Warlord Lilja was sitting down as two attendants carefully applied white makeup on her beak and ensured her tan mail armor was immaculate. Tonight would not be a battle of swords, but of appearances and words. For she was not in her mountain home, but visiting a less-than friendly neighboring warlord. However, even though the buckles were latched and her armor was in place, she was missing information.
The attendants pulled away from her, drawing Lilja’s attention. Lilja grumbled at a delay only she was privy to.
She wore a grim continence as she posed in front of a body-sized mirror. Turning too and fro, Lilja was pleased her armor felt firmly in place without it being constricting. Where is that fool?
She waved off any further efforts by the attendants only for a gentle knock on the door to set all of them on edge.
Unlike the missionaries, the hosting warlord would suffer little consequence if she was betrayed. Her family ruled over the smallest domain among the aviaries. A domain that had suffered one too many poor warlords. Her mother’s poor showing during the Centauri War didn’t help. Lilja’s ancestral holdings were five times what they were now.
An attendant took the fore and opened the door to reveal one of Lilja’s servants, instantly letting the tension leave the room.
The servant bowed low and presented a sealed letter. “This arrived moments ago, warlord.”
The attendant claimed the letter and presented it to Lilja. She inspected it carefully, ever paranoid of the final betrayal that would see her family and people brushed away from the pages of history. If the chapter of my house is to end among the aviaries, then I will find a new book for my people’s history to be written in.
The letter was unmarked, yet the seal of a broken glaive was all she needed to know. At last, my spymaster sends word.
Fearful of eavesdroppers in a foreign castle, she nods for the servant to leave. “Thank you, you may go.”
Once the door was closed, Lilja turned her back to the only corner of the room her attendants assured her did not have any spying holes in the walls. The master of the castle was notorious for such things.
Cracking the seal and pulling the letter out revealed two messages. The top only had three words: red letter day.
Grinning, Lilja paused before reading the rest. The plan worked perfectly. The pony missionaries are dead by the claws of the emperor’s own soldiers. As volatile as things are, the emperor will not be so eager to join the ponies in battle. He still needs another push or two.
The two words at the bottom of the page were finally given her attention: transfer appeasement.
So… Some of the assassins survived, and Geraldy intends to give them over. Lilja idly watched as her servants put the finishing touches on her ceremonially adorned beak and patterned feather paint. They were the markings of a warlord, but until this moment she was barely a prefect, such was her family’s steady fall.
The servants pulled back, save for one presenting a small mirror. After a thorough inspection, Lilja felt fully dressed now. A crisis was at hand, and now she had to ensure the emperor had no choice but to go to war, no matter who with. More than a few warlords have bloated egos over our victories against the centauri, and those who remember our last war with the ponies are long dead. It shouldn’t be all that difficult to light the correct fires.
Her plan was in motion, but there was still much work to do. “Ink and parchment.”
At her command, the servants collected the needed items and presented them onto a short table. She wrote in code, but knew it well in her mind. Inform my husband the time has come for us to leave. Prepare the people and make it look like we have been hired by a border province.
To anyone else, it would look as though she only wrote a seven worded poem about dumplings, and a bad one at that. Then she wrote three more letters of false information and useless gossip, all to fool potential spies. Using a wing to fan the ink dry, Lilja then rolled it all up and stamped them with her wax seal, before presenting the letters to her most trusted servant. “See to it personally that these are delivered directly to Balja’s claw.”
A month passed since the death of Faithful Hymn, and once again Twilight found herself waiting in the separated foreigner quarter of Tranquility’s docks. A scheduled rain storm would arrive within the hour, leaving the skies to the east dark and menacing. She shielded a book she was reading to pass the time from the wind and splashing waves. She was camped out under a tarp with Luna and Rainbow Dash as the others watched one of the few surviving Equestrian warships slowly maneuver itself into port with the help of some steam tugboats. Twilight had no intention of wasting her attention on an antiquated style of vessel. It bore no engine, nor even possessed metal plating. It would be all too easy to get all romantic about inventions and methods while the world around it advances. I’m going to live too long to afford such bouts of nostalgia, it distracts from the now. Sure, living her full expected lifespan wasn’t a guarantee, but by Tartarus she was going to try.
The rough seas further out caused the salt spray to thankfully be redirected away by concrete breakers further out, saving her book and dress from the worst of it. However, the waves still crashed hard enough to give the tugs difficulty in maneuvering one of the last remaining Equestrian ships of the line. Its sails billowed in the rough westerly winds and sailors scurried about the rigging, trying to lash the sails. Flocks of seagulls cawed incessantly as they circled around mast height searching for food before the storm hit.
Be they Lunarian or Equestria, all of them were experienced mariners, and the warship was secured to its berth without incident. Once the gangplank was set into place, Pinkie Pie nudged her sister in mild concern. “The Equestrians are here,” Pinkie half-whispered, worried how such a distracted look may come across as indifference.
Having no bags on her dress, Twilight deftly tucked the book inside Rainbow’s half-empty ammo pouch before the soldier could even notice it. “You’d be mad as hops to read it too if you liked Daring Doo. This one’s a sizzler.”
Pinkie licked her fetlock before using it to smooth some errant fur on Twilight’s neck before proceeding to fix bits and pieces of her ensemble that had been misaligned by the wind. Twilight wore her signature hat, complete with the half cogwheel brim and white pegasus feathers, still the originals from when it was given to her. Now though, she had a dress to match. Purple silks and white contours created a traveling dress that looked exquisite in its melding of complex needle work along her chest while the rest was elegant in its simplicity that complimented the hat all while drawing the eye back to it. The whole thing made the hat, and Twilight’s face the focus of attention.
It was a dress that even forced Rainbow Dash to begrudgingly switch to her full dress uniform, and made Luna second guess herself before leaving the place. It would not do to let anyone out dress the empress herself, intentional or not.
Rainbow Dash was quick to cover the ammo pouch with a wing, and give the engineer a side-smirk. “Is that so? Then I’m keeping this until I’m done reading it.”
Flummoxed and quietly huffing, Twilight bickered with Rainbow, as quietly as decorum allowed, for the book’s more immediate return.
Luna missed it all as she looked wistfully at the elegant woodwork of the warship. The smooth lines of the vessel and the way it creaked and groaned made it feel alive to the time-lost alicorn. Although it was of a far more advanced design than her oar driven boats of the past, it still pulled on her younger memories. The alicorn figurehead at the bow looked striking, and gave the ship far more life than the simple yet functional designs of her navy.
Form has clearly been forgotten by my shipwrights. I will have to correct that before long. A proud ship can inspire a crew just as well as any speech can, if not more so.
All banter, or debatably playful bickering, fell away once the gangplank had been rolled up and into place. The first to step off the ship was the captain, stone faced and craggy, looking sea-green earth stallion as if he was born from the salt of the sea. No other crew departed, so he was only followed by two passengers. One bore a familiar curled purple mane while the one behind her had a mane of purple and pink.
The officer of the watch briefly met with them at the bottom before escorting the three of them to Luna. Upon reaching the cordial looking empress and the others, Rarity was stunned to a halt at what Twilight was wearing, and had to exert extreme effort to focus on returning to the captain’s side.
The officer bowed before the stoic alicorn. “Your highness, May I present Captain Hackleback, Justicar Rarity Belle, and Aspirant Sweetie Belle.”
“Thank you commodore.” Luna briefly watched the officer remove himself so she could focus on Hackleback. The earth stallion’s gravelly voice only amplified his craggy face. “Empress Luna, I thank you for having us. I must say, even in a time of peace I never thought I could bring a ship this close to your city and live to tell the tale. I only wish I had pulled in at night so I could see it in its intended beauty.”
The compliment surprised Luna and left Rainbow Dash suspicious of it. In spite of herself, Luna cracked a slight grin. She inwardly lauded his stately, dignified poise, something she found was a common and sought after virtue among the navy. It seems Tia chose her representatives carefully. “You may yet get that chance, Captain, but more on that shortly.” She turned her gaze on the justicar and her second, which prompted the captain to step aside and allowed the two mares to bow.
Gone were the gold and white dusters and wide brimmed hats. Rarity wore a navy blue trench coat that had metallic gold trimming and steel buttons. A matching hat of a novel design rested upon her brow. It had an indented crown with a two inch brim that warped itself to allow for Rarity’s mane to flow up a bit. Lastly, a ribbon wrapped itself around the crown with a gold emblem placed on the left side. The only difference between Rarity and Sweetie Belle was that the younger mare’s emblem and trimming was copper.
Rarity took the lead and raised her head up. “Empress Luna, you honor us with your presence and invitation.”
“Your assistance in the coming weeks is appreciated. I trust you already know my field advisors.” Although Luna didn’t show it, she was rather proud of that impromptu distinction, even if it did get a bemused look out of the trio beside her. While word play may have amused her, Luna was largely left feeling inadequate by the two justicars. She was still not up to date with all the fashion trends she was expected to know, but even she could see true art of form and function stood before her. If friend Rainbow Dash is any sign, I need to take another look at the uniforms. Be it on the battlefield or at the tailor, you will not be given an inch, sister.
“I most certainly am,” Rarity said while Luna was having her mild internal crisis of fashion and posturing. The segue was the perfect excuse for Rarity to drink in Twilight’s attire. The respectful and deceptive compliments between the hat she had designed with the dress that carried the motifs in their own direction was like a balm on the mare’s heart. It soothed a wound she had long forgotten about, leaving her spirit briefly as light as a feather. In her mind, if everything else became a failure, the voyage was worth seeing her gift being so well respected and loved.
“Madam Twilight Sparkle, it gratifies me to no end to see a promise fulfilled with such grace.”
Twilight slowly spun in place, letting the unicorn admire the ensemble from all angles. “How could I not? Your generosity had been in good faith, and no good deed ever goes unpunished,” she ended with a coy grin.
“If this is punishment, I fear your rewards,” Rarity tittered. Upon composing herself, Rarity gestured to the young mare beside her. “This is my younger sister and fellow soon-to-be Justicar Sweetie Belle. She will be assisting me in our efforts.”
As the others had talked, Sweetie Belle was caught in warring emotions. She was only months from graduation when Celestia had ended enstripment. It had been too late for her to receive the revised education her future peers would have. The distant, untouchable alicorn she had been trained for over a decade to pity and war against now stood before her. Taking Rarity’s lead, Sweetie had taken to inquisitorial dogma with a fervor that had been a subject of praise right up until that very day. Now, even with Celestia’s direct command to respect and honor Luna as she would Celestia, it was a herculean effort to keep a cordial mask from cracking under the pressure. At least I’m only here to present myself, and I don’t have to actually talk much to her.
“I am at your service, Empress Luna.” It was all Sweetie could think to say, her face burning at the delay. Nothing else she could have said sounded right or would cause a diplomatic incident.
“I am glad to have you. Now, Captain. There has been a change of plans. I will be requiring your ship to serve as neutral ground for the coming negotiations.”
The three Equestrians were taken aback, the captain more so than the others. “My ship?”
“If it pleases you, naturally,” Luna clarified. “The griffon emperor must think me a fool because he wanted to hold the meetings in the center of the Brown Plains, two hundred miles away from my nearest outpost. It is a naked attempt to set up an ambush, and was quick to change his mind when I stated as much.
“As for needing your ship in particular…” Luna glanced out at the flotilla of battleships that were maneuvering to take up a position in the harbor to weather the storm. “Your vessel is as close to neutral ground on these seas as I can muster.”
Without looking at the two justicars, Hackleback was fairly quick with an answer. While Rarity may have had overall authority, it was still his ship to command. He inclined his head, more than a nod, less than a bow. “I would be honored to assist. I will inform the crew our tour will run a little long.”
“I thank you for your indulgence,” Luna said with a regal smile. His agreement was mostly expected, but she was glad to see the request was not met with resentment. “Present a list of provisions you require and I will see to it being delivered before we depart. I will personally inform my sister of your assistance.”
“If I may be so bold,” Rarity tactfully announced before anyone could argue. “Your majesty, may I come ashore so I can question the Union representatives? I fear my understanding of griffon etiquette is rather lacking.”
Luna chewed her cheek at the request. It was more than reasonable, and yet tradition demanded not one Equestrian ever set hoof on Lunarian soil east of the ocean. The moment grew long as she debated with herself. “Tradition being what it is, I find it… difficult to agree to. It doesn’t help that the public are in uproar about it all since the murders were leaked to the press last week. The last thing I want is a mob turning their anger upon you.” Or upon myself for this breach of tradition.
Pinkie Pie had been waiting patiently for Luna and the others to come at some impasse. It didn’t matter what, only that one occurred. “May I beg for a moment of everypony’s valuable time?” She asked with two hasty bows to Luna and Rarity. “I have a solution in mind.”
At this point, Luna was desperate to keep Rarity off dry land, yet the Justicar beat her to the question. “Oh? Then please, do tell.”
Pinkie still remembered those fearful days of inquisitors, and Rarity’s new uniform and title did little to help. The mare looked as dangerous now as she ever did. Pinkie cleared her throat to keep her voice from cracking. “I’ve done extensive trading with Unionites, along with a trip into the Emerald Horde at Novosgrande. I can help you get acquainted with Unionite sensibilities offshore, and you can board their ship so you can speak with them afterwards. I dare say you won’t find a more reputable expert on the matter.”
Twilight debated on if she should come to her sister’s defense. Stepping in would make her sister look weak in front of the very person Pinkie wanted to show a strong front to. Well put, Pinkie. It was all she could do until they were in private.
“It is disappointing,” Rarity confessed with a forlorn look at the city beyond. She wasn’t going to admit it to the Lunarians, but she suffered horribly from sea sickness for the first two weeks, and had been dearly hoping for some dry land. “Such a pity, the beauty of Tranquility is a legend back home, but if that is how it has to be then so be it.”
“Very good,” Luna said quickly before Hackleback could potentially argue. “Captain Rainbow Dash, you have my authority to arrange things.” Luna pulled a silver emblem off her regalia and floated it over to the thestral. “But,” Luna eyed her subjects with satisfaction. “We should speak of the details in private.”
After the meeting had concluded and the Equestrians returned to their ship, Luna had everyone retreat to Twilight’s flying machine. Luna had wanted to resolve the details with Pinkie’s plan at the palace, but holding the meeting now meant more time in Twilight’s delightful flying machine. A noise dampener spell from Luna was all that was needed to keep things conversational. Although the tight confines of the vehicle left Rainbow Dash to fly alongside.
“Lady Pinkie Pie,” Luna eventually stated in a much more relieved tone than even she expected. “You have my thanks. I didn’t believe Rarity would actually request to come on land. Your quick wit serves you well.”
Partially at a loss, Pinkie did an admirable job remaining in her seat rather than bounce all over the non-existent walls. Luna’s praise was welcome, but being able to stand in front of an inquisitor without becoming a bundle of raw nerves was exhilarating. “It was my pleasure, Ma’am.” Pinkie said more to buy time to think rather than out of courtesy. “I thought it was best to have an amicable reason to keep them off the mainland without falling back too heavily on tradition. I hazard a guess that the Equestrians were as blind to the Unionists as most Lunarians are.”
“You are wiser than I am in this matter, Lady Pinkie Pie…” Luna's brief pause caused the pink businessmare to bubble with an inflated ego. “Which is why you will conduct these negotiation in my stead.”
“I - wha?” Pinkie’s brain came to a crashing halt, and her head slowly tilted to the left as she tried to make sense of it.
“Huh?!” Rainbow parroted, nearly forgetting to keep her wings going. Only Twilight had an inkling as to Luna’s reasoning.
Luna put a hoof on Twilight’s withers to make her halt the machine. With a wheezing straining crank, the motor idled, leaving them drifting slowly inland as the storm winds pushed them on. “In my day, managing the nation was so much simpler. I had deputies and a few noble houses who joined me, and that was it. I governed a people numbered fewer than Tranquility by itself. Now I have ministers and concerns stretching an ocean, and I still struggle to give matters their due course. …As dire as Faithful Hymn’s fate was, personally leaving on this negotiation is an indulgence I can ill afford. As such, in light of your experience with these foreigners, I charge you to settle these matters in my stead.”
“You want me?” Pinkie dumbly looked over to her shrugging sister before looking back at Luna and remembering herself. “Ah I’mma - With complete respect, Your Majesty, I am just a businessmare. This - this-”
“Is little different,” Luna countered with a softer tone. “You may not be trading in goods or money so much as clout and dignity. If you are anything like your sister, I believe you can acquit yourself to my satisfaction.” Luna’s moment of regal poise was ruined by the loud caw of a seagull flying scant inches over her head as it headed inland.
The bird got a snicker out of Pinkie, and it did much to calm her nerves, even if the moment passed just as quickly as it came. The weight of the task was imposing, but with a clearer heart, Pinkie squared herself. “If you wish it, then I will do what I can.”
“Excellent.” More birds started passing them by, irritating Luna enough to glance at Twilight to get her to fly them on.
Nodding, Twilight manipulated the controls, only for the tassel engine to rev far too fast and loud, making her ease off and try again.
Doing her best to ignore the excessive noise barely two feet from her head, Luna flattened her ears. “I shall not be sending you alone of course. Lady Pinkie Pie, you will speak with my voice, and friend Rainbow Dash will be the voice for the heart of the people. Your sister will be the voice of this infernal machine apparently.” Luna growled as the machine grumbled painfully loudly for such a small engine. “Friend Twilight, if you please?”
“Sorry, sorry! I think the engine’s flooded. A simple fix,” Twilight laughed sheepishly, trying to keep calm. “Ah - Pinkie, you mind opening the valves like I showed you?”
“Rightio.”
Rainbow swung around so she was between the helplessly drifting flying machine and town. They were nearing the domestic docks now. “Empress, why don’t we just fly back the old fashioned way, and leave them to it?”
A bemused frown fell over Luna as she moved out of the way for Pinkie Pie. She rather liked flying by more than just her own power or that of a chariot, but disappointment was always ready to show its unwanted head. “Perhaps you’re right.”
She was about to turn away from watching Pinkie’s repair work when, of all things, a seagull smacked into the side of Pinkie’s head, instantly causing the mare to go dizzy. She tried to grab at anything to steady herself, and ended up yanking a control wire.
“Pinkie!” In a panic, Twilight turned in her seat, unaware that the wing balancer had been thrown off.
Fearful of the humming wings of the machine slapping her, Rainbow waited until Pinkie cleared them entirely before swooping down to catch her. By then, Luna and Twilight had lept to the air to check on her.
Twilight was at her sister’s side as quickly as she dared, nearly colliding with Rainbow in the process of hefting the earth mare into a better carry position. “Pinkie, are you alright?” Twilight inspected the impact, and saw a decent sized welt forming.
Her head was spinning, but Pinkie blearily tried to shake off the dizziness. “I think so. Just need the world to stop spinning first.”
Rainbow huffed with effort as she moved Pinkie once more into a better position. “I’ll take her over to the medic, but she’s probably fine.”
“Well that was certainly some excitement,” Luna offered with a head shake. She would have said more, but the humming from the flying machine grew strangely louder, and more distant. When she turned to look, it prompted the others to do the same.
Twilight shrieked at the sight of her creation having almost completely flipped itself over and falling out of the sky. She bolted for the controls, but Luna pulled her back with her magic.
“No, Twilight, it’s too dangerous!”
“But I can save it!” Twilight swore impotently as the wings went further out of control right above a merchant ship. Deckhands scrambled out of the way as the machine tumbled. It slammed into the bow before rolling off and ultimately crashing into the sea.
Twilight hung in the air, completely floored by how quickly everything happened. “But - but - how - what?!”
Rainbow cringed at the sight of the flier quickly slipping below the waves, leaving only a small number of bubbles behind. “Well that’s going to be a shipping hazard.”
“You!” Twilight growled at Rainbow, only to be stopped by the sight of her injured sister, so she was left to spin in place, tossed about by the wind and impotently kicking the empty air. All while sailors grumbled below, unwilling to shout obscenities in Luna’s direction. “Stars above, why did it have to be in the blasted harbor?!”
Luna eased her way over and used a hoof to stop Twilight’s rotation. “Perhaps it is for the best that I remain behind after all. I will have it dredged from the waters and smooth things over with the shipmaster while the three of you focus on the tasks ahead.”
Queen Novos was getting antsy. Being gone from her people for a month had progressively felt like she was an unwitting prisoner in a gilded cage. So it was with great relief that she was finally sitting in her stateroom aboard her ship.
Granted both she and Summer Flame sent and received letters from home every day, but she felt the city electrify when news of the missionaries' fate broke to the public. Calls for war had not left the newspapers since, and more than one protest had broken out in front of her diplomatic home. The ponies wanted blood, and the Union leaders were often an easy target as opposed to the perpetrators sitting hundreds of miles away.
At least Luna was courteous enough to keep the sentries in place when Summer dragged me out to whatever nonsense he wanted to see. Not that it matters now, I’m finally going home, and away from these smoky skies.
She lingered near the window, wanting to see if the fabled cloud district could withstand the storm that now thundered over the city. The stateroom she was in was attached to a modest library, which amounted to three shelves aboard the ship.
If there was one good thing about Summer Flame, it was that he was as much of an avid reader as he was a nuisance. The stallion in question was pouring over a magazine titled ‘The Modern Mechanic’ he had swiped before leaving Tranquility. More importantly though, he did it quietly.
Novos’ gaze partially kept an eye out for any approaching chariots or shuttle boats carrying the Equestrians. The Lunarians have been no help in how I should approach them. You can’t get them to say one good word about Equestrians, other than that they are good in a fight. She scowled, her worries grew about this ‘Harmony’ revolution amounting to little in the end.
So she huffed her impatience as the hours dragged on, with her only companion being the ticking of a clock and the occasional comment from Summer Flame. “They’re making us wait,” she declared irritably. “The Equestrians arrived yesterday. Where could they be?”
Summer Flame never looked away from his new magazine as he spoke. “You worry too much. I thought you’d be glad to be gone from here.”
“Oh make no mistake, I can’t wait to get some proper wine. We’ve been too far from home long enough, and the Lunarian’s miserable excuse for wine has nearly ruined my sense of taste. And you had the audacity to claim theirs was better.” Novos threw a candle stick at him, only for Summer to catch it in his magic without looking away. “We’ve been lied to. The Equestrians have no interest in our knowledge.”
“They’ve only been here a day, my ornery compatriot,” Summer chided while lazily flipping a page and setting the candlestick down with a satisfying thump. “I dare say the Lunarians are giving them an ear full that would make you blush.”
“And what exactly do you mean by that?” Novos replied with a testy voice, idly searching for another heavy object to throw. Part of her felt like rising to his prodding just to serve as a distraction. Yet her plans were foiled by a knock echoing into the room and down the hall.
The timing got a rise out of Summer who put his book down and leveled a mischievous look at Novos. “Perhaps they’re here to finally kill us out here where it's convenient. You best hide… Just in case.”
Novos used a wing to get her servant to answer the door while she rubbed her forehead and glared at him. “The next time I have to come to Tranquility, you’re staying behind.”
Standing up to stretch like a cat, Summer flicked his tail at her. “And miss out on my warm demeanor? My dear, you’d have gone mad having to listen to Saleena prattle on about which of these cafes have the best scones, and how they are woefully pale compared to her personal chef.”
“And this is why…” Novos painfully bit her lip. He was an insufferable commoner, but he was her peer all the same. The jester who wins a battle and then the high seat. I wish the world pulled a prank I could laugh at. Fearing she had delayed too long, Novos gestured at the hippogriff soldier near the door.
When it was opened, two unfamiliar ponies walked into the increasingly cramped stateroom, and yet at the same time they were frightfully familiar. Novos knew not their faces nor their names. No, she saw a being who dominated the gravitas in any room they entered. And she did it all while wearing a coy smile and a deceptively sunny disposition and a polite bow.
“Thank you all for seeing us. I am Justicar Rarity Belle, with my sister and protégé Aspirant Sweetie Belle.”
The sister by contrast carried herself with false confidence, yet Novos couldn’t tell if it was from the nervousness of being around two heads of state, or being new to her position. The queen dismissed the youth almost as fast as she took notice of her. “Greetings. I am Queen Novos.” She turned to her kirin counterpart, expecting some inflammatory introduction, only to see he was unsettled.
Summer Flame studied the pair without his traditional snide grin, but with a much more controlled neutral expression, as if a predator was in the room. “I’m First Citizen Summer Flame, always a pleasure to meet new faces.”
“Isn’t it though?” Rarity kept eye contact with a promise of violence that was carefully kept in check, like the claws of a cat barely touching a balloon. She didn’t even do it consciously anymore, it was simply how she was. “Now, I’m confident both you and our hosts have been kept waiting long enough and I can only imagine the… indignities you’ve had to endure during your stay. Shall we proceed with griffon dining etiquette?”
“So you ponies do have a sense of humor.” Summer Flame let off an exhaling laugh as tension left him. “I can tell you now they only ever use a single fork, even in their high halls. Which says a lot considering the climes.”
A dark grin crossed the justicar's muzzle. “How dreadfully utilitarian. But it certainly is a step up from what I've heard so far.” The young Aspirant glared at Rarity as if she were embarrassing her.
In spite of herself, Novos allowed a lot of the tension to bleed out of her as well. The Justicar may come across as a danger, but now she knew it was only her sense of humor that was the worst part. Heavens help me, now there are two of them.