It's Magic, so they say.

Pinkie started coming over more and more. Our relationship really changed after she found me in the royal hedge maze. We were in the kitchen again, and the pink pony was hopping back and forth, making it difficult for me to try and understand what she was doing. Baking... that much I knew. That was pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

"Pinkie Pie, could you please tell me what you are doing?" I was getting a little agitated from being unable to do anything chaotic.

"I'm making the apple treat, silly!"

"Refresh my memory." I smiled sarcastically with all of my teeth, forgetting for a moment that ponies normally found it disgusting. I didn't bother hiding it when I realized. Pinkie was not one to find fault in me. I could be myself... whoever that was.

"Angel food cake with diced apples and pears... with a sugar icing syrup, topped with caramel drizzle!" She grinned madly and I shook my head, wiping some icing sugar from her cheek.

"Are you sure you are a pink pony?" I dusted her back with the tip of my tail, causing white powder to cloud up the air, "You look like a white one to me."

She giggled and I felt something... I must be feeling thankful for all that she has done for me. Yes. One can be thankful if someone else did them a service... or more than just one. It was glorious to have someone else in the house, someone who enjoyed the craziness of it all.

"I'll shower after, silly!" she hopped away, laughing "There's no point in it now if I'm just going to get dirty again."

I nodded, curious as to what she would think of my alligator rug. She had a pet crocodile... I willed the greenish thing away from the upstairs corridor. I hadn't really liked it anyway.

I watched her work, keeping my irritation in check. It wasn't like she was keeping me here anyway. I was here of my own volition, and that was my own fault. Fraternizing with the enemy, smooth Discord, smooth. I rubbed the back of my head, Mohawk ruffing but springing back into place instantly. This filly- no. This mare. She was hardly a filly with her understanding. Outwardly she was a bubbly thing, but there were times when she thought no one was looking, when her face wasn't masked, that I could tell it wasn't all fun and games. She bounced to the other end of the table, grabbing the oven mitts.

"Now when this one is done, I'll need you to help me. I think this might be the one." She smiled tiredly.

"Of course, Pinkie Pie." I flicked my tail, growing rather tired of waiting. Cooking and baking could not be rushed. Unfortunate.

I didn't want to be here any more. I also didn't want to be alone. Not in a sappy way of course, but I rather enjoyed Pinkie's company. She liked my chaotic displays.

"Could we go out for a bit? I'm getting cabin fever."

I smiled up at Discord, ready for a bit of a break myself. He probably didn't have chaos in the kitchen for a reason, and figured it would be safe to leave the cake to bake unsupervised.

Later on, after getting home, I got word from Twilight that the girls all wanted a chat.

"Okie doki. Wonder what the girls want to talk about? Maybe they wanted to hear about how my apple treat is coming along." I mused, looking at the note once again. I hopped my way over to the shower, excited to see my friends.

"...White pony no more!" I pounded the shampoo into my tail, wondering if I could get an apron or two for my birthday.

Twilight's house was as wooden as ever, and I prayed that the library would never see fire. Never ever. The girls were already inside when I opened the door.

"Hay girls! I told you about the dessert, right? Discord and I finally got it just right today! Can you believe it?"

"Why, that's lovely, dear," Rarity smiled.

"I can't wait to try it." AppleJack nodded, "But fer right now, we need to talk, sugar cube."

I looked at the others and couldn't really tell what they were thinking.

"About what?"

"Discord." Twilight said, and I knew this would not be a fun conversation. "We know it was Discord who did that storm cloud on purpose, Pinkie. We just wanted to know why you felt like you needed to lie to us."

I felt ashamed, and knew the truth was all I would tell from now on. What kind of friend would I be if I couldn't tell them the truth? I looked at each of the girls, trying to decide on how to explain it.

"I thought if you guys got along... Just for a bit, then he'd feel more like a... being and not a bad guy. And then you guys could see it too. It's like... baking."

The girls stared, but Fluttershy popped the question.

"Um... How is it... like baking?"

"It's like... we're seen as the sugar and flour and he's the... salt and molasses. You need things that are different. Things that don't really seem to belong to get the best product. Like... how Harmony comes when good and bad, normalcy and crazy meet and find balance."

"So you're saying," Rainbow Dash gestured, "that we need chaos to be in harmony?"

"...Yes?" My lips twitched, I didn't know how else to explain it to them.

"...Like the idea of yin and yang." Rarity piped up, Twilight beginning to nod.

"I think I see what you mean." The veronica coloured pony conceded, "but... we're your friends!"

"I know... I'm really sorry, girls." My head hung of its own accord,"I just wanted us all to be friends. I won't lie to you again... I Pinkie promise."

"Well, that settles it." Spike's voice preceded him from the stairs, "Pinkie Pie never breaks a Pinkie Promise."

Twilight shook her head, "I don't want anypony here to be hurt. He might seem like he's changed, but you need to be on your guard, Pinkie."

"I... sure thing." Perhaps she'd never really trust Discord. But if she could be nice, then... well maybe... I couldn't force Twilight or anypony to listen, but actions speak louder than words, after all.

"So," Rainbow Dash commented from the ceiling, "when can we eat this apple thing anyway?"

I grinned, explaining that it would be the same day that we would be getting a visit from the Princesses.

"Maybe they'll want some of the angel food cake too!"

"I'm certain they'll want to try it, Pinkie." Rarity smiled, "Do they come in bite size?"

"No, but that's a good idea!" My mind began racing. How many little dishes would we need? Or maybe the bite sized ones would only be served in the bakery, and big ones 'to-go'...

I felt listless later that night, feeling wide awake and dreading the Princesses' arrival. What if Celestia disliked Discord enough to throw him back into stone, regardless of his actions? Too many awful thoughts. The problem was that these fears couldn't really go away. I'd even tried laughing, but this fear was based in truth, not just some made up ghostie.

I groaned, this wasn't helping at all. Maybe if I wasn't having an easy time sleeping, Discord would be having trouble too. No one else in Ponyville was up, or at least they shouldn't be. Maybe I could visit the chaotic spirit, and we could work through this until we could sleep. It would be better than sitting and doing nothing at any rate. I rose, blankets falling away as I strode toward the stairs. Gummy stared at me wide-eyed and he didn't fall back asleep until I told him where I was going. Silly gator. I smiled, heading out through the front door, locking it and making my way toward the Everfree forest. It was a beautiful night: Luna had decorated the sky, allowing the most stars I'd ever seen dot the sky. The moon wasn't full, but it shone brightly. I couldn't help but stare skyward as I walked. The inky midnight blue was hard not to stare at. I grinned openly and looked earthward once more before I ran into anything.

The forested trail seemed ominous, hiding the stars from view. Trees creaked and moaned, and no amount of laughter made it go away either. Keep calm, Pinkie... just carry on. I nodded to myself, resolute. Even if I heard wolves bay in the distance. What if they were Timber Wolves? That would be burnt batter bad. I quickened my pace, not stopping until I was upon Discord's doorstep.

I knocked once. Twice. I almost knocked on Discord's head when he opened the door.

"Pinkie Pie?" He was quite surprised to see me, his eyebrows had risen at least 20% higher on his forehead.

"Can I come in?" I looked around and a wolf howled again, this time much closer.

"Of course, Pinkie." His claw practically pulled me in from my side, not allowing me time to dawdle.

I let out a long breath, feeling much better now that I was indoors. I looked up again to see him watching me. We both didn't say anything, and after a moment he headed into the house beckoning me to follow.

So I did.

We wound our way up a tower, and it looked like the one he first took me up, to show me Nightmare Moon's hoof print. I smiled, he hadn't invited me up since that first day.

His bedroom, surprisingly, hadn't really changed. The walls were now octagonal, and a deep purple, but the rest was the same.

"I thought you would like a place to sleep. I'm too tired, but tomorrow I can add a guest bedroom if you think these midnight visits will continue."

I felt guilty, he was giving up his bed so I'd have a place to sleep, and I still hadn't told him why I came over in the first place.

"I didn't mean to kick you out of your bed, honest! I couldn't sleep, and thought that maybe you couldn't either... with the Princesses coming."

I saw him nod slightly at my words, white goatee bobbing.

"I might have had trouble."

"Maybe we can talk until we get tired?"

He nodded again, curling up on the cupcake bed like a dragon coveting his hoard. That's probably how he sleeps. I hopped up onto the bed, the centre being the only empty area. It sure was as comfortable as I would imagine a giant wad of icing to feel.

She began kneading the 'icing' of my bed and my eyes followed the movement. I really must be a friend to her, if she would brave Timber Wolves to see me. My tail curled in a bit more of its own accord, tightening Pinkie's circle of space. She started talking about the possibility of bite sized treats, and somehow Gummy came up and before long I had lost where she wanted the conversation to go. I heard it all, she just jumped from topics like they were hot potatoes. She had so much energy, I could only imagine how she got it all. Sugar, while usually to blame, was not the culprit. I watched her, nodding when appropriate.

After a while she began to slow down, barely talking at all, and I could tell she was finally tired.

"Bedtime, Pinkie." I started to rise, but felt her hooves on my tail. I looked over and saw her release it, face a little flushed. Was she embarrassed? I owed her something for the Hedge Incident, maybe this was what was required. I settled back down on the bed, getting the hint. She was only sleepy because she had company, and was warm. After all, I'm practically a space heater with an ear.

About to close her eyes, the magenta haired pony murmured,"And I wanted to say thank you... you're a good friend."

"I think," I mumbled, feeling sleep pull at me, "that you are the friend here. I'm just your heater."

I saw her smile slightly as she fell asleep. Cheeky bugger. I thought fondly, curling a bit more tightly around the warm pink pony before closing my own eyes.