> MLP: The Old Magic
>  by The Grimm Reaper
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1st Person: Discord

Smiling at the unsuspecting Ponies as they all played and giggled together, talking of dull subjects, no doubt; I slithered like a snake between the shadows of the books, my eyes alight within. My last encounter with these young mares taught me not to act so playfully towards them. As I crept closer, I overheard them talking about Celestia. I stopped and listened to their views on that mare.
“So what was it like being her student growing up?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Yes darling, we simply must know. Surely you met some very important ponies when you weren’t busy studying.” Rarity added. Twilight cleared her throat and leaned away from her probing friends.
“Uh, well I don’t know about that Rarity, but being Princess Celestia’s student was… it’s difficult to explain. I don’t actually have the words for it.” She said, rubbing her head quizzically. Suddenly, the door to Twilight’s tree opened and said Princess emerged with an umbrella large enough to cover her from the stormy rain that had begun outside two hours prior. Stunned by Celestia’s sudden and unexpected arrival, all six ponies and the little Dragon rushed into a line before her and bowed, greeting her in unison.
“Princess Celestia, welcome!” they all said. I rolled my eyes as Celestia acted majestically towards them all, delicately removing her umbrella mount and placing it on the stand as she replied to them all.
“Good evening, my little ponies. I thought I should come and tell you myself: Discord’s statue has gone missing again and I fear the worst.” She said, cutting straight to business. Every pony in the house began to shake at the news and I smiled gleefully as news of my resurrection inspired such fear and displeasure.
“Princess, we’ll go and find him straight away, stoned or not.” Said Pinkie Pie. I laughed, the sound echoing through the walls of the house, waves transparent along the windows and doorways which disappeared, replaced by wood of the tree. I emerged before them all in a bright light with a drug in my mouth.
“Way ahead of you, dude!” I said, chuckling. Every pony stepped up to me and prepared to fight. I snapped my fingers and the drug disappeared, as well as my stoned expression.
“Now, now girls… and boy. I’m not here to fight. I’ve come to take my revenge on you in a different way. It just came to me as I heard you all talking about the gorgeous Celestia here.” I said, floating over to her and stroking an eagle talon along her back. Twilight snapped at me.
“How dare you touch the Princess in such a fashion!” I chuckled at her outburst as I recalled something from a long time ago.
“Ah, Déjà vu… gives me goosebumps.” I mused, resting my elbows along Celestia’s back, which warranted an even more aggressive response from Twilight.
“Whut ‘n tarnation do you want now Discord?” asked Honest Applejack. I hopped up onto Celestia and rested along her as if she were a couch.
“Well let’s see, there are a lot of things I want. But from you girls, all I want is your attention. But first, a question for Miss Sparkle.” I replied, hopping off of Celestia. She suddenly shook herself, as if just then realising I was on her.
“What do you want to ask me?” Twilight asked, her anger forgotten due to the bewilderment. I floated above her and then lay down on my stomach on the ground beside her and Fluttershy who froze solid. I lifted my head, arching my neck so I was level with them.
“How much has Celestia told you about her past?” I asked her, pointing a finger at the Princess.
“Discord, no! I know where you’re getting at and I won’t allow it.” Celestia spoke up. I gave her an amused look and snapped my fingers. The floor boards snapped upward and wrapped around Celestia’s legs like vines.
“Oh come now Celestia, did you really think you had a choice? Now you’re a big believer in the rights of your subjects as I recall, yes? Then how about their right to know who it is they serve? You’ve brainwashed these girls into thinking that you’re all sweet and innocent of any true crimes such as murder. Yet not even a single book, other than that dreary tale of your sister’s descent into darkness, which I don’t really like, surprisingly, describes your actions. You’ve constructed Equestria with an incomplete story, you naughty minx you. What’s the phrase? ‘We’re not so different, you and I’.” Celestia grew her displeased face as I spoke.
“I know that face all too well. Shall I tell these girls who you really are? What the true princess of the Sun is capable of?” I suggested.
“Discord, I swear, if you tell them, you will regret it.” She threatened. I clapped my hands as she began to reveal herself on her own.
“Celestia, what a mouth. What are you gonna do, banish me to the moon like your sister? Or will you actually do something worthy of an old friend and kill me like you did Starswirl?” I asked. Twilight gasped, stepping up to Celestia.
“Princess… You… killed Starswirl the Bearded?” she asked. Celestia frowned at me and looked to Twilight.
“No, my dear student. It was Discord who killed him, not I.” she replied.
“True, it was my mismatched hands that ended Starswirl’s life, but the blood was still on your hooves, my dear. It was under your order that I kill him.”
“Don’t Discord! They can’t know about our past.” Celestia said, her voice wavering. I shot towards her and wrapped an arm around her neck.
“Oh but Celestia, it was one for the books. It would certainly render any thought of criminal activity unimaginable if they knew what their ancestors were sentenced to after committing crimes themselves. And let’s not forget the little ones who lost their mommies and daddies.” I pretended to sound like an empathiser as I added that last part. Celestia turned away from me, her eyes shut.
“Princess, is this true? Were you really what Discord says you were?” asked Twilight, her hoof raised slightly as she took a half pace towards the Princess. Celestia refrained from answering.
“Oh my, I think I broke her. Wonderful! This is better than any revenge I could have thought up. Genuine guilt and fear of rejection. Oh, it borders on the edge of chaos, which I retain is a wonderful thing.” I said, flashing out of existence. My voice still remained. And as the floorboards released Celestia, I spoke.
“If you want to know more about your precious Princess and grant me my revenge, meet me in the Everfree Forest, where you first discovered the Elements of Harmony.”
“We’ll never turn away from the Princesses’ rule!” Twilight screamed at me. I had the urge to put her in her place, and so I did.
“As I said to Rainbow Dash the first time we met: We’ll see about that.” And I was gone, my voice never speaking to them again.
I waited for them at the Castle ruins, where the six ponies faced Nightmare Moon, the transformed state of Luna. I began humming a tune which I’d grown up with as I waited. As I suspected, it wasn’t until the next day when the storm had passed that the ponies showed up. Surprisingly, with both Princess Celestia and Luna. My enjoyment spread at that moment as I saw Celestia’s colours had faded slightly and she was looking a little grey.
“Ah, my dear friends! I feel like I can call you that now. You accepted my request and only friends do that, or potential friends. Sometimes, old friends turned enemies.” I said, flashing in front of them. They gasped in surprise as I appeared in a different form.
“You see, My little ponies, this is my original form. Not very different, though my wings were draconic and I had evenly sized teeth and eyes. My transformation from this to what I look like at present is yet another cause of the rule that was Celestia and Luna’s.” I said, reverting to my current form.
“We came here to learn about the Princesses, nothing more. We don’t just yet care about your story.” Said Twilight. I scoffed at her.
“Well you’ll have to hear my story to hear hers. They are connected after all.” I said. The ponies, besides Celestia and Luna looked directly at me, their attention completely fixated on my every word.
“Where to begin?…”
	
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1st Person: Discord

“I don’t believe this! You guys get to be the servants of the Princesses. All we’ve got are these malting old prunes who always forget that we serve them.” one of my Draconequus buddies argued. My oldest friend, Lynch and I had been selected by an anonymous buyer to act as the personal servants to Princesses Celestia and Luna.
“Yes, well let’s not get our hopes up just yet. For all we know, our charges could be like those mane-pulling brats you see the upper class ponies with. I tell you, rich foals are trouble.” I retorted. The four of us sat in our little secluded crevice south of Evergreen Forest.

“There’s a crevice south of Evergreen Forest?” Pinkie Pie interrupted. “Not anymore. Celestia here, had it removed simply because it brought back too painful memories. Which makes no sense, since she never really went there between the time we became enemies and the time she destroyed it. Ah, frequent was that place used before we showed up. It was a great place to go and… unwind.” I replied, recalling the glory days.
“What was it used for?” Pinkie asked. I almost told her its use, ruining her innocence.
“It was used f– Are you going to let me tell the story or not?! Sheesh!”

“Hey, I think someone’s been here. That bush wasn’t flattened last time we were here.” said Lynch. I looked over to where it was and huffed.
“Oh well, I guess we’ll find out in eleven months.” I replied, stretching myself. I heard the bones pop in response to the motion.
“Man, I wish I could do that. You’ve got the freakiest body in existence, Draco.” said one of the other two.

“Your name was Draco?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Don’t make me tell your friends where you keep that Wonderbolt doll you’re so fond of.” I threatened. Rainbow Dash made a zipped lip motion.

“Perhaps, But I’m gifted, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.” I said, rather pompously.
“Then perhaps we can use those gifts to our advantage?” asked an unfamiliar voice. I looked at my friends who were staring above me, slightly horrified. I casually looked above me to see a pink maned white pony with a tiara standing above the crevice, looking at me. She appeared upside down from my perspective.
“Celestia, I take it?” I asked. She giggled and nodded, giving me a cheesy grin. I sighed, standing up and hopped out of the crevice. I patted myself down and offered my lion’s paw.
“Draco, at your service, Princess.” I said politely. She took my paw and shook it, very quickly.
“Don’t be all uptight, you remind me of my mother when you do that. Just relax, chill! You’re in my house, now.” She said, running off in a random direction. I stared after her, slightly dazed.
“How droal.” I replied, staring at Lynch. The others just made jealous faces at me. “Come on Lynch. I guess we’ve been spotted. Let’s go and introduce you to Luna.” I said. Lynch nodded and hopped out of the crevice, his blue fur catching the dirt. As he patted himself off, I waved to the other two who pretended to hate us, waving their arms away. As Lynch and I walked to the castle, where our new mistresses were most likely to be, we spoke about which princess we would rather serve.
“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think it’ll matter. It’s their choice, not ours.” I mumbled, shoving a branch out of my way. Lynch shrugged.
“Why couldn’t we have won the war? Then we’d be deciding.” He asked. I sighed, smacking my face at such an obviously answered question.
“Because, ponies have natural talents when it comes to magic, theirs is an effect type, ours is an environmental type. Secondly, they had Starswirl the bearded. Gifted among the gifted, one might say.” I replied Lynch chuckled.
“Wonder how he’d do against you?” he asked.
“Let’s see, Draco, the seven year old Draconequus against Starswirl the Bearded with thirty years magical experience… yes, I wonder how that would play out? Would he kill me immediately or perhaps flay me and shove a stick up my bum and rotate me over a fire.” I replied angrily.
“Dude, you’re getting dull. What’s up with you?” he asked. I rubbed my eyes and shook my head.
“Never mind… Nothing! I’m just tired, that’s all.” I replied, looking at my lion paw. There was a strange white powder on the pads.
“You just woke up three hours ago, how can you be tired?” Lynch asked. I just smiled and laughed.
“Perhaps those guys have a reason to be jealous after all.” I said, showing him the powder. He sniffed it and looked away to sneeze.
“Sleeping powder? She pulled a prank on you from the start?” he asked. I nodded, my smile growing wider.
“I like her.” I replied simply, closing my eyes and falling to the ground, sleep taking me instantly.

“Ah find it hard to believe Princess Celestia was the prankin’ kind.” Said Applejack. I just frowned at Celestia and crossed my arms.
“Yes, well she became gruff and pedantic over the centuries, And Luna…well, just look at her! She’s like me with a soul.” I stated, flying over to her and caressing her left ear. She closed her eyes and leaned her head into my paw, forgetting momentarily who I was.
“Good to know some things don’t change.” I added, stopping what I was doing. “I remember waking up on a bed with both princesses and Lynch standing around, waiting for me to rise…

“Well don’t I feel special?” I asked sitting up. Lynch chuckled in response. Celestia trotted over to me and handed me some water. I took it thankfully and sipped it. The powder always left one thirsty after waking up.
“Not bad, I saw and heard the whole thing from… around the area. You passed my test.” She said, taking the water back as I handed it to her.
“And what test was that?” I asked, not hiding the curiosity in my voice.
“To see if you were cool or not. You noticed the prank at the last minute and you liked it. That proves to me that you are cool.” She replied. I chuckled, getting out of the bed.
“How long was I out?” I asked, seeing no discernible windows.
“It’s Sunset right now. You slept the day away.” replied Princess Luna. Lynch smiled at her and I knew right then that he wanted to serve her more than Celestia. Which left me with the prankster.
“Oh, I’ve slept through the best part of the day.” I said, Lynch yawning as if to prove my point. At that moment, Celestia yawned too.
“Well, I’ll be off. This seems too nice for a servant’s bed.” I said, rubbing the fabric curtains of the four poster bed. Celestia and Luna both laughed. Lynch and I just stared at them.
“Silly Draconequus. There are no Servants beds. You each get a guest room of your own choice. You just take a vacant room that night.” said Luna. Lynch smiled and asked the question we both wanted to know.
“What if there aren’t any vacant rooms?” he asked. I sighed as a smile spread across his lips. Luna didn’t notice the smile and just thought about it.
“Then you can stay in our rooms, ready to serve at a moment’s notice.” she replied.
“You make it sound as if we won’t be getting any sleep those nights.” I said, making Lynch droop. Celestia chuckled and placed a hoof on my shoulder.
“We all have our demons to bear.” she teased.
“Well, this is going to be a very weird friendship circle.” I said, clapping my hands.
“More like a square.” said Lynch, receiving a slap on the back of the head from me.
	
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1st Person: Discord

	Several years had passed since we’d all met. Lynch and I were happily serving the princesses. They treated us like friends. Sometimes, even we were served by other servants. It was as if we weren’t bought by them to be slaves, but to be their friends. Both Luna and Celestia were pranksters at heart. We would help them set up the perfect pranks, often involving grown up Stallions and Mares falling victim to buckets of water or various other fluids and feathers. Because the pranksters were the Princesses, those who fell victim just laughed it off as fillyhood. By then, my body was growing taller and I’d begun to walk on my hind legs as all Draconequus children did when they reached a certain age. Lynch was still on all fours, being a late developer.
“Hey Celestia, who do you wanna get next? Old Mrs. Crispy, the pony who does the puff pastries? Or that fat Stallion who looks like he ate a year’s supply of them in one go?” I asked, spotting both mentioned ponies within the market district. Celestia began doing ‘Eenie Meenie’ with her hoof. She paused in between them. I followed the direction she was pointing in and smiled.
“So!… Flutterbye’s out today is she?” I asked, clapping my hands together. Luna giggled, hopping up with Lynch to prepare the feathers. Celestia and I crept around to intercept the unsuspecting Pony.
“Flutterbye! What a pleasant surprise, so good to see you out and about. How’s kicks?” I asked, distracting her.
“Oh! D-d-draco. It’s g-g-good to see you too. I-I-I’ve been k-k-kinda indisposed for the past eleven months.” she replied. Celestia showed up behind me smiling to the light orange Pony.
“Hello, Flutterbye. What’s this I hear about you being indisposed?” she asked. Flutterbye gawked at Celestia and bowed with some strain.
“H-h-hello, Princess! Well I-I-I’ve had some problems with the o-o-other Ponies. Proudheart, the Stallion confessed his love for me a year ago… and the girls threatened me to break it off with them… B-b-but the night I was going to… he was so sweet to me and…” I noticed Luna and Lynch begin to creep up behind her. As I saw this, I then realised that Flutterbye’s stomach was swollen.
“Hey, Celestia,” I whispered. She reached her head towards me slightly to better hear me. “I think she’s pregnant.” I said. Celestia realised this also and looked directly at me with wide eyes.
“Call it off!” she mumbled. I realised that Lynch and Luna were just about to tip the vat of oil and feathers over her.
“Too late!” I replied, rushing behind Flutterbye. She followed me and saw the vat overhead. She cringed in surprise as I loomed over her, taking the feathers and oil myself. Lynch froze, as did Luna. The oily feel under my fur was disgusting, like having honey dropped on you, but smelly. I stood there, my eyes closed, my fur soaked in oil and feathers. Celestia had helped Flutterbye get out of the way of any oil dripping from me.
“Lynch! You’re dead!” I shouted, chasing after him.
“Hey! I just did my part. It was Celestia’s idea to prank her, not me!” he argued.
“Yeah, but Celestia’s royalty, you’re not, so I can kick your ass with a clear conscience.” I retorted, following the sound of his voice and footsteps. I could hear Celestia and Luna both laughing with Flutterbye as my anger towards Lynch provided them with much entertainment.

***

That night, the four of us sat on the roof of the Princesses’ tower. I was air drying after having bathed the oil out of my fur. The wind blew gently against us.
“Hey Draco?” Celestia asked. I looked at her, her pink mane glistening slightly under the moonlight. “I understand why I didn’t want to prank Flutterbye when you told me she was pregnant… but what was your reason for saving her?” she asked. I thought about my answer. I honestly wasn’t sure why.
“I guess… pranking a pregnant pony the way we prank others would be… morally incorrect in my book.” I replied. Celestia smiled and nodded.
“I understand completely.” she said. As another gust of wind blew by us, she shivered. Before she even said the words “It’s cold.” I’d rushed into the tower and pulled out her favourite coat; a nice woollen thing that would have dragged along the ground were she standing up. Emerging with it, she smiled as I wrapped it around her. I sat back down next to her and stared up at the Moon.
“So when do you two get to take control of these great big… orbs?” I asked. Lynch snorted in response, receiving a smack on the head from me.
“Ow!”
“I’m still pissed at you.” I told him.
“Why me?”
“Because I can’t be pissed at Celestia or Luna, so you’re my punching bag.” I replied, rubbing his head. He sighed, chuckling afterward.
“You can’t blame me anyway. How was I to know she was pregnant? I was too busy thinking how heavy that vat was.” he said. I sighed, lying back against the tiles on the tower roof.
“I guess you’re right.” Celestia yawned and chuckled.
“It’s nights like these that I love the most. The four of us hanging out, talking about our day. Nothing to do but live and enjoy the moment.” she said. I closed my eyes and did as she said, enjoying the moment. Lynch did likewise. As we both began to relax, we felt heads rest themselves on our stomachs. I tensed up, looking down to see Celestia relaxing comfortably with her head below my heart. Lynch did likewise, finding Luna on his stomach. Unlike me, Lynch relaxed afterward. Celestia, having noticed my discomfort, looked at me with uncertain eyes. I sat back up, shifting backwards a bit.
“Sorry, Princess. I can’t abide that.” I said, wrapping my arms around where her head had been. She looked at me with hurt in her eyes. Lynch chuckled, getting Celestia’s attention.
“Draco’s never been the tactile type. He gets shy whenever somebody touches him.” Luna had lifted her head to see the scene. I took that moment to boot Lynch off the tower.
“I’ll give you tactile, you blabbermouth!” I shouted as he flew over the edge. Both Princesses watched after Lynch who had taken to the air with his wings.
“Jeez, Draco, how else were you going to explain your declining Celestia?” he asked. I sighed, standing up. As Lynch landed next to Luna again, I reached the edge. As I turned to look at them, Celestia looked at me with sad eyes.
“I’ll see you three in the morning.” I said, stepping off the edge. Unlike they’d thought, I clung to the edge to listen in on their conversation.
“Don’t worry Celestia. He’ll adapt to this sort of thing eventually. You know what he’s like, he hates change. You’ll have to ease him into this.” said Lynch. ‘Hmm, perhaps I didn’t boot him hard enough’ I thought, releasing my grip on the wall. I flew away, perching on a nearby tower top. The moon faced away from me and I spent the rest of the night touching the area of my stomach where Celestia had rested her head on, wondering what her intention was regarding the action.

	***

Having had little sleep, I awoke to the sound of Flutterbye trying to wake me cautiously.
“Um… D-d-draco? Are you alright?” she asked. I yawned, sitting up. She sighed heavily.
“Oh thank goodness. I thought you’d impaled yourself on the tower pole somehow and committed suicide or accidentally fallen on it.” she said. I yawned, ignoring that comment.
“What’s up, Flutterbye?” I asked, rubbing my head.
“Well, first of all, I wanted t-t-to thank you for s-s-saving me from your own p-p-prank yesterday. S-s-secondly, Celestia asked me to tell you that she’s gone to Manehattan to help her f-f-father with organising the foundation, so she wanted you to join her as s-s-soon as p-p-possible.” she replied. I yawned again, sighing at the end.
“Sounds like a work day.” I huffed, stretching my body.
“Thank you Flutterbye. You should get home. No telling what those girls who wanted Proudheart will do if they find out about this.” I said, rubbing her belly. She smiled, nudging me with her nose.
“You’re kind, Draco. Thank you.” she replied, flying off with her seemingly tiny wings. I sat where I was, my tail wrapped around the flagpole. Very rarely did Celestia want me present when her father was around. Only four times had I actually had the displeasure of meeting him long enough to have a conversation.  That stallion was a dark Alicorn, which matched his personality. Rare was his smile, more so than an eclipse. What was it that Celestia would want me there for?
I unwrapped my tail from the flagpole and took to the air, my mismatched wings working at different levels of intensity to maintain my balance. I made my way South to the newly constructed Manehattan, some of it being finished off on this day. The flight itself was less than half an hour, but the thought of being present before Celestia’s father, Night Eyes, made the trip feel like a long journey into hell. One could look into the night sky and watch a pair of closely placed stars blink at you. That’s when you knew that you were in his presence, under his watchful eye.
I arrived in Manehattan quicker than I’d have liked. I saw Celestia and the silhouette of Night Eyes standing on top of a clock tower, watching as the clock itself was lowered into place. I flew up to join them, kneeling before them both, something I wouldn’t usually have to do if I were just present before Celestia herself.
“Draco! Like the clock? Dad had me pick it myself. I thought I’d go with something that fit the tower, so I used the old North-Eastern Numerals to make it look more royal.” she said, pointing a hoof to the descending clock.
“A great choice style-wise, Princess but… Don’t we always use those numerals?” I asked. Night Eyes spoke up.
“Only within the Palace’s walls do you see North-Eastern Numerals. All other lands use a more common numerical base.” he said, his voice like that of a golem. It was deep and gravelly, no shortage of power in his words.
“Ah, I see. So what did you want me for, Princess? Other than to appreciate your clock?” I asked, getting to the point. I knew that Night Eyes hated small talk. The sooner one would get to business, the less grouchy he’d be.
“Actually, it was I who summoned you, Draco. Something came to my attention recently that I’d like clarified.” said Night Eyes. I felt singled out at that moment. Never before had a servant been summoned by Night Eyes without receiving the death penalty. Celestia knew this too by the look on her face.
“I’ll… try to answer your question as best I can, Your Highness.” I replied. An instant later, I felt a very large hoof collide with my chin. The sudden impact broke something , my top canine tooth was shoved forward by my lower teeth and I was forced off the edge of the tower. I heard Celestia scream something to me, then to Night Eyes. With what little instinct I had, I opened my eyes and corrected my balance, spreading my wings to slow my descent. As I landed, Night Eyes crashed on top of me, what I assumed was the same hoof slamming into my eye. I screamed and roared as the pain was unique and mind numbing. I felt a slight increase in weight as he went to leap off of me, then all pressure from him disappeared. He stood before me, pride clear in his stance.
“I saw Celestia getting cosy with you last night, and it makes me wonder if you’re trying to charm her? Why would my daughter cuddle up with a Draconequus? I think you’re discreetly courting her. I’ve seen that trick before. You do it so slowly that they don’t notice it’s happening, but they fall for it just the same.” he said, bringing his face up to mine. I could only see him through one eye, the other one was bloodied and stinging from the impact.
“How long were you looking?” I asked, trying to get up.
“What?” My arms wobbled and collapsed, preventing me from getting up.
“If you’d have stuck around, you’d have seen me leave her with Lynch and Princess Luna.” I declared. I saw from my peripheral vision, as bad as it was, Celestia landing a few feet from her father. She galloped toward us and stepped between me and Night Eyes. Then, like when we’d first met, I lost consciousness.
	
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1st Person: Discord

My next memory was waking in a soft bed, not that dissimilar from my own. I opened my right eye, the left covered in bandages. I felt bruises all over my body and my ability to talk was limited. The curtains of the bed were lighter, more daytime themed. I felt somepony breathing beside me. I could feel covers resting over me. When I looked to my right, I saw Celestia curled up beside me, asleep. She had my blood on her hoofs, which suggested she’d bandaged me up herself. I noticed that she’d leaned against me with the covers between us. She’d taken my condition regarding tactility a little too far. I smiled, shifting my arm from under the covers to brush a lock of her mane out from her face. When I’d done that, I replaced my arm back beneath the sheets and went to return to my slumber. I heard the door open slightly and fearing it was Night Eyes, feigned slumber. The lighter clopping of hooves suggested that it was a fully grown Mare. I pretended to wake up and saw Celestia’s mother, the ever so much more understanding Queen Mareia. She looked at me and smiled gently. With the bandages around my face, it was difficult to speak, but she seemed to understand me well enough.
“How long have I been in this predicament?” I asked. Mareia looked at the clock above the door.
“Several hours. Night Eyes is in a bit of trouble with Celestia here. He’s been banished from her room until further notice. So he can’t come in and finish the job with you.” she replied. My eye widened as I shot my gaze around.
“This is Celestia’s room? I’m in her bed?” I asked nervously. Mareia nodded.
“Yes, but don’t worry, I’m not likely to beat you out of here. You’re important to Celestia and I can’t keep you from her in good conscience. Night Eyes may not see it but I do. Your opinion matters to her and I know that your morals are well aligned. She and her sister will one day succeed their father and me. When they do, Celestia will appoint you her advisor.” Mareia placed a damp cloth over my head, the cool feeling nice against the bruised surface.
“Am I that important to her?” I asked, looking at the sleeping princess. Mareia nodded, patting my shoulder.
“Before she met you, Celestia always said she wanted a brother to play with her and Luna. She stopped as soon as you entered her life. You’re the brother she always wanted.” she commented. I sighed as this information became clear to me.
“Your Highness… I don’t want Celestia’s opinion of me to cloud her judgement regarding what I am. I am her servant, and being anything more to her would confuse me. I like knowing my place, I will never strive to be more than what I know I am. When somepony, even this Pony places me in the higher category, I feel… lost.” I said. Mareia seemed confused.
“What are you saying, Draco?” she asked. I took one last look at Celestia.
“I don’t want to be her brother, I don’t want to be her advisor, I just want to be her servant. I will forever be loyal to her, but I cannot be everything she wants me to be. She’ll build me up and grow overconfident with me and that’s when I’ll collapse. I’ll fall to the very bottom and she’ll fall with me. My opinion cannot matter, because as a Draconequus, I do not matter.” I replied. Mareia chuckled gently and patted my shoulder just as so.
“The war was a regrettable incident, Draco. Draconequus are magnificent creatures, and even Night Eyes agrees that they were formidable opponents for him. Despite the order of things, every living creature matters. Magic demands that all species, Pony or otherwise, be allowed to exist in a symbiotic relationship. Just as Ponies needed Draconequus despite the war, also would Draconequus have needed us were they to win. It’s a balance of scales, if you will.”
“Your Highness, I don’t understand the philosophical the way you Ponies do.” I interrupted. Mareia smiled sweetly and removed the damp cloth from my head, replacing it with a fresher cloth.
“All I’m trying to say is this: It’d be a lonely world if every other species was killed off and all that’s left is you and your kind. The mysteries of life would no longer exist because you’d know all about your own species.” she replied. I understood then what she meant. I was important because I wasn’t just another pony. I sighed, looking back to Celestia.
“But what about her? I understand my importance as another being, but I’m still subject to the lower class of slavery. Why am I so important, when there are many servants like me that are as dissimilar to ponies that would enjoy being loved like I am?” Once again, Mareia smiled and  added a chuckle.
“Because you would be the only one to ask that question, Draco. Even among servants, you are unique. No other Draconequus  would think the way you do. And no other servant would have such a symbiotic personality with my daughters. The proof is in the pudding, if you will. Tia told me about Flutterbye, and how you both went to stop your little prank when you discovered her unborn foal. You’ve the body of a draconequus, but the spirit of a stallion.” her words dug in deep. I felt as though I should have felt guilty, but being praised and called one of them in spirit brought a sense of pride to my heart.
“Your majesty… After hearing your words, I feel as though I want to be what you predict Celestia will make me… But I’m conflicted now. I can’t just act upon my desires like an animal, but if you were to order me to become whatever she wants me to be, then I will gladly follow that order.” Mareia smiled again and nodded, whispering into my ear.
“Then I order you to make her happy, as you have done since you went into her service.” I smiled this time, closing my eye.
“Yes, my queen.” I let out a sigh afterwards and fell back to sleep.

The following day, I was up and about. My left arm was in a sling, but I was still good to work. With Lynch’s aid, we’d managed to get the dishes done, handed out the weather reports to Canterlot’s newly formed Wonderbolts. Proudheart, the father of Flutterbye’s unborn foal had been given the position of Captain, which made him even more attractive to the Mares. He’d told me that he had settled down with Flutterbye and planned on being a family pony. This made me happy as Flutterbye was a good friend. We pulled pranks on her from time to time, but never anything too cruel. She found it to be jolly fun and never took our jokes to heart. Lynch and I had also managed to trim the princesses’ manes. Queen Mareia asked for a similar trim, which both surprised and frightened us. More frightening was Night Eyes’ sudden appearance during the middle of the trim. Fortunately, Mareia came to our rescue and explained her request to her husband. We were allowed to finish our task and Lynch offered her a mirror to inspect our work. She seemed quite satisfied with the results, and we then noticed that the shorter mane revealed more of her neck.
I noticed Lynch beginning to stare and I bumped his elbow to snap him out of it. Our presence couldn’t be stood much longer and Night Eyes quickly dismissed us. We bowed to them both before leaving, closing the doors behind us.
“That Night Eyes is scarier than anything else in Equestria.” Lynch said. I chuckled and shook my head.
“I don’t know. The piercing eyes of a Gryphon can be pretty scary. I think that without the cross expression on our Lord’s face, he’d look kinda goofy.” Lynch laughed, the sound echoing through the hallway.
“What, like your eyes? You look like one of those goofy drawings the fillies and colts draw.” he mused. With a scoff I turned to him.
“Oh yeah? You wanna join me in the silly world of cartoons?” I pretended to poke his eye, going just above his brow.
“Okay, you can stop now!” he said, laughing. I did as he said and continued to walk on in silence for about a minute.
“It feels like forever since we had any fun. I wanna pull a prank on somepony.” he said. With a sigh, I turned to him again.
“The last prank was two days ago.” I said.
“Yeah, but that was the ordeal with Flutterbye and you took the brunt of the oil. The result was not fun for either of us. Flutterbye’s incident doesn’t count.”
“I was thinking just the same thing, Lynch.” The familiar voice of the mischievous Luna floated above us, followed by Celestia who landed delicately beside me.
“Let’s go after one of the Wonderbolts.” Lynch suggested. The idea of embarrassing the latest popularity made my skin and scales crawl with delight.
“Ooh, that would be delightful!” I said, holding in a giddy giggle. The princesses laughed together, agreeing with my diagnosis.
“Which one though?” Luna asked. There was silence for a moment as we all thought about which one would be best to prank. A cruel smile came to my lips and I began to chuckle evilly. The three of them looked at me with curiosity glued to their faces.
“Let’s get all of them at once.” I suggested. I could have sworn the room darkened as all of us grinned with mild malevolence.

We’d set up the trap in the middle of the town’s square, drawing the curious eyes of all the ponies around. Some of them even muttered neutral comments about another prank taking place. Several crates of fireworks were set up all bunched together, all connected to a single fuse.
“Wait, what if a firework hits one of them?” Luna asked.
“Leave that to me.” I said, snapping my fingers. A thick layer of glass appeared in the air a good distance from the ground. It stayed there and vanished, invisible to all.
“That glass won’t break under any circumstances. So the fireworks will go off beneath the wonderbolts just enough to frighten them. Nopony will be harmed. I raised my hand to Lynch who smacked it with his own. Celestia grinned and watched as the first signs of the Wonderbolts emerged.
“Here they come, everypony. Get ready!” she called out. I snapped my fingers again and a cloak appeared over us, making us invisible to all around us. As the Wonderbolts approached at a cruising speed, Celestia ignited the fireworks. The fuse made short work of itself and the fireworks exploded upward, shooting towards the flying team. The first one exploded just beneath Proudheart, causing him to lock up and fall onto the glass. More fireworks exploded beneath the Wonderbolts and each one fell onto the glass, petrified. When the last one went off, all Wonderbolts flinched, relaxing themselves afterward. I removed the cloak we hid under and lowered the glass down to the ground. The princesses, Lynch and I burst out laughing, causing the team to look dumbfounded.
“Oh, that was an awesome idea to go after all of the Wonderbolts instead of just one, Draco.” Lynch spoke up, having a heart attack like event as he struggled to breathe.
“Well you know their new motto. If one fails, they all fail. If one is pranked, they they’re all pranked.” I replied as I stopped laughing. I settled down much quicker than the others. Proudheart rose to his hooves and smiled at us.
“Okay… boys, get the draconequuses.” he said. With a light chuckle, I turned and grabbed Lynch, dragging him away from the now large crowd of flying ponies intent on getting revenge. Lynch continued to laugh as he found his footing and ran beside me.
“I suppose they’ll be known as the malicious Wonderbolts now.How do we outrun them?” he asked. I smiled at him and picked up the pace.
“I don’t need to outrun them, I just need to outrun you.” With that said, I snapped my fingers and disappeared, leaving Lynch to scream his head off as a herd of Pegusi chased after him. When they turned the corner, I snapped my fingers again and appeared where I had vanished from.
“I love invisibility.” I said to myself as I walked off toward Canterlot Castle, snapping an apple into existence in my hand.