snort. 
>No doubt her manners will be appalling and crude. 
>You shall make sure that her etiquette instructors address this topic in the morning. 
>… 
“Lay her to bed and return; we wish for your assistance with this new guest of ours…”
>You can see a darker, much more predatory grin creep onto his face. 
>”Can I play with him /before/ you ask questions this time?” 
>You chuckle. 
”Such tasteless tendencies…”