He laid in the hospital bed, his eyes widened with surprise.
As Princess Luna walked over to the side of his bed she kept her eyes on him, and he felt more than surprise as i melted into intimidation. "You fear us... for what reason Advisor Jared?" She spoke calmly, her voice sounded wonderful, not like how the rumors had been.
The room somehow managed to get colder as she stood before him, closer than earlier. He simply blamed this on his condition "I... have heard tales of-" he stopped there, what was he thinking? he just almost brought up Luna's most hated subjects, how she was viewed as a tyrant and a dictator.
She tilted her head and asked "Of?" he said immediately "Of... Your beauty, i can tell they were right". He huffed and looked out the window, but immediately looked away. Princess Luna smirked and chuckled lightly "Oh, quite the flatterer, but... sadly we are not here for pleasantries. my advisors tell me it's customary to visit wounded leaders..." Jared had the look of sadness now that the subject had gone back to his amputation "Yeah... I guess you heard huh?"
Luna chuckled "How could one not? The Advisor Jared Comes down with a severe case of a stroke and survives, everypony in Equestria has received such news" He smiled, feeling in a strange mood "So... being the all powerful and benevolent Luna, you came to wish me the best of luck eh?"
She nodded and left the room "Best of luck to you Advisor"
Luna thought to herself on the conversation 'He feared me for my beauty?' but pushed it away for now, it would also be best to simply ask him when he wasn't in the hospital, also it wasn't the most important matter ever.
Two Hours Later...
Jared walked slowly up to the Capitol building wearing his cloak. The official story had been a stroke, being a pegasi who'd lost their wings, that wasn't a happy matter, not for anypony, so they kept it a secret. His colleagues, save for Number 3, who was out on an official errand. Where, only Celestia knew.
"Advisor! we were worried about you, we have much we would like to discuss with you" Number 5 came up to the depressed Advisor, who simply walked past Number 5 and all the others.
The others all looked at eachother and then at Jared, Number 5 asked "Am i the only one who noticed that?"
Number 2 replied as if slightly offended "Noticed what? he ignored us!"
Number 1 simply said "He's depressed"
"I can tell something's wrong... let's comfort him" Number 5 pointed out, walking in Jared's path, they all left one by one, save for Number 2 who followed after a couple minutes.
They found him standing on both his hind legs in the center of the ring table of the council chamber, head hung over, and hood still masking him. "You all know that i suffered from a stroke... correct?"
They all agreed in their own way, Number two doing the usual stomping the floor and huffing, One nodded, silent as always, while Number 4 and 5 both agreed vocally.
Jared looked at them by simply tilting his head, his eyes looked hollow, and they even glowed from the darkness of his hood "You, as my colleagues and friends, need to see this..." He took off his cloak and turned his back to them, the absence of his wings was painfully clear "Two thousands years and I'm the next one to get Wingstroke, now you know why I had made it so hush-hush... I'm a wingless pegasus, doomed to walk the earth, instead of soar across it's skies"
Number Five walked to the table "There is more to a pegasi's life than flying... I once knew a unicorn who had lost her horn, and an earth pony who was forced to live at sea for an eternity"
"You don't understand... remember one of our research projects to lengthen pony life by ten years? we'd accdentally found out that if a unicorn lost their horn permanently, their life span would be reduced to 20% of the original. same went for pegasi and their wings and Earth Ponies with natural food. I have only a few months left to live, I Am 27 years old now."
Number 2 stepped forward this time "So what? Okay, You're going to die in a few months, but look at it this way; That's more than enough time to do what you've wanted to, make the time you've left count and all that cliche crap"
Jared sniffed, realizing her logic "I see... so, you're saying i should... make my last hours count, enjoy it while i can?"
"Eeyup!" Number 1 stated.
Advisor Jared turned around to face them "Well, then i guess it's time to do something i should have done all this time... My friends, i ask of you to carry something out, not for me, but for all of The Republic..."
Number 2 grinned, thinking 'Yes... She was right, this is the time we go on our crusade, finally!'
Number 1 stood there, silent and calm as always.
The others leaned in to hear him say...
"Take the week off for a vacation to Equestria!" He said with a smile, and all but Number 2 and 1 jumped in celebration, or excitement.
Number 1 was slightly speechless, despite being the one to see some future events, he never saw that coming so he stood there with an expression that displayed both disbelief and excitement, but what Number 2 wanted, and even now cursed to herself about 'DAMMIT! No, No No!' But they both forced a smile, Number one more feeling much more delighted than Number Two at this moment.
Later That Night, In New Canterlot...
"...And so it would be my honor, to ask for the permission of taking vacation within the walls of your most wonderous city of New Canterlot, on behalf of Advisor Jared and The entire Council of Sulmaria!" the stallion announced to Princess Luna, who sat upon her throne, the very seat of power her sister had once occupied, and nodded "You may tell your Council that We, Princess Luna would be both pleased and honored to take The Council of Sulmaria as guests of honor in Equestria" she smiled down as him as he backed away while smiling slightly excitedly to share the news.
He practically ran back to the Sulmar Republic, it being his job, Swift Stride was one earth pony who enjoyed and relished in bringing back good news, especially when the air was so down this week.
The last bit of news he'd given was a declaration of war to Distonia, and before that, when he met with the leader of The Red Syndicate for an alliance against Distonia and Equestria.
But now he felt like he could actually see the nations of the world getting along for once, instead of going at eachother's throats. He only hoped he could see his friend in Ponyville again, and Soon too.