//------------------------------//
// The Dinner 
// Story: The Voice of the Sun 
// by Lev the Lurker 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 5: The Dinner
“Well now…” mused Captain Lightning as he read the invitation. “You don’t need to be Daring Do to see that this is a trap…”
“Oh, ew, I hate traps,” grimaced Bootheel. “You think you see a pretty little filly and then suddenly—”
“Not now, Sergeant,” barked Lightning.
“Or ever, preferably,” muttered Raindrops.
“Well, I think it’s a marvelous opportunity for some good old-fashioned diplomacy,” said Quizzing with a smile.
“So you want to send them into the dragon’s den?” blurted Lightning. “Do you have any idea what those solartics would do to them?”
“Well, I know what they’ve promised not to do,” said Quizzing as he tapped the invitation. “They have sworn by the name of their mad queen that neither of the Dames will come to harm while in their company.”
“They could swear to Corona, Luna, or Tirek’s left horn for all I care!” shouted Lightning. “They’re solartics! They’re delusional!”
“But it is a consistent delusion, and one based on a sense of misguided righteousness and legitimacy,” explained Quizzing as if he were lecturing a young foal. “And even if they were tempted to break their pledge and take advantage of the situation, it would ruin their image in the eyes of the international community. If they were to show themselves, and by extension their queen, as oathbreakers, then that would be all the evidence we’d need to sway every nation on the continent to our cause, which is, might I remind you, our ultimate goal: a coalition of free nations against the Tyrant Sun.”
“So you would sacrifice two of the Elements of Harmony, the very guardians of Equestria, all in the name of some political rouse that will get blown to ashes by the first solar flare?” asked Lightning angrily. “Over my. Dead. Body.”
“Captain, please,” said Quizzing with a sigh. “If you would just—”
“The safety of the Bearers is my responsibility, Ambassador! I am not going to send them to the sun just so that you can play your little games. I am sick and tired of you sniveling politicians using the lives of good ponies as pawns, and if you think that I’m just going to let you—”
“Actually, I think we should go.” 
Every head in the room turned to Lyra.
“What?” blurted a shocked Lightning.
“Why?” asked Raindrops.
“Well, that’s…kinda what we’re here for, isn’t it?” said Lyra nonchalantly. “I mean, we’re supposed to try and show everypony that Corona is evil to get them on our side, so… why not start with the ones that are following her first?”
“Aside from the fact that they’ll burn you alive as a sacrifice to their insane queen?” snapped Lightning.
“You know, you keep saying that, but I don’t believe that these ponies are as crazy as you think,” explained Lyra. “Sure, worshipping Corona is a bit nuts, but remember what he said in his speech? About how the Night Court was corrupt and evil?”
“Yeah, so?” asked Raindrops. “Not really news to anypony.”
“Exactly!” exclaimed Lyra. “And it’s something that some of the better members of the court have already started to fix, but they probably just don’t know that yet. But if we went there and told them how the court is doing its best to fix it and get rid of all the corruption and generally bad stuff. Tell them of the new bills they’ve put through, the courtiers who have resigned. Then maybe some of them will see how things really aren’t that bad.”
“Just one problem,” said Lightning. “You’re assuming they’re reasonable.”
“I’m assuming that they’re ponies,” corrected Lyra. “I don’t want to have to fight another pony over something like this, and if anypony can show them the truth and convince them to return to Luna, it’s the Element of Honesty,” she said, grinning at Raindrops. “Right?”
“I… um…” fidgeted Raindrops hesitantly. “I… guess you’ve got a point…”
“Splendid!” exclaimed Quizzing. “I’ll make the necessary preparations. Oh, and send up some dresses for the dames, of course.”
“Can we not play dress up this time?” asked Raindrops. “Or can we at least wear something practical. Like, I don’t know, actual armor?”
“Of course not,” huffed Quizzing as he trotted out the door. “A formal occasion such as this demands formal attire. Now I’ll be right back.”
“Besides,” said Bootheel with a sly grin. “I’m all the armor you’ll need, baby.”
“And what makes you think you’re coming with us?” deadpanned Raindrops.
“Because I’m not letting you go in alone,” said Lightning firmly. “You’re taking an escort this time, and not just the Shadowbolts. They can stay outside to cover the perimeter, but Bootheel and I are going in with you.”
“Well… I guess that’ll make things slightly less suicidal, then,” grumbled Raindrops. “So, where is the solartics’ base, anyways?”
*        	*        	*
Night was coming early to the northern mountains as strong, icy winds shook the chariot like a foal’s toy. Roundhouse and her squad were straining against their harnesses to pull their passengers towards the lowered door that jutted out of the cold, grey mountainside. The pegasi landed on the wooden platform and hurried to pull their load inside as a team of griffons worked a set of pulleys, raising the door behind them and blocking out the frigid night air.
“Alright, everypony, keep your wits about you,” warned Lightning as he warily eyed the team of griffons dressed in red and gold livery.
"I’m just going to say this one more time, for the record, that I think this is an incredibly stupid idea," said Raindrops, trying not to stumble on the hem of her gown as Captain Lightning led the group off the chariot
"What, you mean the dresses?" asked Lyra. "I think we look nice. Could do with being a bit warmer though." She shivered underneath the thin fabric. 
“I’m not cold,” commented Raindrops, glancing around the foreboding cliffs above them.
“Yeah, well you’re a pegasus, you’ve got that temperature resistance thing. It’s not something I inherited from mom.”
"I don’t mind sharing body heat if you need it," said Bootheel with a sly grin as he brought up the rear, and Lyra shot him a withering look.
"I didn't mean the dresses," clarified Raindrops as they approached the Gilded Wing clan hall. "I mean just going into the enemy's base by ourselves without anything to protect us but some sense of honor from a bunch of solartics."
"Hey, what about me?" asked Bootheel incredulously. "I can protect you better than any armor, and I'll feel much better against your skin, too."
"We'll just have to trust the ambassador on this," said Lyra. "It's his job to keep us safe, and I'm sure he knows what he's doing."
"If he knew what he was doing, then he wouldn't have been sent to the Griffon Kingdoms," hissed Raindrops as the group moved closer to the watching eyes and ears of the Gilded Wing guards flanking the entryway.
"Hey, I knew exactly what I was doing when I got sent here," said Bootheel.
"And that just makes you the worst of the lot," groused Raindrops as two armored griffons approach them from across the cavernous entrance.
“That must be the welcoming committee,” said Lightning through clenched teeth, barely hiding his distaste. The two towering catbirds came to a halt a few feet away and glared at the visitors for the moment. 
“Greetings,” came a voice from somewhere between the two guardians. The party lowered their gaze to see a small grey unicorn mare push her way between her lumbering guards.
“I recognize that mare,” whispered Raindrops. “She’s the one who gave me the invitation.”
“Dame Heartstrings. Dame Raindrops,” said the unicorn with a small bow as the two groups finally met. “It is an honor to meet you both. I am Smoke, assistant to Celestia’s Herald.” She said in a reverential tone of voice, making the position sound like an unbelievable honour. “I would like to formally welcome you to the Equestrian Embassy.”
“You don’t say…” muttered Lightning quietly.
“The Voice of the Sun is overjoyed that you decided to dine with him tonight,” continued Smoke. “And he would once again like to assure you all of your safety during this visit. While we might have our disagreements, we are all fellow Equestrians, and as your hosts we would like to firmly demonstrate our desire for a peaceful meeting tonight.”
Smoke nodded to her guards, who began to unfasten their golden armor and tossed it aside. The four visiting ponies watched in surprise as plates, chainmail and sheathed weapons clanged loudly against the stone floors.
“The gesture is… appreciated,” said Raindrops, gritting her teeth against telling the mare what she actually thought. She eyed the powerful builds and sharp claws of the now naked griffons; they almost looked like they were flexing to show off their muscles. “Though, I hope you don’t mind if we would rather not…”
“Do not worry, we will not ask for you to disarm in kind,” said Smoke. “The blessings of Celestia are enough to give us peace of mind. We merely wished to share this sense of ease with you whilst you stayed in her sanctuary.”
“Alright… thanks, then, I guess…” said Raindrops, and she almost winced when Smoke and her guards bowed again.
“It is our pleasure to spread the Light of the Sun,” said the solartic. “Now, if you would please follow me, I will show you to the dining room.” The dames and their escort followed Smoke and the griffons deeper into the cave, which quickly began to narrow the further away they got from the entrance. Soon the rough, natural walls gave way to hewn stone and wooden struts.
“I can’t tell if this is a mineshaft or a hallway…” murmured Lyra as they passed one of several doors embedded in the rock.
“It’s a bit of both, actually,” explained Smoke politely. “Many of the older holds were originally gemstone mines that were converted into dwellings after they ran dry. They would later prove to be well suited as defensive strongholds, and the practice eventually spread to expanding naturally occurring caves into dwellings as well.”
“Seems like a lot of work just to make a house,” observed Lyra.
“When it comes to the safety of your family and loved ones, no labor is too great,” said one of the griffons firmly. “So sayeth the Voice of the Sun.”
Smoke gave a wide smile as they stopped in front of a finely polished door. “And here we are,” she said as she held the door open and gestured for her guests to enter. “If you’d like to make yourselves comfortable, the Voice of the Sun will be with you momentarily.”
“Thank you,” said Lightning gruffly as he went inside first, quickly scoping out the room. “All clear,” he said as he signaled for the dames to enter, and Lyra and Raindrops hesitantly stepped into grandeur.
The room wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Canterlot mansion, except for the gold. Most of the walls, ceiling and floor had been covered in rich hardwood save for a few sections of living stone which had been carved to look like classical columns. A chandelier hung above a white marble table, the light from its enchanted crystals dancing off the sparkling dinnerware like fireflies. There were enough paintings, sculptures and other grandiose works of art lining the walls and floor that the room could have qualified as a small museum. And nearly everything, from the picture frames to the silverware, was either made of or covered in shining, shimmering gold.
“Wow,” said Raindrops flatly. “Gotta be honest: I was not expecting this in a cave.”
“Yeah,” said Bootheel with a whistle. “Haven’t seen anything this high class since the time somepony bought me a courtesan and—”
“Do us a favor and watch the door, sergeant,” ordered Lightning.
“Aw, but Captain, you didn’t let me tell them about the part where—”
“Quietly,” added Lightning. 
With a sigh the soldier slouched away as ordered. 
“So… what now?” asked Raindrops as she tried not to touch anything that looked too fragile, which meant almost everything, including the floor’s mirror finish.
The grey mare carefully folded herself into a seat off to one side of the table. She was dwarfed by the splendor around her, almost seeming to fade away from notice compared to the grandeur.
“So we just sit, and we wait,” said Lyra as she plopped her plot down on the far end of the table and started fiddling with a fine silk napkin. With a sign of resignation, Raindrops sat down next to her friend.
“Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long,” said Raindrops. No sooner had she finished speaking that the door opened, and their host calmly stepped into the room.
The red stallion was dressed the same as the last time they had seen him, like a knight from the sun. His armor was comprised of golden plates that made the rest of the room’s gilt leaf look drab and dull in comparison, and both his mane and tail blazed with hot light which caused all of the polished objects around him to shine like mirrors. Even so, Raindrops felt herself drawn to the stallion’s eyes, twin orbs of featureless yellow light as stark and harrowing as Corona’s blinding gaze. As he stepped further into the room, the Voice noticed Raindrops sitting at the far end of the table, and his eyes fixed on her.
“Greetings, fair Raindrops, dame Heartstrings” said the Voice, his mouth curving into a smile as he bowed to the Equestrian delegation. Raindrops’ brow furrowed at the compliment. “I have been waiting to talk to you again all day.”
“Again?” asked Lyra
“Ah, I meant for the first time. I have heard so much about the element bearers it is as if I have met you before.”
The two dames looked back and forth between each other in confusion.
“Now then, I imagine you are both rather hungry. Griffin Cuisine can often be rather harsh to the Equestrian palate.” The Voice clapped his hooves together and the door opened as the two griffon guards who had greeted them earlier came in pushing a cart laden with food. As one began placing the meal on the table, the other uncorked a bottle with his talon, filling The Voice’s glass with a deep red wine.
“That’s one way to put it,” said Raindrops as the guards filled the table with plates of food. Real food, she was relieved to see, none of which looked like they had at one point been living, breathing creatures. Still she hesitated, staring at the food with intent mistrust as she tried to avoid meeting their host’s gaze. Lyra, however, held no such reservations as she piled her plate high with breads, fruits and cheeses and began to wolf it down. After a moment Raindrops shrugged, she figured it made no sense to poison them when they were already at their host’s mercy, and started to pick at her food. Only Captain Lightning refused the food, instead choosing to glare at their host. All the while the Voice waited patiently, gently swirling his own drink as he smiled warmly at the two mares and pointedly ignored the other stallion present. 
“We appreciate your generosity,” said Lyra diplomatically as she held out her glass and one of the griffons dutifully filled it with wine. “Voice of the Sun. I don’t mean to be rude but is that your real name? I’ve known some ponies with, well, odd names but I don’t know many parents who would call their child that.”
If he was insulted the Voice did not show it, instead he laughed smoothly. “Of course not. It is a title bestowed upon me by my Queen. It is only right that I use it while hosting you in an official capacity. I display my Queen’s full blessing for the same reason.” He gestured at the flaming mane which laid upon his back.
“That isn’t real?” asked Lyra.
“It is real,” corrected Voice, “But it is not the mane I was born with, I would have set fire to far more mane-brushes over the years if that were true,” he smiled. “No, it is a boon granted by the Queen as a reward for my loyalty. Eventually, once we can become friends it would be suitable for you to see me in my normal colours.” He glanced at Raindrops. 
“I have to admit, this isn’t what we were expecting,” said Lyra, levitating a bunch of grapes onto her plate.
“Can say that again,” muttered Raindrops as she held a hoof over her own glass, shaking her head at the server, who bowed and retreated with his bottle.
“I don’t often indulge myself like this,” said the Voice with a smile as he sniffed at the wine. “But seeing as how this is an important occasion, I thought it only natural to put our best hoof forwards, don’t you think? This wine and all the food,” he spread his forelegs wide, “are a gift from my Queen. Without her power the grapes would not ripen, nothing would grow. So please, enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
“I shall try,” said Lyra with a coy smile. She glanced over at the grey mare sitting next to their host. It seemed she only had eyes for the flamboyant stallion, her plate was almost untouched. However it seemed the Voice wasn’t paying her the slightest attention. It was easy to forget the mare was there compared to her literally glowing leader. Turning back to the Voice, Lyra swirled the wine under her nose, as she’d seen other ponies do at the formal dinners she’d occasionally attended while at the Princess's school. “Well, it has a nice body and a decent bouquet, but it’s not really enough to impress me if that’s what you were trying to do.” 
To her surprise, the Voice laughed. “Ha! I daresay, Dame Heartstrings, that I would be quite daft if I attempted to impress you with some simple Two-Bit Buck. No, this is actually the wine that I would bring whenever I’d pay a visit to my… more unfortunate friends. Those without even a roof over their heads.”
“You brought homeless ponies alcohol?” gasped Raindrops as she finally met the Voice’s glowing eyes with a glare. “Why would you enable them like that?”
“Because it was the best way to help them,” said the Voice with a shrug. “I was not the one who had left them at such dire straights; that was the result of the Equestria Luna has created. I only did what I could to provide them succour. Trust me, I tried other approaches at first. But if I tried to give them money, they merely spent it on booze, and when I only brought food, then none of them really opened up to me. But if I brought a bit of wine, I found that I could also get them to eat more of my bread, and they would be far more willing to talk with me and listen to what I had to say. Giving ponies in their situation more alcohol might not have been the best thing to do for them, but it was a small sin that I was willing to commit in order to achieve a greater good, and I assure you that they were all the better for it.”
“And who do you think you are to make that sort of decision for them?” growled Raindrops angrily.
“I made no decision, ultimately they chose for themselves whether to drink or not, just as they choose which princess they would prefer to rule them. As to who I am? Why, I am merely a humble servant, a lowly spark searching for tinder so that it may set free the fires of faith.”
“That is horseapples, and you know it! There were other ways you could have helped them!” she shouted as she slammed a hoof on the table, jostling the golden dinnerware. To her surprise the Voice did not seem angered; he actually smiled, seemingly pleased by her reaction. Smoke on the other hand glared at her and stood, seemingly ready to respond to Raindrops’ outburst before she was stopped by a single gesture from the Voice’s wing. 
“Raindrops, please,” said Lyra soothingly as she held her friend’s hoof. “Try to calm down. This isn’t the place for this.” Raindrops shot her a glare, then glanced at the griffons still standing watch in the corner of the room. They hadn’t moved since they had finished serving the table, but she could see that their feathers were slightly rustled as their talons flexed with agitation. Even Lightning was giving her a silent glare with a hint of warning in his eyes.
Raindrops took a deep breath as she started to calm herself. “Sorry,” she said with bad grace as she sat back down in her seat. “I did not mean to spoil such a lovely dinner.” 
“Guards,” said the Voice firmly. “If you would leave us, please?”
“Sir?” said one, turning to him with a surprised look.
“I said leave us.”
“But sir, I don’t think that it would be very wise to—”.
The Voice cut him off with a glare. “I do not need protection from the mares whom destiny has chosen to safeguard Equestria." The eyes of the guards flickered to Captain Lightning. “Likewise I am sure as honourable a stallion as the good captain would not strike down one he had just shared bread and salt with. Now leave,” he repeated, his voice stern and full of authority, a change from his previous relaxed tone. “Immediately.” The soldier shifted uncomfortably in his seat but did not argue. 
After a further moment's hesitation the two Griffin turned as one and stomped with somewhat bad grace towards the door. 
“I am detecting a certain level of… hostility in the air,” said the Voice once the five of them were alone. “Tell me, dames, have I given you some discourtesy? Please, tell me what I have done to offend you such and I’ll do whatever I can do to rectify it.”
“You support Corona!” shouted Raindrops, barely constraining herself to her seat. “That’s bad enough!”
“And I could say the same thing about your support for Luna, my good dame knight,” said the Voice without raising his voice. “But that was something about you that I knew before engaging in this conversation, and I dare hope that my loyalties were something that you were aware of as well. Which side of the current struggle we have each found ourselves on should come as no surprise to either of us, and while your current position saddens me, it is not sufficient reason for me to show you any undue animosity. You are merely doing what you believe to be right based upon your own understanding of the situation using your own best judgment, which, seeing as how the Elements chose you as Bearers, I must acknowledge as at least somewhat sound. No, the only grievance I bear against you is that of complacency; of living the life you have had, growing up in the shadow of Luna’s influence, never knowing the true light of the Sun and believing that the Night promises you a brighter future, when it merely promises a cold, dark fate of squalor and corruption. That is where I choose to direct my hostility; not at you, but at Luna.
“Luna has failed to protect her subjects,” insisted the Voice as he swirled his wineglass. “Instead of keeping the monsters at bay, she has granted them titles. I believe in laws. In just laws that protect peaceful, law abiding citizens. But the laws of Equestria are the laws of the Night Court, built for oppression and exploitation, to be abused at their leisure. Their corruption has sunk into the very foundation of our society, and it needs to be purged by flame. Corona will do what is necessary to save us all. After all, Captain,” continued the Voice turning to the other stallion in the room. Lightning flinched at suddenly being addressed, “you know what can happen to those who get caught up in the machinations of the court. A once promising career now sidelined due to some noble’s idea of fun, of a game!”
The captain's face turned dark. “How do you know about that?” he demanded.
“My queen has loyal servants everywhere, even in the halls of the Night Court. Last year she was gracious enough to offer amnesty to any willing to swear loyalty to her. Unfortunately none were willing to face Luna’s displeasure and do so openly, but a not insignificant number pledged to my queen in secret.”
The three loyalist ponies glanced nervously back and forth between themselves. 
“You had not heard of that?” asked the Voice with a smile. “I guess Luna decided that keeping the truth from her ponies was in their best interests. When my Queen once again sits on her true throne the corruption in the court will be burnt out and the wrongs done against those loyal to the state will be made right, captain.”
Lyra glanced over towards the soldier and was worried to see a conflicted look on his face. Could he be tempted by the solartic’s offer? What had happened to lead to him being assigned to the Griffin embassy?
“I would rather burn than join you!” Lightning eventually growled through gritted teeth although he didn’t seem able to meet their host’s gaze.
“Peace, Captain,” said the Voice holding out his hooves in a conciliatory gesture, “I sincerely hope it would not come to that. My Queen has need of those loyal to Equestria.”
“But turning to Corona makes as much sense as shoving a foal in an oven to protect her!” shouted Raindrops angrily.
“Tell me, Dame Raindrops, have you ever had to spend a night out on the streets?” asked the Voice coldly. “Alone in an alley, not even a roof over your head, and only the discarded refuse of others to keep you warm? I daresay that spending a few nights trying to sleep in the pouring rain would make you appreciate the warmth and security that my queen can provide.”
“I happen to enjoy the rain,” said Raindrops with a scowl.
“I’m sure you do,” said the Voice with a smile. “There is a certain strength to somepony willing to face up against the elements. Personally, I’ve always preferred a more rarified environment, though I shouldn’t be surprised that others would choose differently if given the choice.”
“See, that’s the key word,” Lyra interjected. “‘Choice.’ And Corona doesn’t allow for that. She just wants everypony to do what she says, and to the sun with anyone who disagrees.”
“An interesting point,” conceded Kindle, running his hoof around his glass. “The alicorns are so much older and wiser than other ponies, in some way they could be considered to be like mothers to us all. I doubt either of you have foals yet, but you might have younger siblings? Cousins maybe?” Raindrops’ face twitched slightly as her thoughts turned to her brother, and the Voice’s eyes fixed on her. “Doesn’t an adult have a responsibility to ensure the safety of a foal? Foals tend to be capricious things, left to their own devices they can find themselves in so much trouble, danger even. So shouldn’t an adult make sure they are guided down the right path, such as by telling them not to run with scissors? Or would you consider that an infringement of the foal’s right to make its own choices? Isn’t it the same for my Queen? She only wants the best for her little ponies, and even though some of her rules may seem harsh, are they not ultimately for the best?”
Raindrops paused for a moment considering Snails when his aura had just started to come in, he had had a tendency to grab things and carry them around even though they were sharp or heavy and might have injured him. Her parents were forced to put their hoof down eventually, but this was different, wasn’t it? They were talking about adult ponies, not foals. 
“But by your example,” said Lyra, “Doesn’t Princess Luna have just as much right to tell Equestria what to do? She’s as old as her sister.”
“Almost,” clarified the Voice, “But she has decided to neglect her duty instead, allowing her country, and her court, to run wild. A negligent parent, so to speak. Equestria needs a stronger hoof to lead it. One who would not tolerate corruption within her government.”
“You might not have heard, but the Night Court has been working against corruption for over a year now,” exclaimed Raindrops, “The Princess told them she wouldn’t accept it any more!”
The Voice once again smiled the smile that made Raindrops want to bury her hoof in his muzzle. “Actually, I was aware of that, but ask yourself: why did the Princess choose this time to put through such changes? Equestria has been slowly sinking for decades, longer maybe, why would she choose the very year that my Queen returned to put on a show of cleaning up her court? Could she be scared that her ponies might see her corrupt government for what it actually is, now that they have a choice of rulers again?” For the first time the stallion raised his voice and he stood, holding a hoof aloft. “Equestria is dying a slow death; not the violent, sudden strike of any foreign army, but a death from a thousand cuts from the daggers of its current rulers. The Night Court is bleeding this great nation dry bit by bit, and all that Luna has done, all that she has ever done, is bandage the wound and slow the bleeding, remaining in at best willfully blind ignorance of the true source of the suffering. And that is at best, with far more benefit of the doubt than I should rightfully give an immortal alicorn with thousands of years of wisdom at her disposal.” His blazing eyes swept over the three ponies at the opposite side of the table daring them to speak against him. Next to him Smoke stared up at him, her eyes starry. 
Raindrops found her voice first. “It’s not like that,” she said, standing and stamping on the floor. “The court is trying to do what it can! The princess just wants to give them a chance to be better ponies. There are bad apples out there but others are trying to be better!” Maybe she and the other bearers had been partially responsible for forcing the princess’s hoof in dealing with the court but surely she would have acted soon anyway, wouldn’t she?
“I admire your passion even if it is misguided. I have heard of Vicereine Wallflower’s and Duchess Posey’s reformation plan, and although I applaud the sentiment, it is too little, too late. It is mostly designed to let the worse offenders of the court off the hook for their previous wrongdoings while giving them a false veneer of righteousness. Once the true sun rises again there will be a reckoning there...” he was interrupted as a griffin rushed into the room. “I said I was not to be disturbed,” he snapped.
The new arrival bowed low before stepping forwards and whispering a message. A look of annoyance passed over the Voice’s face for a moment before he controlled himself again and turned back to his guests. “My apologies ladies, gentlestallion. I am afraid I must call this evening to a premature conclusion. Another matter requires my attention.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?” asked Lyra looking up at the burning stallion. 
“No, a small matter with my allies needs smoothing over. I apologize for the interruption and hope that we can continue this meeting at a later date. At least think over what I have said, you know change is needed.” With a bow he turned and marched towards the back exit of the room with Smoke and the Griffin messenger in tow.
“Everything you said was lies!” cried Captain Lightning at the Voice’s retreating form, earning a glare from Smoke, although the soldier’s words seemed weak and lacking sincerity.
“Wow!” exclaimed Lyra, “He wasn’t how I expected him to be.”
“He was a solartic,” grumbled Raindrops.
“Well, yeah, but I expected a bit more ranting and raving, more ‘You will all burn when my mistress rules!’ He actually made a few good points.”
Raindrops grimaced. “We better get out of here, maybe his madness is catching.” She stomped towards the main doors and threw them open to reveal Bootheel chatting with two of the griffon guards.
“So then,” said the sergeant with a proud grin, “I stuck my head out from under the bed and I said, ‘Why don’t you three girls carry on as you were and I’ll join in when I see a hole’.” The other guards burst out in raucous laughter.
“I love this horse!” said one as he patted Bootheel on the back.
“Bootheel,” said Raindrops icily, and the soldier instantly came to attention.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“We’re leaving.”
*        	*        	*
The journey back to the embassy took place mostly in silence as each member of the party wanted to order their own thoughts. Only Bootheel tried to make conversation and he was quickly shouted down. It was only once they were back in what was officially Equestrian soil that the Ambassador and Haymaker tried to debrief them. 
“So how did the meeting go?” asked Quizzing, “Did he make any attempt to attack you?”
“No, and you don’t have to seem so happy about the possibility,” snapped Raindrops. 
“Well, it would be the simplest end to this situation, if Corona’s servants attack you then we can summon the rest of your fellow Element bearers and take actions against them.”
“The Voice of the Sun, or whatever his real name is, seemed too level headed for that. Not what I’d expect from a cultist,” said Lyra. 
“Well I guess it takes all sorts, everypony must have their own reasons for joining the Solatics. Some might be truly insane, others bribed, some have nothing to lose, even more may think that they will come out on top in the event of a war between the alicorns.”
Lyra nodded. “I guess so. He wined and dined us and we didn’t even have to put out afterwards.” She grinned, although none of the others around the table seemed amused. 
“He even boasted of the good he’d done for Equestria, that he’d helped homeless ponies,” said Raindrops.
Haymaker’s eye’s narrowed. “Did he mention what city that was? Or anything else about it? We might be able to track down what his real identity is.” 
“Know your enemy and all that,” said Quizzing with a nod.
“I don’t think he was specific. He just said he’d helped them by getting them booze,” said Lyra. 
“Well I’ll get Clicker to send what we’ve got back home, maybe they’ll figure something out. Was there anything else?”
“He mostly talked about the Night Court being corrupt and Luna not doing enough about it.”
“Made a lot of sense to me,” grumbled Captain Lightning. “Not that I’d have anything to do with the Tyrant Sun, but he made some good points about the court being self serving. Even the faction trying to turn things around are only doing it to save their own necks,” he growled. “They should all be cleared away, every one of them!” He slammed a heavy hoof into the table.
“Captain!” exclaimed Quizzing.
“Sorry,” he grumbled. “It’s been a long day.” He rubbed a hoof at his head.
“Understandable, and you are not the only member of this diplomatic mission to have suffered due to the machinations of the night court,” said the ambassador pointedly. “Anyway, was there anything else?”
“He said that there were traitors in the Night Court passing information to Corona, said she made some sort of offer to them when the court was opened,” said Lyra. “I don’t know if I believe him though.” 
“Ah, well that at least is true,” said Quizzing. The other ponies around the table- except for Haymaker - gaped at him. “I wasn’t there in person you understand, but other members of the diplomatic corps were and I heard about it through the grapevine.” 
“There was a decision made to keep things quiet,” explained Haymaker, “so as not to spread panic. Corona sent a message via some sort of illusion.”
“As I was told it she was booed off the stage as it were,” said Quizzing, “and the Princess dispelled the image after a short while.”
“Something like that, although she did make an offer to the courtiers to join her.”
“Why wasn’t I aware of this?” demanded Lightning. 
“Need to know, your superiors didn’t feel you needed to.” Lyra and Raindrops shared a look, they hadn’t been aware of Corona’s actions either. 
“I think this Voice pony was probably lying,” said Quizzing, “there’s been no evidence that any of the court have turned to Corona.” 
“Actually, that’s not entirely true,” said Haymaker. “The baronetess of Oatlick has been arrested for selling weapons to suspected Corona cultists. I doubt the veracity of the allegations but they have been made.” He looked up at the astonished faces of those around him. 
“I hadn’t heard of that!” exclaimed Lightning.
“The investigations are still ongoing.  Despite my organization's best efforts there’s been no real evidence anypony else has signed on with the tyrant sun. Even if somepony did I doubt it would be anypony but the most junior members of court. Still it will be useful to pass on what was said, he didn’t happen to let slip any of the traitors’ identities did he?” All the other ponies shook their heads.
“He got cut off a bit early,” said Lyra. “Something apparently came up. I think it was something to do with the Griffins.”
“Well now, that is interesting. Any friction between the Griffins and Corona’s people makes our mission easier. I’ve not heard of anything myself but I’ll put out a few feelers, see if I can figure out what happened,” said Quizzing.
A wide yawn split Lyra’s face. “Sorry,” she said. 
“Of course it has been a long day for all of us, maybe we should call it a night?” suggested Quizzing. “We can meet up again tomorrow and it’ll give me some time to see if I can find anything else about the alliance with the Griffins.”
Raindrops grunted a positive response and Lyra nodded. Lightning stood from the table. “I’ll check on embassy security before I turn in, most of the guard will just stand around unless I give them a kick in the plot.”
“I’ll check with my ponies as well,” agreed Haymaker. 
“Good, so until tomorrow then,” said Quizzing with a short bow to the dames.