Meetings
The one chapter
Celestia's envoys, Britannia's guests.
The alicorn was watching the two creatures in front of her closely, her wings rustling as she felt uneasy by the larger alien figure in front of her. Her guards were drawing their weapons, recognizing that she saw it or rather him as a threat.
When the message came from Canterlot that she would receive an envoy, she expected one of the many ambassadors Celestia usually sent. This time Celestia sent somebody else, her student and...
She paused to looked the creature, his face smiling as if it was some big joke, that he and his companion weren't surrounded by all kinds of weaponry. The mix-and-match nature revealed to the world his species, draconequus..
Celestia had sent forth PRINCESS Twilight Sparkle and Discord to her land.
The alicorn understood the newly crowned princess: She was the latest alicorn, and thus had to be paraded around.
The Princess was obviously nervous.
Being in a foreign land and meeting an alicorn outside the Canterlot area. Those could be prepared for. Surrounded by the royal guards with weapons pointed, that was different. It took experience not to react to threats.
Or ,the alicorn mused, perhaps it were the ponies holding the weapons which made her nervous.
Speaking of threats: Discord was a beast of legend, his myth of disharmony and the time before the alicorns was well-known to both her and her people. To see him here, in person, that mocking smile.. was she really to believe that he had turned to their side, that he wasn't like the legends?
She rose, “We are Britannia, Alicorn of the Isles, Princess of these lands. We welcome you.”
A snort from the draconequus was heard, Britannia noticed that his companion looked annoyed but was not going to do anything. So she took it upon herself to address the issue.
“Can we help you?”
The voice which answered was smooth and deceptively humble, yet both knew that he would be able to turn everything around in an instant.
“Oh, not at the moment.”
Her eyes narrowed, he was baiting her. Challenging her to a battle of wits.
She smirked slightly, 'Well. Challenge accepted.'
“Rea...”
“Discord, you promised Fluttershy..”
Her eyebrow rose by the soft but unexpected interruption, and even more when the mocking smile was replaced by a look of a foal who was told he couldn't have his favourite toy.
Then the princess turned to her, “I apologise for Discord's actions, Your Highness. He had promised not to do things like this, but he cannot help his nature.”
She looked back curiously, “What nature would that be?”
The princess answered immediately, “Chaos, the opposite of order. My friends have proven that chaos and order can work in harmony,” She looked at the creature next to her, smiling,“He has come a long way since he was the spirit of disharmony and I am proud to call him my friend.” As she looked back to her fellow ruler her gaze hardened. Not a challenge but a promise. 'I am not blind to his faults but if you attack, this will escalate'.
With a nod of her head Britannia made the guards back down. “If your 'friend' can control himself, We have little reason to doubt you. Come Princess Twilight Sparkle, Discord. We shall give you a tour around the Castle.”
The purple alicorn paused, “If it is not to much to ask, I would rather be shown around the town. As I learned during my...training. The rule of the land will reflect on its citizens. I have seen much of Canterlot and its surroundings. I would like to see how the people who deal little with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna live.”
Britannia nodded: “Very well. We cannot join you at this time but We would like to have your conclusions tonight at dinner.” She turned to a guard, “Bring forth Dusk Noir.”
The guard bowed and left, returning minutes later with a colt in tow.
“You summoned me?” the colt asked. He was a nightblue unicorn with a scroll emblazoned on his flank.
“We task you with guiding Princess Twilight Sparkle and her companion around town until they are satisfied.” The colt's eyes opened wide as he stared at the young alicorn, although wonder and amazement turned to a slight fear when he looked at the 'companion'. He swallowed heavily before leading the princess and the draconequus away.
As the two were shown the way into the city, Britannia herself let out a breath of relief. A green unicorn maid came up with a white towel on a tray which she grabbed with her magic, dabbing her forehead. The maid awaited the towel's return. Britannia remained in thought for a while. She then spoke out loud, “Gentle Dream, what were your thoughts on Discord?”
The maid fell silent for a moment.
“He seems to have changed for the better as the princess said.”
Britannia nodded and lowered the towel back on the tray. She had a few hours to really make up her mind, unless the princess would return faster then she considered.
It was only three hours later that the two teleported back in. A letter held in the magic of the princess.
“I am afraid I need to cut this visit short. Duty calls.”
“Do you need reinforcements?”
The princess smiled and shook her head, “Nothing that the Elements of Harmony can't handle. Do tell Dusk I had a wonderful time and do apologise for me leaving him in such a hurry.”
Britannia nodded as the princess looked at Discord. The draconequus snapped his fingers and the two disappeared in a flash.
In the noisy aftermath as all the guards tried to make sense what just happened. Britannia had made her conclusions, Discord did change for the better, Princess Twilight Sparkle wasn't just a pretty unicorn who got lucky and would make a fine princess.