Author's Note

...Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hoof...

Enough of Princesses, Does Discord Dream of Magic Sheep?

Little clouds of dust puffed up around his hooves as he walked the familiar dirt path. The sun was blinding, the birdsong was unbelievably irritating, and the flowers in his claw were leaving a trail of petals behind him. He passed into shadow as he strode beneath oak boughs that had grown over the path. He noticed that the flowers were wilting, normally something he might normally enjoy, but it would not do. They sprung back into youth as he flicked them.

The wood thudded beneath his hooves and he crossed the bridge in two strides. The creek softly whispered below. He barely noticed the new fencing, unusually close to the forest cottage, behind which stood an extremely unfamiliar flock of sheep.

That's new...that's...very new...

However, he was not surprised. One particular one stared hard at him from across the paddock. He made a noise of disgust, and turned to the cottage.

He knocked on the door.

The animals within growled, barked, squawked, howled, clucked, meowed, cawed, and made a whole host of other noises I care not to list, in response. He heard a soft voice call, "Just a second," before it spoke soothingly to the creatures. The door was ajar, as a green eye peered through the crack.

"Oh, Discord!"

The door swung open.

"I'm so glad you could make it," she said in her breathy voice. Angel peered around the door frame.

"Come in...if you'd like,"

He revealed the flowers from behind his back.

She gasped, "Oh, they're so lovely,"

He smiled, as she took the flowers from him, and turned to put them inside. Angel glared at him, and Discord grinned and raised his eyebrows at him, before following her. As she walked towards the kitchen, he materialized a vase in the air before her. She smiled before thanking him, and placed the flowers within the vase upon the little table adjacent to the sofa.

There was a poof of purple smoke, and he was suddenly sitting upon the couch, as she adjusted the flowers within their container. She looked at him as he patted the seat beside him with his paw. Angel thumped his leg angrily. "Now, Angel," she exclaimed,

"That isn't anyway to treat a guest!"

He crossed his arms, and glared back at Discord angrily as she ushered him along.

She didn't see Discord victoriously wave at him, and Angel stuck his tongue out, for which she scolded him further.

Discord chuckled under his breath.

She returned to the living room, and offered him some tea. He accepted her offer, if only so he could watch her turn and busy herself in the kitchen. He found himself enchanted by her cute little rump, as she bustled about.

Another Discord appeared on the couch besides him. He was wearing a sickeningly sentimental green sweater. He whispered in his ear, 'How rude! Such objectification!

"Friend, please do me a favor" he whispered.

He looked into his own eyes eagerly and expectantly.

The original finished off his double with a, "fuck off," as he narrowed his eyes at himself.

One then disappeared with a 'pop'.

"Did you say something?"

"No, no, nothing at all, my dear"

She returned carrying a tea tray. He levitated it up out of her hooves, and it set itself down upon the table. Her tea cup hovered before her. She took it from the air and delicately sipped the steaming liquid. His cup has now materialized in his claw, and he gazed at her over it.

"When would you like to depart my dear?"

"Um...well...whenever you want is fine,"

He inched closer to her.

"Now, now, Fluttershy,"

She looked at him,

"I am taking you out, so you will-ahem- be taking the reins on this one,"

A butterfly crown then appeared on her head.

"Well...we can go now...I guess,"

He could not shake the lingering feeling of dread as they exited the cottage. As she closed the door, she told her animals that she will return soon and to behave, and he met the gaze of one particularly interesting sheep. It leaned over the fence at him, and he met its many gazes.

Well that's rather odd, however nice it may be...

The lamb bore upon her brow, seven horns.

And below, there were seven eyes.

He racked his brain, trying to remember if he did that. He had no recollection of such a thing.

He almost didn't hear her softly say his name. As he turned to face her, she took his paw in her hooves. She looked up at him, and her eyes begin to water. Suddenly the scene felt very wrong. The space which they occupied ebbed and flowed.

And a tide, like that which pulls the crustaceans back to sea, rolled back and the world around them whispered away. The last tendrils were pulled off into the darkness, leaving them, and the seven eyed lamb, suspended in the void.

It hovered beside them, slowly chewing its cud, as its seven eyes pierced deep into his being.

Her hug was forceful.

She looked up, the tears streaming down her cheeks. Behind her eyes, something till now unseen, shined. The curtain of dream haze cast before her eyes had been pulled back like curtains, and something beautiful and yet terrifying now stabbed deep into the windows of Discord's soul. She whispered,

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble...Could you do me a favor?"

He leaned towards her, their lips nearly touching. "Anything dear," he said quietly.

She whispered in his ear,

"You have to wake up,"