//------------------------------// // Chapter 54: Negotiations // Story: Fire and Steel // by shirotora //------------------------------// “Really!?” Smolder asked, wide eyed in surprise before throwing herself at me in a tight hug, despite only being able to use one arm. “You’re the best! I’m so doing that oral thing on you later!” I chuckled. “I’ll gladly accept, but she saved you and Ember, so it was my pleasure to do it.” Needless to say, Smolder took the news of Occelus and the others coming to live in New Dragonia quite well. She had come back a while after Deep Cavern was escorted from the palace to reconvene with Occelus and her group.  I didn’t know how long it would take for them to get back, but Celestia was already spreading the news that a group of changelings that had helped fight off Chrysalis’ forces would be passing through on their way to New Dragonia where we could ‘ensure they aren’t a threat to Equestria.’ Of course, that wasn’t exactly true, though not entirely false, either. There was a concern that some of Chrysalis’ loyalists might try to infiltrate the group. That was why I would personally interview any ‘lings that would return to Equestria for any reasons. Celestia and Ember were busy going over details. I may be Emperor, but I wouldn’t make a decision like this without involving my mate. Besides, she was better equipped to handle the details, as she still knew dragons better than I did. That left Smolder and I with the afternoon to ourselves. Naturally, we decided to go to the dining room to get some dinner... which made Smolder’s offer for oral all the better. Few things were funnier than the reactions of ‘high class’ ponies to things dragons considered normal. “Well, I’m still doing it. I kinda like it,” Smolder said. “Anyway, when are they going to get here? I want to talk to Occelus when no one’s dying.” “Patience, my padawan,” I said. “They only left half an hour ago. They’ve probably only just gotten back to Occelus and her group.” I took another bite of my ginger pork. I was really going to miss this place. I was a decent cook, but I wasn’t really anything special. Heck, Zann could beat my best cooking with instant ramen. That’s not a joke. I still have no clue how he did it. “You think we can find somepony that would cook for us to bring back home?” Smolder asked. “I was thinking something along those lines,” I replied. “Maybe one of Occelus’ followers has some kitchen talent.” “Why would they bring a chef to an invasion?” Smolder asked. “Why did they bring a miner?” I countered. Smolder shrugged. “Fair enough. Hey, let’s go meet them halfway!” I chuckled. “You won’t give up on this, will you?” “Nope.” “Fine. Let’s finish eating and we’ll go meet them, but only as far as the shield,” I said. “And don’t think inhaling your food will encourage me to do the same. I’m enjoying this.” “Is this normal for dragon hatchlings?” Celestia asked as she watched Ju-Long chase a butterfly through the garden. “My only experience is with Spike, I’m afraid, and his birth was unusual. “Nah, it’s kinda unusual,” Ember replied. “He’s a lot leaner and more active than a hatchling usually is, but the doctor said he’s perfectly healthy. He probably gets it from his father. Luke said his species is like that. In fact, he said if Ju-Long had fur, dog ears, and metal on his claws he would be the spitting image of a riolu.” “What’s a ‘riolu’?” Celestia asked. “Oh, it’s the hatchling version of a lucario,” Ember explained. Celestia cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? So his kind transform like the eevees?” “Not exactly,” Ember said. “Luke said that most of their kind only transform along a single line. Riolu always transform into Lucario, for example. Eevees are just special, seeing as they can transform into a bunch of different things.” Celestia chuckled. “You know, I feel you know more than you’re letting on.” Ember laughed. “And you’re Miss Transparent?” Celestia smiled. “Touche. I must say, it’s nice having someone to talk to as an equal that isn’t family.” “Equal? Last I checked, ‘Empress’ is higher than ‘princess’,” Ember teased. “Yes, but technically I’m a queen,” Celestia countered. “I just use the title of ‘princess’ so my subjects are more comfortable approaching me.” Ember snortled at that. “If my subjects are scared away by a title, they don’t deserve to approach me.” We lazily strolled down the street along the path the guard was supposed to escort Occelus’ ‘lings. Every so often we would stop and look at a shop display, marveling at how fast they had repaired most of it. Ponies were remarkably industrious when they needed to be, that was for sure. The speed with which they built the train station and tracks to New Dragonia was testament to that. I remembered throwing that cat guy through that wall, yet there it was, whole again. We tried to move quickly without looking like we were. Celestia wanted to get them secure and safe before ponies learned about them. It made sense, but it also made things kind of complicated. After about half-an-hour of pretending to look at stores, we saw a small group of ponies, about a dozen. Yet, only three of them gave off a detectable aura. We were told that the changelings would be brought up in groups, so we expected a small group. “Smolder, I think that’s them,” I said only to her. One of the ‘ponies’ smiled and picked up the pace. “Smolder! So good to see you!” She hopped up to give Smolder a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay, O,” Smolder said. “Are you hurt?” Occelus shook her head. “No. The worst any of us got was a few bumps and bruises. One sprain, but nothing that can’t be fixed in a hurry. How’s the arm?” Smolder regarded the arm in the cast and sling. “Doc said it can come off in a couple days, but Luke’s been using his healing thing on it every so often, so I might get it off later today.” “I don’t want to over do it, because we don’t know what long term effects it could have,” I explained. “I’m glad you’re going to be fine,” Occelus said, sounding a little depressed. “I’m really sorry. I should have stopped my father long before he summon-ow!” Occelus was interrupted by Smolder’s very justified claw slapping her across the back of the head. “And that’s where that line of thinking ends,” Smolder said. “Unless your father has been your puppet all along and you’re actually the big villain, then shut up about that.” Occelus was quiet for a few seconds before speaking. “Thank you. I... still feel really guilty about helping him, but you’re right. My father is responsible for his own actions. I’ll try to remember that.” “Just make sure you learn from this,” I said. “Never just trust someone. Ask questions, examine facts, and demand transparency. If anyone tries to stop you or discourage you from that they’re probably not on your side.” Occulus smiled. “Oh, I won’t make that mistake again. I won’t just trust anycreature, only the ones that I know I can, like you and Smolder.” I sighed. “And you’re already making the same mistake. I said ‘never just trust someone’. That means anyone. How do you really know we aren’t just using you, too?” Occelus stumbled, her eyes darting this way and that as her mind raced. “A-are you?” “I would say, ‘no’, but your father would have said the same, wouldn’t he have?” Smolder stepped between us and said, “Chill out, Luke. She can trust us. You know we aren’t going to trick her or anything.” “I know that, but she doesn’t,” I said. “I’m not saying you should be mistrustful, only that you should be careful with your trust. Do you really think we’re taking you in purely out of the kindness of our hearts?” Occelus looked a little betrayed. “Y-you... you’re just doing this because you want something?” “No, we’re doing this because it’s right,” I said. “However, that isn’t the only reason. We expect you to bring something to the table. We expect something in return, even if that isn’t the main reason we’re helping you. That’s why you need to ask questions. I can already tell your people are looking to you. You’re their leader, whether you like it or not, and that comes with a lot of responsibility.” Occelus sighed. “I know. I don’t know why they’re looking to me for answers, but I guess that doesn’t matter, does it?” I smiled, placing a paw on her shoulder. “You’ll have help with that. Just remember that no matter what help we give, you will be their leader, not us. Granted, they’ll still have to follow our laws, but that isn’t the same thing.” “I understand,” Occelus said. “I’m just worried I’ll mess it up and let them all down.” I laughed. “Now you know how I’ve felt for the last few seasons.” “But you seem so confident,” Occelus said. “Lesson number two, learn to project confidence even when you’re pants-wettingly terrified.” Occelus and I were led to a room not far from the throne room after saying goodbye to Smolder and the other changelings that were with us. We entered to find Celestia and Blueblood already waiting. “Ah, you must be Occelus,” Celestia greeted as she stood to greet us. “I must ask that, at least for the duration of this meeting, you remove your disguise.” Occelus swallowed, nervously, and transformed into her natural form in a burst of green flame. Surprisingly, I felt a tiny, brief flash of fear from Celestia. Considering what Yomega said happened between her and the queen, I couldn’t blame her. As powerful as she was, getting beaten by a single enemy and, in her mind, letting her subjects down was bound to leave a mark. Still, more surprising was the feeling of hopefulness from her. “Come, sit,” Celestia said, gesturing to the seats beside Blue Blood. “We are still awaiting two others.” Before she could say who, exactly, we were waiting for, the door opened and Luna stepped in, followed by Shining Armor. It was certainly no surprise he was radiating hatred and mistrust, though there was a barely noticeable flicker of hope and gratitude beneath it. “Thank you all for coming,” Celestia said. “I know this is-” She was interrupted by a slight commotion coming from outside. The door opened and an irate Cadence stepped in.  “I’ll be fine, thank you for your concern, nurse. I will return as soon as this extremely important meeting is over.” The pink alicorn slammed the door shut and turned to the rest of us. “I apologize for my lateness.” “Cadence, honey, should you be here?” Shining Armor asked, worried for his soon-to-be bride. “I’ll tell you the same thing I just told the nurse; I’m well enough and this meeting is too important for me to be laying in a hospital bed,” Cadence said. “I have just as much at stake here as you.” I chuckled. “Trust me, Captain, arguing will only waste your breath. She’s here and you won’t be moving her any time soon. Any resistance will only tick her off.” Cadence grinned. “Well, take notes, Shiny. This guy knows his stuff.” “If you’d permit, I could use my healing technique. It’s different from magical healing as it simply stimulates natural healing to incredible levels,” I offered. “Took a good two or three moons off my wing healing,” Ember said. “Please, I would appreciate it,” Cadence said. I used my healing pulse on her, which I learned was actually called healing pulse in the games. That little fact made me laugh. “Oh, my,” Cadence said. “That’s... impressive. I feel much better, thank you.” “My pleasure,” I said with a smile. “Alright, shall we begin?” Celestia asked. “Good. First, let me introduce Occelus. She is the de facto leader of a group of changelings that rebelled against their queen during the invasion and assisted our forces in repelling the attackers.” “How certain are we that this information is accurate?” Shining Armor asked. “Are we sure this isn’t part of some contingency to ingratiate them with us?” “That has been considered, though the field reports seem to suggest their motives are honest,” Luna said. “They dispatched a great number of enemies, far more than would have been reasonable for any contingency. They left the changeling forces considerably weaker, as well as their assistance in dispatching those strange summons. Those summons were a tremendous asset, after all.” “Fair enough,” Shining said. “Though that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a contingency for their group. We don’t know their motives.” Celestia looked to Occelus. “Miss Occelus, would care to explain your motives?” Occelus cringed a bit, not used to being the center of attention. “Um... y-yeah... So, um...” Cadence cleared her throat. “You aren’t used to speaking, are you?” Occelus shook her head. “If you’d like, I could cast a spell I know that can help. It’s a spell that helps clear up turbulent emotions and let’s you think more clearly.” When Occelus nodded Cadence lit her horn, and, I kid you not, an honest to god heart floated from Cadence’s horn and fluttered around before landing on Occelus. It was the strangest looking magic I’d ever seen, and based on Ember’s confused look and baffled emotions, I wasn’t alone. “Oh... thank you. That’s much better. I wouldn’t mind learning that spell,” Occelus said before taking a breath and diving into her story. “We are a people that rely, or I guess used to rely on anonymity. We were able to survive because other creatures didn’t know we existed. We would show up at weddings, parties, birthdays, and any other event where emotions were high and feed on the ambient love in the air. If you’ve had clowns at your birthday parties as a foal, chances were at least one of them was a changeling. “When the queen announced her plans to openly invade Canterlot, many of us saw it as an act of treason. She would surrender the one thing that has kept us alive for thousands of years. Equestria is so full of love, yet she would have destroyed all of that for a delusion. If she succeeded, Equestria would have become a place of fear and mistrust. It would have been no different than a farmer salting his own fields thinking it will make them more fertile. “That was when my father gathered up several of us and told us that he planned on stopping her. He said that we would sabotage the invasion and make sure the ponies knew we helped. That was the only way we would have a chance of surviving. We had to make sure the ponies see that we aren’t evil. That way, we might have a chance of working with the ponies to come up with a way to ensure we can still get food. “While it turns out everything was my father’s idea,” Occelus said, with bitterness in her voice, “including the invasion, most of us still believe in what he first told us. All that changed was that my father, too, was the enemy.” Occelus took a deep breath as she finished her story. “So, now that the invasion is over, and we did what we could to try to convince you that we aren’t an evil species, I ask on behalf of my people, for your help.” Shining Armor opened his mouth to speak and, based on his emotions, it wasn’t likely to be nice. However, Cadence beat him to the punch. “You realize that this invasion is the only experience ponies have with your species?” she asked. “Do you realize how hard you will have to work to gain even the smallest amount of trust?” “We do, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes,” Occelus affirmed. “I swear, I will work to earn that trust. Whatever it takes to ensure that my people have a future, I’ll gladly take it.” Cadence nodded, a sense of relief filling her aura. “Very well then. I’m willing to give you that chance, but only this one. If you betray that, you’ll get no more from me.” Celestia smiled at that. “Are we all in agreement?” After Luna, Ember, Blueblood, myself, and a very reluctant Shining Armor agreed, she continued. “Very well. Now, let us discuss the details.”