Princess Luna, Eternal Lady of the Night and Keeper of Dreams, grumbled to herself as she forced her hooves down the hallway and towards her sister’s chambers.
It was astonishing how many nightmares either began, ended, or involved one or more of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, though she did have to give them points for originality. The three of them were not the first foals to worry about their cutie marks—or the lack thereof—but the levels of devotion to finding their marks and the sheer amount of destruction that followed in their wake was unequalled by anything that she had ever seen before.
Luna chuckled and shook her head as she corrected herself. There had been one other who had matched their energetic levels, and the west wing of the Castle of the Two Sisters was two inches off level from the rest of the structure due to her Twilight Starbright’s efforts to summon her own cutie mark.
It was for that reason that Luna couldn’t truly be upset with those three adorable fillies. It was natural for little ponies at their age to be anxious over a lack of cutie marks, and Luna hoped that her words of counsel to Apple Bloom would help her, and the others, to find peace regarding their future, and thus tone down their efforts.
It might help bring down the insurance premiums in Ponyville, too, if Princess Twilight’s requests for help to subsidize the deductibles were any indication.
Of course, the topic of insurance costs in Ponyville could be more fully addressed in a few days, when she and her fellow Princesses met to finalize plans for the Grand Equestria Pony Summit. Though Luna was impressed with how Twilight Sparkle had thrown herself into the organization of the Summit, she did privately worry that her innumerably great-granddaughter was overworking herself. There had been several nights when Luna had not detected Twilight’s presence in the dreamscape, but Celestia had reassured her that sleepless nights were common when Twilight was engaged in a project.
Luna resolved to keep an eye on Twilight all the same as she knocked on her sister’s door. She entered at her sister’s invitation, and a small smile came when she found Celestia lounging on a bed of pillows on the floor. Her magic deftly worked a pair of knitting needles, and inch by inch, the baby blanket that had been gifted to her at Hearth’s Warming by Bean’s grandparents grew large enough for a newborn. A nearby phonograph was playing a spritely tune for her to enjoy while she worked, and Luna hummed a few notes when she recognized the song.
“Good morning, Lulu,” Celestia greeted. “I trust you are well?”
“I am, Sister,” she replied with a glance around the room. “But you seem to be missing somepony. Where is Bean?”
“Help!” Bean’s muffled voice cried out, and a yellow hoof popped out from the middle of Celestia’s billowing mane. “Help, I can’t swim!”
“And I have neglected to bring a life preserver,” Luna said with a chuckle as Bean’s head emerged from the foaming sea of color. “Perhaps you can doggy paddle while I summon assistance?”
Bean’s forehooves reached out and patted the sparkling mass of hair that surrounded him. “I’ll try, but you’d better hurry.”
“You are insufferable sometimes,” Celestia chided with a laugh. “Pregnancy isn’t making my mane that thick.”
“No?” Bean said with a grin, and from somewhere within the pastel swirls, he produced a hairbrush. “Didn’t you lose this last week?”
“Oh, so that’s where that got to. I was wondering…” Celestia paused, and a hoof went to her stomach as her smile grew. “Bean! She’s awake.”
The prince was out of Celestia’s hair in a flash, and his hoof gently touched her stomach. His smile grew when the faint outline of tiny hooves began to float and push outward. “She’s really active this morning,” he noted. “She must have slept well.”
“Lulu?” Celestia beckoned to her sister with a hoof. “Do you want to feel?”
Luna nodded, kicked off a silver shoe, and placed a hoof on her sister’s stomach. “Be careful, Celly. You may soon find that every mare you meet will want to touch your belly now. And some of the guards. They’re such softies.”
“You do bring up a good point,” Celestia remarked. “But I can hardly blame them. This is such a strange, and yet amazing sensation. To have this little life, moving within me, is…”
Luna smiled as the tiny feet pushed up against her hoof, as if Nilla had felt the pressure of her touch and was now trying to investigate. “There are no words to describe the thrill, are there?”
“No. Miraculous may come close, though.” There was a reverent silence for a few moments as all three of them watched the tiny life before them, but then Celestia’s glowing smile faltered. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind if she would quit punching my kidneys.”
Luna laughed, and her mind blew the dust off of the memories of her own pregnancy. “Kidneys are nothing, dear Sister. Just wait until she opens hostilities against your liver.”
“I can only hope not,” Celestia replied. “Is it time to go?”
“It is. The train awaits us, and I understand that fair Applejack will be waiting for us at the train station in Ponyville.”
“I didn’t know Applejack was coming,” Bean said as his hoof followed along with Nilla’s random tracing. “I thought we were going to Griffonstone for some kind of trade negotiations.”
“We are, but to be honest, I’m not entirely sure why we’re going to Griffonstone, nor what to expect,” Celestia said. “The Griffon Kingdom has been in a perpetual state of decline ever since King Guto’s defeat, but all of my previous overtures for assistance have been rebuffed. They used to be a mighty nation, but as far as I am aware, those who remain in Griffonstone are little more than scavengers now, hoarding whatever bits they can get their claws on. Any griffon who is financially able to leave, does. I’ve maintained a rather loose immigration policy towards griffons in the hopes that it might do some good, but I’m afraid most griffons would rather horde their money, much like dragons do.”
“Huh.” Bean glanced up in thought. “All of my history classes made it seem like Griffonstone was a fairly prosperous place, since they had that Idol of Boreas thing.”
“I have been after Chancellor Neighsay and the editors at Hoofton Muffin to correct that for years now,” Celestia muttered. “The Idol was lost when Guto was defeated, and it has never been recovered.”
“Oh. So, maybe the griffons finally changed their minds?” Bean offered.
“Perhaps. Grandpa Gruff will be able to fill us in on the details once we arrive. Provided we have enough bits with us,” she added with a roll of her eyes.
“We’re meeting with a grandpa?”
“Gruff is the closest thing the griffons have to a leader. They have not had a king since Guto’s time, so Gruff acts as a steward of sorts. He’s called Grandpa since he’s the oldest griffon in Equestria, not because of any familial ties.”
“Ah. So, why isn’t Ambassador Ghis joining us?”
“He said something about previous commitments.” Celestia waved a hoof and blew a raspberry. “Which, of course, is code for ‘I don’t want to go.’ I don’t think Ghis has been back to Griffonstone since his appointment. There’s the threat of being replaced if he does, and he’s grown rather comfortable with his life here.”
“Politics,” Luna muttered. “I am still of the opinion that speaking softly and carrying a big stick would solve many of your diplomatic problems, Celly.”
“I’ve been tempted, believe me. But who knows? Perhaps you are right, Bean, and the griffons are finally trying to restore their aerie.”
“It may be beneficial to invite them to the upcoming princess summit, Sister,” Luna said. “I am sure there are ponies who would like to tap into new business markets, and the griffons could increase their exports if they have somewhere to send them.”
“If they have anything to send.” Celestia tapped her chin in thought, but then smiled and stood. “Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask. We shall extend an invitation, and hope for the best.”
* * ✹ * *
“Mornin’, Princess Luna!” Applejack swept her hat from her head and offered a curtsy to the nocturnal ruler as she stepped onto the train platform. “Real pleasure to see ya again.”
“Good morning to you too, fair Applejack,” Luna replied. “Are you ready to depart?”
“Ready and rarin’ to go, Princess. Ah’m always lookin’ for new markets for our apples, and from what Pinkie and RD told me, the griffons are hard up for quality vittles.”
“Do you have any luggage?”
“Naw.” Applejack waved a dismissive hoof as she donned her hat again. “Unlike a certain unicorn that we both know, ah’ve got everything I need right here.”
“Then let us be off,” Luna said with a smile. “Tell me, how is young Apple Bloom this morning?”
Applejack’s smile grew as they both entered the train car. “She’s doing quite well, since you ask. Ah guess she was having some nightmares last night about her cutie mark, but she had some friends help her out. Oh, she wanted me to pass along another ‘thank you’ for your kind assistance last night, and ah’ll add mine to it. Them nightmares were really messin’ with her before you came along.”
“It was my honor to assist,” Luna replied.
“Good morning, Applejack!” Celestia called out as she and her husband entered from another car. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“Pleasure is all mine, Your Highnesses,” Applejack replied with a quick bow. “How are you and that little one gettin’ along?”
“Nilla and I are both doing well, thank you,” Celestia said with a glowing smile.
“Glad to hear it. Oh! Prince Bean, before I forget, Twilight wanted me to ask you if you’ve looked over the recommendations she added to the rough draft of your book.”
“I have. It took me a bit to rewrite the passages that she pointed out, but I got it all done just last night, actually. Celly is going to give it one final lookover while we head to Griffonstone, and once we get back, I’ll send it off to get published. Hopefully.”
“Hopefully?” Applejack asked as the train car lurched forward slightly. “Beggin’ your pardon, but Ah think you’re gonna have a bestseller on your hooves. Everypony’s gonna want to read what you wrote.”
“It’s not a sure thing,” Bean said, and he paused as the travelling party made themselves comfortable. “I’m actually going to use a nom de plume when I submit it. I want the story to be judged based on the merits of the tale itself, and not on who wrote it.”
“Huh. Ah hadn’t thought about that, but Ah can see where you’re coming from. So what are you gonna do with the money you make?”
“Well, I obviously don’t need it,” he said with a laugh and a quick kiss on Celestia’s cheek. “So I decided that all of the proceeds will be donated to charity.”
“That’s mighty nice of you,” Applejack said with an approving smile. “And Ah still say you’re gonna have a hit on your hooves.”
“I hope so, to be honest,” Bean said with a hint of glee. “But even if it flops, I have my family and my friends, and that’s what’s really important.”
* * ✹ * *
“Ah! So here you are, fair Applejack,” Luna said with a grin as she entered the club car. “I was wondering where you had disappeared to.”
“Guilty,” Applejack replied as Luna sat. “Didn’t seem right to be with the Prince and Princess while they were discussin’ their plans for Nilla’s birth with that nanny they hired. Banana Split, right?”
Luna nodded, but then her grin grew slightly. “I would not think that a farmer such as yourself would be uncomfortable with the topic of birthing a foal.”
“T’aint that, per se. Ah’ve been up to my elbows and then some with births on the farm,” she replied with a wink. “But Ah doubt the Prince and Princess need my help with such a thing, and foals should rightly be a private topic. Ah wouldn’t feel quite right talkin’ about the particulars of giving birth to a foal of my own in front of Twilight and the others, even if they are my best friends.”
“Indeed.” Luna chuckled. “Nor would I.”
There was a pause as Luna sat, and for a time, the two of them enjoyed the gentle rocking of the train car as the lush greenery of springtime passed by the window.
“You should ask the question that is on your mind,” Luna finally said.
“Am Ah that easy to read?” Applejack asked with a chuckle.
“To a degree. But I also have several centuries of experience in reading body language. I may not be as good as my sister, but I can still tell.”
“Makes sense.” Applejack paused for a moment, then drew in a deep breath. “Do you still miss ‘em?”
Luna did not need clarification on who Applejack referred to. “I do. Why do you ask?”
“Ah got to thinkin’ about my own parents,” Applejack began in a slow, contemplative tone. “What with the whole nightmare over cutie marks thing. Ah love Apple Bloom, and Ah’d do anything to keep her safe and protected. But Ah can’t help but wonder if Ah’m doing the job right. Ma, she…” Applejack’s voice hitched. “She always knew just what to say, and how to say it. Ah never felt scared or lonely when she was around. It breaks my heart when Ah see Apple Bloom strugglin’ with these things, and Ma ain’t here to help her.”
Luna nodded slowly. “I understand your concern. You believe your mother would be more capable than you are to handle the problems that young Apple Bloom is enduring.”
“That just about sums it up,” Applejack said.
“You are not the first to have such feelings,” Luna said in a soft, thoughtful tone. “There are many who share your concern, from all different family situations. In a way, you are actually quite fortunate.”
“How do you figure?”
“I should clarify that your situation is, indeed, a difficult one,” Luna said. “The loss of parents when one is still a child is a tragedy that should never befall any family. Even I cannot say that I know exactly what you are going through, for my own parents lived to be very, very long in the tooth, and my Star Struck was surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren when he left this mortal realm.”
Luna paused for a moment as the familiar feelings of regret and remorse made themselves at home in her heart once again. “But while I do not have experience with your particular pains, I do know that you are not alone in your suffering. Your grandmother, at one point in the past, was a mother herself, and I am sure she has proved to be a motherly figure to both you and Apple Bloom. You also have Big Macintosh to help you raise and nurture your younger sister, and if my memory serves me correctly, you also have a large extended family who is ready and willing to assist you.”
Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, Ah suppose all that is true. Big Mac and Apple Bloom were almost like two peas in a pod for the longest time. She really admires him, and he worries about her just as much as Ah do.”
“There are many who do not have the support that you do,” Luna said. “That is why I say that you are fortunate. But, in the end, your feelings of inadequacy should not be treated lightly. While you may feel that you are not equal to the task that has been forced upon you, please trust that you are. The love and guidance that you are providing to her is making a positive impact in her life, even if you cannot always see it. Just do your best. Things will work out in the end if you do.”
Applejack didn’t say anything for several long moments, but it was clear that Luna’s words had made an impact. “Ah suppose you’re right,” she finally said. “Still, Ah wish there was a way they could be here to help her.”
Luna smiled as Applejack’s gaze went back to the window. “In my experience, they are helping her. And you.”
Applejack glanced back to Luna, and a warm smile came to the farmer as Luna watched a stallion and a mare appear next to the young element bearer. Applejack leaned into the familiar embrace of her mother, and she hummed as the strong arms of her father wrapped around them both. “Ah think they are, too.”
“Tell me, what were they like?” Luna gently asked.
* * ✹ * *
“Um, Celly?” Bean glanced around the deserted and decrepit train station, then let out a yelp when his rear hoof went through the rotten floorboards of the platform. “We are in the right place, aren’t we?”
“We are,” she said with a soft sigh. “Griffonstone is right up there.”
Bean freed his hoof, then stared, slack jawed, at the decrepit and crumbling aerie before him. When they had left that morning, Bean had pictured Griffonstone as an elegant place, with sharp angles in the architecture that would direct the eye skyward, where griffons felt an instinctive yearning to be. Given Celestia’s comments about the decline of the nation, he had expected the modest buildings to be weathered and well-used, but still maintained as best as they could be, and would only need a few minor repairs to restore them back to their original glory.
That image crumbled and collapsed in perfect synchronization with the roof of a nearby building, and Baked Bean worried for the moment that the rest of the city would follow.
“Well, talk about your fixer upper,” he muttered after a few moments. “How long has it been since King Guto was defeated, again?”
“Seventy years ago,” Celestia said, her gaze on her hooves as she gingerly stepped across and around the weak points in the floor like she was crossing a lava flow.
“This is why Trixie never performs in Griffonstone,” Trixie said with a disapproving glance at her surroundings. “And because Griffons wouldn’t know entertainment even if it came up and bit them in the tail feathers.”
“Griffons don’t have tail feathers,” Luna noted with a grin.
“You know what I mean.”
“I want all of you to be on your best behavior while we are here,” Celestia said as the party walked up the dirt path that led to the center of the ‘kingdom.’ “And that includes you, Luna. The griffons will be hostile, and I would like to avoid giving them any reason to be worse.”
“Of course,” Luna said with a nod.
“Everypony, please keep your comments to yourself, unless it is related to the business at hoof. Be polite, and do not take offence over griffon manners and behavior. Remember, they are like a ship without a captain, adrift and driven by the whims of the wind. Hopefully, this visit will help begin a new era for them. Applejack, did Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie tell you anything about their recent visit?”
“I didn’t know they had been here,” Bean said.
“The cutie mark map called them here about a week ago,” Applejack said with a thoughtful look. “From what they said, their mission was to make amends with Gilda, an old friend Dash knew back in the junior speedsters. Pinkie also mentioned that they needed baking powder somethin’ fierce. They both were hopin’ that Gilda would teach the other griffons about friendship, since griffons don’t have friends.”
“Then let us do all that we can to build upon their efforts,” Celestia said.
Thankfully, it was a short walk from the station to what was the closest thing Griffonstone had to a town square, but even calling it that was a bit of a stretch. To Bean, it was simply a wider-than-normal spot on the main road, but it also was the first place that had actual griffons, as opposed to the empty road that they had just travelled.
“Excuse me, Sir,” Celestia called out to a passing griffon. “Could you tell me where Grandpa Gruff is?”
“Got any bits?” the griffon snapped with an annoyed huff. Celestia produced two with her magic, and the potential informant quickly snatched them away before they could disappear. “Nope. Haven’t seen him. Try over there, maybe.”
Bean couldn’t hold back his gasp as the griffon quickly took to the air. “Did he seriously just demand payment for no information?”
“Remember, most griffons are trying to leave for greener pastures,” Celestia said softly. “They’ll do just about anything for bits.”
“It’s still rude. He could have just said no.”
“Perhaps. Excuse me, young one!” Celestia quickly trotted over to another passing griffon. “Could you tell me where Grandpa Gruff is?”
“Maybe. How much is it worth to you?” the small griffon asked, and the princess produced two bits for him. “Last I saw, he was at his house.”
“So, he is in yonder castle?” Luna asked.
The young griffon shrugged, but he was quick to clarify his response once two more bits were passed to him. “That’s not his house. Nogriff has lived there for ages. His house is over there,” he said with a casual wave to his left.
“What is your name, young sir?” Celestia asked.
“Gallus.”
“I have a proposition for you, Mister Gallus. I will pay you fifty bits if you will agree to be our guide for the day. Will that be acceptable?”
Gallus’ eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Fifty?! Lady, I’ll drag Gruff here by the tail if you want! Payment in advance,” he quickly added.
Celestia summoned the bits with her magic, but before the eager griffon could swipe them away, she pulled them back and out of reach. “Let me be clear, young Gallus. When I say ‘for the day,’ I mean from this exact moment until we leave this evening. I also expect you to provide whatever assistance we require during our visit here, with no further payment for your services. Is that clear?”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever,” Gallus impatiently snapped. “Fork over the money, and I’m your slave until you leave. I got it.”
Bean wasn’t surprised when the greedy little parasite cackled and clucked in delight over the small fortune that Celestia put into his claws, but there was an unmistakable joy in the griffon’s eyes that was surprisingly telling. This kid wasn’t going to squander his newfound wealth, nor was he going to stuff the cash under his mattress and sit on them. Gallus had carefully thought out plans, hidden deep underneath that blue plumage of his, and these bits had just given them a major shove towards fruition.
“Now, where is Gruff?” Celestia asked once more.
“He’s over here. C’mon.” The entourage fell in behind Gallus, who eagerly led them past the dilapidated houses and decrepit buildings that made up his hometown.
“Shoot, this place makes my chicken coops look like the palace by comparison, don’t it?” Applejack said in a low voice to Bean. “RD and Pinkie said the griffons were going through a rough patch, but Ah think they undersold how rough that patch really is.”
“No kidding,” Bean said. “I don’t know how any creature can live in conditions like this. Don’t they have any pride or dignity?”
“Dignity is a noble trait,” Luna cut into their conversation, “but as far as I am aware, it cannot be used to purchase lumber and paint. Desire and capacity are two different things.”
“Yeah, but this is something else, you gotta admit,” Bean said as a random griffon brusquely brushed by them with a demand to watch where he was going.
“Not at all. What you see before you was a common sight among ponykind in the Pre-Unification Era, and pony behavior then was nearly identical to how the griffons behave now.”
“But, that means all of this can be fixed up proper like, if’n the griffons can learn how to get along,” Applejack said.
“Indeed. It will take time, but the magic of friendship can restore this aerie.”
“And bits,” Applejack added. “Lots of bits.”
“And bits,” Celestia confirmed. “For now, it behooves us to ensure that we encourage the small flame that Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie lit during their visit.”
“Gruff!” Gallus shouted and banged on the door of a nondescript house, thus breaking up the conversation. “There’s some fancy-looking ponies out here to see you!”
“Tell them to go away!” an ancient voice wheezed back, with a few coughs for good measure. “I don’t want any visitors, well-wishers, relations, or otherwise!”
“Hang on a minute.” Gallus grabbed the handle, pulled the door clean away from the frame, entered the house over Gruff’s angry squawks of protest, and then put the door back just as it had been. There was more indistinct shouting for a few moments, then a few angry but unintelligible words. After another moment of silence, the door opened in the proper fashion, and Gallus strode back out with a satisfied grin.
“So, you actually came, Princess!” Grandpa Gruff wheezed out a laugh as he slowly saundered outside. “I don’t know why you did, but you ponies have always been weird.”
Bean took a moment to look over the ancient leader of the griffon nation, and he wasn’t impressed. Grandpa Gruff was a frail-looking, bushy-eyebrowed griffon who was missing most of the plumage on his face, and the fez hat that he wore was the cherry on the cake, as it were. A deep scar ran down the left side of his face, and Bean wasn’t sure if his left eye was a real eye that had clouded over, or if it was made of glass.
It was little wonder that Griffonstone had decayed to its current condition, given that their ‘leader’ was just as broken down as the aerie itself.
“Good morning to you, Gruff,” Celestia greeted with an amiable smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“No it ain’t,” he snapped. “But whatever. I suppose you’re here for the… thing.”
“Thing?” Celestia asked.
“My memory ain’t what it used to be, you know. Sometimes it needs a little jog,” Gruff replied, but his crooked beak split into a wicked smile when Celestia’s magic summoned four bits for him. “Guess she didn’t tell you either, I suppose. I’m not the one who wants to see you, Princess. She is.”
Gruff pointed to a griffon down the road, who was standing next to a cart that was loaded up with what looked like freshly baked scones. Bean’s legs propelled him towards his fellow baker without any prompting from his brain, with the rest of the group and Gruff following behind him.
“What do you want?” the griffon demanded as he approached. “And keep your hooves off the merchandise! You want one, you pay for it, got it?!”
“What are these?” Bean asked, his nose dropping dangerously close to the baked goods.
“They’re griffon scones, dummy. Two bits for one scone, non negotiable. Hey! No free smells!”
It was too late; Bean had already taken a deep whiff. They were simple things—no more than flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder—but his mind quickly offered up a dozen different recipes that could enhance and add on to this basic formula.
“You are Gilda, are you not?” Luna asked as the griffon shooed Bean away from her cart like he was a pesky and persistent fly.
“Yeah. Luna and Celestia, right?” Gilda replied, and the Sisters nodded. “And you’re Applejack. Rainbow’s farmer friend. Who’s Mister Nosy McSniffy over there? One of your valets?”
“Gilda, this is my husband, Prince Baked Bean,” Celestia calmly replied.
“Him?!” Gilda barked. “Huh! The newspapers made you look bigger.”
“I hear the camera adds twenty pounds,” Bean dryly remarked.
“And you? I don’t care who you are.” Gilda scoffed and gave a dismissive wave to Trixie, who promptly sputtered and huffed in indignation.
“How dare you speak to The Great and Powerful Trixie that way! I’ll have you know that I am the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria, and the Princess’ major-domo!”
“Major-domo?” Celestia’s eyebrow slid upwards, and Trixie chuckled nervously.
“Would you believe minor-domo?”
“The way I heard it, Twilight Sparkle kicked your flank. Twice,” Gilda said with a chuckle. “Doesn’t sound very powerful to me.”
“Why have you summoned us here?” Celestia stepped in before Trixie could properly retort to the insult and start a fight.
“Grandpa Gruff said I had to talk to you if I wanted to sell my scones in Equestria,” Gilda said, her previous bravado rapidly giving way to nervousness. “Pinkie said something about finding new markets for my product, or something weird like that.”
“You wish to export your baked goods to our country?” Luna asked.
“Yeah, I guess. I can do that, right?”
“Certes, provided you follow the appropriate rules and regulations. However, this is a matter that could have been easily tended to by Ambassador Ghis. Why did you not contact him for assistance?”
“Ghis?” Gruff laughed. “Don’t get me started on that worthless featherbrain! I think he’s more pony than griffon now. We did try to contact him, but he sent back a letter saying that he would look into the matter, which obviously meant that he was going to forget all about it. Gilda here was annoyingly insistent about it, though, so I wrote to you directly just to get her off my tail.”
“I shall speak to the Ambassador when I return to Canterlot,” Celestia said with a serious frown. “However, since we are here, I will have Trixie assist you with this matter.”
Gilda’s gaze darted back and forth, then down to the ground. “Thanks. I know this is probably really annoying for you, but if I can sell more griffon scones, I want to try to make this dump a little less horrible.”
“You intend to invest your profits locally, then?” Luna asked.
“You mean buy stuff here? Yeah. Problem is, we don’t really have anything, so I have to buy all my stuff from you ponies. That’s why I wanted to talk to Applejack, too. Pinkie said I should try adding stuff to the scones to make them even more yummy—her words, not mine—and I was hoping you ponies would want to buy them if I put apples in them and junk. Ponies like apples, right?”
“Sure do,” Applejack said with a grin. “And Ah can get you all the apples you want. ‘Taint no finer apple in Equestria than the ones from Sweet Apple Acres. Ah’ll even sell ‘em to you wholesale until you get up and runnin’.”
“Why don’t you three work out the details while Princess Luna, Prince Bean, and I speak with Gruff?” Celestia offered.
“What?” Gruff asked. “What for? I know Ghis is a deadbeat, but I doubt he’d leave Canterlot for anything now, so there’s no point in replacing him.”
“I actually have something else in mind. How would you feel about sending a delegate to an upcoming summit we have planned? There will be representatives from all of Equestria’s cities there, and my little ponies might be willing to buy your goods and services, if they know that they can.”
Gruff rubbed his chin in thought, but he appeared to be unconvinced.
“It would be a fantastic way to bring more bits to your aerie,” Luna added.
“Bits?” Gruff eagerly asked. Luna was speaking his language now, and she grinned as she pressed the point home.
“Indeed. After all, sometimes the quickest way to find profits is to let them come to you.”
Gruff chuckled. “I suppose we could work something out. Gwendolyn is probably the best griffon for this little summit of yours. Gallus, you go get her while the Princesses and I discuss what they had in mind.”
* * ✹ * *
“Welcome back, Your Highnesses!” Banana Split greeted the returning royals as they entered the train car. “I hope your business has been concluded in a satisfactory manner.”
“I’m just glad we’re done with this abysmal pit of despair,” Bean grumbled. “What a disgusting mess!”
“Really?” Banana glanced between the royals, her confusion clearly written on her face. “I knew that Griffonstone has had some difficulties in the past, but I find it hard to believe that things are that bad.”
“It’s worse, actually. The only thing any of them care about is bits, and how to get more of them. The whole place is falling apart from the inside out, and all they can do is make demands for more money. It would be one thing if they’d invest some of those bits in making repairs, or maybe trying to get their businesses going again, but my wife was right. They’re just a bunch of differently-shaped dragons, making piles of gold to sit on while they squawk at one another about their hoard.”
Celestia started to say something, but she was interrupted by Trixie, who let out a large belch and then let out a shout of pain.
“Mi doze! Guh! It wed up my doze!” she bellowed as her hooves pawed at the end of her snout. “Geh it out, geh it out!”
“Hold still,” Banana Split ordered, taking Trixie’s face into her hooves. “You really got it wedged in there, didn’t you? At least it’s not a crayon, for a change. Or loose change, either. It’s amazing what a foal will try to stick in their nose.” With a tug and yelp from Trixie, Banana removed the message from Trixie’s nostril. “There we go. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“Ugh, there has got to be a better way to receive messages.” Trixie opened the message with her magic while rubbing the end of her nose. “Looks like this one is for Princess Luna.”
“Missus Split, would you please assist Miss Trixie with her paperwork?” Celestia said. “I believe she has several forms to fill out, and copies will need to be sent to Princess Twilight Sparkle and Wysteria for review.”
“You can start by getting me some ice.” Trixie said. “Having a dragonfire message summoned in your nose hurts worse than snorting soda pop.”
“Ah’ll tag along with you,” Applejack added. “After all that talkin’, my throat feels as dry as kindlin’ over a matchstick.”
The three left just as the rail cars jerked and rattled to begin the trip home, and the Royals made themselves comfortable as the train picked up speed. Once Bean and Celestia had snuggled up to each other, the princess began to nip and nibble in his mane with her teeth.
“This is a most interesting development,” Luna said, as she flipped the scroll over and made sure there was nothing written on the back side. “This missivie is from Prince Blueblood. He reports that he has made some progress with the Yaks, and that they wish to send a delegation to Equestria to discuss the reopening of their borders.”
“He actually got through to them, eh?” Bean said with a grin.
Luna nodded. “This is excellent news. Sister, perhaps we should ask Twilight Sparkle to act as our representative in this matter. She is the Princess of Friendship, and I am sure we want Yakyakistan to be on friendly terms with Equestria.”
“Indeed, but it would be for the best if the delegation came in a few weeks, once Twilight has had a chance to recover from the Princess Summit. While she is capable of multitasking, the demands of the summit should be her primary focus for now. To add a yak delegation now would be a bit much.”
Luna nodded. “I agree. I shall write back to Blueblood, and inform him that a visit can be arranged in one month’s time. That should give Twilight Sparkle sufficient time to complete the summit and to properly prepare for their arrival.”
Celestia nodded. “That will work. I shall have to thank Blueblood for his diligence and devotion to this cause.” She paused and nipped Bean’s ear. “Maybe he’s trying to make amends for his previous actions towards you?”
“I think he’s trying to please you, more than anything,” Bean replied. “Other than being a bit rude and snippy, he really didn’t treat me all that badly. I don’t hold any grudges against him.”
“And what of the griffons? Can you forgive them for how they have acted today?”
“I suppose so. Why?” He bent backward to look up at her. “Do you think they offended me?”
“I am worried about that, yes. Up until now, your dealings have mostly been with our little ponies here in Equestria, with the odd exception like Ambassador Ghis. I am worried that you will be offended, or disgusted, or something of the like as we begin to interact with other species, such as the Yaks. Prince Rutherford, for example, has a well-earned reputation for being an extremely vocal perfectionist with anger management issues.”
“Yak smash,” Luna murmured with a chuckle. “And he is one of the more reasonable Yaks.”
“Exactly. So, are you willing to look past what we would perceive as slights and inappropriate behavior? Can you still respect them, even when they have done nothing to deserve it? Can you offer a hoof in friendship to them, even if it seems like they will reject your overtures?”
Bean started to reply, then hesitated. “Well, I want to say yes, of course I would. I’ve dealt with cranky customers in the past, so it shouldn’t be that difficult for me to be nice to whatever creature we meet. But, I suppose dealing with ponies isn’t going to be the same as dealing with Yaks, or Griffons, or whoever. So, if I do get offended, or if I don’t know what to do, I’ll keep my mouth shut and rely on you to get me through it. There’s still a lot I need to learn about diplomacy, and I know you’re a fantastic teacher.”
Celestia nipped his ear and giggled. “Good answer.”
“I, for one, think that the griffons will come around,” Luna said. “It may take some time, but from what I could see, Gilda, Gwendolyn, Gallus, and even Gruff wanted change, even if they don’t realize it. I believe that their desires for friendship will soon have an effect on the others.”
* * ✹ * *