//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Tribunal // by Carnifaxy //------------------------------// To say Gilda was angry that the prisoners were allowed to escape was an understatement. That none of the guards bothered to stop them was a sign that her power was much more limited than Agathon's was. Coupled with how Chrysalis was gone, no doubt to flee back to her people or do her work on Nikola. Either way at least that smug bug was out of her feathers but unable to be found to do Roc-knows-what in Griffdonia. Slaar remained of course, and she had her talons sunk deep into his human guise. His pain was clear on his face, but he took it. If she so chose, she could have torn him apart and he didn't seem to resist it. Even his guards stood by, watching the violence. “Why did you let them free?!” “T-they were unimportant!” He choked out. “Luna's the only one we need!” Gilda kept strangling him for a while longer before she finally let him go and stomped around trying to think. He sat up, rubbing his throat and coughed. “We-we will need time to solidify your rule over the griffons. During then the Equestrians will mobilize, their focus on Griffdonia.” “And how is that supposed to help us?!” “The changelings. The changelings will infiltrate their civilian populations, weaken the resolve for the conflict. They're starving, and with the Equestrians distracted it'd be a prime time for them to get to work.” Gilda's breathing was heavy and she brushed feathers away from her face as she turned to look out a window. She took in deep gulps of the chilled air and shook her head. Her limbs trembled as she looked back to him. “Father told me- he told me you always came up with half-assed schemes. Never thinking things through, just having some vague idea and going with it. He trusted you.” That stung badly, but he couldn't let her see that in his reaction. Instead he nodded as he stood back up. “Aye, he always trusted me.” And now he's dead because of that. That thought gave him pause. Could he really keep it going like this? One mistake out of how many successes and yet things were spiraling rapidly. But then, why shouldn't they? She looked back out at the vast expanse of snow-capped mountains. “I'll trust you too then. But if you make me regret this, I will kill you.” “Thank you. First things first, we need to solidify your rule over the other nobles. Gather your trustiest soldiers and we can begin. If we're lucky, Chrysalis will have made herself useful in this endeavor.” “Do you really trust that insect?” “Not very, but her people are starving. She'll be useful to us so long as she thinks it will help them.” Gilda took in a deep breath and clenched her fists. “Well then we better get started on organizing around here then.” Much of the rest of the day was getting the griffon guards in line. While still young and sprightly, Gilda's combat inexperience would still have been against her, if not for being capable of shouting at such a volume that made even the toughest griffon grimace and knees buckle. That she was followed by Agathon's best friend gave them pause as well. After demonstrating for the more stubborn guards it was not difficult to make the others fall in line. After being satisfied that the house guards had pledged themselves fully to her the young griffon queen looked the dragon in the eye. “Bring the pony along, we have a nation to unite.” Slaar let out a cough. “What?” “You heard me. We can't leave Princess Luna here alone, and while I'll trust your advice Slaar, I can't trust you and yours to be alone with her. What if you free her too?” His lips twitched slightly at that. “Very well, Queen Gilda.” Luna was not happy when she was roused from her slumber, blinking wearily. She had tried her best to acclimate to the day for the Tribunal, but now that it all had gone to Tartarus she slipped back to her normal sleeping habits. Her eyes focused on Slaar as he opened her cell and offered a hand to her. “Princess Luna, I'm sorry to say that we're not getting you out of Griffdonia just yet, but we are getting you out of this cell at least.” She eyed him warily, lips curled in a frown. “Why then should we take thy hand?” “Because Queen Gilda commands it. We're leaving this castle to see to her securing her rule over Griffdonia. They still enjoy bloodying each other up to establish and maintain dominance.” The dark alicorn stood up without his help, tossing her mane back. Her nostrils flared out in a snort as she walked right past him. “Very well. We shall endure these misfortunes a while longer.” Her hoof stomped on the floor and she turned to glare at Slaar. “But we will hold you to thy promise to see us back home.” Slaar bowed with a smile. “It will be my pleasure to assist you, Princess Luna, in any way possible.” Her voice softened. “Assist me with knowledge. Tell me of yourself.” His smile flipped into a frown as they began to walk together. “I am a dragon, and a prince. There's just... not much I can really say. I didn't want to be Dragon Lord, but I wanted to rule, and I traveled and found humans. They proved amiable enough for my ambitions.” “That is remarkably vague and sparse. You know spells, and can shift forms.” “I've had myriad teachers in my youth. I was hungry for knowledge you know. That little one, Spike, he could be doing the same really. Just need a good knife to start things off, until the claws come in proper. Flint is a good start for such, at least until one can buy a decent knife.” As they walked his guards fell in line as they made their way to the airship moorings with Vincent behind the prince and princess, the soft thud of his staff against the stone. “You must have left your nest when you were very young then," Spike she recalled was raised by her sister first, then Twilight, and had lots of friends. "Too young from what you say. Forgive me for asking, but what of your family?" Slaar cleared his throat as they walked outside into the brisk air. “Too young indeed, but I'm here now. I cannot dwell on a past when there's a present and future to focus on. Oh, it looks like the griffons want you on their ship. Heh. Gilda doesn't trust me as much as I'd like! Shame, I'd like to talk more. Perhaps at the next aerie.” He bowed to Luna as the griffon guards took over her escort and led her to their airship. Once both were fired up and their rotors going they took off. Slaar watched as Luna was forced into the bowels of the ship and he let out a sigh, while Vincent let out a bemused sound. “You're infatuated with the lunar princess.” “I am, and I shouldn't be.” “Would it be wise to seek to court one accused of murdering your dear friend?” It took him a moment to respond, a sorrowful expression on his face. “No, it wouldn't be wise. But I am not wise, Vincent. I am a fool. I shall always be a fool. That shall not change.” “Be careful then Slaar. You are our prince, our lord. I shall stand by you until the end of days if possible. I owe you too much to ever abandon you. I am sad about what happened with Night Shade, we had such lovely talks. Then again, I knew him very little. To think of such a brazen assassination attempt, perhaps it was them being desperate to keep Chrysalis from being freed.” Slaar merely nodded as he let the words sink in, then he leapt over the side of the ship. He twisted about in midair, giving some room before he shed his disguise. Scintillating blue scales rippled across his form as his human body vanished to be replaced with his real one, the massive dragon spiraling down before his wings spread and he caught the wind, bringing him back up to level with the ships. The griffons gawked and watched, Gilda included, at the display of the prince. With a deep breath of the chill air he let out a roar and barrel rolled away. With a twist he brought an eye to one of the portholes on the griffon ship, the slitted eye able to peer in. He could see Princess Luna looking back at him, apparently unamused. He picked up speed, going past the ships to take the lead and allowing them to fly in his wake with the sunlight making his scales glitter like sapphires. Gilda snorted at his display and turned to go inside. “What a showoff.” Vincent watched, leaning on the rail of the airship to watch his lord's antics. “There's something off about all of this.” He muttered to himself. “You wish to send out a Conscription Call?” Celestia asked as she looked over the detailed proclamation Blueblood had written up. “Hmm. The reasoning is sound, and the conditions are not too drastic.” “I had some time to think on it, auntie. We just need a good look at the potential pool of ponypower we can draw from after all. There is a special exception for the Elements of Harmony, though given from what I've studied the Element of Loyalty would likely volunteer on her own.” Blueblood swirled a glass of brandy before sipping. “Her ability in doing the Sonic Rainboom could be useful to us, but stories of her shown her being very brash and hotheaded. Daring is all well and good for old war romances, but can be disastrous in the real world.” “Indeed. Shining, how are the anti-changeling techniques coming along?” Shining saluted briskly. “As well as we can your highness. Without actual changelings to practice on we have to make use of our own illusion spells to counter. It has been slow, but we can reliably set up anti-illusion fields over a wide area. Whether this can work on changeling magic, we'll just have to see.” Blueblood walked over to the balcony overlooking Canterlot and looked across the city. “Is Sir Roland at the church again?” Celestia let out a tired sigh. “He is. He's been spending much of his time lately helping catalog those interred, as well as any and all relics as well.” “Praying with cousin Cadance as well, yes?” “Yes, praying with Cadance as well.” Blueblood turned to look at Celestia, humming gently. “Does it work, can you feel the prayers?” With a raised brow the solar princess shook her head. “I'm not truly a god, nephew. Despite what others wish to think of me or my sister, we are just ponies.” “Supremely powerful and nigh-immortal ponies who control the sun and moon.” Her nephew pointed out. “By most measures that would count you two as gods.” She winced. “The hubris of others is how we attained our positions in the first place, I do not seek to make those same mistakes.” “And you haven't, princess!” Shining said as he cut in. “You're one of the most humble ponies I know. You're well composed and treat people fairly, and you only seek to do what's best for your subjects. That is what inspires us about you, not your power.” “Not just your power. Take that all together, and what other conclusion can some make?” Celestia narrowed one eye at her nephew as he took another drink of brandy. The constant back and forth of her potential divinity was such a hot topic since Roland came back proclaiming with all of his heart about her being a goddess. She could have told him to stop it, to keep it to himself, but the guilt of abandoning his kin so long ago weighed on her. Her own ponies actively talking about it, to her however? That was frustrating. “Enough. We will not talk about this in these halls. It is irrelevant.” Blueblood bowed low. “Forgive me, auntie.” She waved a hoof, sighing. “We have generals to talk to about the southern border and the ocean. We'll need to patrol the Azures for griffon activity, it is key to protecting Equestria from any incursions by them.” Shining stepped forward. “On the nature of the griffon threat we still need time to gather intel, but we're confident that the new queen will require some weeks in order to get support from the nobility and industry owners.” “Does that take into account that there is a changeling queen and a dragon roaming freely through Griffdonia?” Blueblood asked curiously. The captain winced. “Well, maybe not very confident. It will still be time before they can mobilize however. In the meantime we can have pegasus teams at the Azures and securing it for us. We'll need to get some cloud outposts there first and secure the weather first before we can ensure it's defensible against griffon forces.” The princess nodded. “I'll send the proper orders, I want aerial teams at the Azures ASAP. They'll need to be prepared in case Queen Gilda takes to the field herself.” Celestia grimaced. “No, she will take to the field. It'll be her chance to prove to the others her power and better solidify her support over the military. It's what I would do in her situation.” The door opened and the familiar jingle of Roland's armor could be heard as he walked in. “No diplomatic solution to this situation, my lady?” With a tired sigh Celestia looked at the man. “Their king was likely murdered by Chrysalis, but they're sure it was Equestria that was behind it. When griffons put their mind to war, it is difficult to dissuade them. We've fought several wars with them over the centuries, each time they were the aggressor. Nay, the only way to get them to the table is to bloody their beaks first. Griffons respect strength of arms more than honeyed words.” “Ah, of course. Actions speaking louder and whatnot. I'm sad to say I will not be able to assist in the fighting then.” Roland knelt down in front of her. “But if there is anything I can do, I shall.” Celestia looked down at her faithful knight, so full of love and compassion for the object of his worship. It pained her that he was so devout in serving her when he could have gone to do anything else in his life. “Roland, you can honor me by going to Knossos to speak with King Phaitos of the minotaurs to try and convince them to keep out of the conflict. The minotaurs are an honorable people, and I do not doubt they pledged their support to the griffons. I do not want to see minotaur warriors heading to Equestria, can you attempt to dissuade them?” “Minotaurs? I will do my best, for your sake my lady.” Celestia lowered her head, touching her horn to his shoulders. “That is all I can ask Roland, thank you.” Twilight was worried. It was a constant state of being for her, to worry. Something's were minuscule. Well, most things she worried about were. That there was no word from Spike or about the trial for days set her on edge, but trials were lengthy things. There were lawyers and evidence and talking, lots of talking! Of course that recent conscription notice happened as well, that was a bit worrying too. She was thankful that her and most of Ponyville was exempt, whether that was Princess Celestia's doing or just old demographics laws about vital services she'd need to ask for clarification. Of course before that, that strange bipedal creature had wandered out of the forest as well! So many were shocked and afraid, he was covered in armor and had a weapon, but Lyra had helped him leave the town. Overall, a lot was going on that she wasn't sure about, and it had her worried. Rainbow Dash on the other hand, was much less worried and much more frustrated. She was rereading one of the older Daring Do novels as the next one wouldn't be out for a bit yet, but her thoughts went to the romanticized stories of ancient pegasus warriors battling it out among the clouds against rival families, griffon raiders, and the errant dragon. Her mind became full of thoughts of her dressed in ancient regalia, using her Sonic Rainboom to batter all the foes of Equestria! Twilight noticed her friend's dreamy gaze and let out a polite cough. “Rainbow, I know you're upset that you weren't asked about, this military business, but your job was Ponyville's weathermare is vital too.” Rainbow turned over onto her back and let out a sigh. “I know Twilight, and I wouldn't abandon everypony when they needed me, but if I could find a replacement then I would totally sign up as soon as I could!” The purple unicorn shook her head as she got up to start getting tea ready. “Because military service would have the Wonderbolts look at you more favorably?” “Wait, really?! I didn't know that!” Dash said as she sat up. “But, no. We pegasus have a long history of combat, it's in my blood!” Jumping off of the couch she started to shadowbox. “Equestria's fought a bunch of battles against the griffons and it was mostly pegasi on the frontlines for it!” Twilight came back out with two cups of tea, offering one to Dash who accepted. “And each time those wars were fought to a draw with no clear victor, with Princess Celestia abstaining from the conflicts due to her importance in administrating Equestria. The last Equestrian-Griffon war ended with concessions to Griffdonia's naval claims as well as establishing the Tribunal between us, which later grew to incorporate the minotaurs and apparently now the changelings as well.” “Unlike all those times, my Rainb-” “Rainbow, please, we don't even know why they sent out a conscription call! Most likely they're just going for unicorns for anti-illusion magic to try and find changelings.” “Yeah, maybe, but we could still totally be fighting griffons too!” Twilight rolled her eyes as she sipped her tea. “We are not fighting griffons Rainbow.” “Yeah? Did the princess tell you what's going on?” At that Twilight frowned and shook her head. “No, it's not really my place to ask about that sorta thing.” “But you're her student, you should be learning about this sorta thing! How about this, you go up to Canterlot to ask her what's going on and I'll watch the library while you're away! I'll even restock up on any food you need.” Twilight raised a disbelieving eyebrow as she took another sip of you. “You promise? It's a little short notice, and while Spike's with Luna I can't really tell the princess I'm coming.” Rainbow offering to go food shopping was pretty tempting, especially since without Spike to handle that the cupboards were going a bit bare. “Promise! Not a You-Know-Who promise though.” “Of course,” Twilight said with a giggle.