//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Meeting of the Four // Story: The Leader of House Starswirl // by Scrying Mind //------------------------------// Summer stood in the same lobby he had stood in just a week earlier. Though the room was familiar, the mood was completely different. The morning sun, while usually welcomed as a sign of a prosperous beginning, nearly blinded Summer and forced him to shield his eyes with a wing. An uneasy quiet hung in the air, and a knot of worry found its place in Summer’s stomach. Not only had the past week been fruitless in his efforts with the treasury, but the alicorn enchantments threatened to wear off every so often. He had discerned a pattern for when he should reapply the spells, but if he forgot or if the spells had been cast even slightly differently, he could go through the pain he had gone through in the carriage all over again. To compound on everything else, he was exhausted. He felt like wine that had been diluted with water; he had to use much more of his energy for the same effects. The large inlaid clock in the wall chimed for the hour, and Summer stepped out of the manor. He still received strange looks when he walked through the streets of Canterlot, but he was far too preoccupied to pay them mind. Before long, he was looking up at the Sombra Manor. Unlike the Starswirl Manor, it used an abundance of curved and flowing lines that gave it a chilling, ethereal aura. Summer stood for a minute, entranced by the architecture. The flowing lines drew his eyes to other parts of the building, and he became lost in the hypnotic flow. When he realized his eyes were wandering in circles, he forced himself to look directly at the ornate double doors and walk in. Upon entering, Summer was escorted to a large meeting room. The three other house leaders were already there: North Star of House Windigo, Cobweb of House Clover, and Bluebird of House Sombra. Each sat under their house symbols: the scales, the bell, and the thunderbolt, respectively. An empty chair sat under a banner adorned with a lotus. Summer shifted on his hooves at he thought that he would be sitting in his mother’s chair. “Finally,” Cobweb snapped, his accusing red eyes contrasting his washed-out coat. Summer flinched and faltered under the gaze. “I-I... Uh...” "You're late, you know. Your mother—" “Oh come on, Cobweb.” Bluebird let a playful tone slip into her voice as she got up and walked toward Summer. “Don’t be too hard on the new guy just yet.” She stopped in front of a small table, barely large enough for a plate and teacup. She drew a cloth off the top and revealed a checkered board. Summer looked down quizzically as Bluebird drew out a series of pieces. “Chess?” “Yes,” Bluebird said as she set up the board. “It’s good to see how you think before we talk business.” "Chess is just a game." "Perhaps. But even in games, we act out what kind of pony we are." “Very well.” Summer picked up a pawn and made the first move. This meeting wouldn't begin otherwise. “And before we talk business, let’s just talk as friends.” Summer didn't answer for a few moves. Bluebird was playing very conservatively; there weren't any weaknesses to be found. While thinking, he flicked his eyes up. “What about?” “Just trying to get to know you.” Bluebird thought for a moment and mischievously added, “What about your marefriend?” Summer flicked his ear. “She’s not my marefriend.” Bluebird chuckled. “So uptight! Alright, I’ll ask it this way: What about this mare you’re interested in?” Why did everypony assume he and Iris were a couple? They were just friends. Sure, she was pretty, athletic, and funny, but that didn't mean... He shook himself out of his thoughts and hastily retreated his rook. The board was quickly becoming claustrophobic. Bluebird didn't miss a beat before pushing forward. “You seem shaken. Are you quite alright?” Summer stared at the pieces. There were few good moves to be found. “I’m going to win.” “It doesn’t look like it.” Bluebird was barely looking at the board, preferring to stare intently at Summer. She was moving quickly, and her moves were solid and safe. If Summer wanted to break through, he’d have to go on the offensive. “Still, I—” “So what have you been doing lately? Since you don't want to talk about your not-marefriend.” Summer looked up from the board. “I’ve been helping my house, just like you.” “Only that? No picnics, no trips to the theater... Nothing?” Summer smiled as he pushed a pawn forward. “No, but I’m doing well for myself.” He wasn’t just holding his own anymore. He was pushing back. “You can both have fun and do well, you know. You could even say having fun is ne—” Summer growled. “We’re in the middle of a game. If you don’t want to focus, can you at least let me?” Bluebird scoffed in contempt at this comment. “What’s the point? The game’s been decided for a while.” Summer went silent and looked at the board, his left wing twitching against his side. Maybe he wasn't in as good a position as he thought. But there were still ways out. He clenched his teeth as he pushed forward. “It's not decided until checkmate.” Bluebird smirked and met each move with a perfect, calculated move of her own. “The foal fights to the end.“ Each move Summer made was less sure than the last. He shakily moved his pieces, scrambling to patch up holes in his defenses. Bluebird calmly captured piece after piece until she said the dreaded word: “Checkmate.“ Bluebird rose and walked back to her seat as Summer hung his head in shame. Without looking back, she said, “You got overconfident. You can't just start winning, Glare. You have to actually win.“ This wasn’t a game at all. He was being evaluated. And he had failed the test. Bluebird sat and added, “And do remember to always keep an eye on the queen. It’s a powerful piece.” Summer meekly returned to his seat and shifted around uncomfortably. He eventually came to rest perched on the edge of the chair. He looked at the other three leaders with bated anticipation. After shuffling some papers, Bluebird cleared her throat. “Let’s get started. Everypony should have an idea of what they want to talk about. For example, what was the fiasco on the Economics Committee?” “Not our fault, that's what,” Cobweb quickly spat. “Care to elaborate?” “No.” North Star, who had been quiet up until now, leaned forward and said, “If you don’t explain, we’ll have to assume the worst.” Her lavender eyes and white coat were framed by her midnight blue mane, making her shine. Cobweb rose out of indignation. “Why should I listen to the leader of a bankrupt house? Your economic situation is even worse than House Starswirl’s!” With that comment, North Star and Bluebird shifted their gazes to Summer, making him shrink back into his mother’s chair. After taking a moment to collect himself, he said, “The trouble in the treasury isn’t of concern to the other houses. It was a simple bookkeeping issue with a few merchants, and we are working on correcting it.” “Good.” Cobweb glared at Summer. “If you manage to fall out of power, do you have any idea what that imbalance would look like? We need each other.” “Right. Of course.” Bluebird looked back at Cobweb. “If we’re done with that, what are you planning to do about the tax raise? Don't think you're weaseling out of this with your outbursts.” Cobweb scoffed. “Because we now know how much you rely on your savings, we’ll see if we can lower the hoarding tax. Though, from an ally, get a source of income.” Summer sharply inhaled and spoke up in a wavering voice. “Um... About that tax... Maybe it would be best to keep it?” “What?” For the first time during the meeting, Bluebird sounded threatening. She was glaring at Summer with an intensity that made him shrivel back into the chair. “Well, I just—um...” North Star interrupted the conversation. “He’s just trying to say what he believes we should do. That’s what you asked for, right?” North Star’s voice made Summer feel better. Safer. She was like a guardian. She was like his mother. Summer blinked. That didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t be like his mother. She was his rival. Bluebird and North Star glared at each other for a few moments before Summer spoke up again. “I just thought that it’d be best for Equestria's citizens if the tax were instituted.” Cobweb scoffed and glanced at North Star as he said, “Because that’s what we need right now: another 'champion of the commoners.'” Bluebird sighed and rubbed the side of her head with her hoof. “This is getting nowhere.” Cobweb snorted. “What’s new?” “At the very least the rest of us try to get along! What’s with you?” Summer nervously watched Bluebird and Cobweb as their tempers flared and their voices rose. After a few minutes, North Star leaned into his ear and whispered, “Follow me.” Though confused how North Star had gotten next to him unnoticed, Summer gladly followed her out of the room. She led him far enough away that the escalating argument was just a faint murmuring. She drew in a deep breath, let it out, and said, “They get like this every time. It’s honestly exhausting to keep coming back here. A gesture of goodwill should go a long way, though. Even if they don’t seem to reciprocate. The four of us—our four houses—wield more powerful than the Princess herself. We have to preserve this delicate balance we've struck.” Summer looked at North Star, confused. “Bluebird was at least trying, right? Cobweb was the problem.” “No. Cobweb may have instigated that, but responding in the manner Bluebird did helped no one. You’d do well to remember not to get emotional like that, either.” Summer nodded and fell silent. To make the silence more bearable, he passed time by looking around the room. Even the rooms inside the building were designed with the flowing, hypnotic curves that directed Summer’s attention to nothing in particular. He had to force himself to look at any other details of the room. The decorations were mainly done in greys and blues, but the few gold highlights drew one’s attention easily, forcing it back into the endless loop. Summer gritted his teeth. He wasn’t going to let some stupid architecture control him. He just needed to focus. He forced himself to look away from the strange lines and look at the inscriptions by the moulding. They seemed to be in Old Ponish, but he couldn’t read them. He was never taught enough to understand these sentences. It looked like some religious chant, but he couldn’t be certain. “So...” North Star said, “Have you been adjusting to being a house leader well?” Summer snapped his gaze away from the wall and shrugged. “Things can always be worse.” “I remember when I first stepped up. I know it can be hard to figure things out on your own. If you ever want my advice, I’m happy to give it.” “My mother taught me plenty, and I’ll do my best to follow her vision for the house.” “'Her vision'? You aren’t your mother. You're Summer Glare. She would have wanted you to be your own pony.” “My mother knows what’s best for the house, so—” “Your mother is dead.” The gentleness in North Star’s voice had all but vanished. Summer was left with a jarring sensation as she continued. “She’s dead, and it’s your job to figure out where your house goes from here.” “She was the one who knew what was going on; she—” “Stop it. She can't make your decisions for you anymore. It’s up to you now. You have to learn to do this on your own.” Summer winced and instinctively shielded his face with his wings. He fell onto a bench along the wall of the room and sat, shaking. His mother was gone. Actually gone. He'd never hear her advice again. Never hear her voice. His eyes darted across his feathers, and he could feel his breath quickening. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, rapidly growing to a cacophonous noise that made it impossible for him to think clearly. He couldn’t breathe. He gasped for air, but none entered his lungs. He was dying. After what felt like an eternity of pain, Summer became aware of North Star’s voice. It was soft and sweet, and Summer latched onto it. As he listened, he managed to calm down, and his breathing finally returned to normal. He shakily returned his wings to his side and began to make out North Star’s words. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re back. That was careless of me. I’m sorry.” Summer looked at North Star, who wore an expression of concern and remorse. Her gaze started to relax as he regained his composure. She sighed with relief and hugged Summer like a pony would hug a young, injured sibling. By the time she let go, Summer had caught his breath and managed to calm his shaking limbs. He jumped as he heard stomping from the hall and saw Cobweb angrily walking out. “Well, well.” North Star stifled a laugh. “He’s finally been kicked out. I guess this meeting is over.” She got up, looked back at Summer, and asked, “Are you going to be okay?” Summer nodded. A part of him dreaded the return to Starswirl Manor empty-hooved and tired, but he had to get back to work. There was always more work. North Star said her thanks to Bluebird and left as Summer took the time to fix his mane, tail, wings, and vest. He was lost in thought as he walked out, ignoring Bluebird as he mulled over his options for his mother’s house. One thing was certain: he needed money. The coffers wouldn’t fill themselves, so he needed to find that source of income quickly. He also needed to figure out why the tensions between House Sombra and House Clover were so great; that overreaction had to come from somewhere. *** Summer walked into Starswirl Manor, still wrapped up in his head. Iris was waiting for him in the lobby, now wearing her mane in its natural style, allowing it to fall in waves behind her head. She hadn't worn her dress since the ball. She was used to flying everywhere, and Summer could only imagine how trapped she must have felt in the heavy fabric. As the doors closed behind him, she turned and waved. “Hey, Summer! How’d it— ...You don’t look so good.” Summer rubbed his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m stressed; that’s all.” Iris frowned and studied him for a moment. “You’re going to work yourself to death. You need to relax at some point.” Summer waved his hoof dismissively, cutting Iris off. “I’ll make sure to get around to that. For now, I have work to do.” Summer ignored Iris's next sentence as he walked up the long staircase, down a long hallway, and into his mother’s office. He sat down and began levitating files around himself in a large circular pattern. He slowly inspected each document and frowned.