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// Oh, You've Gotta Keep Your Head Low 
// Story: A New Fairy Tale 
// by Marina Stars 
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Discord could feel it, the sensation of curious eyes against his back, that distinct prick. When you live as long as him you gain a sense for these things. Sometimes, you just know.

He spun around and quickly scanned the room, not having to look long before his eyes landed on one particular doorway. One that had been cracked open just enough for several sets of wondering eyes to peek in. 

He'd forgotten all about the castle servants...

By the looks of it, they'd been there long enough to see at least the tail end of his dealings with their former queen. If not more. Yet, as soon as he locked in on that crack in the door, several pairs of eyes disappeared, hoping he hadn't noticed them. 

He did.

Easily.

Couldn't have missed it!

One pony, despite it, wasn't fast enough to escape his gaze and the moment he locked onto their blue eyes, they froze. A small but audible gasp made its way to his ears.

Perfect.

He snapped, and the doors flew open. Ponies who'd had their ears leaning against the door nearly fell in from the unexpected change. Others tried to seem inconspicuous as if they hadn't just been spying. And they were failing miserably. 

Was it really any wonder these ponies were palace servants as opposed to, say, actors? 

Nope. 

He would not pay to see such a horrible performance, amusing as it was in the current circumstances. 

His eyes returned to the pony in question, the one who hadn't quite been fast enough… and found nothing more than a filly. 

A small filly, at that, quaking in fear despite the distance between them. As the light from the ballroom engulfed her he discovered her eyes weren't exactly blue, but rather, teal. An important distinction of color. Just blue was much too boring, afterall. 

With a smirk he snapped again and she disappeared from the doorway only to reappear before him. 

She squeaked at the unexpected shift, her wings flaring to catch her, not that she needed it. He kept her magically suspended and hadn't even noticed till now that she was even a pegasus. 

"And who might you be?” Discord queried with a raised brow

The filly squeaked, her eyes darting wildly about. He couldn't tell if she was looking for a way out, trying to understand how she’d moved so far so fast, or attempting to discover what was keeping her in the air. Though, he felt it safe to assume it was some combination of the three.

“Well?” He huffed impatiently.

Her eyes snapped back onto him and she became deftly still. 

Ponies liked to talk about the natural fight or flight response certain creatures have to stressful or frightening situations. Some will lash out towards their attackers in defense of themselves, others run with an instinct for self preservation. Less talked about, however, is the third response, a technique used by possums, squirrels, fainting goats, and... this filly right here. 

Playing dead. 

Well, she wasn't exactly trying to appear dead, per se, but her absolute stillness and apparent lack of breathing were close enough.

With that in mind, he waited for her answer as patiently as he could. 

Yeah, not his strong suit. 

After only a brief moment of her terrified silence, he was tired of it. 

“Are you mute or something?” He waved a paw to break her blank stare, scolding her as he did, “When I ask a question I expect an answer. What is your name?”

She gulped, now aware of his waning patience. At least she seemed to return to breathing.

“Rose...” She whispered quietly mustering all the courage she could, especially as he leaned in to hear her better. She cleared her throat and forced the words as loudly as her voice would permit, which still wasn't that loud, “Rosewater Ivy.”

Satisfied, he leaned back crossing his paw and claw over his chest and looked her over. Rosewater, hmm? Fitting enough, he thought, on behalf of her light rose-pink mane and soft spring yellow coat. Though it did seem a bit… elegant... for the pencil of a filly she currently was. “Eh, you’ll grow into it.”

“Pardon?” She stuttered out as he very clearly ignored her.

It was merely a passing thought, not something important enough to warrant a repeat.

“Well, Miss Rosewater, don't you know it’s rude to spy?” He remarked with an edge of harshness, more for his amusement than anything. She really was too easy to mess with.

She shook like a leaf, her wings becoming glued to her side as she shrunk in on herself. Right now there was nothing she wanted more than to disappear all together, “I-I- I’m so-”

Discord turned away, cutting her words short.

“Pathetic really, all of you!” He spoke louder this time, with more emphasis, and she quickly understood why. With the snap of his claws every entrance to that ballroom swung open revealing more servants and guards behind each one. Some were too curious for their own good, while others were fairly oblivious to what exactly had happened. Though, he was sure they could guess the kingdom was making some slight changes; a delightful understatement, if he did say so himself. 

One thing, however, could be said of all of them: they were embarrassed for being caught. 

He could make it work.

“Well, since you are all so curious about the room where it happens, let’s make things happen!” He clasped his hands together as if he was sharing exciting news as opposed to preparing to enforce his reign, “I want every last one of you in here, every guard servant and otherwise. Go get your friends or what have you! No pony left behind,” He grinned evilly seeing they’d been startled, but were clearly ready to obey. 

“You have…” He pretended to give it thought, though most of it was on how to make them panic the most, “Two minutes. Starting now!"

With a snap, a large hourglass appeared above him for everypony to see, a trail of sand already pouring into the bottom. Immediately ponies moved. Some scurried in, others scurried off to ensure full attendance. 

None of them wanted to find out what would happen if they tested him. Afterall, it took a truly exceptional being to take down an alicorn. And one who could do so so easily? That was somepony to watch out for. They would hate to have his fury on themselves, seeing it directed towards their once beloved queen was enough.

At least they had some sense of self preservation, Discord mused

Satisfied, he returned his attention to the filly still suspended in the air. She searched desperately for a way out, wondering if he’d meant to let her down by now. Oh, but he was not done with her yet. 

As soon as she saw she had his attention again she stopped, eyes widening as if she didn't expect him to remember she was there. Once again she didn't move. She certainly was an expert possum.

Do you think that just because you aren't moving, I can't see you? Stillness seemed to be every pony’s initial reaction to him. It’s like they confused him for a Tiefling or something… no, wait, wrong world. 

There were more important matters at hand.

“What, you think I’d let you run off in the middle of our conversation?” Though his tone was lighter, more joking than before, it certainly didn't calm her. 

He shouldn't have been too surprised, she was young, a lot younger than he’d initially thought her to be. Poor dear may never have imagined a creature like him could exist, nor would she have expected all this. Looking around, they were all terrified. Every servant, every guard, every pony that lived and served within these walls: all terrified.

Not that he really cared. He wanted obedience from them, nothing more. He didn't care if he had their trust or loyalty, just their obedience. Fear seemed to do the trick quite nicely.

“Tell me,” He started, his full attention returning to her, “Who speaks for you?”

She hesitated, tilting her head just slightly. Even as she spoke she fought to restrain the quiver in her voice. “Speaks for me?”

“Oh you know, who looks after you? A parent, sibling, caregiver? Any will do,”

She froze again, this time looking like a bug caught under a glass. Like she didn't know how to answer that. It should have been such a simple little question! So simple that he found himself thinking: you have got to be kidding me.

“Really? No pony?” He scoffed, “Let me guess, the queen scooped you up off the streets one day and just decided you’d serve her? Disgraceful. And they call me inconsiderate?”

“What?” She gasped, searching for the words to explain herself, No- I- uh-”

“Don't tell me you don't have anyone looking after you? You can't just leave a filly alone in a massive castle like this! I mean, who does that!?”

His rant got cut short by a distant but sharp clearing of the throat. 

From out of the crowds stepped a colt- well, he wasn't really stepping out. It was more along the lines of him being forced out against his will. He appeared to be somewhere in those awkward years between colthood and stallionhood. He too, seemed like a twig of a pony with hardly any muscle to him. His purple eyes flitted about nervously despite the smile clearly plastered on his face once he realised there was no way he was getting out of this.

“That would be me.” He finally spoke up, raising a seafoam hoof.

“And who are you?” Discord asked, folding his arms expectantly, his very body language demanding a swift answer.

“Zephyr Breeze, sir.”  He gave a weak salute, his nerves getting the better of him, “Royal guard in training. I look after Rosewater.”

The filly was clearly relieved he’d steped in on her behalf. When Discord looked to her for confirmation, she nodded insistently. So, he proceeded. 

“And your relation to her?”

“Somewhat adoptive,” The seafoam pegasus shifted on his hooves, “Her parents passed when she was little, they’d asked Celestia to give her a place in the palace and the queen obliged, on the condition of when she came of age, she’d spend a few years in service to the royal family. I’ve practically looked after her since she stepped hoof in the palace.”

Discord raised a brow and examined the stallion skeptically but found no reason to doubt his words. Though Zephyr seemed uncomfortable before the chaos lord it wasn't in a ‘please don't see through my lies’ kind of way. He’d lived thousands of years. He knew the difference.

“Do a better job of it,” He snapped his talons and let the filly fall unceremoniously to the floor, only for her to be caught by a pillow he’d placed. “If you are looking after her, you need to keep her out of trouble. Understood?"

Zephyr nodded hurriedly, a satisfactory enough answer for the Draconequus, "Yes sir,"

"Good. Now shoo!”

He waved them off to join the crowd, and they didn't need to be told twice. Zephyr helped Rosewater sort out her airy green skirts then guided the shaking filly into the crowd of gathering servants. He watched as they took their places further back to disappear behind rows of other ponies.
 
Right on time, too. The hourglass came close to running out as the previously constant stream of ponies now slowed to one or two hurried stragglers hoping not to anger whatever power had just taken hold of their kingdom.

“Welcome, welcome,” He spoke with cheerful intimidation, “Now I’m sure you are all wondering who I am, and why I’m here, and yada yada.” Looking into the crowd he found a mixture of nervous and deadpan stares, though certainly more of the former, “You may call me Discord, Lord of Chaos.”

His smirk deepened as a nervous whisper arose from the crowd, glad to hear his name still meant something to Equestria, after all this time, even a thousand years later. They’d heard the stories. And those were always worse than reality. They already knew he was not a force to be messed with. And now he, the legend, the chaos lord, was here in the same room as them. He now held power over them and their world.

If that wasn't a frightening thought for ponies, he couldn't tell you what was.

“Welcome to your new world.” He gestured outwards, less to the destroyed room around them and more to the chaos outside the walls and the general concept of his reign, “You once dutifully served the royal family of Canterlot. A family now long gone. From this day onward you serve me. You will forget about Celestia, Sombra, and Luna. You will forget the daughters of Celestia. They are nothing but an unreachable memory. From this moment on, Canterlot belongs to me.”

A murmur swept over the crowd filled with whispers of the princesses. What were their names? What did they look like? It seemed nopony could remember. They only barely knew those mares existed. That is exactly what he intended when he sent them away. To his displeasure, however, there were two names they could recall. Two names that slowly gained frequency among the whispers. Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy.

There was only so long he could be reminded of that one temporary little failure, but he knew he’d have them soon. It didn't cure his sour mood, though.

“Silence,” He growled, “You serve me now. Never forget it.”

The crowd did as they were told, no longer speaking amongst one another as Discord carried on.

“Tonight’s festivities have been canceled. In the morning you return to work as normal. No exceptions,”

He caught sight of the young Rosewater and gave a hard stare to let her know that as young as she was, she would now play the role of a palace servant. She would not be exempt till she was ‘of age’. If she was staying in the palace, she was working in the palace, even if her role would be small for the time being. 

She gulped as his message read loud and clear. This truly was the last day of her fillyhood. The end of her happy filly life, and the beginning of something darker.

He smirked, snapping his talons. Above him the hourglass, which had long ceased to pour sand, burst into a rain of glittering magic that blanketed the room and every pony in it, except him, of course. They blinked, some coughed, the younger ones watched in awe of the special effects. 

But it wasn't just for show. It was as he said, memories would fade in time, the fear, the pain, it would leave them. This is how he’d accomplish it. They didn't know it but this magic dust bound them to the castle and soon everything outside it’s walls would be forgotten. He would have no pony to betray his secrets, no pony to provide weaknesses in his defences, no pony to plot his overthrow. He could squash rebellion easily, but he’d rather save himself some trouble where he could. 

Besides, it wouldn't be instantaneous. They would forget without knowing they’d forgotten. Eventually. And they wouldn't miss it.

“You are all dismissed! Go to bed, I expect every last one of you up first thing in the morning and hard at work,”

With a general air of hesitance, the ponies turned to leave, traveling to the various servants' quarters that lodged them all.

Zephyr walked alongside Rosewater more than ready to get out of there. As far as first impressions went he’d figured theirs weren't the best. The last thing he wanted was negative attention from this new tyrant. Rose felt the same, if not more deeply, her resolve growing stronger than ever to blend in and not get noticed. Celestia forbid something like that from ever happening again. 

“Except you.” Her heart stopped just steps from the ballroom doors. Though it was quieter, Rose couldn't help but overhear Discord speaking again, and feared he might have been referring to her. She dreaded the thought of facing him again. 

Carefully, she turned to glance over her shoulder and sighed in relief to find his attention turned elsewhere. That is, until she saw who Discord was addressing: a young purple and green dragon she knew well.

Spike.

He stood at the ready, ever the loyal assistant, but his sisters were gone, the family he belonged to now demolished. It seemed that Discord would make use of him. Perhaps he would continue to be an assistant to the ruling power. 

She hated the thought that he might have to work so closely to the being that turned their worlds upside down and tore their lives apart. The thought of having to serve someone who took away her family sickened her. She imagined he felt similarly. 

“Rose,”

The filly turned back around, not realising she’d stopped. Zephyr waited for her, urging her out of the ballroom. She did not need to be told twice and together they quickly made the trip through the once grand halls. Now they were suffocating knowing who controlled them, knowing she could not escape them. 

“Thank you.” She whispered to fill the time and distract her mind as they walked, “For stepping in for me, even if you were scared.”

He seemed surprised but managed a soft smile, “O-of course Rosey-Posey. I’ve always looked after you, it would be wrong to quit now.”

He wrapped a hoof around her shoulders, pulling her in for a brief and comforting hug.

She was grateful, yes, but deep down in her heart she knew it wasn't true. They’d only briefly interacted before today. She was not an orphan. Until now. But he didn't know that. None of the servants knew that. 

And they never would. 

Not so long as Discord held power over the land. 






 
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the Everfree Forest, within the crumbling castle that once belonged to the two royal sisters, a pulse of jade light filled the main hall scaring off any woodland creatures present. 

Now, where no pony had been prior, stood the oldest daughter of Celestia, hunched and panting from the magical exertion. Her jade eyes lifted to survey her surroundings, a weak smile crossing her lips. 

She made it.

Now, as her legs gave out beneath her and her eyes rolled up into her skull, even as the world went dark around her, she prayed she'd done everything right.
.
.
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