If there was any city on the entire continent of Griffonia that could be truly considered the crown jewel it would be Griffenheim. The capital of the Empire didn't have the same history as Aquila or Karthin but it made up for it in greater prestige, founded by Grover I centuries ago, built on the backs of prisoners of war, and home to the Archonate of Boreas. Even as the Empire's power waned the industrial potential of the Imperial capital made it an economic powerhouse.
The motor carriage carrying Celestia rumbled on through, the alicorn incredibly cramped inside with a Reichsarmee lieutenant across from her. Other cars and pedestrians got out of the way when the horn went off, the driver deftly maneuvering them through the streets of the city, still in desperate need for modernization.
"I think I would have much preferred to arrive by train," she grumbled.
"Ach, no Princess," the lieutenant said with a frown. “Not after what happened in Katerin. Archon Eros wants you unharmed as you come to our beautiful capital.”
She let out an annoyed snort before she looked out the window, the grand temple of Boreas off in the distance. Nestled upon the highest spot of the city, and made even larger to be a proper place of worship to the king of the gods.
The rest of the trip to the Imperial Palace was uneventful, with Celestia mulling over just what to say to Archon Eros. The palace itself wasn't anywhere near as large as Boreas' temple, but the complex for it and the other mechanisms of Imperial rule sprawled out over a larger area. As the car pulled up in front of the palace another Reichsarmee officer opened the door and Celestia pulled herself out.
An entire complement of Reichsarmee soldiers stood at attention along the steps of the palace and to greet her was a white griffon hen dressed in the trappings of the Arcturian priesthood.
“Princess Celestia, I am Prelate Celeste Lightfeather of the Archonate of Arcturius.”
The alicorn blinked. “Celeste,” she deadpanned.
The hen nodded with an unamused look. “Archon Proteus called me in specifically to be your escort in Griffenheim. I do not share his sense of humor.”
The lieutenant from the car carried Celestia's bags over to her and helped put them back on while Celeste watched with a raised brow.
“Her bags were searched thoroughly prelate, just her paperwork, writing utensils, money, and clothes.” the officer said.
“I see. Well then, follow me princess, the Archons are waiting.”
“Archons? I thought I was just to meet with Eros.”
As her hooves clopped against the stone steps Celeste shook her head. “Goodness no, all three wish to meet with you. Archon Proteus has been based in Griffenheim for years, and Archon Erion is constantly brownbeaking Eros for any crumb of praise. At least Proteus is sensible. He hates paperwork, and is only Archon because it's the one place a griffon of his stature can be without needing to actually do anything.”
They passed through the massive doors which slowly shut behind them.
“He sounds like my sister. Luna absolutely hates the administration side of things. Even when she was a field marshal she much preferred to have the logistics organized by others while she focused on the planning of operations. I'd say they'd get along, but...”
Celeste glanced back at the princess. “Her courtship with Queen Vivienne is a topic to be discussed, yes.”
Her hooves stopped moving. “Courtship? No no no, they're just friends.”
The prelate turned her head around and motioned for Celestia to continue following. “You haven't read the papers lately?”
“No, my main task has been focused on reaching Tarpian Rock as swiftly as possible. If I wasn't sure the Reichsarmee would be sent after me if I ignored the Archon's summons I would still be on my way.”
“Well you best put on your poker face when Erion rants about Luna and Vivienne then.”
“I am well practiced in keeping myself professional in such situations.”
Celeste nodded as another set of doors barred their way. The soldiers guarding it saluted her and stood aside, allowing them to open. She cleared her throat.
“Presenting, Princess Celestia of Equestria!”
The doors opened to reveal the audience chamber, an absolutely massive room meant for the Imperial Court, for dozens upon dozens of griffons from lowly servants to dukes and duchesses.
Four griffons were sitting at the table.
Archon Eros sat at the very head of it, his focus on paperwork before him. Archon Erion, the youngest, kept a level glare at Celestia as she walked in. Archon Proteus looked to struggle with keeping himself awake. Sitting right next to Eros and trying to look as small as possible was Grover, the young griffon still a long way aways from being emperor proper, his little glasses perched upon his beak.
Celeste moved swiftly to the table and stood up straight.
“His Holiness of Boreas, Archon Eros VII, His Holiness of Eyr, Archon Erion XII, His Holiness of Arcturius, Archon Proteus III and His Royal Highness, Prince Grover VI!”
The silence was deafening as Celestia quietly took her seat, towering over the assorted griffons. Erion and Proteus were quiet, but she could see the way their beaks and throats shifted that they desperately wanted to begin while Eros kept shuffling through his papers.
She looked to Grover and the young lad bashfully looked away for a moment before he gave a little wave in greetings to her.
With Eros pretending to be busy she smiled at the young prince. “Your Highness, it's good to meet you,” she said to break the silence.
Proteus smirked and Erion's eyes went wide as he glanced at Eros, who looked up from his work.
“I am very sorry circumstances won't allow me to stay for very long. I still have quite a journey left, and I fear time is growing short but on my way back afterwards I would be glad to be your guest again.”
“Oh, that's all right Princess!” He said as he fidgeted a little in his seat with being the center of attention so suddenly. “I would, uh.” Grover swallowed the lump in his throat. “I would be honored to host you again!”
Eros cleared his throat and folded his hands in front of him. “Grover, perhaps you should go out and play. Prelate Celeste?”
Celeste looked to Proteus who nodded. “Try to keep him away from his tank,” the Arcturian Archon said.
Grover pouted as he slipped out of his seat and walked over to Celeste who bowed before him. “Your Highness, right this way.”
As the prince and prelate left the room Celestia and Eros made eye contact, the elder archon frowning.
“You've some nerve coming through here after everything,” he said.
“Apologies, I do not recall any slights I have done against the three temples,” Celestia replied in a diplomatic tone, keeping her face neutral.
Eros glowered at her. “The recognition of the traitors to the north-”
“Was done by a subordinate without my knowledge for at the time I was in the middle of a war. A war against the changelings whom were rather openly assisted by the Empire in their military modernization efforts. Whatever politics were going on in Griffonia at the time was simply not important for me to keep track of.”
Erion spoke up, “You are addressing Archon Eros, regent of the Empire-”
Celestia shot the youngest Archon a fierce glare and he shrank back. “The Archonates are to administer religious services to all griffons regardless of their politics or nation and yet all three leaders are here in Griffenheim for the sake of the Empire alone. Now, do you have anything of actual importance to talk to me with or am I free to continue on my way?”
“Did you think we would just let you wander freely through the Empire after you've opened diplomatic channels with Wingbardy, Aquileia, and those Griffonstone republicans? Traitors, one and all,” Eros said with a deep frown.
Her eyes narrowed. “A son lost his father to foul play, his pleas for help ignored, and you expect him to remain as if nothing happened? Aquileia has a vastly different culture to the Empire, were they to remain willingly in step? Griffonstone had been neglected since Guto's line was extinguished and now they're finally pulling themselves out of their misery with no help from their neighbors and you expect obedience?” She smacked a hind hoof into the stone tile floor with a loud crack! “Such arrogance! One of your experience should know that respect is to be earned, Eros, not demanded, and if you are demanding that I respect you then you are more fool than I was led to believe!”
Before Eros could launch into a tirade Proteus put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Eros sat back and took several deep breaths. When the eldest Archon recovered he looked Celestia in the eye.
“You do make some points, Princess,” Eros conceded, still frowning. “My friend died too young and left his son alone. Then his aunt sought to reestablish the power of the nobility, whom had bled this land dry of its wealth. I accuse you and demand of you because our enemies are many and you have aligned with them. I fear the Empire will not survive to see Grover crowned.”
Celestia looked off to the side for a moment. “We do what we must for what we love the most. It is our duty.”
“Didn't a pony writer say 'love is the death of duty'?” Proteus asked, joining the conversation.
She let out an annoyed snort. “'We are only ponies, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.' Do remember the character that said these words was part of an order of celibate scholars. That, and he was fictional, Archon Proteus.”
The grizzled warrior of a griff merely shrugged. “I don't like paperwork but I love reading, what can I say?”
Celestia shuffled her wings. “Now, was there anything else gentlegriffs...?”
Eros nodded. “Indeed. Several things, like why you left the Idol in Griffonstone instead of bringing it here.”
A gentle smile formed on her face. “I had considered it, truly I did, but when the Idol was initially lost my offers to help received no reply, and so as I was passing through I was asked directly if I could retrieve it and I obliged.”
The Archon tried hard to not let his jaw drop. “You just helped because they asked you to?”
She nodded. “Of course. It wasn't that big of a deal. I feel like I learned a lot as I pulled it out of the abyss. At least, it gave me time to think on things.”
Eros raised a brow.
“You see, griffons have a history of petty wars, carving out kingdoms and fiefdoms, yet in the end the greatest tales aren't of kings and conquerors are they? It's always the wanderers and vagabonds, for good or for ill. Of course, we ponies have similar stories, but the lessons there are often about unity and camaraderie. For yours, the lessons are of freedom.”
“What are you saying, Princess?” Erion asked.
“What I am saying is that the natural state of the griffon is freedom. Freedom to spread your wings and to fly to the distant horizon. Freedom to hunt as true kings of the skies. Freedom to feel the wind through your feathers and fur with naught a care in the world.”
“You speak of anarchy, chaos!” Eros said as he stood up from his seat.
“She speaks of ancient times where heroes roamed the land, with monsters to be slain and villages to be rescued. When a griffon could take off in flight to go wherever he pleased, to find a new home,” Proteus' voice was full of longing. “We're old griffs, Eros, but we only know of our cities of stone and steel, of air choked with smog from industry. Celestia is older still, and knows of when our ancestors were at their greatest.”
The alicorn shook her head. “A time where diseases ran rampant, where keeping you and your family clothed and fed was hard, where the next town over could be lost to a monster and you shudder in the night wondering if yours would be next. I am not talking of forsaking what modernity has given us, but that we must temper it so as to not lose who we are in it. Eros, when was the last time you flew?”
He stared at her and sat back in his seat. Celestia turned her head to look at one of the massive windows.
“Does Grover fly? Do you let him spread his wings and take to the air?”
“He is the next emperor, it's too dangerous-” Eros started
She looked back at the eldest Archon with wetness in her eyes. “Do not make my mistake and keep those you care for from any sense of danger. My folly allowed for all Equestria to be lost. Let him be a child, let him shoulder responsibility bit by bit, year by year but in the way children do. Get him a pet, teach him the value of honest labor, allow him to meet children his age, and let him fly.”
The three griffons sat in stunned silence before Erion attempted to shift the conversation.
“P-princess, about your sister and queen Vivienne-”
“They are friends and gods know Luna needs one in these trying times, and if they are more than that then it is not my business nor is it yours.”
Cowed, Erion shut his beak and crossed his arms, trying to look anywhere but at Celestia.
Eros looked at Celestia, the elderly griffon sighing. “I am old, Princess. Some say the oldest griffon in the world. I cannot fly as I could have when I was younger. Even then, I have not flown since I took on the robes of the priesthood. Decades of walking or sitting, but I have long forgotten the sensation of flight. I walk, and sit, so that others may fly instead. We all must make sacrifices.”
“Please, call me Celestia, archons,” she said softly. Gently she ruffled her wings and looked outside. “To give is noble indeed. It is one of the tenets of Harmony, generosity. And yet, to continually give is harmful to oneself as well.”
Suddenly she stood from her seat and looked to Eros with a smile. “Fly with me, Eros.”
“What?” He asked in bewilderment as Proteus raised a brow and Erion's beak moved in silent protests.
“With me, and Grover. Let us fly and feel the wind in our feathers. Let us give praise to the gifts the gods bestowed upon griffonkind!”
“It, it would be undignified for me to fly with an unmarried mare!” Eros said, flustered.
Celestia giggled warmly. “Whom would complain? Your detractors whom you have already curtailed, your supporters whom you have brought a better life to? Your peers who share your belief in securing the Empire? Well, I will not push it if you refuse, but with your permission shall I offer to help little Grover fly?”
Erion turned to look at the older archon, “Eros, I don't think-”
Eros raised his hand to silence the younger. “I am not against it, Celestia. Just, keep it to the palace grounds.”
Celestia bowed and turned to leave. As she walked out she could hear harsh whispering between Erion and Eros.
As she stood out on the grass under the shade of the trees she watched as Celeste and Grover played hide and seek. She had already found the young prince, but noticed the prelate was letting him think he was well hidden even as he giggled. As he peeked from around the tree trunk he couldn't see the prelate, and when he ducked back around she had tapped him on the shoulder.
“Found you!”
Grover burst out into a fit of giggles and scurried out from around the tree over to Celestia while Celeste followed with a warm smile.
“You're much better with children than I imagined, prelate.” Celestia said.
“I was raised in an orphanage, you learn a thing or two on how to keep the other cubs in high spirits.”
“Did you come out to play with us, Princess?” Grover asked as he looked up to her.
Celestia smiled down to him and nodded. “I did, but you may call me Celestia, Your Highness.”
“Oh, well, um, you can call me Grover then!” he said with a little trill.
“Have you flown yet, Grover?”
“Not, not a whole lot. I can hover, and glide! But I haven't really flied yet.”
Celeste leaned down to whisper to the prince. “It's 'flown', my prince,” she said quietly.
Grover wrung his hands together and nodded before he looked back up at Celestia.
With a warm smile the alicorn slowly laid down on the ground. “Would you like to fly with me, Grover? You can climb onto my back if you are worried. Archon Eros said it would be fine.”
“Oh, can I?!” He asked gleefully. With her assent he scrambled up onto Celestia's back. “Oh, will you fly with us too Celeste?”
The prelate gave a little shrug. “I don't see why not.”
With Grover clutching on tightly Celestia took off into the air with Celeste following close behind. The young prince squealed with delight as the alicorn carried him over the yard, her pace languid. She rose a little higher over the gardens, letting him see the landscape from the air. He was grabbing on tightly, as tightly as she recalled when she took Twilight flying.
Tears stung at her eyes as she gently landed on a roof, the incline slight enough for rain and snow to run off of but stable enough for her to walk. Celeste landed right behind her and the three of them looked out across the city.
“Wow...” Grover said as he stared, slack jawed, at where the three great rivers that came together.
Ships from all across the continent navigated the great rivers into Griffenheim, settling at the various docks to unload raw materials and finished goods from all over.
“The world always seems so large when you're on the ground, but high above it seems so much smaller, doesn't it?” Celestia asked.
“Yeah,” Grover said absently as he watched the different ships from afar. “Oh, I think I recognize those flags! Is that, the River Republic?”
Celeste scooted over and peered out into the distance. “Hmm, yes, looks like it.”
“But I thought they hated the Empire!”
Celestia laughed gently. “It's simple, Grover. The Empire has things the Riverlands want or need, and they in turn have things the Empire wants or needs. Everyone has their differences, but sometimes necessity overrides personal feelings.”
A few moments passed as they stood there watching the distant ships when they heard a bird call. Celestia turned her head slowly and saw yellow eyes.
“Oh, oh, a bearded vulture! They're native to the Middle Sea region!” Grover said excitedly. “Their diet is almost entirely bone too, they like dropping bones from high heights to break them apart!”
The vulture sat there and preened itself, uncaring of the others sharing the space. Celeste's beak tightened up and she glanced nervously from the vulture to the prince. Just as she was about to speak the vulture stopped its preening and took off, letting out another cry.
“T-that was...” the white griffon seemed shaken up.
“In Wingbardy, it's seen as a ward against his influence,” Celestia said softly to the prelate.
Celeste cleared her throat and smoothed out her feathers. “Yes, of course.”
Grover watched the bird fly off into the distance and he started to work his own wings. Celestia felt him let go of her and jump off. She turned, her horn lighting up, when she saw him shoot forward and up into the air.
“I'm flying!” the young prince cried out in joy as he flapped his wings.
There were some shouts and she noticed guards suddenly appear out seemingly nowhere, letting out an amused snort. “As it was back home with my own guard.”
“The lad has finally started to fly and all the good little tin soldiers come out to stop his fun,” Celeste said as she shook her head.
The pair took off after Grover, following the happy prince from a distance as he got used to flying on his own. His laughter rang through the air as he twisted and turned with delight, doing whatever little trick he could think of. Celestia kept an eye out for any that would dare disrupt his fight flight, but found that none had actually come up to get him. Grover reached the wall surrounding the Imperial complex and turned around, giving a wave to the alicorn and the prelate before he launched himself off and headed back toward the palace.
“Archon Eros, Archon Eros, I'm flying!” he said as he rapidly descended, his imminent landing looking almost haphazard.
Grover tumbled across the ground for a few feet before rolling to a stop in front of Eros, the young prince groaning and rubbing his head.
“Are you alright Grover?” the old griffon said as he knelt down and gave the prince his glasses back.
“Y-yeah! Archon Eros it was a lot of fun flying with Celestia!” he said as he readjusted his glasses onto his beak and beamed happily.
Eros smiled kindly in return and nodded. “And you flew for the first time too! Your father would have been very proud of you.”
Celestia and Celeste both landed shortly after and Grover broke away from Eros to hug the alicorn around her leg.
“Thank you Celestia, it was a lot of fun flying with you! Can we go again?”
“Grover,” Eros said gently, “it is getting close for your studies. You have arithmetic and your letters today.”
Grover let out a little whine and pouted. “Okay Archon Eros... Goodbye Celestia! I hope we can go flying again soon!” he said as he gave her a little bow.
“I would like that a lot, Grover, but we both have responsibilities. Perhaps next time I'm in Griffenheim.”
With a happy smile Grover scampered off with his escort, leaving Celestia with the Archon and the prelate.
“I saw the bird. A vulture, in the heart of the city,” Eros shook his head. “A terrible omen, I fear.”
Celestia took in a deep breath and sighed. “It's been following me since Sunset. In Karthin it led me to the scene of the fascists raiding Maarites. In Griffonstone it was at the cliff into the Abyss before and after I went down. In Katerin I heard its call before I passed out from my injuries.”
Celeste fidgeted nervously. “You said Wingbardians see the bearded vulture as a ward against Maar.”
Eros motioned for the pair to follow as he began to walk back inside. “Indeed, it is. Since it never ranges up past southern Griffonia, it might be wise to accept that view. Otherwise... Putting all carrion birds under that view might not be the best. Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds, and yet how often is he depicted as one, when we root out his cults?”
“Who is to say what the proper views are when we cannot reach out and touch them for ourselves? You and the other Archons claim to be the voices of the gods, but when have you heard them speak?”
Celeste kept her beak shut as she side-eyed Celestia.
“Never. No mortal has ever heard the words of Boreas, or Eyr, or Arcturius. So has it been since the formation of the Archonates. Miracles still exist. The Idol of Boreas. The Godsword of Broturius. The mere existence of alicorns like yourself, though not of Boreas' hands you are still representative of something greater.”
“Try as I might, I never could get Boreas to open up. Eyr and Arcturius too! You would think they could give a moment to one who raises the sun everyday! Or at least a secretary whom I could arrange an appointment with.”
Eros let out a chuckle as they walked down the halls. “Truthfully, if Boreas did speak to me only to make that my role, well I would do it with as much effort and fervor as I have already. I am not a good griffon, Celestia, nor will I pretend to be, but I do my duties and put my heart into them. If only Proteus could do the same.”
“Where is my Archon?” Celeste asked.
“Sparring, as usual. Erion is off on official Eyrite business. I would be glad to have you stay the night, Celestia. I have had much to think about, and more besides. That, and there are not many places in the city I would suggest to an esteemed guest.”
“I was hoping to continue my way to Bronzekruez, Archon. I still have a long way to go and there are no trains that go further north.”
“I am sorry, but after the derailment in Katerin I initiated a full evaluation of the tracks across the Herzland so that we do not have another incident.”
Celestia tilted her head slightly and furrowed her brow before she nodded. “No, no, I understand. Such accidents must be rare for you to call for a full review. I would have done the same, really. I accept your hospitality, Archon Eros.”
It had been a long time since she last entered the Dreamscape on her own. Luna's mastery of it made her look like a mere foal struggling to find their cutie mark. As it was, however, even with her relative inexperience finding whom she was looking for was not as difficult as she had thought. That her sister's presence was close by was enough of a beacon for her and all that was required was to peek into the nearest dream to confirm it.
Vivienne Discret, queen of Aquileia, stood upon a ridge overlooking a battlefield. Celestia recognized it as the battle that led to Grover II sacking Aquila. She stood behind the griffon queen, the hen's blonde feathers pulled back and secured with a golden clasp.
“The might of the Imperial army was great. But if my ancestors had my acumen, they would have weathered them down,” the queen said in her rich accent as she turned to Celestia. She raised a brow. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Celestia?”
Steel-shod hooves moved to the edge of the ridge as she studied the battle unfolding, Grover II leading the vanguard in a vicious assault despite a veritable horde of crossbow griffs firing upon the armored knights.
“Rumors of you and my sister have spread widely, that I can ignore them no longer.” Her magenta eyes locked onto Vivienne's teal ones and the griffon gave a wry smile.
“My Lune is not one for subtlety, even if she is princess of the night. We could have kept it to just dinners at the palace, official meetings with her involved, but no, she just wanted to see my city and who am I to deny her?”
“Your Lune? You two barely know each other!”
The queen shot a glare. “You knew her for a century before the Nightmare took hold.”
Celestia took a half-step back. “How dare you!”
“How dare I? You, who come unbidden into my dreams to make accusations against me, have l'audace to say such to me!” Despite being smaller than even her sister Vivienne stepped forward with a fire in her eyes.
She stood her ground and loomed over the queen. “If you hurt my sister-”
"Hurt? Princess, if you did not want dear Lune hurt, you would have won the war instead of lost. All of the soldiers lost, the friends she abandoned, that is a hurt you are responsible for!"
Caught off guard, Celestia tried to formulate a response when a blue wisp appeared by Vivienne's side, coalescing into Luna. Anger burned in her sister's eyes and before Luna could say a thing Celestia's horn flared.
She shot up out of bed and rubbed at her face with a hoof, groaning. Peering in the dark she saw on the clock that it was the wee hours of the morning, long before it was time for her to raise the sun. The alicorn fell back into bed and stared up at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep knowing her sister was lurking in the realm of dreams.