Princess Celestia and Luna currently sat at a banquet table, each flushed red entirely as they looked highly uncomfortable and troubled while tossing awkward glances to one another. Princess Celestia in particular had her forehooves raised to her face as she gave Discord whom was sitting at the far opposite end of the table a steady glare. She finally spoke, "So let me get this straight Discord. You wish for my dear little sister and I, and perhaps a large cluster of my subjects to not only act as your slaves for the time being, but submit ourselves to the orders of some spoiled tyrannical child causing issues for my dear allies Saddle Arabia?" There was a moment of silence before Princess Celestia rose and slammed both her forehooves onto the table in an angered manner. "Have you lost your mind Discord!? This is intolerable!"

Princess Luna added in. "Absolutely! Better yet we must act at once! Now that we know who this child is!"

Discord rose now himself as he shook his paw and claw frantically, desperately, in order to explain. "W-Wait, wait wait wait wait! Pleeeeease Celestia! Let us be reasonable here! D-Don't you two see? Do you truuuuuly believe it'd be wise to pick a fight with one of my kind? She may be a runt mind you but she is no pushover. Let us mention that you know nothing of her powers. It would be quite the risk." Discord snickered beneath his breath nervously as he twiddled his paw and claw, looking at them in an almost pleading manner as he spoke.

Princess Celestia groaned heavily as she continued to glare at him. "What do you mean? She is a draconequus."

Discord rose one sharp claw eagerly. "Ah! But did you truly think that we were that predictable Celestia? Of course not! Each and every one of us draconequus has our own systematic theme towards our magical talents, as does dear Little Ataxia. Should you choose to expose what you've done to me, you risk not only losing but also putting all your subjects in danger. Is that risk truly worth it over some pride?"

Princess Celestia flinched as she glanced to the lower left in question and hesitation. "Ugh!"

Princess Luna glanced over at her sister. "S-Sister, perhaps we should comply just this once. Discord's race is abnormally powerful and we have only just learned there was another one of them to begin with. W-We should not jump so hastily into a conflict with a now ruling body of Saddle Arabia, despite our personal beliefs and concerns. We should take the time to learn from her, muster a strategy. W-With us disguised as Discord's slaves, perhaps it will allow us to learn more valuable information we can use later on to combat her with."

Princess Celestia sighed heavily as she closed her eyes and frowned bitterly. "You,....Y-You are right Luna."

Discord couldn't help but smile eagerly in response to this.

Princess Celestia however made sure to return to giving him that steady glare. "Discord! The moment this visit of hers is through, you are to inform us of all the information you have on her. Should you deceive us, the consequences will not be discussed lightly."

Discord scoffed as he shooed them. "Oh come now! I care little for what you do AFTER she's gone! All I need to happen is for my reputation to remain intact with my own kind! What troubles you seek to cause her are of little concern to me family or not!" Discord couldn't help but smirk at Celestia and Luna in question. "Do this little favor for me Celestia, Luna, and you will have all the information you need on Ataxia. Draconequus were never known for their loyalty to one another. This will go a long way I assure you."

Princess Luna and Celestia looked at one another again before sighing even further.

Princess Celestia gave Discord a tired stare. "So when exactly does she arrive Discord? How long do we have to prepare?"

Discord almost immediately leaped over to them while full of jitters and absolute excitement. "Oh thank you thank you Celestia! Luna! You two are the absolute greatest! I promise I won't forget this! Well, to be frank, uh-" he flushed red with a cheeky grin, "Till tomorrow."

Princess Luna and Celestia rose yet again shouting in unison. "TOMORROW!?"

Discord shrugged absently as he puckered her lower lip. "Well what can I do!? She is eager to see me afterall."

Princess Luna snarled as she covered her face with a hoof. "How're we supposed to prepare this ruse by tomorrow?"

Princess Celestia glanced worriedly over at her sister. "Indeed, and she will inevitably see how Equestria is not what she envisions it to be by then. We cannot possibly inform everypony of this dire information in such a short amount of time. It is impossible."

Discord cut into the conversation absently. "Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that."

Princess Luna and Celestia's eyes widened again momentarily as they glanced on over at Discord.

Discord continued with a smirk. "We draconequus can travel vast distances almost instantaneously. To be quite honest I was relieved to find she wasn't immediately heading over here. Last she'd heard I was the ruling body of Equestria, and Canterlot is the central point of all of the pony nation. She will inevitably be choosing to arrive here through the use of a portal. So all we must do is keep her stuck here for her visit!"

Princess Celestia gave Discord a worried stare with uncertainty. "A-Are you sure Discord? A lot is at risk here."

Princess Luna added on. "Yes, if we are too unprepared I would rather spend time setting up our defenses rather than this ruse."

Discord turned absently in midair as he began exiting the room. "All will go just fine as long as you listen to me I assure you. Now that you two know this, we cannot sit around dilly dallying any longer! We still only have until tomorrow! So come come! We must inform your-"

But Princess Celestia cut him off hastily. "One more thing before we go Discord!"

Discord's eyes widened as he paused abruptly and glanced back at them impatiently. "What what what!?"

Princess Celestia glared at him yet again. "Should things go south with this Ataxia, I need to know that you will stand by us."

Discord flinched as he hesitantly glanced down towards the ground with a troubled expression as if in deep thought.

Princess Celestia persisted with a fastened glare. "Discoooooord...."

Discord turned as he swiped his claw. "O-Of course! I would DARE not betray dear Fluttershy once again! She is my dearest friend!"

Princess Celestia closed her eyes and smiled with relief. "I am glad to hear it."

Discord frowned a bit as he turned back towards the door sluggishly. "N-Now can we go? We have much preparation to do."

Princess Celestia nodded, finally the two of them in agreement. "Most certainly." As she began trotting out.

Princess Luna sat there in some deep thought however with a hoof raised to her muzzle in silence.

Princess Celestia glanced back at her sister in question. "Luna? Is everything alright?"

Luna's eyes widened in surprise before she looked over at Celestia. "Ah yes sister! I am coming!" She then hastily trotted on over beside Princess Celestia as the two now trotted close behind Discord and made their way out of the banquet room. I hope it is at least....

The next morning, Discord, Luna, and Celestia all stood in front of Canterlot Castle.

Princess Celestia and Luna looked extremely embarrassed as they were adorned in some ridiculous servant gowns.

Princess Celestia was red in the face as she growled at Discord. "This better work Discord..."

Princess Luna added on with a grumble of her own. "For your sake mind you."

Discord who was adorned in royal garments had his arms crossed as he glanced down at them. "It will, if you just listen well enough."

Princess Celestia sighed as she trotted forward to address her subjects who were all currently standing in front of the castle. They'd created a center pathway for the arriving draconequus to make her way through as well, as each and every one of them all wore fake collars and chains as if to play along with the role. Some of them even looked fairly excited while others trembled, unsure about this entire thing. Princess Celestia took a moment to glance over the lot of them as a look of affection washed over her. She then put on a serious expression as she began to dress them in her Canterlot voice. "My dear and loving subjects! I thank you all for listening to my plea, and understanding that what we do is for the greater good of all of Equestria! Our guest should be arriving soon! And none of this would have been possible without the compliance of each and every one of you! For that, I am eternally grateful! N-Now, let us put on a show!" She chuckled a bit.

The ponies of the crowed all began stomping wildly in proclamation of what appeared to be excitement and determination.

Princess Celestia took a few trots back as she gulped, glancing worriedly up and over at Discord. "The floor is yours Discord..."

Discord nodded as he smirked, making his way forward as he wore a fancy crown. "Plaaaaces, places everypony!"

Suddenly the ponies began shuffling into positions as they all started to kneel before the path, many of them doing so with hushed chuckles.

And despite the fact that they seemed to be enjoying it, Princess Celestia's expression saddened in worry for them.

Princess Luna suddenly called out to the two of them. "D-Discord! Celestia!"

Princess Celestia snapped out of her train of thought as she hurriedly glanced over at Luna in confusion.

Princess Luna pointed a hoof towards the center of the pathway.

Suddenly the sky grew dark as all seasons of the year began to course by in mere seconds. It snowed, and rained, and the sun beamed all instantaneously at the same time as thunderstorms echoed across the plains of Equestria. In the center of the pathway, reality began to distort and shimmer, crackling with magical power as a portal started to form. Sparks of electricity struck the pavement as pieces of concrete began to rise from the ground and levitate in the air as the very ground began to tremble lightly, amassing a sense of fear.

Princess Celestia looked down upon the path with a grave expression as her mane flowed erratically with the strong winds.

Princess Luna's eyes were wide with awe as she watched the portal form.

Discord however wore a look of boredom as if he'd seen this type of thing a million times.

And soon, all the strange weather ceased entirely as a portal immediately formed in the center of the pathway. It remained elevated there in a tranquil form, showing only shimmering blue waves from within. It let off an awry echo, like winds gliding across distant plains.

The canterlot ponies kept their heads lowered as many of them trembled while some were now covered their heads with their hooves.

The guards all remained steadfast and stood at attention, however many of them also wore somewhat worried expressions.

Soon two figures began to emerge from the portal, trotting down what looked like wooden steps.

All eyes widened with interest as they continued to watch the portal.

The two figures exited the portal completely, revealing they were two muzzled ponies adorned in royal garments as they each also held a polearm in one hoof. They suddenly laid out a long elegant red carpet as they now each stood on one side of the carpet and knelt down.

And finally emerging from the portal was an almost pony-like figure, with two feline paws, two hooves and a slithery living tail. She crackled with yellow magical aura while adorned in a beautiful golden dress as she'd stepped out the portal on all fours with a warm smile.

Princess Celestia watched her much like Luna, both stunned and mesmerized with awe. So, this was the draconequus. Next Chapter: Chapter II: The Royal Perspective Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes