"Ahh... See? Isn't it nice to get out of the castle and get a little fresh air?"

"Mm..."

"Oh, don't sound so sour." Celestia looked up at her taller counterpart. Even as a pony, he still managed to look a bit, well... odd. He was lankier than the average stallion, and his horn had a funny little squiggle to it. She wasn't sure if those were part of his design choices in his illusion spell, or perhaps it was the best he could do being the physical embodiment of chaos.

"You look perfectly fine, you know."



It must have been no easy feat for Discord to force himself to appear and behave as a regular pony, so she certainly could appreciate the effort he was making.

The draconequus-turned-stallion furrowed his brow and glanced down at his hooves. "It's

that what's bothering me." He looked back up, his ears pinning back for a brief moment. "Do you not find it just a bit odd, Celestia, what with how much you ponies advocate for friendship and love and acceptance, that we must disguise ourselves to go on a simple walk to the market?"

Celestia's face softened for a moment, her smile shrinking. "I know, I know..."

"This sort of thing is never necessary whenever I visit Ponyville."

"I know." She repeated the sentence a third time, the final one a touch firmer than the previous two. "Everyone in Ponyville is used to you, Discord. Here in Canterlot, well..."

She didn't have to finish her sentence. The sophisticated and elite classes of ponies who resided in Canterlot tended to be far more rooted in "traditional" values, which usually meant looking down upon anyone of a lower status than them. Or in somepony like Discord's case, anyone who was different from them.

It took only a moment for Discord to catch on to her subtext. He glanced over at her, one of his white eyebrows cocked. "Am I to assume Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, is attempting to hide herself from her citizens lest she be judged? I highly doubt they think the same of you as they do me."

"Well... no." She had to answer truthfully, for he did have a point. "Sometimes... I simply feel like going out without all the fanfare and the royal carriages and what have you. To just be an ordinary pony on her way to the market. It's odd, the things you never get to experience, being a royal and all." She shook away the sentimentality in her head and looked back up at him. "What about you? Do you not mind when ponies stare?"

He cocked his head, giving her the best shrug he could while standing on four legs. "Just used to it, I suppose."

A pause, and then something akin to a low chuckle escaped him for a moment. "Though it's truly a wonder they can even stare at all, what with how high they all hold their noses, hm?"

"Discord,

." She gave him a nudge with her shoulder, doing her best to hide the small smile crossing her face. "They're going to hear you."

He gave her a small smirk in return. "And? I don't see you trying to disprove my statement, do I?"

She gave him a look, but shook her head after a second. "No, you've definitely got a point. There

a reason I invite Twilight and her friends to the Grand Galloping Gala each year..."

He hummed in response, satisfied with her answer. "Truly, I think I'd rather spend the weekend at the Smooze's family reunion than one day amongst any of these ponies." Another small chuckle. "Now, where is that little tea vendor you've been speaking so highly about? I only agreed to come along because it's my turn to bring tea to my meeting with Fluttershy next week."

"Just a few more stalls down."

"A few more? We'll be on the opposite side of the market by then."

"And? Surely the Lord of Chaos can manage a brisk walk to the end of the market and back."

"Mm, touche..." He muttered in response, but couldn't shake off the small smile that crept its way on his face. Perhaps this little outing wasn't entirely terrible after all.

--------------------------





Forgive me if the dialogue sounds janky I write it at midnight last night

But yes! I got a hankering to draw some more ponies, and so I did!I like to headcanon that Celestia likes to use some illusion magic to disguise herself as a regular pony from time to time. Just to go out and walk amongst her citizens like she was one of them. Discord on the other hand does not like disguising himself and would rather much not, but it makes Celestia happy so... mmmaybe he can tolerate itI like to imagine this takes place before they're properly together in my headcanon, but have been able to sort out their differences a bit and be friends.Background was used from here: