Down in the valley beneath her, Arizoutl raised the Idol of Boreas before him. A throng of Griffons bowed deeply, chanting out his name over and over.
Scootaloo furiously nipped at her bonds, fraying the edge of the rope in her teeth. After a few more moments, she managed to free herself. She popped the suppressor off her horn -- Arizoutl would pay for the mistake he'd made thinking that without her magic, she was helpless.
She turned to Daring Do, who was similarly tied up, and sliced her bonds with a ray from her horn.
The pair flared their wings, shaking off the pain as blood flowed through them. They looked at each other then back down into the valley before them.
Just as they were about to spring into action, Luna landed right in front of them with Sweetie Belle beside her.
"Greetings, Scootaloo," said Luna. "Sweetie Belle had some concerns about Chrysalis and this seemed the most convenient and discreet method of having the discussion."
"I'm dreaming," said Scootaloo, Daring Do fading into nothingness at the declaration.
"That you are," said Luna. "I can use my dreamwalking to speak privately to any pony I so desire. It has been useful at times, like when one is potentially being spied upon, coerced, or controlled."
"Well, while I can't guarantee that we weren't being spied upon," said Scootaloo. "I can say that I am not being coerced or controlled, at least not by Chrysalis."
"Then by whom?" asked Luna.
"Well, I don't exactly trust the Idol of Boreas," said Scootaloo. "Your sister had a hoof in making it, and she knows far more about it than I. In addition, she seemed all too happy about me getting it."
"The Idol is fairly harmless," said Luna. "It is the artifacts that try to hide that you are being manipulated that cause the largest problems. Boreas is straight-forward in its effects. I fully trust that you are capable of dealing with them."
"I agree though," said Scootaloo, "that this kind of contact is very useful. Can you teach me?"
"Just dreamwalking isn't all that difficult," said Luna. "Contacting the dreamer you want when there are thousands of other dreamers between you and your target takes a lifetime of training."
Scootaloo drooped a bit. "I guess dragonfire will have to do, but..it might work anyway if I sent you a note to instigate a dream if it were absolutely needed."
"Scootaloo," said Sweetie Belle.
"Let's stay on point," said Luna. "What is your counsel on the changelings?"
"To let them in?" said Scootaloo. "Mistakes have been made on both sides of the relationship between changelings and ponies and we have a chance to forge a new union to the benefit of all."
Luna nodded. "I just hope that the trust you have granted her is never betrayed."
"By either side," said Scootaloo.
Luna flinched slightly at the statement, but followed up with another nod. She said something quietly to Sweetie Belle, then they both flew into the sky.
Luna and Sweetie Belle vanished from the dream, leaving Scootaloo lucid and alone in a blank field.
She was somewhat at a loss as to what to do in the remnants of the dream. She pondered on the fact that as a not all that younger pony, she would simply have rocketed forth into the sky given this chance. But she couldn't think of one simple pleasure she wanted to indulge.
She sighed and woke up.
Scootaloo floated a brush over and managed some semblance of straightening her unruly bed-mane, while wondering what she'd have to do to have her mane flow like Celestia or Luna's. She looked at the clock, then hastily descended the stairs to the more public area of her current residence.
Scootaloo made her way to the mayoral conference room, and saw all of her major staff members already seated. She stepped forward to her own place and sat down.
"Quick report today please," said Scootaloo.
"The mines are producing way ahead of schedule," said Ruffled Bearing. "From what I saw of them, I figured it would have been months, but those crystal ponies sure know their trade."
"Practically all our coin is going to the construction of this city," said her financial minister. "You do know that the tax rates are less than half what they were in the Griffon Empire before you took over? Please reconsider the leniency you are giving. Having such low taxes could also make you look weak in the eyes of some griffons."
"There is one uniform tax code throughout Equestria," said Scootaloo, "and while emergency raising of funds is allowed, I am fine with things as they are."
"We continue to have new griffons immigrating to the city," said another griffon. "A higher percentage of these are from outside Griffonstone as word of your glory spreads throughout the empire. There have also been several pegasi who have taken residence."
"Keep up the good work," said Scootaloo. "I plan to be out of town most of the day."
Ruffled Bearing saluted while the griffons bowed.
Scootaloo bid farewell to her cabinet and took off for west of Canterlot.
Scenarios played in her head about how things might go, and she found herself nearing outskirts of the city without having paid attention to the trip there.
She changed course, avoiding Canterlot proper.
Ahead of her she saw a clearing, and as she got closer it resolved into a temporary staging area, dominated by a huge pavillion tent, and surrounded by guards.
Scootaloo landed near the guards, who parted to let her through.
As she passed the entrance of the pavilion tent, she noticed the fine weave of enchantments set onto its cloth. Whatever they did, it was something spectacular.
Inside the tent, she saw the petitioner's stall in the center, an oaken structure that would surround the petitioner on three sides. Around the edges of the tent were soft velvet pillows, each emblazoned with the cutie mark of one of the princesses, in the color of their coat.
The ones directly across from the opening belonged to Celestia and Luna, with Twilight's to Celestia's left, and Sweetie Belle's to Luna's right. Her own was on the edge nearest Twilight's.
Two royal guards had point nearer the entry flaps on the inside, and Celestia was sitting quietly on her pillow, like an alabaster statue overlooking the upcoming proceeding. Twilight sat next to her, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
Scootaloo nodded to Celestia, and took her place on her pillow.
A few minutes later, Luna and Sweetie Belle entered, chatting amongst themselves. They took their places and went silent.
Cadance entered soon after, and took her seat directly across from Scootaloo. She did not make eye contact.
The sound of a trumpet blared from outside of the tent.
Chrysalis strode in, flanked by two royal guards and stood behind the box.
She gazed into the eyes of each of the ponies around her, then said, "I, Hive Queen Chrysalis, do formally request a normalization of relations between me, and my hive, and Equestria, and furthermore request that my changelings and I be allowed citizenship in Equestria seeing as our lands are inside the boundaries of the current Equestria."
"Did you not just recently bring war upon Canterlot? Why shouldn't we be taking you into custody right now for crimes against Equestria?" asked Celestia.
"I simply did not think that peace with Equestria was a possibility," said Chrysalis, "and was taking actions that I at the time felt was best for my changelings. My mother had tried a few times to find peace and only found her demise."
"And yet here you stand, asking for just that," said Celestia.
"Times change," said Chrysalis, "and I found in Princess Scootaloo the hope that we could put our past behind us; that ponies, griffons, changelings, and others could live in harmony."
"In what way did Scootaloo change your mind?" asked Celestia
"I was impressed with how Princess Scootaloo dealt with the griffons," said Chrysalis. "She seemed like a pony I could deal with, so I gave her a chance. She passed every test I had my proxy place before her, without fear or prejudice. Even when I appeared before her for the first time, she took it in stride, and was affable."
"And what if you change your mind again?" asked Celestia.
"If circumstances were to force me to re-evaluate my position," said Chrysalis, "it would mean that we have all failed."
"Which doesn't really answer my question," said Celesita.
"Doesn't it?" asked Chrysalis.
Celestia thought visibly for a few moments. "Moving on then: What role do you see yourself and your changelings having in pony society?"
Chrysalis took on a mock-aristocratic air. "Thespians, we could produce the best actors and playwrights in Equestria, or do you expect courtesans? Changelings fulfilling any pony desire, or maybe we could be professional card players. Reading the emotions of the ponies at the table would provide a huge advantage. My changelings have a lot of talents."
"You say your changelings a lot," said Celestia. "You do realize that they would be coming under the rule of Equestria if your petition is granted."
"I will always think of them as my changelings," said Chrysalis. "Do you not think of the ponies as your ponies? Would you ever not if you joined in a greater empire?
After a short pause, she continued. "It is increasingly clear though where you stand on the issue. You didn't give my Mother a chance, and she was..lost. I don't think any changeling ever truly cared more than she did. Maybe it is time to give these fine ponies a chance to cast their votes."
"Any objection?" said Celestia.
Chrysalis sat down while Celestia turned to Scootaloo. "In the absence of any objections, how do you vote?"
"I have been dealing with the changelings for some time now," said Scootaloo, "and I believe they are sincere in their application for citizenship. They certainly would be far more useful as allies than enemies. I vote for admission."
"We feel it is time to give the changelings a chance," said Luna. They have had a hard time in the past, and I would not deny a chance at redemption given my own experiences."
"I also think they should have a chance," said Sweetie Belle. "Why couldn't a changeling change?"
"The changelings have an ancient culture that we would be remiss in losing the chance of studying, without having the clearest evidence of their perfidy in these proceedings," said Twilight.
"I would be glad to welcome the changelings into the light," said Celestia. "So long as they are willing to conform to all the laws of the land, I approve their motion on both counts."
"The Crystal Empire will not be a part of a nation that would accept Changelings," said Cadance. "We exercise our sovereign rights and formally withdraw from Equestria."
Cadance turned her back on the other princesses and walked out of the room.
"The petitioner's request is granted," said Celestia, then she rushed out of the tent after Cadance.