The stay in Canterlot proved every bit as tedious as I feared it would.
I am sure Canterlot has no shortage of diversions for those who would care to seek them out. No doubt I could have whiled away the days mingling with the horde of fops and painted mares that seemed to infest the Commander’s court, but I suspect that if I were forced to endure their company for an extended period of time it would inevitably end in madness and mass bloodshed. I suspect the Commander would object to my transforming her palace into an abattoir, even if my actions were justified by being forced to endure the non-stop prattling of fools for days on end. In truth, I suspect such a transformation would be to the palace’s benefit—at least once the servants washed away the worst of the blood.
Thankfully, Gale performed more than enough mingling to fulfill any social obligations I might have had. Thus, I was spared the company of preening fools, and they were spared an inevitable and painful death at my hooves. As an added bonus, my dutiful daughter was no doubt building upon her web of contacts with every passing moment. There are reasons that I chose a daughter whose talents lay in the field of information gathering, and while most of them were practical concerns, I will not deny that at times it pleased me that she could attend social duties in my stead.
That is not to say that I am unsociable by any means. However, I confess that for every pony whose company I enjoy, there are several whose flaws and deficiencies of personality drive me to distraction. Gale, thankfully, was far more tolerant of such things than I.
Normally I might have passed the days upon the training fields of the Royal Guard, but after the clash with Proud Line I did not think such a thing would be prudent. Line might have been a fool who had provoked a needless confrontation, but he was still a member of the Guard. Many soldiers might feel an obligation to defend the honor of their comrade and unit, even when the comrade in question was a fool.
I did still gain what practice I could in the open sky with Gale, but there is little two ponies with no proper training equipment can do to hone their skills. Not to mention that my daughter’s other duties left her with limited time for such diversions.
Fortunately, a visit to the Canterlot Royal Library provided me with ample reading material to while away the empty hours while I waited upon the Commander’s pleasure. I will confess that the literary pursuits of the my own tribe are somewhat lacking in certain areas. The difficulty of storing books in clouds no doubt contributed to that. (1) There is little reason to go the trouble and expense of making and storing books that do not serve some immediate practical purpose.
1: Modern readers might not be aware of just how problematic this issue was, as somewhere in the nine hundred years of magical innovation after Shadow’s life somepony got around to making affordable cloud-friendly books. However, back in Shadow’s time the only way to keep books from just falling through the clouds was to incorporate thunderforged steel or some (expensive) enchanted material into the construction of the book itself. On top of that, traditional paper and ink didn’t exactly hold up well to being left around water vapor for extended periods of time, and preventing that required quite a bit of unicorn magic or some very nontraditional materials. For example, the works of Lyequinegus were inscribed onto thunderforged steel tablets. It certainly solved the durability issue, but the end result was the only book in Equestrian history whose weight could be measured in tons.
However, the relative ease of storing literature on the ground allowed unicorn authors far greater freedom to explore their craft. While I cared little for some of the frivolities this inevitably produced, like tawdry romances and simplistic fiction, I will confess that I found many of the works of philosophy and learning quite enlightening. One would be hard pressed to find the works of Aristrotle, Coltfucious, or Epic Curious in Cloudsdale. While I still prefer the works of Lyequinigus to those of the unicorn philosophers, it is always enlightening to see another perspective on matters.
I was in the midst of mentally comparing Curious’ more self-indulgent philosophical position with Lyequinegus’ emphasis on sacrifice and austerity when the Commander’s summons arrived. To my delight, I was to attend her in her personal quarters instead of being forced to endure the pomp and circumstance of meeting her in court. How the unicorns could tolerate such ridiculous ceremonial trappings on a daily basis, I shall never know.
To my further delight, Gale was waiting for me upon my arrival. My pleasure at seeing her was somewhat reduced when the Archmagus trotted up moments later, accompanied as ever by her most unusual daughter. Gale’s ears drooped ever so slightly, and she quietly whispered to me. “My apologies, Mother. I was with Midnight when the Commander’s summons arrived. ‘Twould seem that her mother learned of the reason for my departure quite swiftly.”
“Thou need hardly apologize for such a thing,” I gently reassured her. “No doubt the Archmagus has no need to rely upon snippets overheard by her daughter to learn of all that passes within the palace walls.” I should be quite surprised if she did not have ponies who served a similar function to Gale under her employ, or perhaps she preferred to use more arcane means of reconnaissance. Being a magus does come with certain advantages.
“Archmagus.” I acknowledged her with a polite nod, which she coolly returned. Thankfully, the impending meeting with the Commander spared me the need to offer any forced pleasantries.
The Commander’s personal quarters were every bit as opulent as I would have expected from Canterlot. I was quite certain that even the gemstones were gemstone-encrusted. However, for all the luxury there was a certain level of tastefulness that was absent many other areas of the palace. ‘Tis a difficult thing to explain or precisely put one’s hoof upon, but suffice to say that where in many places the sheer luxuriousness of Canterlot seemed overdone and gaudy, in the Commander’s quarters it somehow managed to seem ... fitting.
“Commander.” My daughter and I both saluted her, while the Archmagus and her daughter bowed and scraped before her as unicorns are wont to do.
The Commander sharply returned my salute, and signalled the Archmagus to stop grovelling. “Shadow, Gale, it is a pleasure to see both of thee once more. I trust that the both of thee have found thy accommodations to be pleasant?”
“I have no complaints.” The beds were overstuffed monstrosities, and most other furniture was designed for appearance over function, but I suppose I’ve slept in worse places. Like that one time my unit had to share a cave with several hibernating bears. At least Canterlot Palace did not reek of rotting flesh and stale bear feces—though some of the perfumes that the mares and stallions slathered themselves with smelled little better.
A faintly amused smile appeared on Commander Celestia’s face. “Shadow, might I ask a question of thee?” I nodded my assent, and the Commander continued. “Art thou always so dour and serious, or hast thou in fact smiled at some point in the course of thy life?”
Gale let out a poorly concealed snort of laughter, and a slight smirk quirked at the Archmagus’ lips.’Twould seem the Commander was in a jesting mood today. I suppose it would be my duty to attend to her desire, then. “I smiled once in my early fillyhood, Commander. I found that I did not care for the experience.”
Gale turned to me, her jaw hanging slack from surprise. “Mother ... didst thou just make a jest?”
I turned to my daughter, keeping my face and expression as neutral as possible. “Neigh.” Gale stared at me for some time, trying to discern my true meaning. While she occupied herself with such idle pursuits, I turned to the Commander. “How might I be of service, ma’am?”
The Commander’s horn glowed, and the Ephorate’s report appeared hanging in the air before her. “I have completed my review of Pegasopolis’ quarterly report. Thankfully, everything appears to be in order, and I see no reason not to follow the Gerousia’s recommendations, so thy task is a simple one.”
That was welcome news indeed. I could look forward to a swift return to Cloudsdale, and many months before duty would once more drag me to Canterlot. If the Commander were to gainsay the Gerousia and make her own orders I might have been forced to linger here for weeks.
Sadly, the matter could not be concluded quite so simply. The Archmagus delicately cleared her throat to remind us all that she was still in the room. “Your Majesty, while I do not doubt the wisdom of your decision, I feel I should state that I have not yet had the opportunity to review either of these documents.”
I felt a hint of choler at her statement, and not simply because it would necessitate my remaining in Canterlot for several more days. I kept my tone carefully polite and neutral as I addressed her. “With all due respect (2), Archmagus, it would be most inappropriate for the grand vizier of Unicornia to concern herself with the business of Cloudsdale.”
2: As anypony who has ever served in the armed forces knows, “with all due respect” is really just an extremely polite way of saying “kiss my plot.”
The Archmagus was clearly not pleased to be gainsaid in front of the Commander, but there was little she could do about the matter. The law was on my side—Grand Vizier Sunbeam Sparkle officially had no more standing in Pegasopolis than any foreign dignitary. Certainly, she had no right to involve herself in the purely internal affairs of Pegasopolis.
However, that was twice I had now wounded her pride, and there are few who can overlook such an injury. Anger burned in her eyes, even as her voice turned dangerously sweet. “The Ephor is, of course, correct. I apologize, Your Majesty. In my eagerness to be of service, I overstepped myself. However, there is another matter which I feel must be brought to your attention.” One could practically feel the sense of smug satisfaction rolling off of her as she announced. “There was a grave incident several days ago—the Ephor and her daughter assaulted several of your Guards within the very wall of your palace.”
The Commander’s face went carefully blank. Neigh, more than that, her entire countenance darkened. Always before there had been certain sense of lightness in her demeanour, as if not even the burden of ruling over three pony tribes weighed upon her. But now, she was clearly troubled. “That is a serious charge, Archmagus. Ephor, what hast thou to say upon this matter?”
I chose my words carefully, lest I offer the Archmagus something she might be able to twist and use against me. “Regrettably, there was an altercation between myself, my daughter, and several of your guards. Their commanding officer offered insult to both myself and my daughter. We took appropriate action to defend our honor.”
The Archmagus turned to me, a coldly triumphant smile upon her face. “If you truly felt that your honor had been so wounded, then why didst you not challenge Proud Line to juris ungula? Certainly, none would have disputed your right to do so if he offered you insult such as you have claimed.”
Clearly Archmagus Sparkle knew little of the ways of warriors. “Because I do not dirty my blades with the blood of fools. To face one such as him in honorable single combat would be beneath me. An Ephor does not duel a mere lieutenant, there is no honor in it.” I suppose that had Gale wished to do so she might have faced him in battle, but even she outranked the fool by a healthy margin. Simply granting him the right to face my daughter in juris ungula offered him far greater praise than a common idiot deserved.
For the moment, Commander Celestia seemed content to silently observe whilst the Archmagus and I exchanged words. No doubt she would intervene when we’d both made our cases, or when she felt it needful. For her part, the Archmagus continued upon her offensive with admirable determination, though her enthusiasm to disgrace me before the Commander’s eyes perhaps blinded her to the folly of her cause. “Would it not have been far simpler and wiser to surrender to Her Majesty's Royal Guard, and let the fool get reprimanded for arresting an important dignitary to her court? To do so would have avoided needless bloodshed.”
I let out an incredulous snort at the very idea. “That is your wise counsel, Archmagus? That I should allow a mere lieutenant to disarm and imprison both myself and my daughter? Unthinkable.” I would surely be the laughingstock of all Cloudsdale if I were to allow myself to be treated with such disrespect. “What other indignities would you have had us endure after placing ourselves at the mercy of the Guard?”
The Archmagus’ eyes went wide as the weight of my implication sank in. “Ephor, I understand you were ill-treated by one member of the Guard, but I can assure you that it was an entirely isolated case. Unicornia and Canterlot are bastions of civilization, not some two-bit tyranny whose dungeons are naught but a pit of torture and indignity. Do you truly think Her Majesty would tolerate any such crimes within her own palace?” She gave a quick shake of her head, and proceeded to answer her own question. “Neigh, she would not. But instead of placing your faith in Her Majesty, you crippled one of the Queen's officers and assaulted a hoofful of her guards who were merely following orders? In the very halls of her palace, no less? Surely you could have resolved the matter in a way that preserved your honor without resorting to violence?”
I suppose her point was not entirely lacking in merit. In truth, it sat ill with me to do violence to my fellow ponies, especially those who were enemies through cruel circumstance rather than by choice. Still, there had been little I could do when Proud Line seemed so intent upon forcing a confrontation. However, I was not the only pony present. “If you were truly so concerned with the prevention of bloodshed, surely you could have intervened in the matter. Not even Proud Line could ignore an order from the Grand Vizier.”
Archmagus Sparkle let out an indignant sniff and took a half-step closer to her daughter. “Midnight was with me. You would have me introduce my daughter to a potentially hazardous situation that was mere moments away from coming to blows?” I noted that the Archmagus neglected to mention the invisibility spell she had been maintaining at the time, which no doubt would have safeguarded young Midnight quite well.
Gale took it upon herself to speak up in my defense. “We offered them ample opportunity to surrender.”
The tiniest hint of an amused grin appeared upon the Commander’s face for so fleeting an instant that I could not be entirely certain it had really been there at all. Sadly, the Archmagus did not share the Commander’s opinion of Gale’s response. “So the Royal Guard is to surrender every time a delegation from Pegasapolis is sent? Yes, that sets a wonderful precedent.”
I could not restrain myself from letting a slight smirk show as I answered her. “'Twould be far a wiser course of action than provoking us to arms. No doubt less painful, as well.”
The Archmagus scowled at the both of us. “Do you find this situation amusing, Ephor? You make light of the fact that you assaulted her Majesty's guards in an act of barbarity and senseless chest-thumping? You think it amusing that Proud Line is likely to walk with a limp for the rest of his life due to the injuries he suffered?”
“If that is what he claims, then he exaggerates the extent of his injuries,” Gale answered her with a casually dismissive wave of her wing. “I placed my spikes quite well. If anything, he owes me a debt of gratitude—had he provoked somepony who lacked my skill, he could easily have been crippled or slain outright.” (3)
3: Gale is quite correct on this point. In fact, one of Shadow’s fellow Ephors, Bright Charger, would eventually fall in battle after suffering a “minor” injury to the back of her right foreleg. Charger and her fellow soldiers dismissed the wound as nothing but a flesh wound until she collapsed after the battle’s end. When the medics removed her armor, they realized that the seemingly insignificant wound had in fact severed a major artery. Charger died of her wounds shortly afterwards.
I gave an approving nod and spoke in support of my daughter. “An insult was given, and we provided our answer. Perhaps in Unicornia the values of honor and courage are unknown, but in Pegasopolis they are alive and well.”
Archmagus Sparkle rolled her eyes and let out a disbelieving snort. “‘Tis curious, how often the ‘honor’ and ‘courage’ of pegasi seem to result in wanton acts of violence and destruction. Your tribe always seem to fetshize those words and use them to justify their brutishness.”
“Enough.” The Commander spoke the word in a tone I quite recognized from my time in the clanhold—anypony who has ever seen a mother separate two squabbling children would be familiar with it. Whatever amusement the Commander might have found in our exchange had clearly faded, judging by the troubled frown she now wore. “‘Twould seem that clashing of cultures between the three pony tribes remains alive and well as ever. Unfortunate.”
The Archmagus and I both lapsed into silence, lest we offer Commander Celestia some further offense. After several seconds, she gave an annoyed shake of her head and grumbled under her breath, “Once more, it seems that I must play mother to this world.” She let out a single, heavy breath and gave her decision. “Archmagus, I would expect the guards in my service to know better than to needlessly provoke visiting dignitaries, especially dignitaries from a place with the long and proud warrior tradition of Pegasopolis. While there is little that can justify an attack upon the Royal Guard under Uniconian law, the Ephor is, as thou hast no doubt ascertained, a pegasus. By Pegasopolan custom, her actions were justified.” Commander Celestia fell silent for several seconds, her chin dipping slightly and her eyes narrowed in thought, before she continued, “I suppose ‘tis most fortunate that Line chose to cause an incident with a fellow Equestrian rather than a true foreigner, else we might be facing the spectre of war.”
My daughter let out an amused little titter. “Fortunate indeed. 'Twould be passing curious to see how Commander Celestia of Pegasopolis would go to war with Queen Celestia of Unicornia.” A moment of awkward silence passed, and my daughter’s face fell. “Oh horseapples. I spoke that thought aloud.”
Thankfully the Commander saw fit to allow the obscenity to pass, though I made a mental note to properly reprimand my daughter once the meeting was concluded. When meeting with the leader of all Equestria, a certain level of propriety is to be expected. Though perhaps such would not prove necessary, as the droop in my daughter’s ears and the pained expression on her face made it quite plain that she realized she had erred. The Commander held up a single hoof to forestall any further commentary. “Peace, child. I certainly have no plans to declare war upon myself. An ephor assaulting an officer of Unicornia—or the reverse—would spark conflict between the two nations under other circumstances.”
It was at this point that Archmagus Sparkle reentered the conversation, showing no indication that she was troubled by her failure to lessen my standing in Commander Celestia’s eyes. “With respect, Your Majesty, I believe that this incident shows a much larger issue at hoof than a mere clash between your guards and a visiting dignitary. As you said, you rule over three pony tribes, yet their laws and customs are frequently in conflict. ‘Twould not be untrue to say that aside from you as a common leader, there is little which binds the three tribes together beyond our basic biological similarities.”
The Commander gave a weary nod to her grand vizier. “‘Tis true, I am often troubled by the burdens of carrying three separate governments. To be Queen, Commander, and Chancellor to the three tribes brings far more complication that I care for, but ‘tis a necessary evil.”
The Archmagus respectfully bowed her head, and continued, “I have seen how heavily this burden has weighed upon you, Your Majesty. I think this yet another reason for why ‘tis past time we saw to enacting a reformation of Equestria’s legal codes. The ancient treaties signed by Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, and Chancellor Puddinghead to create the Equestrian League certainly never envisioned the possibility that their three offices would all be united within a single pony—let alone that this pony would be an immortal who held all three offices in perpetuity.”
There was truth to Archmagus Sparkle’s words. While there are means by which a Commander might be removed from power, at the time I could scarce imagine any circumstance that might drive the Ephorate to relieve Commander Celestia of her position. ‘Twas also my understanding that, while the Commander stood for re-election as Chancellor of the earth ponies every few years, there had been no serious challenge to her election within living memory.
The Commander frowned at her advisor, and a hint of displeasure colored her voice. “Thou wouldst say, then, that my rule over ponykind is inefficient?”
The Archmagus fell silent for a few moments, and when she spoke there was a placating sweetness to her tone that sought to take the sting away from her words. “What I am saying is that your government is cumbersome as it stands. The original agreements that bound the pony tribes together have passed the point of obsolescence. Effectively having three governments united by just one pony has produced a number of issues that our founders could never have envisioned, and has lead to many incidents just like the one between the good Ephor and your own guards. And this unfortunate incident is but one in the long list of troubles which plague your combined governments.”
I was beginning to grow a touch wary of the Archmagus’ designs. This did not strike me as a sudden burst of inspiration from the discovery of a new problem, but rather a matter she had devoted a great deal of thought to in the past. Perhaps her true design in raising the issue of my clash with the Commander’s guards was not to diminish me, but rather to serve as a means by which she might bring her true agenda to light.
The Commander frowned at Archmagus Sparkle, clearly troubled by the proposal. “Thou wouldst have me rebuild the governments of Equestria from the ground up, then? That is no small endeavour. The current system might be imperfect, but it has sufficed for centuries.”
The Archmagus conceded the point with a nod. “Aye, and Equestria has been better for it. In the early days of Equestria ‘twould have been impossible for the three pony tribes to reconcile their differences and come under a single government and society.” She idly shifted her mane about and shot a brief unreadable look at me before returning her attention to the Commander. “However, those days are long past—now all ponykind has lived content under a single ruler for more than a century. Surely ‘tis past time we acknowledged this reality, and took measures to tighten the bonds between the three tribes. Should we not make the glue which holds our society together stronger than a few weak strings that will snap under the slightest pressure?”
There was a great deal of sense in her words. That made me wary. From what I had observed thus far of Archmagus Sparkle’s character at that time, I had little reason to believe she sought the good of all Equestria and ponykind. If she proposed a series of government reforms, I was convinced that it could only be because she saw some advantage for herself in doing so. I chose my words carefully. “Strengthening the bonds between the tribes would seem prudent, but we must not act precipitously. What precisely dost thou propose, Archmagus?”
Given her apparent level of preparation for this conversation, I had half-expected her to produce an entire written constitution for a unified Equestrian government. Thankfully, she had either not yet gone to that extreme, or else felt it prudent not to reveal the full extent of her plans. “I believe that the time has come to centralize Equestria's government, laws, and institutions. While we obviously should allow each pony tribe to retain its unique culture and customs, it makes little sense for a family with a pegasus mother, a unicorn father, and an earth pony foal to be divided by three complete sets of laws and institutions, many of which are mutually incompatible and only linked together precariously by Her Majesty’s role in all three governments.”
The Commander offered her vizier a skeptical frown. “Does such a family truly exist, or is this merely a hypothetical example?”
I took it upon myself to provide an answer to her question. “I know of no family with that specific configuration, but it is quite possible that there is such a household. Equestria is a vast place, Commander, and mixed marriages are far from unknown.” Indeed, if one were to judge by the existence of creatures such as mules and hippogriffs, some ponies would go much further afield than merely seeking the company of another pony tribe.
The Archmagus was quick to jump upon the opening I had created for her. “Aye, Your Majesty. I took the liberty of consulting the census records, have confirmed that at least two such families exist within Unicornia’s borders. There are of course a far greater number of households where just two of the tribes are represented, mostly between earth pony and unicorn.” That was to be expected, given that most pegasi spend little time upon the ground, and the pegasi had far less in common with our earthbound cousins than they shared with each other. “Even within a marriage between two ponies of the same tribe, ‘tis always possible that a forgotten ancestor of another tribe left a genetic legacy which might choose to manifest itself within the child. So long as such mixed households occur, they shall remain a problem for ponykind under the current legal system.”
Commander Celestia wore a troubled frown for some time, before she reluctantly announced, “While I deeply empathize with the difficulties faced by such families, there is only so much that can practically be done. The laws of nations cannot be written to account for the quirks of every individual family or minor exception to the established norms. I should think that those entering into such a union would be wise enough to discuss the matter of foals well ahead of time.”
“Then perhaps that is another flaw within the system itself, Your Majesty.” The Archmagus began to wax rhetorically. “What are a pair of earthbound parents to do when their pegasus child is told he or she must begin her martial training upon her eighth birthday, and ultimately relocate to the clouds and enlist into the service of the Pegasopolan state, or the child shall forfeit that legacy that is its right by birth?”
“Thou wouldst have me dictate the fine details of every family's lives then, Archmagus?” Commander Celestia countered deftly, “Hast thou no faith in my little ponies and their ability to attend to the rigors of their own lives?”
My daughter made a point of catching my eye, and I nodded, giving her permission to speak. Normally I would not have been overly concerned by such a point of decorum, but after Gale’s earlier gaffe it pleased me to see my daughter acting somewhat more circumspect. “If I might, Commander,” Gale waited until she received the Commander’s permission to continue. “While laws and governments cannot be built around attending to every minor detail, surely more could be done to affirm the bonds between pony nations and provide succor to mixed families without unduly disrupting the current state of affairs?”
The Archmagus was quick to jump upon my daughter’s words and voice her own agreement, essentially repeating what Gale said, but using a great deal more time and verbiage in the process. Once she had said her piece, the Commander took a few moments to consider the matters before giving her answer. “Indeed, it is as thou hast said. Hence, the purpose of thy visit, young Gale, and those like thee. I am but one pony, arbiter or no; I entrust much of the management of the pony nations to those whom both I and the nations consider capable.” I felt the Commander’s gaze linger upon me significantly after that remark.
There was certainly truth to her words. While Commander Celestia was the overall ruler for the three pony tribes, she could hardly take an active role in management of all three governments on a daily basis. In truth, the Ephorate and Gerousia largely saw to the rule of Pegasopolis, with the Commander often doing little more than verifying their decisions. Her response to the very report I had been tasked with delivering had been little more than a rubber stamp of approval upon the choices made in her absence. While I am no expert on the matter, I suspect that her rule over the earth ponies operated in a similar manner.
That fact brought an intriguing possibility to mind. If the bonds between the pony tribes had grown weak, perhaps it was because the one who was to bind us together lingered overlong amongst the unicorns and rarely involved herself in the affairs of the other tribes. “Mayhap, Commander, it is time that you took a more active role in Equestria's affairs. Few ponies in Cloudsdale have ever had the opportunity to lay eyes upon you, and the Commander's residence has remained unoccupied for more than a century.”
Young Midnight Sparkle spoke with all the innocent curiosity of youth. “Is that because Her Majesty does not wish to be under the roof of her exiled sister?” (4)
4: While Princess Luna shared the throne of Unicornia with Celestia prior to her exile, after her appointment as Commander of Pegasopolis Luna largely preferred living among the pegasi. Given her rather infamous jealousy issues, it’s not surprising she preferred the title and tribe she didn’t have to share with her sister. Luna’s adoption of several Pegasopolan customs did little to endear her to the court in Canterlot, which naturally drove her closer to her winged subjects.
The Commander stiffened visibly at the mention of Commander Luna. ‘Twould seem that even after more than a century that wound was still raw. The Archmagus cuffed her daughter upside the head and whispered a sharp rebuke. “Midnight! We do not talk about such things in court. Be quiet, daughter.”
Midnight rubbed a hoof on the back of her head where the Archmagus struck her, and she shot a resentful glare at her mother. “But the other day thou didst say—” Whatever the child was about to say died in her mouth as she wilted under under her mother’s furious glare.
With her daughter chastened for the moment, the Archmagus returned her full attention to the Commander and offered a deep, repentant bow. “My sincerest apologies for my daughter's uncouth comment, Your Highness. 'Twas a misjudgment based on youth rather than malice, I assure you. Once our business here is concluded, I shall see to it that she is suitably chastened in a manner that will ensure there are no further incidents of this sort.”
The Commander held up a hoof to forestall any further commentary. “Peace, Sunbeam. It is a filly’s nature to not grasp the meaning of their words or the pain they might cause others. I am sure thy daughter is already suitably chastened.”
Archmagus Sparkle gave another bow. “As it pleases you, Your Majesty. I still think I shall deny her any dessert for the next few weeks.”
“That is thy right as her mother,” the Commander conceded. She took a deep breath, gave a slight shake of her head, and then spoke as if the last few minutes after young Midnight’s outburst had not occurred. “Thy argument is well-crafted, Shadow. Though I lack the leeway to yet venture forth, it has been far too long since I left Canterlot for an extended visit with any of my subjects. With three governments to manage I rarely have a moment to spare for anything beyond duty, let alone several weeks removed from the heart of Equestria’s bureaucracy.”
The Archmagus seized upon the opening that statement left her. “'Tis another example of why there needs to be reform. Even for one so blessed as Your Majesty, more than a century of unceasing, unrelenting duty is too much to ask. A reformed government might allow you greater freedom to move as you please, and even enjoy a moment’s rest. For all the length of my service to Your Majesty, the only times I can recall you leaving Canterlot was on those occasions when a grave threat to the safety and stability of Equestria required your presence.”
“That is my recollection as well,” I agreed.
The Commander frowned shook her head. “Neigh. I distinctly recall a visit to Manehatten not so long ago. There was a parade, and I spoke at length with Mayor Able.”
“Mayor Able Mind of Manehatten died more than fifty years ago, Your Majesty,” the Archmagus calmly informed her.
The Commander gave several surprised blinks before her wits fully restored themselves. “I—yes, of course. Has it truly been so long? I recall the day clearly...” The Commander let out a weary sigh, and sank into her cushions. “Mayhaps the both of thee are indeed correct. I have lingered so long in Canterlot that the days have all begun to blur together. I think I would enjoy the opportunity to be elsewhere, for a time. Especially if I might serve the realm and my subjects by doing so as well as myself.”
“I believe that it would be to all of ponykind’s benefit if you bestirred yourself from Canterlot for a time, Commander.” I was careful to keep any hint of condemnation out of my voice, for all that I thought poorly of her choice to linger in Canterlot within the privacy of my own mind. “'Tis unfortunate that the great majority of your own citizens have never had the opportunity to lay eyes upon you, ma’am. 'Twould no doubt strengthen the bonds between tribes if the one who binds us together were not some distant, unknown figure to most of ponykind.”
“There is great wisdom in the Ephor’s words.” I immediately went on guard at hearing such a statement of praise from Archmagus Sparkle. ‘Twas likely she would only offer such complimentary words if I had played right into her hooves. “A review of your realm is perhaps long overdue, Your Majesty. If it is your will, I can see to the needs of Canterlot and Unicornia in your absence. 'Tis my duty and pleasure to do so.”
And thus was the Archmagus’ true purpose revealed, I was sure. The Ephorate and the earth pony Cabinet had long enjoyed a certain degree of de facto autonomy in the Commander’s absence. If the Commander was to have an extended absence from Canterlot and Unicornia, ‘twas likely that much the day-to-day running of the queendom would fall into another’s hooves. The Grand Vizier and Archmagus of Canterlot would be the logical choice for such a post. If half the rumors Gale had gathered about her had any truth to them, I shuddered to think what Archmagus Sparkle might do when spared any oversight or restraint from the Commander.
The Commander turned to face her vizier, and for a moment I dared to hope that she too had seen the Archmagus’ designs and would promptly put an end to them. Instead, much to my dismay, she simply nodded in agreement and declared. “Long has it been since Canterlot fared under the eye of a steward. I confess a longing to stretch my wings now and again, and I have every confidence that my realm could survive for a time without my presence to oversee every minor details of leadership.”
While I confess that I could not begin to fathom why the Commander retained Sunbeam Sparkle’s services or granted such a position of honor, it is not my place to question her decisions. No doubt, she had her reasons for trusting one who seemed so utterly untrustworthy. In any case, there were other matters at hoof. “Shall I advise the Ephorate to begin making preparations for your arrival? I suspect the Commander's Residence may require some freshening up after spending more than a century unoccupied.”
“Aye, the Commander’s Residence.” Commander Celestia frowned and idly traced a hoof over the marble floor. “It does not seem proper, that I have held the post for more than a century without ever spending a single night in the official residence for the Commander of Pegasopolis. I would be grateful if thou wouldst arrange to have it made ready, Shadow. ‘Tis far past time I occupied it, even if only for a brief time.”
“Quite right, Your Majesty.” Much to nopony’s surprise, the Archmagus remained entirely too eager to see the Commander to absent herself from Canterlot. “‘Twould not do to have you remain so long absent from Pegasopolis that your subjects forgot who their Commander was.”
Much as I hate to confess it, there was some truth to the vizier’s statement. While everypony was well aware that Commander Celestia ruled amongst the pegasi, her long absence had rendered her theoretical leadership largely moot. The Ephorate had managed the day-to-day affairs of the pegasi for so long that the Commander was little more than a figurehead. While I believed the Ephorate had managed things quite efficiently in the Commander’s absence (though my own membership in that august body did perhaps bias me), it seemed unfitting that our Commander-in-Chief did not actually exercise command.
“So the matter is settled, then.” Commander Celestia gave a single sharp nod. “Once all the proper arrangements are made, I shall make extended visits to the other two tribes under my care.” She waved a hoof to her vizier, and added. “Such a visit would also be an ideal opportunity to discuss some of Sunbeam’s plans for an administrative restructuring of Equestria, as well.”
“I should think so, Your Majesty,” Archmagus Sparkle quickly agreed.
“I am glad we are in accord.” The Commander smiled down approvingly at her vizier. “I do hope that an extended absence from thy tower and experiments, not to mention the comforts of Canterlot, will not be too pressing a burden for thee, Sunbeam?”
Well played, Commander. Well played.
The Archmagus blinked in surprise, and her mouth hung half-open as she struggled to find an answer to the question. The Commander’s trap was well-laid though, and after a pregnant pause Archmagus Sparkle had no choice but to bow and reluctantly agree. “No burden is too great in the service of Equestria, Your Majesty. How long shall we have before we depart for Cloudsdale? There are many preparations to be made, not to mention the matter of my daughter and whether she is to accompany me or remain here in our absence.”
Young Midnight’s eyes brightened and her ears perked up at her mother’s words. “Oh, please allow me to venture to Cloudsdale with thee, mother! ‘Twould such an exhilarating place to visit. The thought that naught but empty air exists beneath our hooves, separated by what can be easily dispersed...” A thoughtful look appeared on the child’s face, then she turned to face myself and my daughter. “Is it true that a coin dropped from the heights of Cloudsdale would fall so fast that upon reaching ground level it would strike anypony below with lethal force?”
While I was deterred by such a morbid line of questioning, my own daughter seemed unbothered by the child’s oddities. “I am afraid I would not know,” Gale informed the filly. “We do not have any coins in Cloudsdale.”
“Troubling.” The child brought a thoughtful hoof up under her chin. “Mayhaps I should—”
“Midnight,” her mother firmly interrupted the filly’s train of thought. “Thou art interrupting whilst the adults are discussing matters of import.” The chastened filly fell silent once more, and the Archmagus turned and bowed to Commander Celestia. “‘Twould seem I am compelled to apologize once more for my daughter’s behavior, Your Majesty. I assure you, she is normally far better behaved.”
“Fillies will be fillies, Sunbeam.” The Commander offered a gentle smile to young Midnight, who hesitantly returned it. “Do not trouble thyself over the matter.”
I suspect young Midnight would not enjoy what would come to pass at this meeting’s end. Twice now she had troubled her mother before her queen, and the Archmagus did not strike me as one who would be lax in disciplining her daughter. I suppose I should be grateful that I adopted Gale at an age when such youthful indiscretions lay in her past.
The Archmagus spared a quick glare for her daughter, then delicately cleared her throat and returned to the matter at hoof. “So, how soon are we to arrange for Her Majesty’s visit to Cloudsdale? If you will forgive me for saying so, Ephor, you seem quite eager to see Her Majesty take up the mantle of Commander in Cloudsdale.”
I conceded the matter with a nod. “Much as I am sure all Cloudsdale would love to see their Commander, I do not see the need for great urgency. Pegasopolis has endured your absence for many years, Commander. It can endure a few weeks longer while we see to it that matters are properly arranged. Would you like to oversee the preparations for your visit personally, Commander?”
Commander Celestia favored me with a smile. “I have every confidence in the Ephorate’s ability to attend to such matters. Compared to ruling over all Pegasopolis, seeing to the details of a formal visit should be a relatively minor affair.”
Gale gently cleared her throat and once more quickly looked to me for permission before speaking. “If I might ask a question of you, Commander, what of the earth ponies and their cabinet? Do they not enjoy your confidence?”
‘Twould seem my daughter’s sense of humor had chose a poor time to manifest itself. Mayhap young Midnight would not be the only daughter facing parental sanction after the meeting’s conclusion. “Gale...”
Thankfully, the Commander’s own sense of humor was in line with my daughter’s, and she took no offense at the rather poor jest. “I thank thee for reminding me, Gale. I shall need to speak with the Cabinet about arranging a visit to the other tribe under my rule as well.” The corners of the Commander’s mouth quirked up as she added. “Re-elections for the Chancellorship are but a month away. ‘Twould be a pity if due to a lack of active campaigning I were reelected for my forty-fourth term with a mere ninety-nine percent of the vote.”
I felt a momentary pang of guilt at my unintended neglect of the earth ponies. ‘Twas an understandable oversight in a conversation between pegasi and unicorns, but an oversight nonetheless. “Of course, we must not neglect the third tribe of ponykind. Mayhap ‘twould be best if you made your visit to them first, Commander. Accommodating ponies of the other tribes in Cloudsdale is likely to require significantly more preparation than a simple visit to the earth ponies.” At the very least any unicorns or earth ponies would need shoes of steel from our thunderforges. Likely, the local architecture would also require some modification to accommodate ponies who were limited to moving in only two dimensions.
“Prudent counsel,” Archmagus Sparkle agreed. While there was still a barely perceptible slump to her shoulders, it seemed she had recovered from the worst of her shock at being so deftly outmaneuvered by the Commander. “I agree. First, a visit to the earth ponies, then we make our way to Pegasopolis.”
The Commander nodded her agreement. “As it is said, so shall it be done.”
“Very well then. Have we any further business to discuss?” When the Commander confirmed that we had settled all outstanding matters, I and my daughter both saluted her. “Good day, Commander. Upon my return to Cloudsdale, I shall inform the Ephorate of thy impending arrival within Cloudsdale, and see to it that arrangements are made.”
The Commander returned our salutes. “I look forward to returning. It has been far, far too long since my last visit, and that was in far less pleasant circumstances. ‘Twill be a pleasure to return to Cloudsdale in a time of peace and harmony.”
With our business in Canterlot thankfully concluded for the moment, my daughter and I made our way back to Cloudsdale. The capital of Pegasopolis made for quite the contrast with the city of the unicorns. While it far too often moves into the realm of gaudiness, there is an undeniable elegance to Canterlot, a level of beauty that Cloudsdale could never hope to achieve. That is not to say that my home city was completely lacking in charm, but it was a different kind of beauty. Where Canterlot was the city of silver, gold, and gemstones, Cloudsdale had a rough, cold austerity to it. While the city was not entirely undecorated, even the finest of cloudcrafters can only accomplish so much when given only a single material to work with. That is not to mention that most pegasi hold to the austerity advocated by Lyequinegus—more traditional clans like the Strikes still built their clanholds with nothing more than simple, roughly-finished clouds.
However, my first destination was not the cold halls of the Strikers, but the far warmer clanhold of the Doos. I might have returned to my own clanhold to rest from my journey, but the news that our Commander would be returning to us had lit a fire within my breast. I would find no rest until I spread the word.
Mayhap ‘tis also possible that I longed to see noble Rightly again. If her amused smile and coy tone were anything to judge by, my daughter certainly seemed to think so. “‘Twould seem that thou cannot bear to be parted from thy beloved Rightly for even the time thou wouldst need to gain a single night’s rest, Mother.” While I love my daughter dearly, there were times when I lamented her casual lightheartedness and fondness for jesting. A more reserved daughter would not find such joy in discussing my romantic prospects. Gale gently nudged my shoulder and teasingly added, “Or is it thy intention to remain for the night amongst the Doos? I am certain Ephor Doo would be pleased to offer thee a suitable bed. In fact, his hospitality might even extend to offering thee his own. I am sure that outcome would not be displeasing to thee.”
I felt my choler rising once again, not the least because there might have been some small portion of truth to her words. For all that I knew such a thing would not, could not, and should not happen, I still wished that it might be so. ‘Tis a common curse for any pony who finds love, to see the rational mind overthrown by the urges of wild passion. For a moment I envied my daughter’s capacity to remain so sanguine about matters of the heart—’twould be far simpler if I could follow her example.
The Doo clanhold was one of Cloudsdale’s brighter areas. ‘Tis a difficult thing to truly put into words, but something about the complex simply conveyed a sense of open welcomeness that was far too often missing in other homes. Mayhap it was the larger doors and windows, or the thinner, more refined clouds used for most structures which reflected a touch more sunlight and made the angles seems slightly smoother.
In addition to the basics of its construction, there were a few minor touches that made it seem less like a military center and more like a true home. Little things, like the young filly I espied idly sculpting a patch of one wall in a childish flight of fancy, or the presence of stairs and other aids to allow the very young and very old amongst the clan easier access to the entirety of the compound. Or maybe it was simply the way my daughter and I were received with welcoming smiles and nods instead of a more formal reception.
Regardless, upon entering I felt less like a visitor or outside intruder, and more like a welcome guest. A few quick inquiries confirmed that Rightly awaited me in his study, though I could not venture forth to meet him just yet. “Gale, remain here for the moment. Ephor Doo and I have matters of grave import to discuss.”
My daughter offered an entirely too knowing smile. “Ah, but of course. Matters that thy trusted and beloved daughter cannot bear witness to, naturally. Truly, this must be a matter of great sensitivity.”
Despite my efforts to prevent it, I felt my wings shuffle about. “‘Tis the business of the Ephorate.” In truth, there was little I needed to discuss with Rightly that my daughter was not already aware of, but I was loath to have her accompany me in her current jesting mood. ‘Twould be most embarrassing if she were to make such comments within Rightly’s hearing.
“Ah, but of course.” My daughter gave a sagely nod which carried an undercurrent of mockery which I did not fail to notice. “Then I shall leave thee to thy private conversation. Alone. With Rightly.” My daughter’s smile grew all the wider, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “I had thought to make a gift to Rightly, as a courtesy. A sheath for his blade, mayhaps. ‘Twould certainly be a prudent thing for him to have for such conversations. Knowest thou what size of sheath he might require?”
I felt a hint of color rising in cheeks, and I hissed back at her, “Another word, Gale, and I shall turn thee over my knee and let all of Clan Doo bear witness to thy punishment.”
If my threat perturbed her in the slightest, Gale gave no sign of it. In fact, her smile on grew wider as she offered a conceding little nod. “Peace, mother. I spoke only out of concern for thee.” ‘Twould seem my daughter shows her concern by attempting to strike me down through pure humiliation. Troublesome. “Fear not, I shall leave thee to thy business with thy fellow Ephor.” With that my daughter thankfully took her leave, departing to find some other Doos to pass the time with while I met with Rightly. No doubt, she would have half a score of new informants, most of them unknowing, by the time my business with Rightly was concluded.
I stepped into the study, and at last lay eyes upon noble Rightly once more. Biased though I may sound, he truly was a stallion to admire; strength and kindness flowed from his eyes, greeting me wordlessly. He was equally commanding and welcoming as he invited me yonder to our business. In appearance, he was near the mirror of his famed thrice-great grandmother, Daring Doo, save for the obvious differences of gender and that he was brown of mane and tail. His coat, though carefully groomed, did not entirely hide the line of fur where a chain oft hung with a commemorative feather from his late wife. Though she was more than a year dead, the pain of that wound was still fresh in his eyes, lending an air of solemnity to his noble countenance.
“Shadow,” Rightly approached, a gentle smile on his face. “Thou art returned to us. I am glad to see it, for Cloudsdale was much the poorer in thy absence.” (5)
5: For all Shadow’s talk about needing to maintain a proper distance from Rightly, the fact that they’re using the intimate ‘thou’ instead of the more formal ‘you’ is rather telling.
“Aye, I am.” Curse my foolish tongue, that I could think of nothing wiser than the blindingly obvious to say. It was not fair that he should be so fine to look upon when ‘twould be improper for us to act upon our desires. I confess that in my darker moments, I have felt some measure of resentment towards his late wife for keeping him from me.
Thankfully, Rightly was more than willing to fill the silence I had created. “I trust thy business in Canterlot went well?”
Ah, yes, business. “Aye, that it did. Naught went amiss, save for some minor butting of heads with the Commander’s grand vizier.” Rightly raised an inquiring brow, and I clarified. “Sunbeam Sparkle overreaches herself in many ways. I think that e’en the lofty posts of archmagus and grand vizier are not enough to satisfy her vain ambition.” I grumbled and idly kicked at a nearby tuft of cloud. “Her attempt to make an advance upon me was also most unwelcome.”
I was gratified to see a brief flash of jealous fury within Rightly’s eyes, though quickly restrained. “I see. Still, from the tone of thy account I take it that this was a minor matter, and quickly dealt with?”
“Aye,” I confirmed. “I do not think I have endeared myself to her, nor her to me, but it has not had a negative impact upon Pegasopolis’ standing in the Commander’s eyes. In truth, I think I might have gotten the better of her, at least in one or two matters.” Certainly she did not seem pleased to learn that the Commander would not allow her free reign to manage Unicornia whilst the Commander was elsewhere.
Naturally, that thought led to the matter of true importance behind my visit. “As I said, though, that is but a trifle. I come bearing news of great import for all the Ephorate—though it might be wiser to wait until all are gathered together to announce it, I do not know if I could contain myself for the hours it would take to send out messengers and assemble our brethren.”
“‘Twould take more than a few hours to arrange a full meeting of our ranks,” Rightly informed me with a slightly weary smile. “Swift Blade is in the midst of an extended tour of inspection ‘mongst the Long Patrol, and Bright Charger made for the border after learning that there had been a skirmish between one of our patrols and the griffons.”
So prior to my return, three-fifths of the Ephorate had been absent Cloudsdale? It sat somewhat ill with me, to have such a large portion of our leadership in the field during a time of peace. “This matter with the griffons—‘tis nothing serious, I hope?”
“Neigh,” Rightly offered me a reassuring smile. “‘Twas most likely a mere raid by some brigands who thought to test our defenses after hearing one too many tales of how ponies are weak and easily subdued. The hunting down of a single nest of bandits is hardly a matter that requires an Ephor’s personal attention, but...”
“‘Tis not Bright Charger’s way to remain in Cloudsdale when she might take the field.” Despite having served as an Ephor for several years, in her heart Bright Charger would always be a line officer. While her propensity for leaping into the maw of battle was at times quite vexing, I cannot deny that there was some value in having an Ephor in the field. If nothing else, it prevented our soldiers from feeling the sense of disconnection that so plagued the Commander’s own relations with her winged subjects.
Thankfully, my dilemma was now resolved quite neatly. “If two of our ranks are absent, there seems little point in calling a full meeting of the Ephorate. ‘Twould be far simpler for me to call upon Steel Striker and speak with him as well.”
“Aye, that it would.” Rightly smiled at me and casually placed a hoof on my shoulder. “Now, Shadow, cease thy bandying of words and provide me with this momentous news ‘ere my curiosity drives me to madness.”
I would have done so, if not for the way his touch distracted my mind. I confess that I found it unaccountably difficult to recall precisely what it was I needed to speak to him of when all my mind could think upon was the feel of his hoof upon my shoulder. I could feel the color rising in my cheeks once more, and a quick look to Rightly showed that he was experiencing a similar sensation. After a few painfully awkward moments he slowly withdrew his hoof, and I finally remembered myself. (6)
6: Oh for the love of Celestia, just bang him already!
“Ah, yes, of course.” I cleared my throat and forced my mind to return itself to the matter at hoof. “I come bearing momentous news. For too long has Commander Celestia absented herself from Cloudsdale, but that absence is soon to be remedied. While the details and precise timing have yet to be arranged, it is her intention to take up residence in Cloudsdale for a time and take a more active role in Pegasopolis’ affairs.”
To my surprise and dismay, Rightly did not seem to find this news as delightful as I did. Instead of the elated smile I had expected, he wore a troubled frown. “Truly? Why does she feel that such a thing is needful? Has the Ephorate’s performance displeased her in some way? Do we no longer hold her confidence?”
I was quite surprised by this sudden melancholic turn of thought, as it was quite unlike dear Rightly. Normally he is more choleric and sanguine of temperament, rather than being prone to such worries. Mayhap I had worded things poorly, leading him to misunderstand the Commander’s purpose? Regardless, I spoke quickly to resolve the misunderstanding. “Neigh, nothing of the sort! Commander Celestia has every confidence in our leadership of Pegasopolis. ‘Tis simply that she has not dwelt amongst the pegasi in living memory, and now she seeks to correct that oversight. If anything, I believe that she fears her long absence from amongst us could be seen as a sign of disfavor.”
Rightly let out a relieved breath at that. “I see. Then I am glad to hear it.” He gave a single sharp nod, and at last offered the smile I had hoped to see from the start. “Too long has the Commander’s Residence remained unoccupied. In truth, I had given thought more than once to ordering the building dispersed or repurposed—there seemed little purpose to maintaining it after more than a century of abandonment. As you said, it has been far too long since we enjoyed the Commander’s presence.” Rightly’s smile faded once more, though at least this time it fell to a more neutral, businesslike expression. “We will have much to do, if we are to properly prepare for her arrival.”
“Aye, it is no small task.” I could already guess at the direction of his thoughts on the matter. “‘Tis likely to require a great deal of supervision and coordination with the Commander to ensure that all is in readiness. Especially as she intends to bring at least some non-pegasus members of her staff with her. ‘Twould seem a task I am quite suited for.”
While I was less than eager to volunteer myself for such service, I knew that I was likely the best choice for it at the moment. ‘Twas my words that had brought the Commander to her decision, and I was better acquainted with the situation in Canterlot and the Commander’s court, and likely to grow even moreso if I made a habit of continuing to visit and put my daughter’s talents to use. While a lesser officer could no doubt be assigned to the task and perform quite ably, there were diplomatic considerations. Placing an Ephor in command of making the needed arrangements clearly showed how greatly we valued Commander Celestia’s presence.
Rightly must have read the thoughts on my face, or mayhap he simply knew me intimately enough to guess at them. Regardless, he favored me with a grateful smile. “Truly, thou art a singular mare, Shadow. Thou hast my gratitude, if for no other reason than that thou hast spared me from such a thankless task.”
Once more, I felt myself on the verge of blushing as if I were still a young filly speaking to her first love. “Such gratitude is unnecessary. I am but doing my duty as an Ephor of Pegasopolis.”
“And thou performest thy duty most admirably,” Rightly deftly countered. “I pray thee, accept my gratitude and praise, e’en if you feel it needless.” Our conversation came to a somewhat awkward end, and I was about to take my leave when he spoke once more. “Might I invite thee to luncheon, first? The flight from Canterlot must have been a long one.”
While I was not particularly hungry at the moment, I certainly did not mind having good reason to linger in Rightly’s company. “'Twould be my pleasure, though I apologize in advance for the devastation to be wrought upon thy larder. Gale is a lover of food.” I gave him a coy smile, and my tone turned light and carefree. “I confess that while I do not have the voracious appetite of youth, I am rather fond of a good meal as well. I trust thy chefs are capable of accommodating two mares whose palettes have been spoiled by the fine dining of Canterlot?”
Rightly returned my smile, and returned my jesting tone. “I am sure we can accommodate the both of thee. ‘Twould not be the first time our kitchens faced the appetite of two hungry soldiers at the end of a long day’s work.”
Easily said by somepony who has not seen my daughter in the midst of an eating frenzy. While she had manners and maturity enough to restrain herself when propriety demanded that she do so, Gale was still young enough that at times her ability to consume food rivaled that of a half-starved parasprite. “Famous final words, Rightly.”
Rightly let out a deep chuckle. “I would not be the first Ephor to be undone by hubris, though I hazard a guess that no Ephor has been lost to a voracious young mare before.” He directed a teasing grin at me, and added, “Besides, I am not overly fearful. Thou and thy daughter have spent the last few days dining upon Canterlot cuisine. ‘Tis likely your appetites will be quickly sated by finally enjoying a proper meal instead of the hoity cuisines of Canterlot. If anything, I fear that thou might overindulge by habit, and have cause to regret it later.”
I offered him the semblance of an offended gasp. “Rightly! Thy words make it sound as though thou thinkest that I might grow plump at thy table.”
“Perish the thought!” He quickly reassured me, a hint of laughter in his voice. “Any stallion who has ever known married life knows the dangers of such an utterance!”
A second later the lighthearted air of our conversation died so swiftly that it might as well have been decapitated by a single well-aimed stroke of the blade. The merest mention of his late wife was sufficient to kill any joy Rightly might have felt, especially when that joy came from the company of another mare. Would that I could do more to comfort him, but any overt action I might take would likely only deepen his pain all the more. It was a cruel thing to see one who I cared for in such pain, and crueler still to know that the comfort I wished to offer him would only be salt in the wound.
I moved closer to him. Not close enough to touch, but nearer than a mere comrade would approach. ‘Twas not much, but it was the most I could offer at the moment to salve his pain. As the two of us made our way to the Doo mess hall he did not object to my nearness, and mayhap even closed the distance between us slightly. I suppose I could take some measure of comfort in the fact that my nearness salved his pain, even if only for a moment.
After a very pleasant though admittedly somewhat awkward meal, Gale and I made our way to the Striker compound. As I have previously mentioned, the Strikers were one of the more traditional clans within Pegasopolis. That statement should be taken as neither praise nor condemnation. There is a great deal to admire in the traditional values of Lyequinegus—duty, honor, austerity, and self-sacrifice for the good of ponykind are all laudable things. However, every tradition has its share of darker aspects, and even the most noble of ideals can become dangerous when pushed to extremes.
For example, while the austerity of Lyequingus has served us well in forestalling the sort of hedonistic debauchery far too many of the unicorn nobles seem to have a great fondness for, it can easily be taken to unhealthy extremes. Whilst Lyequinegus spoke strongly against needless luxury and extravagance, some seem to forget a rather important word in that statement. ‘Needless’ luxury. Sleeping in an uncomfortable bed and eating a single daily meal consisting of tasteless food does not make for better warriors, merely grumpier ones. Austerity taken to the extreme of pointless self-deprivation is no virtue.
Thankfully, the Strikers had not gone to such extremes. While their clanhold was a cold, utilitarian place where each cloud structure was built without the slightest thought to aesthetics, there remained a certain beauty in its simple efficiency. While it was no doubt an exaggeration to think so, it seemed as though there was not a single tuft of cloud or patch of sky within the entire compound that did not serve some immediate practical purpose. Even if I felt the place could do with a few embellishments, I quite preferred that stark austerity to the wasteful extravagance I saw in much of Canterlot.
The Strikers were not so warm and inviting as the Doos, but that was to be expected. That was not their way, and our clans did not share the closeness that my clan did with the Doos. I was respectfully saluted and directed to the Ephor, but there was no warmth in the gesture, merely dutiful acknowledgement of my rank and position. I suppose ‘twas foolish of me to be bothered by the formality, but after the warmth of my greeting by Rightly’s clan it troubled me nonetheless.
Steel Striker met us outside his personal barracks. Ephor Striker was perhaps more than any of us the very image of what one would expect from an Ephor. Striker towered over most ponies, was broad of chest and shoulder, and his blood-red coat was criss-crossed with dozens of scars from his countless battles. I have wondered whether his numerous old wounds might drive him into an early retirement to the Gerousia, but thus far any pains he might suffer had not affected his performance.
To my immense disquiet, Gale made a low, appreciative rumble in the back of her throat when he came into view. I looked at her askance, and murmured under my breath, “Truly, daughter? He is at least a decade my senior.”
“Closer to two, actually.” Gale answered me, still subtly observing my fellow Ephor. “More’s the pity I cannot see him as he was in his prime, nor that his son makes a poor substitute for his father’s appearance. ‘Tis simply an observation, mother, thou needs not fear that I would act upon it. I simply note that he is very ... masculine.”
I suppose there was some truth to her observation, though in all honesty he seemed poor by comparison to Rightly. I could not deny that I was something of a biased source on that question, though. Still, after how mercilessly she had teased me over Rightly, I was not about to let this opportunity slip past. “Mayhap thou should commission a portrait, Gale. ‘Twould last far longer.”
I am sure my daughter would have constructed some witty retort if I granted her time to do so, but I did not. Instead, I trotted up to Ephor Striker and began the meeting, leaving my daughter to hang back at a respectful distance. “Ephor, I trust your clan continues to prosper?”
“Aye.” He answered simply. Another might have bragged of his clan’s latest accomplishments, or informed me of any recent births or adoptions, but Steel Striker is somewhat infamous for his laconicness. Last month, at one of the more uneventful meetings of the Ephorate, Rightly had challenged Bright Charger to get three words out of Steel before the meeting’s end. Charger succeeded in gaining only two words, spoken at the meeting’s very end. ‘You lose.’
The silence that came after his short answer was interrupted by a pained shout from within his house. Steel Striker shot a brief frown over his shoulder, then turned back to face me. “Daughter’s training,” he announced simply. I was unsurprised—the Strikers are known for particularly harsh training methods. Striker once told me that the general philosophy of his clan was that bloody training led to bloodless battle. Though not in so many words, obviously.
I moved straight to business after that polite inquiry—attempting to engage him in small talk or idle pleasantries would only be a waste of our time. As always seemed to happen when I engaged Steel Striker in conversation, I found myself reducing my own speech to the bare minimums as well. “Commander Celestia will be returning to Cloudsdale for an extended visit in the near future.”
A disapproving grimace appeared on my fellow Ephor’s face, but after Rightly’s reaction to the news I was not so shocked that Steel Striker might take the news badly as well. I moved quickly to calm his concerns. “She is very pleased with our performance thus far. The Commander merely wishes to pay a visit to subjects she has been too long absent from.”
“More than a century,” Ephor Striker confirmed. After a couple seconds to consider the matter, he decided that a visit from the Commander actually merited several sentences. He might be spare with his words on most occasions, but he can speak quite well if he feels the situation merits such an effort. “T’will be good to have her back. But while she’s here the Ephorate will have reduced authority. Reminds everypony that at the end of the day we answer to her, even if she keeps us on a loose leash.”
“I do not think that is her intention,” I pointed out diplomatically. Steel Striker’s reaction troubled me—where Rightly had simply feared we might have lost the Commander’s approval, Steel seemed to disapprove of the Commander’s mere presence in Cloudsdale at all. Hopefully Bright Charger and Swift Blade would not also be so hostile. “Are you truly so unhappy to know that Commander Celestia intends to return?”
“Neigh, I am glad to hear of return.” Despite his words, Steel Striker’s grim expression seemed more suited to a funeral. “I am also aware of its implications. Since long before any of us were born her role in our government has been to do little more than affirm the Ephorate’s decisions and accept the Gerousia’s recommendations. It might be that now it is her intention to actually exercise command instead of just allowing the Ephorate rule in her name. Not sure how I feel about that.”
Now that he put it into words, I could quite understand the reasons for his lack of enthusiasm. No doubt his mood would only be worsened if he learned that Sunbeam Sparkle seemed intent upon enacting some form of government reform to further centralize Commander Celestia’s power. While I had every confidence in the Commander’s leadership, ‘twould be a lie to say that I was untroubled by the thought that the Commander taking a more active role in Pegasopolis would necessarily reduce my own influence and authority. Still, such personal worries were of no consequence if the end result proved the better for my fellow pegasi. Ultimately, the Ephorate existed to serve Pegasopolis, not to be a vehicle for vain ambition.
I took it upon myself to calm my fellow Ephor’s concerns. “Be that as it may, I am sure that whatever course of action the Commander pursues will be the one that is best for all of Pegasopolis.”
“But she is more than just the Commander of Pegasopolis,” Steel Striker countered. “If the needs of Unicornia were to come into conflict with those of Pegasopolis, whom do you think she is likely to favor: the subjects she had dwelt with for more than a century, or those she has left neglected and forgotten?”
I could not deny that such a thought was quite worrisome. I myself have similarly thought that the unicorns lie higher in her favor than the other two tribes. However, I still felt compelled to speak in the Commander’s defense. “I think that if such concerns are a worry, then it is all the more important that the Commander make her visit to Cloudsdale to renew her bonds with all of Pegasopolis.”
My fellow Ephor considered that for a moment, then grunted and gave a sharp nod. I was thankful for his acceptance of my reasoning, but the fact that both Rightly and Striker had such a mixed reaction to the news of the Commander’s planned visit troubled me more than I would care to admit. I had expected my news to bring joy to all, and instead I found myself hastily reassuring my comrades that Celestia’s return was not something to be feared or lamented.
I was about to inform him that I had taken responsibility for arranging the details of the Commander’s return when another cry issued from the Ephor’s house. This was no mere shout of pain after taking a sharp blow on the sparring mat, there was an element of pain and terror to it that did not fit anything other than genuine peril. “That is not the sound of thy daughter’s training exercises.”
A dark look came over Steel Striker’s face. “Neigh, it is not.” He wasted no time putting action to his words, whirling about and charging straight through the nearest wall. I followed quickly in his wake—I knew not what might be causing his daughter to scream in agony, but there were many possibilities where my wing-blades might be of value.
Steel Striker set a swift pace indeed, and arrived in his clan’s training room several seconds before I did. At first I could discern little of what had passed due to the Ephor’s furious bellowing, his daughter’s continued wailing, and the rapidly forming crowd of Striker pegasi streaming into the room.
Thankfully, those who recognized me made way, and those who did not could either be moved around or moved aside. I briefly wondered where Gale might be—no doubt she had followed in the mad rush to learn what had passed here, but I could not lay eyes upon her at the moment. No matter; judging by the crowd’s reaction there did not appear to be some sort of immediate threat.
I finally broke free of the mass of Strikers, only to find another cluster of ponies surrounding the Ephor’s daughter. I could not yet see what cruel fate had befallen her, but there was blood on clouds and she was still wailing in agony—though by now her cries had quieted somewhat, likely due to her throat simply being too sore to carry on.
The Ephor himself was in the midst of shouting down a pony who I was quite sure must be his son. The young stallion had much of his father’s look about him, though none of his father’s size or sheer presence. Seeing the two of them standing together, or more accurately seeing the son cower in the face of his father’s fury, made it clear that young Hammer Striker was a pale shadow of his father.
“But father,” the younger Striker whimpered, “thou dost not understand! Swiftwing was weak! Was it not in keeping with the ancient traditions of Pegasopolis that I—” The rest of his words vanished as his father smote him down to the floor with a single blow. I was somewhat shocked to see him strike his own son so, and I confess it made me all the more curious to learn what might have prompted Steel Striker to take such action. Hammer clutched his bloodied muzzle and whined pitifully. “Father...”
“Silence.” Ephor Striker snapped at his son. “After what you have done here, you are no son to me.” He turned to a few of his clanmates and growled. “Remove Hammer from my sight. Place him in the brig until I can decide his fate.” He turned about and shot a baleful glare at the still-growing crowd of Strikers. “The rest of you! Cease thy gawking, and obtain the services of a surgeon, an apothecary, or some other medic. A veterinarian, even, if they have the skills needed to help Swiftwing!”
The crowd of ponies surrounding the Ephor’s daughter finally dispersed, finally allowing me to see what had befallen poor Swiftwing Striker. I had half-imagined it to be a mere training accident—she would hardly be the first filly to take a wound learning the art of war. I had earned my share of bumps and bruises at her age, and ‘tis far from unheard of for a trainer to mistakenly strike too hard and do actual injury to their student.
What happened to Swiftwing was no accident, and now I fully understood why her father had been so wroth. In truth, I admired her father’s self-restraint with Hammer, as my blood boiled at the sight: her wings, the very essence of that which set us apart from our kin and defined us, lay before her on the clouds, a fading trail of red now serving as their only link to her body. Blood flowed freely from the short, jagged stumps on her back as bone and sinew—chipped and uneven from her brother’s ham-hoofed assault—mercifully disappearing under a swath of gauze. Swiftwing feebly pawed at the closer of her severed limbs, trying to draw it closer as if her touch would somehow mend them.
“Celestia’s blood,” I gasped in horror. “She has been Clipped.”