//------------------------------// // Tea and Talk // Story: Truth and Reconciliation // by Jest //------------------------------// Shining Silver strode down the hallway, passing banners for factions defeated during the founding of Equestria. The hall was called the something of remembrance, but Luna chose not to recall the name as it was pompous. So much of the castle had been decorated for intimidation that nearly every square inch was dedicated to some grisly fact or event. “They really should redecorate,” Silver muttered. “I know they inherited this castle, and most of the decor when they took power but that is no excuse to keep all this morbid trash.” Silver’s sour mood lifted when she passed by a maid, the other mare giving her an unrestrained smile. The court wizard nodded in return, recalling that she had aided the passerby in locating a lost heirloom during her show of power only a day ago. The grin on her face was worth any potential ramifications to the timeline, though if that would hold true in the future, Shining couldn't know. “Good morning gentle stallion,” Silver greeted, nodding to the door guard standing nearby. The young male perked up and turned to the court wizard, snapping out of his own distracting internal thoughts. The moment his gaze settled on her, his eyes opened and another wide smile graced the face of someone Shining Silver had met. “Ahh court wizard. Apologies for not noticing you there. I’m afraid your advice has left me a bit distracted,” he remarked. “Well it's not every day one is forced to reckon with the fact that they were not meant for the pony they thought they were,” Silver replied. “It seems almost silly now but I had just assumed you were supposed to be miserable when you got married,” mused the guard, a wry smile coming to his face. “It certainly was that way with my parents.” “Yes well. I hope that you’ve begun to rectify that particular issue,” Silver prompted. “Oh yes. Immediately,” the guard declared, bobbing his head. “Right after the show of power was over I ran home and divorced her on the spot.” “And? Do go on,” Silver pressed. “I just realized I am boring the court wizard with my personal life. Apologies, master,” the guard exclaimed, ducking into a deep, apologetic bow. “Master? Oh yes right I am the master of the arcane arts. I had nearly forgotten about how that old title came with being declared a court wizard,” Shining Silver mused aloud. “I beg your pardon?” inquired the guard. “It is nothing, sir Round Shield,” Shining Silver retorted, waving a dismissive hoof in the air. “But please do tell me how things have gone since then. I am curious to see how the fates have shifted.” “Well…” Round Shield’s nervous expression morphed into one of utter joy. “She denied my request, but was absolutely thrilled by it.” “Oh? That sounds… contradictory,” Silver pointed out. “Yeah, but we both really really care for each other but not like that you know. We got married at fifteen, the very moment we became adults and we’ve been together ever since,” Round Shield exclaimed, becoming more and more animate with every word he spoke. Another cultural norm I intend on shifting. Honestly, ponies are barely adults at eighteen never mind three years earlier. Silver thought to herself. “So we both agreed to stay together and even remain married despite the whole, not actually being interested in one another thing,” Round Shield continued. “But we plan on dating other ponies, and sure it may end up a bit confusing if we both find someone or someones but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” “That is wonderful to hear,” Silver professed. “The fates spoke that you were not meant to be together but they did not elaborate further. It is good to see that you are maneuvering these troubled waters with grace.” “Oh me too. Why just this morning I woke up feeling positively giddy. My wife has started calling me a gigglemug,” remarked the stallion with a smile. “But you appeared so pensive before,” Silver pointed out. “I’m as happy as can be but there is still much left to consider,” Round Shield murmured. “I am certain you will figure it out in time. You have already set the winds of fate aflutter with your decisions. When they settle I am confident ever greater happiness will find you and your wife,” Silver exclaimed, reaching forward and patting the stallion on the shoulder. “I don't know if that's a good thing. If I smile any wider I may split my face in half,” replied the guard with a hearty chuckle. Silver shared the laugh as she passed him by and entered the room beyond, opening the door with her magic. Once inside, she used a spell to ensure no one could eavesdrop on any conversation had within. With that secure, she glanced around the area, her eager eyes taking in the familiar room. The walls were a blue so light it was nearly white, while the floors were a dark polished wood. Alabaster panels framed with the same oak that she now stood on covered the ceiling, making the room feel larger then it was. To her right lay an ornate fireplace overlooked two long couches a shade lighter than the brown that surrounded Silver. There were a few other tables and a small backroom that was barely larger than a bathroom. Only a single large window was present, though it was mostly hidden behind a curtain the same color as the walls. The entire place was light, airy in a way, and lit by golden chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. It was also occupied, with its two inhabitants standing near the back, hovering over a kettle. Celestia and Luna looked tired but energized, their usual royal garb having been discarded on a nearby table. “And you are sure this tastes pleasant?” Luna asked. “Because that last one you gave me was quite vile.” “Gunpowder green tea is a bit of an acquired taste I admit but this one is different,” Celestia declared, tapping the cup. “This is an orange pekoe that I’ve sweetened with a twist of citrus and a spoonful of sugar.” “I do enjoy orange,” Luna murmured. “You’ll like it,” Silver declared. “Though I’d advise putting in a second spoonful of sugar. For the moment Celestia does not appreciate the pleasure of sweets.” “Ha, now that is most amusing,” Luna remarked with a chuckle. “But I will, in time?” Celestia inquired. “It is a double-edged sword,” Luna began, walking over to the pair and pouring herself a cup of the orange pekoe tea. “You will learn to love it but that realization will come due to a bout of stress eating.” “Stress eating?” Celestia murmured. “It is the unfortunate habit of eating when stressed,” Luna replied. “Well that much was obvious,” Celestia muttered bitterly. “You hear that Celestia?” Luna prodded, poking her sibling in the side. “Soon you shall take on the mantle of big sister in another manner.” Celestia smacked Luna’s hoof away and frowned. “I do not fear this outcome, though I am curious about the circumstances. You have yet to clearly discuss this great schism you keep hinting at,” Celestia added, glancing at Silver. Behind her, Luna took her cup, added a second spoonful of sugar, and then took a sip. Though she seemed surprised and confused, a smile quickly grew on her face and she went back for another mouthful of the sweet liquid. “You know enough,” Silver retorted. “I do not want your relationship tainted by events that will now never come to pass.” “Be happy, sister,” Luna declared. “We have avoided a great crisis and a potential civil war. If it were not for the nature of this former future I would have ordered a week of feasting and celebration.” “I suppose,” Celestia murmured. Silver lit her horn, and poured Celestia a cup of the same sweet tea, though she added no extra sugar. “Sit, drink. Put the future past behind us and focus on what is to come,” Silver urged. “A more confusing statement has not been uttered,” Celestia remarked with a chuckle. “But poetic,” Luna added. “True,” Celestia agreed. The trio took their seats around the table closest to the window. They then began to sip quietly at their drinks, each busy thinking of something vastly different from the other. Luna wondered how she could best celebrate in private while Celestia worried ceaselessly about what now would not be. Silver thought about the return spell while also adding to the ever-growing list of things she wished to change before she departed this time period. “So,” Celestia began, somewhat hesitantly. “The call for a meeting of the lord inquisitors has been put out, and though it will take some months for them to assemble, I was wondering if you had a plan for dealing with them?” “Oh yes,” Silver answered. “Most will take little pressure or pandering to retire to their manors and leave the secret war behind but there will be troublemakers.” “Should we ready the army?” Luna pressed. “Yes, but not over the inquisitors,” Silver declared. “Several small, elite squads of highly trained individuals would be more effective to handle those particular ruffians.” “How so? Would not a larger force raise our chances for success?” Celestia inquired. “An army requires upkeep, and can be seen coming. A blade that strikes from the dark when the time is right requires one one-thousandth of the bits to supply,” Silver retorted, waggling a hoof at the other alicorns. “Most of the lower ranking inquisitors would be all too happy to return to civilian life but they are bound by either oath or duty to their corrupt superiors. If they were freed from these obligations, however…” “They would disperse without issue,” Luna finished. “Exactly,” Silver declared, raising her teacup and taking a long, sip. “Such underhanded tactics would besmirch our name should they be discovered,” Celestia declared, upper lip curled in disgust. “If,” Silver stressed. “But they will not. For they will be armed with spells this world would not have normally seen for a thousand years. However, this is a topic for another time. For now, we must return to the question of the army.” “Yes, you mentioned they would be needed. What exactly were you referring to?” Luna asked. “The griffon king attacked Equestria during our little civil conflict but this assault was not launched out of pure opportunity but rather a desperate bid to take land and secure the legacy of its dying king,” Silver pointed out. “Black Beak is barely middle-aged. He isn't dying of anything other than being an irritating boor with the manners of a common hog,” Luna exclaimed with a snort. “Let me guess. His years of drinking and sleeping around have caught up with him?” Celestia added. “Yes. His liver is failing and though his shamans can draw out his demise, the reaper will have his due all the same,” Silver answered. “Which leaves him with no legacy save for deposing the former king in a bloody coup, forever marking the Ebon Wind clan as little more than thieves,” Celestia mused. “In my timeline, he is revered as a brilliant commander, and the lands he will claim in a few years time remain in his hands for over a millennia afterward,” Silver concluded. “Augh. Is it not enough that he spends every international meeting harassing me but now he seeks to claim a portion of our kingdom? I’ll slay him in his very stronghold and send a message that we are not to be trifled with,” Luna declared. “Harassing? Oh, I had almost forgotten about that little tryst of ours,” Silver mused aloud. “His performance wasn't exactly noteworthy.” “Tryst?” Celestia asked only to grin. “So that's why you stopped volunteering to meet with the griffons! I knew something was up after you came home more bitter than usual.” “Celestia wasn't supposed to know about that, Silver,” Luna hissed. “If it makes you feel any better Celestia slept with the minotaur ambassador for years without telling me. I myself only discovered it over a thousand years after the fact when we visited her tomb,” Silver remarked with a shrug. “Wait, her?” Luna asked, only to gasp. “I knew something was up with you and Bright Hammer!” Luna proclaimed, pointing an accusatory hoof at her sister. “No wonder you were keenly interested in interracial marriage for a time.” “You really should repeal those old laws by the way. I know they aren't used but the fact that they remain at all will come back to bite you,” Silver declared, pausing to take a sip of her tea. “I… but you… augh!” Celestia muttered. “To think I’ve been undone by my own loose-lipped future self. Damn her.” “Oh you two were so cute together,” Luna remarked, only to frown. “Wait, why didn't you go through with it? I know it wouldn't have been… politically expedient to say the least but you were always headstrong when it came to love.” “She can't inherit the rulership of her clan if she marries outside of it,” Celestia murmured in a cold, bitter tone. “It’s for the best I suppose. She has quite a beautiful family now. Or so I’ve heard.” “What year is it again…” Silver muttered only to perk up a moment later. “Oh yes, she would have just had her second by now.” “Yes, she… Wait, why are we talking about this again?” Celestia asked. “Don't you dare think of changing the subject before you’ve told me more about your own dirty little secret! Was she the master in the relationship or were you?” Luna asked, smirking all the while. “I always had you pegged as… what word does the youth use… serflike?” “We are not talking about my love life, nevermind my bedroom proclivities” Celestia hissed, face a beat red. “The coming war with the griffons,” Silver intruded, adding a bit of extra force to the statement. “You may be able to avoid this by giving him a transfer, or curing him outright, but I doubt he would allow a pony to aid him in such a manner. Their warrior tradition would never permit such a thing.” “That may be, but I think I could make him see reason,” Celestia declared. “Though I would like to know more about this transfer you mentioned.” “Actually I think Luna would be best suited to this task,” Silver replied, turning to the now confused past version of herself. “He would never let his guard down around Celestia, but you… he just might.” “Nuh-uh, no way. I am not going near that brash fool ever again!” Luna proclaimed, her voice quivering. “Think of our ponies Luna. think of all the lives that will be saved should war be averted,” Celestia professed. “Surely you would not damn them all to oblivion over your pride.” Luna stood resolute for a second or two before crumpling, her shoulders falling inward and a long exhale escaping her lips. “No,” Luna murmured. “And as much as I hate to admit it, I would stand the best chance at convincing him against his warmongering ways. Though he would have had to have started arming even a winter or two ago at this point…” “That is true. Even should he be cured, the momentum may carry his nation forward regardless,” Silver muttered. “That is a concern for later I suppose,” Luna stated with a shrug. “This just leaves us with the coming meeting of the various lord inquisitors, does it not?” Celestia asked. “It does and with the notes I shall supply you I think you’ll be able to dissolve things without major conflict,” Silver remarked. “They do hold me in high regard. Which does not feel quite as pleasant to admit as it used to,” Celestia murmured, half to herself. “At least it shall be over soon in that case,” Luna pointed out. “They have all but declared Celestia to be their spiritual if not literal leader at this point.” “Don't remind me. Though I am glad for the perspective you’ve given me Silver it does not take away from the sting of nearly becoming some manner of pseudo-deity without my consent,” Celestia stated. “Only time can do that,” Silver replied. A sudden knock drew all three alicorn’s attention to the door. “Enter,” Silver called, lighting her horn and dismissing the barrier. “Hello? It's Paper Trail. I have some unfortunate news,” muttered a nervous mare that barely looked old enough to be an adult. “Come in, come in. Tell us of this grave news,” Luna encouraged. The teal, white, and seafoam green mare entered the room fully. “I umm, it's well not good,” Paper Trail muttered. “So you’ve already said,” Celestia deadpanned. The young pony winced, hiding behind her long bangs cut straight across her face. “I uh, well you see…” she murmured. “Take a deep breath and tell us what has happened,” Silver ordered. The mare nodded, and did just that, taking a long slow inhale before letting it out, releasing all her built-up stress. “The imp escaped,” murmured the messenger, already wincing, as if expecting to be struck. “That is most unfortunate,” Luna murmured. “If it is not contained, and returned to Tartarus quickly it will undermine our proclamation of victory over the demons.” “It uh, it gets worse,” muttered Paper Trail. “It gets worse, how?” Silver demanded, her tone harsh and her glare harsher still. “It probably escaped yesterday or perhaps even earlier,” whispered the messenger, voice barely even audible. “How is this possible?” Celestia demanded. “We had it secured in the finest of blessed silver.” “We… we don't know but it managed to escape and replaced itself with an illusion. We only just now noticed that it was gone,” Paper Trail exclaimed, falling to her knees and weeping. “Please forgive me I am just the messenger.” Silver rose and strode over to the cowering woman, looming over her. From the sidelines both Luna and Celestia looked on, silently worried over what their court wizard may do. “Is that all the news you bring us?” Silver demanded. The other mare nodded mutely, eyes tinged with unshed tears. “Then repeat after me,” Silver began, horn aglow with arcane energy. “I came to ask for the afternoon away from work and no other reason.” “I came to ask for the afternoon away from work and no other reason,” mimicked Paper Trail, the pony’s eyes swirling unnaturally. Silver reached down and hoisted the other mare from the floor, before dabbing her eyes dry with a handkerchief stolen from a nearby table. “When Shining Silver claps her hooves I will thank Celestia and Luna for giving me the afternoon off,” Silver prompted, and Paper Trail repeated. Shining Silver let her magic dissipate before clapping her hooves twice. Paper Trail blinked twice and looked around in a confused, worried state. Then her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face. “Oh thank you so much your majesties,” she proclaimed, ducking into a low bow. “For some reason this morning has been quite stressful and I feel as though I should seek out the apothecary.” “An excellent idea wouldn't you say, so sister?” Luna remarked, kicking her sister in the knee from under the table. “Ahh yes. An excellent decision. Have a wonderful rest of the day,” Celestia added. “I will, thank you again,” Paper Trail muttered, ducking into one last bow before departing. Once the barrier on the door was replaced, and their privacy was secured, Shining Silver released a long sigh. “Celestia, you’ll have to handle this issue before it gets out of hoof,” Shining Silver began, turning back around and facing the two alicorns. “You’re magic is more easily bent to the task of dealing with the demonic.” “Are you sure that is wise?” Celestia asked. “Even if the hunt is concluded quickly and successfully I would likely be unable to return in time for our meeting with the lord inquisitors.” “I shall handle that myself,” Silver declared. “And the management of the kingdom? You will handle that as well?” Luna inquired, her tone carrying a soft undercurrent of accusation that Silver bristled at. “If you think I am attempting to rob you of your positions you need not worry. I have already given up on ruling a nation and retired from public life once and would love nothing more than to do so again,” Silver retorted. “You will forgive the implication then, as it sure seems as though you are attempting to grasp the wheels of power as it were,” Luna remarked, her shoulders stiff and her gaze narrow. “Come now sister this is not the time for bickering,” Celestia intruded. “We need to handle the various issues arrayed before us, and quickly.” “I suppose you are right,” Luna admitted with a sigh of defeat. “You are right to be cautious but you need not be guarded around me,” Silver offered. “Though you relish in the pleasures of command, and control. I have long since given up on such things.” “So you say,” Luna remarked, rising from her seat. “Come, sister. We shall prepare for our excursions together.” “We should head for the dungeons first. Perhaps that foul demonic creature has left behind clues to where it has headed,” Celestia offered. “An excellent idea,” Luna admitted. The pair passed Silver by, one staring accusatory at the other pony while the other seemed apologetic. The disguised alicorn merely sipped her tea, as they passed, watching the diarchs leave her behind. Once gone, Silver put down the cup spat out the contents of her mouth, and reached for the unboiled pitcher of water. “What a foul brew,” she muttered to herself. “The sugar of this age is unrefined and unpleasant.” Hefting the jug to her lips, Shining Silver took several mouthfuls before placing the now half-empty container back on the table. With her tastebuds cleansed of the bitter filth she had subjected herself to, Silver fell back into the waiting, plush arms of a nearby couch. Using her magic, she parted the curtains and gazed out over the bustling castle city that served as Equestria’s capital. “One minute they heed my every word, the next I am met with suspicion and hostility,” Shining Silver mused aloud. “Though old enough to be grandparents they continue to act like children. It would be amusing were it not so sad.” Shining Silver sighed. “I have much work to do.”