The castle loomed overhead like a giant stone behemoth, its towering golden and lavender spires appearing to scrape the clouds as it stood majestically adjourning a gushing crystalline waterfall. Wow, it's much bigger than it is in the book. Discord noted, awestruck by the sheer enormity of the structure and overwhelmed by what it represented. It wasn't everyday that a simple chimera actually visited the castle of Equestria's royal family, under the queen's orders no less. He barely noticed Star Swirl nudging him towards the gate, past the cold, judgmental eyes of the royal guards.

"Come on, come on, we haven't got all day," Star Swirl snapped impatiently.

"I-I-I'm sorry. It's just that it's...incredible!"

Star Swirl's eyebrow shot up but he said nothing. He had to admit, Discord was nothing like he expected a draconequus to behave, being a race of emotionally erratic, fiendishly clever and selfish con artists. The young colt (what else do you call a young draconequus?) on the other hoof, was overly enthusiastic and ridiculously sweet and naïve. As he watched Discord glance starry-eyed at the castle's interior, the wizard couldn't help but wonder if his preconceived notions about him were wrong. After all, being a veteran of the Umbrum-Draconequus War didn't make Star Swirl an expert on the draconequui themselves.

Perhaps this child is more than he appears...

Entering the throne room, the two approached the dais, where a female alicorn sat proudly on an alabaster throne, her golden gaze starkly fixed on Discord. The light illuminated her reddish-pink coat, giving it a soft glow as she spread her massive wings. Her flowing mane was adorned with violet, sapphire blue and rose-colored streaks that shimmered beneath her golden, jewel-encrusted crown. Queen Concordia was the very image of traditional royalty: stoic, celestial and unapproachable, making her appear quite alien to Discord.

I wonder if she's ever smiled before.

"Your Majesty," Star Swirl bowed reverently. "I have brought the one you requested."

Following his guide's cue, Discord bowed. "Y-your Majesty. I-I'm Discord and it's an honor to be in your presence."

Queen Concordia stared at him warily. "You have very...precise manners."

"Oh, well, Miss Violet says that you should always address your superiors with respect," Discord replied, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead. "After all, they deserve it because they work so very hard."

Star Swirl could see the confusion etched on the queen's face. "I see. What are you staring at?"

Discord's eyes snapped back to attention. "Gosh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It's just that your castle is so beautiful. I've only seen pictures of it and they pale in comparison to the real thing. It's just incredible!"

The queen briefly glanced over at Star Swirl before looking down her nose at Discord. Rising from her throne, she stepped down from the dais to tower over the young draconequus. "Thank you. So, Star Swirl has informed me that you're a particularly gifted magic user. Is this true?"

Discord wrung his hands together, replying sheepishly, "Well, yes...Your Majesty, but I'm not sure if-..."

Queen Concordia waved a contemptuous hoof. "I require a demonstration."

A-a-a demonstration? In front of the queen?! Sweat dripped down Discord's face, fear enveloping every fiber of his being and freezing him in place. Performing in front of one old stallion was one thing but doing it in front of the most powerful pony in Equestria? You might as well have asked him to gargle tatzelworm gel.

"Now!"

Golden eyes narrowed at him impatiently. Gulping loudly, Discord felt himself shrink beneath Queen Concordia's glare. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Star Swirl nod at him, almost approvingly. Did he just smile at me? Shaking his head, Discord took a moment to calm himself, inhaling and feeling something wrapping around him. Fire ran through his veins as energy spread and surrounded his lion's fist in a blazing corona.

THE UPTIGHT QUEEN WANTS A DEMONSTRATION? YOU SHOULD GIVE HER ONE TO REMEMBER!

Snapping his fingers, the throne was engulfed in a bright light and melted into a puddle before reforming and congealing into a glass statue in the queen's likeness. The guards gasped and nearly dropped their spears while Queen Concordia eyed the structure up and down incredulously. Ha, how's that for a demonstration?! Discord suddenly felt a hoof touch his shoulder and found Star Swirl standing right beside him, an proud smile on his grizzled face.

"This is...astounding." The two turned to find Queen Concordia admiring Discord's handiwork, her hooves carefully trailing the statue's smooth, iridescent surface. "Simply amazing." Once she realized that she was being watched, she once again donned her mask of chilly indifference and approached the two. "Star Swirl?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Find Discord a room and ensure that he has easy access to food and water. You have a new student and I want him well-fed and ready for his lessons first thing in the morning. After my daughters' of course."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Star Swirl beckoned for Discord to follow him but first he surprised the old stallion by walking right up to the queen and kneeling before her, his head bent low as his bird's claw grasped at Queen Concordia's hoof. The mare looked as though she was going to explode with rage but kept herself poised, curious as to the meaning of the unnecessary-not to mention, completely unwanted- physical contact.

"Thank you for your wisdom and charity, Your Majesty," Discord stated solemnly. "Praise your name and may you continue to reign for a thousand more moons." Not waiting for an answer, he kissed Queen Concordia's hoof and scurried back to Star Swirl, who put his arm around him to keep him from seeing the queen's great displeasure at the action. As the two exited the throne room, Queen Concordia swallowed her rage and took a minute to reevaluate the last few minutes. The draconequus whelp was timid yet polite, traits that she never would've associated with his species and as she feared, a gifted enchanter. The only reason she hadn't had Discord imprisoned in crystal and smashed was to keep a close eye on him. After all, the chaos magic of the last draconequus could be very useful someday.

Moving past the kitchen and down a twisting corridor, Star Swirl led Discord to a room with several shabby-looking wooden doors and opened one, revealing a small cell with a straw mattress and a tiny barred window.

"This is the servant's quarters. This room here will be yours."

Streaking past the wizard, Discord happily threw his bag onto the bed and laughed as he stopped to look outside his minuscule window. "Wow, thanks Star Swirl! This is even better than the broom closet! Now I have a window!"

"Oh, um, er, you're...welcome?" The wizard offered up, unsure of how to respond to such a statement. "Ahem, I will have somepony bring you some food and water shortly. Now get some rest. Your training begins tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!" Discord saluted as Star Swirl rolled his eyes and closed the door, trying his hardest to suppress an amused grin. Perhaps he's starting to grow on me. After informing a servant of Discord's imminent feeding, he slowly made his way past several royal guards all the way up to the queen's private chambers. He knocked and upon receiving a reply, opened the door telekinetically and slammed it shut behind him. He found Queen Concordia sipping some wine while looking over some old documents, her face one of extreme concentration and displeasure.

Finally, she began: "By Hyperion's name, this...this is terrible! I can't believe I missed it! I'm such a fool!"

"Your Majesty?"

Queen Concordia stared at Star Swirl as if noticing him for the first time. "Read this and you will understand."

Taking the scroll, Star Swirl carefully read it, realizing that it was a royal draconequus genealogy record. He scanned through it until he came across the Fifth Dynasty, which happened to be the last of the now defunct Draconequus Empire. "'Apep took Tiamat as his queen and in turn fathered one son Tannin and one daughter Laverna. Tannin, successor to the throne, was wed to Dysnomia, who bore him a son, Seth.'" He looked uncertainly at Queen Concordia.

"Keep reading," She urged and Star Swirl, reasoning that there was a reason for this little history lesson, did as he was commanded. He didn't know what got the queen so bent out of shape but he knew it was serious.

"'Seth was wed to his queen Eris and together they had a son named..."

This...this can't be right! There must be some sort of printing error! Star Swirl read the document again and nearly dropped the scroll, catching the look of fear in Queen Concordia's eyes. With much trepidation, he read the name aloud:

"'Discord...'"

Author's Note

DUM DUM DUM!!!!

Yep, Disord's a special case. How is this a bad thing? You'll just have to keep reading to find out! Next chapter: we meet two familiar alicorn sisters and Discord adapts to castle life.

'Nuff said!