//------------------------------// // Return on Investment // Story: Gryphon Greed is Good // by Snuffy //------------------------------// Stormy clouds rolled in, completely blocking the bright summer sun. The wind gathered strength at near magical speeds, and quickly the air became thick with salt carried by the gale. Captain Keen immediately order his fliers to remain on deck at all times. Sailors dressed in heavy duty raincoats said that such weather was not uncommon in the Celestial Sea. For someone who remembered an era where the deep ocean was as mystical as it was feared, the experience was surprisingly harrowing. Any sailing ship from her time would have struggled for survival under such conditions; not simply riding the waves without even having to shorten sails. "Quite the storm," Haywood said as he pressed his hoof against the hood of his raincoat to prevent the wind from pushing it back over his head. "How much farther until we reach the Badlands?" It was Captain Keen, holding firm the ship's wheel, who answered. “We’ve been sailing southward parallel to the coast for nearly two hours," Captain Keen yelled, unnecessarily loud as they were close enough to hear him despite the shrieking winds. "And no sailor worth his salt would call this ‘breeze’ a storm." "Mr. Haywood is no sailor," she reminded the captain. Truthfully, due to the rough sway of the deck, she would have almost believed that they were sailing through a hurricane. "Are we near the trading post then?" "Apologies, Princess Luna,” the captain grumbled. “According to our charts, we should see land soon." She nodded and walked off on unsteady legs to the stern of the ship, where Sergeant Blaze acted as the lookout with a bronze spyglass in his right wing. "How fare our friends?" she asked him. She was referring to the fourteen-gun sloop belonging to the Gryphon Navy, sailing just within sight. The vessel had broken away from the blockade and stalked them all the way from Hildburg. She suspected they were ordered to shadow her ship until they were out gryphon waters, but to pursue them this far across the ocean was as excessive as it was pointless. She knew her intervention would anger Gryphonstone, yet the deed had already been done. Harassing her ship further gained them nothing, only wasted time and resources they could ill afford to lose. "Their ship is having some troubles, Luna," Sergeant Blaze said, wiping away at the rainwater on the glass before raising it again. "They are taking in another reef of the main topsail. We should be able to outrun them at this rate." "We lost sight of them before, and yet they’ve always managed to catch up to us before long." "Someone in Hildburg must have overheard the crew talking and ratted on our heading." Sergeant Blaze folded his spyglass and tucked it in under his wing. “I would wager my spirit rations on it.” “Now is not the time to be thinking about cider,” she scolded him playfully before returning her attention to the gryphon ship. It was entirely plausible, though she could think of a few different explanations for the gryphon presence. Seeing as how they purposefully kept their distance, it was more likely her initial suspicions had been accurate. If the changelings realized she caught wind of their scheme, they’d perhaps even go so far as to manipulate the Gryphon Navy into hindering her progress. How the gryphons might do so was what worried her. There were only a few ways they could physically prevent her from arriving at The Badlands, none peaceful. "Keep a continuous watch on them, Sergeant Blaze," she said with a hoof on his shoulders. "If they clear for action or show any signs of raising sails, we are to beat to quarters at once." The stallion turned questioningly to her, then nodded when it was clear she was serious. She very much doubted the gryphons would end up resorting to violence, but if there indeed was a puppet master in their midst, the proper course was to expect the worst. Ultimately, the presence of the gryphons here was enough evidence that something ominous was playing out behind the scenes. "Captain Keen," she said, returning to the two stallions at the wheel. "Is the ship in any danger if the storm worsens?" The burly earth pony guffawed. "The ship has handled stronger winds than this." He took a brief pause to contemplate something. "Though caution might be warranted because of the empty hold." "How so?" Haywood asked just as a massive wave hit the side of the ship, drenching the lower deck and crew. The answer was at least similar in both eras. "Without the weight of cargo to counteract the force of the winds, the ship is in greater danger of broaching." Haywood wet and dripping mustache twitched. "Broaching?" "It means the ship might roll over," Captain Keen mumbled. "Unless we can procure enough goods at the trading post, we may need to anchor there until fairer weather." "Will you be returning to Manehattan then?" she asked him. "I believe so," Captain Keen replied. "It's our homeport after all. Of course, the commissioner at the trading post has the ultimate authority on where we set sail next." "Sounds rough," Haywood noted. "It’s not so bad. The contract says we get paid extra if we don't return to our homeport and have a few days of leave before making our next delivery. They'll most likely load us up with whatever they have in their stores and then send us packing back to Manehattan to avoid the extra cost." "I hope the sailors aren't distraught at losing their chance to earn a few extra bits," she said, referring to the clause in their contract about receiving full pay when moored in foreign ports. If she hadn't enchanted the ship's sails again, the Gryphon Navy would in all likelihood have fired on them as they attempted to leave before the blockade was officially lifted. "Hah," Captain Keen bellowed. "The crew wants nothing more than to gossip about how they helped a Princess beat this dumb blockade. Every tavern and merchant house in Manehattan will know about it within an hour of us coming home.” ”I’m glad to hear that the crew is content,” she said, honestly. “However, please inform them that it was never my intention to meddle in gryphon affairs. The crown would prefer it if there were no unsubstantiated rumors that might muddy relations with our neighbors.” Still, she owed the crew a lot. If they hadn’t been so loyal and quick to action, despite their late night drinking and private employment, the perpetrators of this crisis might have had enough time to cover their tracks. Her instincts now lead her to a much greater unknown, an uncovered changeling village disguised as an earth pony settlement, yet open to both dialogue and trade. No official channels between them and the crown had been established as of yet, as she and her sister had agreed to take a hooves off approach unless the situation demanded it. The winds and waves continued to batter the ship as they coasted just out of sight of the shore, and when a lookout at the prow shouted that they spotted land, she turned to make sure Sergeant Blaze was keeping a close eye on the gryphon sloop. The pegasus never faltered in his watch, continuously wiping away the water running down the end of his spyglass. If the gryphons were to make their move, now would be the time. ”We made good time at least,” Captain Keen said, raising his spyglass towards the coastline that gradually appeared from the mist. ”Strange, seems like we are the only trade ship here presently, nor can I see any workers at the docks.” A fact that did little to calm her unease. The trading post, from what she could tell, was a small establishment made up of twenty or so buildings, ranging from simple lodgings to a central brick warehouse. The dock itself was little more than a worn wooden bridge extending out from the sandy beach and into deeper waters. The Captain bellowed orders to the crew, who’d already begun preparations to drop anchor adjacent to the platform. Observing the process of docking under such severe conditions would normally be intriguing to watch, but her concerns and focus shifted toward the sloop following them. So far, the gryphons were content to observe them from a distance, and by the reflected flashes of light coming from their vessel, there were several of them aboard watching her every movement with spyglasses of their own. ”They sure are interested in what we’re up to,” Haywood said, having caught her staring at the sloop. “You think they’ll be docking here as well?” “I have no idea,” she answered, truthfully. The ship’s anchor dropped with a rustling of chains, splashing loudly when it made contact with the ocean. Pegasi then flew over to tie ropes and set up a walk plank between the ship and bridge. ”We should go and have a word with the commissioner in charge,” Captain Keen said and motioned for one of his midshipmen to take command. ”You’ll need their expertise if you’re going to be traveling that unholy land.” They disembarked with a group of sailors and Sergeant Blaze, moving along the deserted dock toward an oversized log cabin that sported a WPTC sign on the roof next to a smoking chimney. She craned her neck to take one final glance at the gryphon ship. The weather limited much of the visibility, but a vague silhouette showed it still idled at a fair distance from Captain Keen’s barque. The air inside was thick with pipe smoke mixed with the smell of beans and sweat. A dozen or so ponies in West Pony Trading Company work garments lingered within, some boiling food while others played games such as chess or darts, discussed hoofball at the tables, or read books near the hearth. "Nice to see that my fellows are hard at work," Captain Keen barked, loudly enough for everyone inside to pause what they were doing. "Who is in charge here?" There was no answer. The stunned silence was likely not because of Captain Keen's shouting, so much as the princess standing tall behind him. The reactions of the ponies in the room were mixed as they couldn’t decide whether to salute or bow, but within moments they collectively agreed to stand straight with their work caps held close to their chests. A gray unicorn stallion with a white mane and a red scarf stepped forward, bowing deeply in front of the group. "Princess Luna, I'm the senior official here, Commissioner Long Trott." ”Well met, Commissioner,” she said, pushing through the sailors. ”I require a moment of your time, in private.” ”Of course, your majesty,” Long Trott said, bowing halfway with one knee. ”We can speak freely in my office.” The group of four followed the unicorn into a small, narrow room barely able to fit them all. Its walls were decorated with various artworks crafted by the nomadic tribes of creatures who survived on the trade between the lawless towns within The Badlands. The only settlement she recognized by name was Kludgetown, and someone had drawn two angry circles around its location to the south of their position. No doubt the WPTC learned the hard way why business deals with cities controlled by crime syndicates were forbidden by Equestrian law. “Sorry about the mess, we usually never get visits from the nobility, much less royalty,” the unicorn said, referring to the small quarters and paperwork spread haphazardly over the desk. “Can I get you anything?” “Coffee,” she said, instinctively. Long Trott shouted for the chef, a scruffy looking stallion in his thirties who only peeked in briefly before scurrying away in a rush. ”Nor did we expect another ship here for at least a week,” the unicorn continued. ”If I may ask, what brings a princess to this wasteland? We have little more than caked mud and poisonous serpents here.” ”I require a guide to take us to the earth pony settlement.” ”That dump?” Long Trott asked, and eyed the other ponies in the room, hesitating even though Captain Keen and Sergeant Blaze were wholly uninterested in their discussion. ”I’m certain you know about the—” There was a long pause as he chose his next words carefully. ”—delicate situation. The next caravan is not due for another month, and the higher-ups have set up strict rules and schedules when dealing with that place.” It was clear Long Trott didn’t wish to discuss the village’s true identity with outsiders. ”Captain Keen is working under crown contract.” Her sister would likely lecture her later on what constituted proper government expenditures. ”He has fulfilled his part and should be returning to Manehattan. Do you perhaps have goods in need of transport?” Long Trott nodded after a quick check through the papers on his desk. ”It’s far too early for any substantial hauls, but we still have a few crates of adhesives from the earth pony settlement that you can take with you, and while it doesn’t sell for much, we could fill what’s left of your hold with fine sand if you’re in need of ballast.” ”Very good,” Captain Keen grumbled, likely realizing his presence was becoming an inconvenience. ”I’ll go see to it that my crew helps to fasten the goods properly.” Captain Keen turned around and motioned Sergeant Blaze to follow. Before the adventurer reached the door, she surprised him by blocking his path with a wing. ”Sergeant Blaze,” she said. ”We might require a competent guard with us on this expedition. Would you be interested in an extended contract with me personally?” ”Uh, sure.” Sergeant Blaze said after the initial surprise wore off, and his open mouth slowly morphed into a confident smirk. ”If the pay is right.” She nodded and returned her attention to Long Trott. When Captain Keen left the room alone, she continued. ”I trust everyone in here to keep the identity of the changeling village a secret.” ”They are changelings?!” Sergeant Blaze said, likely loud enough to be heard outside. Long Trott was not impressed. ”Are you certain?” ”Quite,” she said, and eyed Sergeant Blaze until he had the decency to look embarrassed. It was clear that the stallion would need extra grooming if he were to fulfill the duties she had in mind for him. “The crown requires a fully stocked caravan to depart immediately.” “The Badlands can be a dangerous land to travel,” the unicorn replied, seeming not at all happy with the request. “I won’t order my ponies to risk their safety. You’ll need to ask for volunteers if you want the company to allow the expedition.” “I’m certain I could find some willing souls,” Sergeant Blaze said. “With bits, if not by loyalty to the crown.” ”What exactly is going on?” Long Trott asked, skeptically. ”My employer will want to know why you are appropriating one of its caravans.” “The West Pony Trading Company is not privy to matters of state,” she told him, effectively shutting down the discussion. “We will head out as soon as preparations are finished.” Long Trott let out a long sigh. “In this weather?” “Our quest requires haste,” she said, ignoring Haywood’s look of dismay. “There is another issue before we depart.” The unicorn waited for her to continue. “There is a Gryphonstone sloop-of-war resting outside the dock.” “Gryphons?” Long Trott’s surprise was genuine. “What are they doing this far south?” “We don’t yet know their intentions, only that they’ve been following us.” She allowed a long pause to let the implications set in. “The gryphons must not be aware that we’re traveling to the changeling village, and if they do decide to disembark, you and your subordinates will inform them that we are heading for Kludgetown to negotiate a ransom demand.” The stallion looked down at his desk for a moment before answering. “I believe I understand, your majesty.” They said their farewells, leaving Sergeant Blaze to recruit members for the expedition. After a few cups of watery coffee, she and Haywood headed into the rain, where they met up with Captain Keen at the base of the dock. “I fear this is where we must depart, Captain Keen,” she told the stallion after he was done yelling at his crew. “The commission fee should arrive at your office within a week.” “It’s been our pleasure to serve.” He gave her an honest salute. “The crew will miss having you aboard.” “We never asked how long it would take to reach the town,” Haywood said, changing the subject. “Shouldn’t be more than a few days at most,” she replied while watching ponies struggling to balance heavy crates in the strong winds. She realized then that the gryphon sloop was nowhere in sight. “Where did the gryphons go?” “I reckon they grew tired of following us after we dropped anchor,” Captain Keen said before moving away to yell at two crewmembers in the process of tilting over a large crate on the gangplank. ”Could the gryphons have given up and sailed home?” Haywood asked when the two stood alone in the biting downpour. Or they were launching boats further up the coast to get a head start. ”We shall find out soon enough,” she replied, then hesitated when she looked closer at the old, weary stallion. Days of travel had taken their toll, and yet their journey was far from over. There was little she could do except give him her most confident smile. ”I’m certain things will go smoothly from here.” The heat was near unbearable. Compared to the warm summer days in Equestria, where the cold winds from The Crystal Empire at least offered a modicum of reprieve, the dry and barren lands of the Badlands made her nation appear arctic. Two earth ponies drawing the canvas wagon they'd procured wore dark cloaks that offered some protection against the sun and its accursed rays. She was half-tempted to have a word with her sister about reducing the amount of day in the summertime to be more in-line with winter. "This is horrible," Sergeant Blaze said, looking downright ill on his wooden bench on the opposite side of the wagon. "I signed up to escort ships, not sweat myself to death in the desert." This was the thirteenth time he'd complained since they’d left the changeling village. "So you’ve told us,” she replied, laying on her side next to a sleeping Haywood in the cramped wagon. ”But we are within Equestria’s border now, and should be reaching Dodge City soon.” The mercenary didn’t seem convinced by her assurances, responding only by taking a deep drink from his waterskin before returning to sulk with his back against the canvas. Their trip to the changeling village had ultimately led nowhere. Its inhabitants had been simple-minded villagers who knew little of the outside world, and she’d sensed no signs of deceit when questioning their intentions. In the end, they were but a few hundred drones that had broken away from the hive after the failed invasion scattered the swarm. Their only wish now was to find some stability in their lives away from their queen, and to that end masqueraded themselves in a barren wasteland, living off the resource-scarce land in the same manner as before the conflict between their people. While her assumptions that the changelings had orchestrated the trade dispute behind the scene appeared to be proven false, the journey itself wasn’t entirely pointless. Establishing a formal dialogue with a former rival faction was an essential first step, and she could see how it was a mistake not to have capitalized on this opportunity sooner. There remained only one lead now to help solve the mystery. Fluttershy, a friend of the crown, was implicated and they needed to hear her version of events. Dodge City eventually came into view after they passed through the cliffs of a valley. ”Where to next, Luna?” Sergeant Blaze asked as the wagon stopped at the center of town. Typically, she would have flown the distance home without rest, but one glance at her secretary’s heaving chest was all that was needed to dismiss the idea. There would be no escape from the sun high up in the air. They woke Haywood and boarded the train for Canterlot instead. The ride itself was uneventful, as the heat stole most energy for idle banter, and they’d barely said a word before reaching the outskirts of Ponyville. “Is there some sort of rally going on?” Sergeant Blaze asked, pointing with a wing toward the window that showed the town hall. There was indeed a small gathering of ponies there, and atop of a wooden plateau, two ponies held a speech for the onlookers. Above them, a large banner with the words ‘Help save the forest animals’ flared in the wind. Such gatherings held little interest to her, and she was about to close the blinds when she recognized the two ponies standing at the top of the stage. The main speaker she vaguely recognized from a meeting from almost a year ago, a green mare from the Equestrian Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures. They’d discussed at the time what the effects of restoring Equestria’s old capital might have on the wildlife in the Everfree Forest. The association had expressed concerns that the reconstruction would leave several species pushed away from their natural habitat, and that trains would disrupt migration patterns. In the end, both sides had made concessions. She’d agreed that the train’s path should avoid any endangered populations, while the association decided only to supervise the deforestation, just interfering if they found probable cause. Initially, the association had demanded that the whole project be called off, arguing that the Everfree Forest should have protected status due to its unique fauna and flora. That argument never got any traction, as the one who was indirectly responsible for creating the forest sat at that very table. The Everfree Forest and its magically imbued inhabitants had only existed there for a thousand years and was therefore still considered to be invasive to Equestrian lands. “We are getting off,” she said as train braked at Ponyville station. The audience was too captivated with the speech to notice an approaching princess, and she remained at the back of the row to listen in without interrupting. The earth pony speaker still braided her hair messily and carried the same flowery shawl as their last meeting a year before. “... the forest is filled with different creatures, each one of them perfect and unique. We can’t allow the establishment...” There was a momentary pause when the speaker noticed her presence, though the reaction was only a lazy blink before continuing with the speech. The ponies in the crowd slowly began noticing that something was amiss, and before long, most eyes were on the band of ponies that looked like they’d spent days trotting through the desert. ”Sergeant Blaze,” she said loudly enough for the crowd to hear. ”Make a path forward, if you please.” There were concerned murmurs from the gathered ponies, but the gathering quickly parted to give them free room up to the stage. “We have a permit to be here, you know?” the green mare told Sergeant Blaze when he moved to confront her. “I’m not sure I appreciate the aura coming off you.” No doubt the week-long lack of a bath added to that statement. “That will be enough, Sergeant Blaze,” she said, following him up the stage. She only needed a brief side glance at Fluttershy to see the mare’s ears droop guiltily. Finally, they might get some answers. “Princess Luna,” Fluttershy said, huddling at the corner of the platform with a sign with the words trees are ponies too in colorful letters. “W-what b-brings you here?” The poor poker face spoke volumes. “Fluttershy, we wish to have a conversation with you, in private.” “More tea?” Fluttershy asked politely. Haywood nodded gratefully, his mustache twitching vigorously as he was allowed to relax in a comfy chair with his beverage of choice. No doubt it had been a time long since the old stallion had been this pampered, and the soft-spoken pegasus was more than happy to shower him in pillows. Even the animals in the house helped out as two squirrels massaged Haywood’s shoulders. The green earth pony, introduced to them only as Tree Hugger, made herself comfortable on the living room sofa. “This tea is so in rhythm with my life force,” Tree Hugger said to no one in particular. The constant half-smile on the environmentalist's face suggested a frequent use of the newly discovered and highly questionable herb from the colonies. Fluttershy took a seat next to Tree Hugger. “You wanted to ask me a question, Princess Luna?” “Indeed.” The letter regarding the Hooffields and McColts levitated over to the pair. “Do any of you recognize this letter?” “Yeah, we’ve definitely seen this before,” Tree Hugger said while Fluttershy nodded hesitantly. “We wrote it, after all.” The revelation caused a complete silence. Even the animals stopped their skittering to watch what might unfold. “Why did you send my department this letter?” The question was straightforward and polite, but in truth, she listened keenly for any hints of deception. Fluttershy was the one who answered. “Big Daddy McColt has been sending me letters ever since Twilight and I helped them stop the fighting with the Hooffields. But he suspected that their neighbors might have been planting crops on their land, and feared that the conflict might start all over again.” So far, there was nothing amiss in their explanation. “That’s all well and good,” she began, retrieving the letter. “By why cover up the fact that you were the sender?” Fluttershy’s ears drooped to their lowest point yet. “We thought it would protect the animals.” “Animals?” Haywood asked, looking around at the high variety of wildlife scurrying around the living room. “They seem healthy to me.” “Fluttershy is talking about the beautiful and vibrant Everfree Forest,” Tree Hugger placed a supportive hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “We love all the creatures there equally.” “Your concern for their well being is admirable,” Luna cut in, “but irrelevant to the subject matter. We’ve already deduced that the McColt situation was to distract us from the business gala in Canterlot, we want to know why.” The accusation was enough for Fluttershy to crack. “We’re so sorry we tried to deceive you,” Fluttershy said, regret written all over her face. “We thought it was the only way.” Sergeant Blaze rose from his chair, ignoring a white bunny that tried to block his patch while making a series of rude gestures. “Uh, should I be arresting them or something?” “Arrest us?” Fluttershy exclaimed in horror. Holding up a hoof was all that was needed to make the mercenary back off. Matters still didn’t add up. “You had a private meeting with Chancellor Burkhard at the gala, correct?” Luna asked in a non-threatening manner. Fluttershy nodded solemnly. “I asked him to help us save the forest.” The tiptoeing around the issue was becoming vexing. “And how exactly does inciting the gryphon factions to the brink of civil war help save the forest?” If the threat of being arrested was enough to horrify the yellow pegasus, it came as no surprise that the accusation of nearly causing a war was enough to petrify her. “Uh, what have you been smoking?” Tree Hugger said. “Have you heard of the gryphon blockade?” she asked the earth pony. The mare seemed genuinely confused. “Yeah, has to do with like ships, or something?” The questioning wasn’t going as planned, and it was clear they needed a different approach. “Why did you try and deceive the crown?” Tree Hugger tilted her head to the side. “The crown?” It was impossible to tell if the mare was playing dumb or not. “Explain in simple terms your plan for saving the forest.” “Yeah, I suppose we should,” Tree Hugger said and patted the slowly recovering Fluttershy on the shoulder. “You see, we still thought we could persuade you against rebuilding that castle of yours since it would harm the forest and all. So we brainstormed a lot, you know, and came up with this plan. We figured, if you couldn’t sell the timber, you wouldn’t cut down the trees. And since gryphons buy lots of timber, the forest would be safe if we asked them to stop buying timber.” “So you used Fluttershy’s fame to arrange a meeting with an influential member of the Gryphonstone Council that night,” Haywood chipped in. “The whole Hooffields debacle was just a ruse to make us miss the business gala?" A gala they had never planned to attend in the first place. Fluttershy took that moment to escape her paralysis. “Oh no, Princess Luna. Big Daddy McColt and I are really thankful that you helped them. He said so in his letters.” There remained an unanswered question. “Fluttershy,” she said, eyes narrowing. “What exactly did you tell Chancellor Burkhard in that brief meeting?” The pegasus looked out of the window as she tried to remember. “We only talked about why gryphons needed so much timber. I asked him if maybe they could make do with less.” “And his response?” “Burkhard said that he didn’t understand what I meant and that the merchants had no plans to buy any more than last year.” The pegasus became more comfortable as she explained the situation. “I thought that couldn’t be true since the Everfree has many big trees. I asked him if maybe the merchants were lying about how much they were buying.” “Did the Chancellor believe you?” she asked, skeptical that Burkhard would act on unsubstantiated rumors alone. And clearly, Fluttershy overestimated how long it would take before the Everfree had the necessary infrastructure to send in lumberjacks. “I don’t know,” Fluttershy said with genuine confusion. “He mumbled something about ‘price gouging’ and called the merchants a lot of bad names. I didn’t understand what he was talking about, but I told him the merchants sounded like a bunch of meanies.” Haywood moved about in his chair. No doubt they both remembered the discussion at the tavern in Manehatten. Leonard told them he’d never found the source of the claims that the merchants were inflating prices by hoarding necessities. “We talked a little bit more about the forest and animals,” Fluttershy continued. “but when I asked him if he would help, he stormed out of the room.” “Just like that?” Haywood asked. “What happened next?” “I followed after him to apologize for upsetting him, but he’d gone into one of the private rooms, and the gryphon guard outside wouldn’t let me enter.” Fluttershy was noticeably unhappy about what occurred. “They were yelling inside, and I thought that I must have failed to convince him, so I ran away from the gala.” There was a momentary pause as the explanation still gave them no real answers. “Fluttershy,” she began, patiently. “I want you to recreate exactly what happened before Burkhard left the room.” “Uh, okay.” Fluttershy shut her eyes for just a moment, pink tail wrapping itself around her hooves protectively as she slowly began to lean forward from her seat on the sofa. She opened her eyes again, and with ears folding to the side, looked up at them with an expression so innocent and pure it would have melted the most bitter heart. “Please, sir,” she said, eyes shimmering with forlorn hope. “Won’t you help us save the animals?” The effect was immediate. Haywood nearly dropped the cup in his magic, while Sergeant Blaze gaped openly, a faint blush spreading along his cheeks. Luna felt something move deep inside her—a feeling she’d not expected for many, many years to come. A mother's urge to protect her young. ”Uh, what’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked, uncomfortable at the sudden shift in the room, and seemingly unaware of the impact she made on them. ”Haywood, Sergeant Blaze,” she said to the two stallions. ”I believe we’ve wasted enough of Ms. Fluttershy’s time. It’s about time we headed home.” The immaculate salad and wine at the royal dining hall was a welcome change from surviving on provisions of haycakes and lukewarm water. Haywood and Sergeant Blaze at her side seemed to agree, both scarfing down the contents of their plates with surprising vigor. On the opposite side of the long table sat a bewildered Twilight Sparkle, together with a very angry Starlight Glimmer. The unicorn had been sending glares their way ever since the three of them arrived mid-way through lunch, and both Twilight and Starlight’s manes were uncharacteristically frazzled. ”You’ve been missing for nearly a week without sending me a single letter, dear sister,” Celestia said, sitting alone at the main side of the table. ”There are all kinds of audacious rumors floating around in Manehattan.” The loud sound of Sergeant Blaze slurping his carrot soup broke the silence for a few awkward moments. ”Sailors tell such fanciful tales, sister of mine,” she replied, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. ”The commoners would be distressed if they thought their rulers believed in tavern gossip.” Celestia hid a smirk behind a sip of tea. ”Hello!” Twilight Sparkle said with her usual energy, rising from her chair and trotting over with an outstretched hoof to greet Sergeant Blaze. ”I’m Twilight Sparkle, and you must be a new acquaintance of Princess Luna!” Sergeant Blaze chewed on a broccoli stalk while he looked at the waiting hoof, taking a moment before bumping it with his own. If Twilight’s strained smile was any indication, the sergeant hadn’t bothered washing his hoof since the ship left Manehattan. ”Call me Blaze,” he said, causing Twilight’s strain to become even more obvious. ”You’re prettier than you look in the papers.” ”Thank you,” Twilight said, face twitching, then returned to her table while Starlight Glimmer continued to glare daggers in their direction. ”Sergeant Blaze, was it?” Celestia asked. ”What brings a company mercenary to Canterlot?” ”Luna wants me to hire capable soldiers,” he replied without noticing Celestia’s raised eyebrow at the casual use of her name. ”Something about gathering enough of a force to—Ow!” A strand of black hair flowed away from beneath the table in a blue aura. ”Apologies, your tail had a few loose hairs.” The situation amused Celestia. ”Should I be worried that you’re raising an army, Luna?” ”Nonsense, sister,” she replied. ”I recall that it was you who wouldn’t allow the Royal Guard to assist in private enterprises.” ”You still intend to go through with restoring our old home?” Celestia asked. ”I intend to, as soon as we have sufficient funding.” ”You’ve searched for investors for a long time now with little to no success,” Celestia noted. ”Indeed,” she replied, sourly. ”Only not in the right place, it would seem.” ”Did you find them in gryphon lands perhaps?” Starlight Glimmer nearly spat out the words. The open hostility was enough to have Twilight cough on her drink. She’d never cared much for Twilight’s pupil and had done nothing to her knowledge to earn this level of animosity from the former leader of a cult. ”Twilight and Starlight returned from their diplomatic trip to Gryphonstone just minutes before you did,” Celestia explained, then levitated a scroll from a bench lining the wall. ”I take it you haven’t caught up with recent events.” ”Did the peace talks succeed?” Haywood asked. “Not exactly. Twilight?” Twilight quickly cleared her throat after being asked a question from Celestia. “We were making progress with the negotiations between the Gryphonstone Council and the merchant representatives.” There was likely a very big ‘but’ coming. “However, on the third day of our meetings, Counselor Burkhard got a report that said a ship bearing Princess Luna’s colors had defied the blockade and delivered large quantities of supplies to Hildburg.” Twilight’s tone became more beleaguered as she went on. “Gryphonstone accused Equestria of interfering with gryphon domestic affairs and—sent Starlight and me to the dungeon for two days.” That would explain their baggy eyes, unkempt manes, and Starlight’s ire. “With their blockade so openly undermined—” Celestia rolled out the scroll with her magic. “—Gryphonstone agreed to end the trade embargo and allow the coastal gryphons to trade freely again. A strange turn of events, wouldn’t you say, sister?” ”Most peculiar.” It seemed the council was angrier than she expected. The gryphons of old would never have dared to mistreat an Equestrian royal as such. ”How do we respond to their insult of imprisoning a princess on a diplomatic mission?” ”The matter is fortunately already settled,” Celestia said, eyeing further down the paper. ”When the Gryphonstone council finally gathered their wits, they decided to look into the matter more closely. They couldn’t understand why Princess Luna would do such an outrageous act, and on a private trading barque in full view of the public no less.” Celestia dropped the letter on the table. ”The admiral in charge of the blockading fleet ordered one of their ships to tail the trade barque in an attempt to uncover its origins. To their astonishment, its heading turned out to be a remote outpost in The Badlands. Witnesses on the gryphon ship claimed they saw Princess Luna vanish into the desert, accompanied only by a suspiciously small retinue. With that information, the Gryphonstone Council concluded that this was all a ploy by changelings to sabotage relations between gryphons and ponies. Likely even orchestrated by Queen Chrysalis herself.” There were a few minutes of silence as the servants came in to remove the empty plates. ”They must be pretty crackers to believe this was all a changeling plot,” Sergeant Blaze said as a joke, only to realize the implications far too late. He tried brushing it off with fake laughter, but that abruptly ended when another strand of hair got plucked from his tail. The situation at least presented some interesting opportunities. “Most troubling news if proven true, sister.” Starlight Glimmer rose up and slammed both hooves on the table. ”Well, was it you on that ship or not?” Their eyes met as Twilight desperately tried to pull her apprentice back into her seat. “The reason for my absence is none of your concern,” she replied with a tone that brokered no argument, then turned her attention to Twilight. “I would suggest you teach your student proper etiquette.” “Yeah, you tell her, Luna,” Sergeant Blaze said with his usual grace. Perhaps she’d chosen poorly after all. “If you—“ Starlight Glimmer began, but Celestia cut her off by clinging with a spoon against the teacup before turning her attention to Blaze. “I believe we will get along splendidly, Sergeant Blaze.” The mercenary didn’t recognize the hidden glee in Celestia’s remark and responded with a smile reminiscent of a young boy who’d been praised by his mother for completing his chores. It was one of her sister’s many tricks she’d been unable to replicate. “To answer your earlier question, sister,” Celestia continued. “The gryphons sent Twilight gifts as an apology. Historical heirlooms carved out of granite from their national museum to be precise. They are scheduled to arrive at her castle tomorrow.” Twilight’s ears instantly perked up at the notion. ”They’re letting me study their cultural treasures and entrusting their safety to me? That’s so flattering!” Celestia wasn’t finished. ”While they may claim it’s a gift, in actuality, they are only loaning you the heirlooms for six months, and there is a waiver in need of signing that you’ll compensate for any damage to the priceless treasures when in your custody.” Twilight froze in place. ”Might I suggest you store them behind several inches of glass, preferably enchanted with your strongest wards,” Celestia said. ”Just to be safe.” With the main course finished, waiters in white uniforms came to pour coffee, tea, and deliver plates of exotic fruit from the colonies. There was an unspoken understanding with her sister that whatever happened in Hildburg would remain unsaid for political reasons, and though not knowing the whole truth bothered Twilight and Starlight, they were at least wise enough not to push the issue any further. It also meant that any apology for putting them in such a situation would need to wait. “We will take our leave now, sister,” she said and motioned Haywood and Sergeant Blaze to follow her out of the dining room. “Just one last thing.” Celestia’s head tilted ever so slightly. “Yes?” “The newly discovered earth pony settlement,” she began with a deceptively casual tone. “I suggest we double the size of aid shipments.” Twilight and Starlight looked at each other to see if the other knew what village she referred to. Celestia knew precisely what she meant. “If you think it’s wise.” She gave her sister a curt nod and left the dining room with both stallions at her sides. “Haywood, how are you feeling?” she asked as they walked through the halls. “Much better after a proper meal, thank you,” Haywood said with a brief twitch of his mustache, revealing that something else was occupying his mind. “Just worried about the greater battle ahead.” Which could only mean one thing. “I plan to buy the finest piece of chocolate from every vendor in Canterlot,” Haywood continued. “And the Misses always loves her lilies.” “May good fortune always follow you,” she said, playing along with his theatrics. “I find that a surprise kiss often helps cool hot tempers.” Sergeant Blaze chuckled. They reached the entrance of her department where one of the royal guards approached them. “Your Majesty, you have visitors,” the armored stallion said. “I told them they could wait in the lobby.” She had expected none for today but headed straight for the main entryway. The dozen or so guests, mostly gryphons in expensive attire, sat in a circle around a table, though a few standing against the walls were armed bodyguards. The merchants all stood up and turned their attention to her, and from the group emerged two familiar faces. “Princess Luna,” Leonard said, making a surprisingly agile bow despite his girth alongside the merchant leader, Ortwin. ”We wish to offer you our most sincere thanks.” ”I am pleased to be of service,” she said while walking up to them. “But I’m afraid I don’t follow. And how did you know I would be returning to the palace today?” “That would be me,” Ortwin said, playfully swirling with a glass of Canterlot wine in his talon. The gryphon appeared well rested compared to the night they’d first meet, and the keen spark she’d seen in his eyes still shone brightly. “I asked some of my associates to watch the gates and inform me of your arrival.” She raised an eyebrow at that. “Spying on Equestrian royalty are we, Master Ortwin?” “With the best of intentions, I assure you,” Ortwin quickly added. “We came to greet you in Canterlot as soon as the Council came to their senses, but we didn’t suspect you would still be traveling the continent.” ”Sergeant Blaze,” she said, turning to look at the mercenary who’d unceremoniously made himself comfortable in one of the sofas along the wall. ”Go outside and find a servant and help them bring refreshments, and familiarize yourself with the castle layout while doing so.” The pegasus let out a long sigh before exiting the room. ”You recruited the good Sergeant,” Leonard chirped. ”A fine sailor when on duty. Just be mindful he is kept busy, or you might find him chasing the wrong tail.” “Noted,” she said, putting an end to the idle banter. ”How might the crown assist you?” Ortwin gave her a sly smile. ”I’ve spoken with my fellows about restoring your old home.” He gestured with a talon to rest of the gryphons, of which nearly all possessed a unique symbol on their green tunics. ”After some persuasion, eight houses have pledged to invest fully in the project, and for the last day, we’ve convinced many of our pony colleagues on this side of the ocean to do the same. We also offer you hard-working and skilled laborers from our organizations to help start the project as soon as possible.” She and Haywood exchanged a glance. Ortwin was contradicting his earlier claim that the gryphon merchant classes would be furious that she ruined their ploy to bankrupt the Gryphonstone Council, and instead they now scrambled to offer her aid? ”You former capital is as good as restored,” Ortwin continued, raising his wineglass high up in the air. The merchants all followed suit, then cheered with one voice. ”For trade, profits, and a better tomorrow!” Rows of candles lit up the office when the moon had finally replaced the sun. The scent of sweet honey permeated the room as the beeswax burned and flickered, making her reminisce about memories and ponies of the far past—a welcome distraction from her mounds of neglected paperwork. “Another case successfully solved, Haywood,” she told her old secretary. “The gryphon lands are peaceful, and ponies rest comfortably in their beds.” ”I suppose,” Haywood said from the adjacent desk in her office. ”Though I have my doubts that we will ever manage to successfully prosecute someone.” ”One of these days, Haywood.” She rested a hoof on her chin. “One of these days.” ”Am I allowed to arrest people now?” Sergeant Blaze asked. The gray pegasus had been laying on her couch for hours, doing little except reading gossip magazines or balancing his sword with a wing. ”No, you are not,” she said, leaning even further into the hoof while she used her horn to sign yet another document. ”If you’re bored, you have my permission to retire." Sergeant Blaze grimaced. “I don’t like my new quarters.” She raised an eyebrow at him. ”It’s too big, and the beds are too soft,” he said without caring how silly it sounded. “I’m used to sleeping in a moving hammock with twenty other sailors.” She shook her head and returned to the papers in need of signing, and with a large project soon underway, the amount of work would only worsen. She needed more staff by the end of the month, and the bits would need to come directly from her private account. ”Princess Luna, can we trust the gryphon merchants?” Haywood asked suddenly. ”Never have I seen so much dedication from them. I have a distinct feeling there is something they’re not telling us.” “No doubt Ortwin has some grandiose plan besides building his trade fleet,” she replied. “I only trust that he wouldn’t dare to break the law while under my supervision, and for the moment, that’s all that matters.” “Very well,” Haywood said, trying to rub away the fatigue from his eyes. “I spoke with the railroad company, and they claim they can put down five miles of track a day. If they begin next week, we might make it to the Everfree Forest before winter.” “You know what, Haywood,” she said, leaning further back into her chair. “I believe today, Equestria’s future has become a little brighter.” Haywood chuckled. “Yes, what could possibly go wro—” “Do not finish that sentence.”