The Book of Water: The Heart of Winter

A Story by TalonMach5

Chapter 9: Vengeance Versus Tempered Justice

It had been three days since they had last seen either hoof or hide of the mudslinger scum. It rankled his feathers when he thought of how that mudslinger had managed to escape. If not for his diminutive companion’s timely intervention, that pegasus slaver scum would be food for the crows. Remembering the magical force he’d been struck with earlier, made him nervously tap his talons against the veldt’s broken stony soil as he set about cleaning the veldt hares he’d managed to catch for dinner.

Like all griffins, beyond his affinity for Air Magic, he was at a distinct disadvantage when it came to battling against those talented in the mystic and divine arts. He thought it was unfair that somefeather who might otherwise be easy prey for his sharp beak, cruel talons, and great strength, was able to hold their own or even beat him thanks to their magical abilities.

He was a griffin after all, it wasn’t fair expecting him to withstand a caster’s magical onslaught unaided and alone. It’s not like he could pull a horn out of his arse, and cast magic like one of those damned unicorn bastards. But give him an opponent he could pummel any day of the week, that was something he could sink his talons into. Which made his failure against their quarry all the more embarrassing.

He’d been up against a much weaker opponent, a pegaus for Zephyr’s sake! They’d had so many advantages too, the slaver scum should have been an easy kill for them. But instead of victory, he’d known naught but defeat and dishonor. He and his sister had outnumbered their pegasi foe, but within minutes Raine had been struck down by their iron shod hooves.

As for himself, he’d been forced to choose between avenging his sister and saving her from falling to her death. Under the circumstances, he’d made the only choice possible, rescuing her from an early grave. Nearly losing his only remaining family had been a hard blow, and he’d been ready to give up the chase, but Raine held his beak in her talon and demanded that he redeem her honor by slaying that pony.

Although it cut him deeply to leave her in such a state, he’d been confident in his skill and ability as a warrior to make quick work of the pegasus that had dared show his muzzle uninvited inside a griffin town, before returning to his sister’s side. But he’d been overconfident in his resolve, and that had nearly cost him everything. Instead of striking down that slaver when he’d had him at his mercy, he’d made the mistake of taking his time to enjoy it.

To his great shame, he’d made the same mistake twice. First, he’d thought to confess to the pegasus the reason he held such great hate for him and his feather stealing kin. He’d thought that perhaps it might have brought some balm, some closure to the anger he held regarding his mother’s capture and enslavement at the hooves of pony slavers. But instead of showing the slightest remorse for his kind’s collective sins, he’d only mocked him.

The second time he’d made the mistake of trying to reason with the slaver’s small fry companion. As far as he was concerned, he’d no quarrel with whatever strange tribe she belonged to. He’d been perfectly willing to spare her from his talon’s wrath. After all it wasn’t reasonable to expect everyfeather to know of the ponies crimes against his people. But instead of allowing the slaver to meet a swift and just end, she’d used her powerful magic to brush him aside like dead leaves. He supposed as much a pony as she looked like, she chose the familial bonds of a far removed cousin rather than seeing that justice was done.

Looking at his sister Raine, he couldn’t fault the tiny creature for her loyalty, but should they ever meet again, any thoughts of mercy towards her or her companions would be out of the question. When next they met, both she and the pegaus she’d protected, would meet their end by his talons. With a sharp tug, he ripped the hare free from its skin and placed it beside the others.

“Something on your mind, Len?” Raine asked, looking up at her brother as he prepared their meal.

Ever since her injury, they had been making use of this camp site until she was well enough to resume their hunt of the one who had hurt and dishonored her. Although the shame of her defeat at the mudslinger’s hooves still stung, the battle hadn’t been an entire loss. Looking down at the white feather she’d strung around her neck, she lightly blushed as she thought of its owner.

Greatly wounded and crippled from her fight with that wicked pegasus, she’d been laying helpless and undefended on the broken sod, drifting in and out of consciousness when her savior had come to her rescue. She couldn’t remember much beyond the gentle way they had cleaned and dressed her wounds with a soothing balm. At first, she’d weakly struggled against them, believing they were a raider who wished to rob, kill, or possibly do even worse to her.

But instead of robbing her of her virtue and leaving her for dead on the Highlands of Autumn, they had started a fire and left her enough food and ointment to last her for several days. Never before had anyfeather outside her brother, had ever shown her such kindness, and she didn’t know quite how to feel about it. While it was true griffins were a fierce and proud people, they were also quite passionate and loyal to those they cared for.

Contemplating the feather she held in her talon, she wondered what sort of feather they were. She was certain they were from fairly strong and noble stock, because living here in the Hinterlands of Autumn wasn’t for the faint of heart. Here beyond the safety of civilization and comforting craggy peaks of the Domain of Air, was nothing beyond rolling plains, veldt, and forested taiga. Hidden in the tall grass, bandits and slavers could lurk anywhere, and without any nearby high places to take off from, weaker griffins would be easy prey to their predation.

Contemplating their identity, she decided they must be somefeather who had willingly eschewed the company of their fellow griffins. Perhaps they were a warrior poet who had grown weary of battle, and had sought peace and refuge from the wars of their people in the solitude this place offered. Maybe they were a foundling in search of a purpose, and they had come to the veldt to prove and gain honor for themselves. Or maybe they were a disgraced noble seeking redemption in the untamed wilds from some hidden shame.

She imagined they had come upon her bruised and battered form on accident. Cautiously approaching her, they must have been shocked that such a calamity had befallen her here in the wilds, with nofeather there to offer her succor. She was certain their heart had raced and pulse quickened when they cleaned and dressed her wounds. Surely they had been entranced by her beauty, and longed to grace her beak with a gentle kiss before they left her. But their honor and integrity wouldn’t allow them to take advantage of a lady in her condition.

She felt her face grow flush and chest grow warm when she imagined her savior giving her one last look, before retreating back into the tall grass. Oblivious to everything else, she lightly giggled when she thought of what they might say when she finally tracked them down.

Looking away from the feather, she looked at her brother slightly miffed that he’d interrupted such a delightful daydream. “Yes, Len?” she asked, as thoughts of the feather’s owner pranced through her head.

“I was just asking you, if you thought you might be well enough to travel tomorrow?” he asked, holding a spitted rabbit in his talons as he looked at the feather she was holding.

Raine gave her brother a thoughtful look before gingerly rolling her shoulders and extending her wings. Flapping them twice, she winced a bit before folding them to her sides. Although they still felt a bit stiff, she was pretty sure she could manage a little traveling if the pace wasn’t too brisk. Offering him a gentle smile, she reached out and placed her talon on his shoulder.

“I think I might be up for it,” she said, looking hungrily at the rabbits roasting on their spits. “Besides, Len, we’ll never get around to making that pegasus suffer, if we stick around here forever.

When he heard her words, he felt a surge of relief rush through his heart. Even though his sister would suffer some scars from her ordeal, a painful reminder of his failure to protect her, she was going to make a full recovery. Seeing the hunger in her eyes for their meal, and hearing the hunger for vengeance in her words, brought him solace. If he’d lost the only remaining family that he had left, he wouldn’t have known what he’d have done.

Now assured of her full recovery, they simply had to hobble towards the nearest town, and see a healer to mend them. Then they would be free to avenge themselves against the mudslinger who had done this to them, and make them pay for their crimes against griffinkind. Imagining the satisfaction he’d feel when he finally wrung the life out of that mudslinger’s neck, he smiled with satisfaction as he turned the spits over the fire.

Satisfied that their meal wasn’t about to burn, he turned his thoughts to what they would have to do once the business with the pegasus had been seen to. Turning to his sister, he rolled his eyes when he saw her playing with her savior’s feather once more. He didn’t know what had gotten into her, as poor as their clan was, the only thing they had of any value was their titles. Which would be of little value to either of them, if they ended up marrying some unlanded commoner or wildfeather living in the middle of nowhere.

Didn’t she know that the only hope of restoring their clan to greatness, was marrying into one of the other clans, preferably one of the wealthier clans based in the Golden Eyrie, the renowned capital of their domain. Even though he found thoughts of pledging himself sight unseen to their anonymous savior distasteful, he hoped that the identity of the one who had saved his sister was a hen.

Being honest with himself, he knew any hopes for restoring their clans fortunes rested with his sister. He knew he was considered handsome amongst his peers, but Raine’s beauty was such that many a noble would gladly offer their talon in marriage to her. He supposed even if he must marry some unknown hen to ensure their clan’s prosperity, it could be worse, Raine’s savior might actually end up being a pony.

Sprinkling some herbs on the roasting rabbits as he turned them once more, he found the irony of such a possibility humorous. Avenging themselves on one pony, only to seek out another to join their clan in marriage. Such a thought was preposterous! If that was the case, they might as well forget about trying to restore their clan, and move on to Londwhinium instead.

But there was no chance of that, the only pony for leagues was the soon to be slain mudslinger bastard. So for now all they needed to do was concentrate on enjoying their meal and getting a good night’s sleep, before making their way to the nearest settlement to be healed so they could plan their revenge on their enemy. Smelling his cooking he smiled, dinner was nearly ready.

Removing the spits from the fire, he handed one of the rabbits to his sister. “Raine, you need to build up your strength, so you can have the biggest one,” he said, handing her the largest roasted rabbit.

Letting go of the feather that had captured her heart, she offered him a grateful smile before digging her beak into the rabbit. “Thank you, brother,” she said in between hearty bites. “This is so good.”

Looking wearily at the feather, he hoped that she wouldn’t be too heartbroken when they discovered the identity of the mystery hen who had saved her. “I love you, Raine,” he said, grabbing a rabbit of his own.

Grateful to have such a wonderful brother as him, she put down her meal and embraced him. “Len, I love you too,” she murmured, holding him tight. “I love you too.”

*****

Sitting at the large stone table, he sighed as he rubbed his talons against the black and silver plumage at his temples. This meeting had been going on for hours, not that he minded listening to the long winded speeches of his peers, but rather it was what they were discussing that was tiring. The fierce and proud matriarch goddess of the griffins, Lady Zephyr, had suddenly gotten it into her pretty little head to do something about the slave trade.

He supposed if he was a devout feather, that thinking ill of his goddess might be considered improper, blasphemous even, but he was a businessfeather first and foremost. Even though he found the pony slavers personally repugnant, the bits they supplied him and many others on the council to look the other way regarding their clandestine activities, had made many a noble quite wealthy.

But beyond the lucrative flow of coin for their tacit agreement in ignoring the slaver activities in the Domain of Air, the slavers gave the clans a hated enemy to rally behind. Losing a useful enemy for propaganda purposes would draw unwanted attention and the eyes of the dissatisfied lesser clans towards the other issues afflicting the realm. The high land taxes and rent the ruling clans of the council enjoyed levying against everyfeather else for one.

Whenever money was a little short, the council simply had to issue a new temporary tax under the guise of raising a levy to deal with the slaver gang problem. Of course instead of commissioning a levy to hunt down the pony slavers, they simply had to send word to their partners in Equestria to halt their chicknapping for a fortnight or two, and as far as everyfeather was concerned the levies had done their job in putting a halt to the slave gangs.

But the elegance of their little arrangement was far more profitable when there was a lull in their activities, because when the slavers put a hold to their chicknapping they still needed slaves to send down south. Thus the price per slave usually tripled, and as the Master of Laws he made sure a steady supply of prisoners were made readily available to his partners during these dry seasons, resulting in a windfall of profit for his coconspirators and himself.

He supposed as a griffin he should feel something towards the enslavement of his fellows, but the money was too good. These agreements had been followed for centuries, and with strict quotas in place regarding how many could be taken every fortnight, nofeather had ever managed to quite catch on to the scheme. Until now that is. It appeared that during her travels, Lady Zephyr’s little brat Dawson, had seen fit to go poking his beak where it didn’t belong.

Spying a griffin en route to the slave markets of the Neo Vale, the misguided fool had nearly caused an interdomain incident in trying to free them from their new owner. During the scuffle, and thanks in part to the slaver’s bungling, Lady Zephyr had discovered the griffin and the others inside the slave wagon were being illegally smuggled south.

When he’d first learned that she’d found out about the scheme, he’d wanted to throttle his unicorn partners. Although he would be out the bits for that shipment, the more vexing and pressing issue was the perfect smuggling route through Shadehoof was now compromised. His partners in Londwhinium controlled the city’s equestrian triumvirate governor Blueblood, a disgraced prince with a penchant for interspecies romance.

In exchange for feeding his lustful libido, the governor provided the forged documents he and his partners relied on to ensure the smooth transfer of slaves into the Domain of Earth. As long as the slaves were continually being moved, the doomhound Second ensured he and his partners received their cut of the profits. All in all, it was a very tidy arrangement. But now Lady Zephyr had it in her mind to drop the hammer on the slavers in hopes of breaking their backs, or at least seriously hampering their movements within the realm.

Normally this wouldn’t have been an issue, with a word to his partners in Londwhinium he could easily give the Maelstrom a few token victories as he drew back the slavers’ activities, all the while making himself even wealthier. But there was a problem, the griffin she and her bastard offspring had freed was formerly a prisoner he’d passed along to fill the agreed upon quotas.

The griffin in question had been a dissident from some far flung village near the hinterlands of Autumn, somefeather who thought himself above his station and had dared complain to the council regarding the amount of taxes his betters had seen fit to extract from his business in order to cover one the levies. An irony if he’d ever heard of one, because protesting the tax designed to prevent slavery, had been the selfsame cause of his becoming a slave.

But now he was free, speaking all manner of things, making up completely uncorroborated claims and accusations against the august members of the council, unnecessarily dredging up the past, and generally making a nuisance of himself by prompting Lady Zephyr to ask all sorts of inconvenient and uncomfortable questions. Questions which if looked into closely could spell disaster and ruin for everyfeather involved.

Glaring at the griffin who dared disrupt the order and prosperity that the great clans were currently enjoying, if he possessed the power, he’d have snuffed out the griffin without a second thought. Why couldn’t the feather simply be grateful that Lady Zephyr had bothered rescuing him at all and be silent, instead of pushing his beak into places it had no business being.

“Councilor Johan,” Lady Zephyr’s said, interrupting his thoughts. Her fierce and melodic voice was laced with equal parts of her fury and displeasure, and he knew that he needed to tread carefully with her lest a single misstep cause him misfortune. “Can you explain how this could have possibly happened?”

“I’m not quite sure what you mean, Lady Zephyr,” the councilor answered, slowly tapping his talons together.

Fixing her steely eyed gaze on him, she looked him right into his grey eyes. “As Master of Laws,” she said, pointing a talon accusingly at him. “You oversee our prisons. How could a griffin possibly be stolen from right under your beak and sold into slavery undetected?”

Knowing he needed to perform damage control, he lowered his head to her in contrition. “My lady, forgive me,” he said, trying to assuage her anger. “The failure to protect the prisons from the slavers is mine. Perhaps they have a feather on the inside, or are using their magic to steal them away from us.”

“Councilor, I expect answers,” she said, looking towards the rest of the council and pointing her talon towards each of them. “And that goes for everyfeather else. I expect a solution to this slaver problem which has plagued us for far too long.”

“We could raise more levies,” Councilor Johan suggested, hoping his old standby would buy them enough time to find a new way to escape their goddess’s expectation that they put an end to the slaver chicknapping once and for all.

“The realm can scarcely afford the levies we have in place now!” objected the Master of Coin Councilor Radjek, a rather heavyset griffin with dark green plumage and a greasy tan coat who was rapidly flicking the beads of his abacus back and forth with his talon. “Perhaps we could demand that the Arcanum Bank grant us a loan with favorable terms. The Slave King does owe us for this slight.”

When she heard him make mention of her former lover and the father of her griffin-half son, she pursed her beak. The idea of facing him so soon after he’d married another was too painful to bear. Shaking her head, she looked towards the rotund griffin. “Councilor Radjek,” she said, impatiently tapping her talon against the stone table in front of her. “While useful, additional bits to fund more levies is a mere bandage to this festering wound. We need more than a temporary solution to this problem.”

Noticing her reticence to engage the Slave King in any meaningful way, Councilor Johan frowned. Before she and her son had returned from the Domain of Earth, it had been so easy to keep the goddess distracted. Previously whenever he’d wanted to distract her, all he’d had to do was mention some small detail about the Lord of Earth, and Lady Zephyr would be distracted for days, sometimes even weeks. But now that she was focused on this so called slavery emergency, he suspected that those old tricks might no longer be sufficient.

He suspected before long he’d need to contact his partners in Londwhinium and the Neo Vale to discuss a standby plan, until he could manage to find something more pressing to occupy her attention. But what could he possibly do? Her new found zealous desire to stamp out slavery had come out of the blue, and unless he could offer his goddess something more pressing, he was sure that all they would discuss into the foreseeable future would be ways of destroying his lucrative trade with Second and the others.

“And why should we bear the burden and cost of stamping out those craven slavers alone, Lady Zephyr?” a sharp beaked, middle aged griffin demanded, resting his slate grey eyes on the other nations represented within one of the many gem studded murals adorning the walls of the council chamber. Lifting his talon, he pointed accusingly towards Londwhinium and Marelantis. “Certainly if they desired, the princesses could abolish their subject’s abhorrent behavior with but a word, if they ever deigned to leave their ivory towers that is. And let’s not forget the Lawgiver’s part in all this. His knights still patrol the roads do they not, or has he and his legions utterly lost any nerve they might have once had for a good scrap?”

“Councilor Elrik…” Lady Zephyr warned, not caring for her subordinate’s belligerent tone, yet feeling relieved that somefeather else in the room had broached the possibility of seeking assistance from their neighbors with this worrying issue. “Celestia has assured me that she’s doing everything within the law to put a stop to the part that the ponies are playing in feathernapping my subjects. As for Lord Triton, with few exceptions his knights are mainly seaponies.”

Councilor Elrik simply rolled his eyes and snorted when he heard her defending her fellow deities against his accusations. “Lady Zephyr,” he said, pointing at the Slave King’s stylized image on the map. “As the Master of Mediation it is my responsibility to seek redress against those that have harmed us. And few have harmed us more than your lover the Slave King. So tell me this, why do you keep binding our wings when it comes to dealing with the South? If you’re being serious in your desire to stop the predation upon our citizens, shouldn’t we fall upon his interests with all the fury of the tempest?”

Councilor Johan, lightly chuckled to himself. For a diplomat, the red plumed Master of Mediation certainly enjoyed cutting right to heart of the matter. Judging by how reluctant Lady Zephyr seemed to be in answering him, he now knew the perfect plan to keep his goddess distracted until an alternate arrangement might be found.

“My lady, I agree with him,” Councilor Johan said, lowering his head towards her in supplication. “We should apply some pressure against the Slave King, to show him that we won’t take the chicknapping and enslavement of our people laying down.”

“Capital idea, Councilor Johan!” the burly and heavily scarred, one eyed Master of Spears shouted, pounding the stone table in front of him with his talon. “I say a little retribution is in order. We’ll show those dishonorable ponies and mudslinger thugs that griffins are to be feared and respected once more.”

“And how exactly do you expect to pay for this little adventure of yours, General Ansgar?” Councilor Radjek asked, rapidly flicking the beads of his abacus back and forth with his plump talons. “We need coin more than avenging our wounded national pride. Lady Zephyr, I implore you, allows us to press the Arcanum Bank for a favorable loan. Once our coffers are flush with bits, we’ll have the ability to deal meaningfully with the slaver problem.”

“Lady Zephyr, ignore that bloated coward,” General Ansgar said, sneering dismissively at the Master of Coin. “The money counter would have us crawling on our bellies begging for bits, instead of taking what is ours by right! Give me ten thousand spears, and I swear by the first egg that I’ll make every last diamond dog and pony for a generation flinch at the mere mention of a shadow overhead.”

“You are a fool of the highest order, general, if you think you can succeed where Lord Ouroboros and his flights of dragons failed,” Councilor Elrik said, before drinking heavily from his wine goblet. “Lady Zephyr, we should seek out our allies to the west. Lord Raiden’s sages are the greatest legal minds in all Equestria, with their wisdom to aid us I’m sure we can make an airtight legal case against Princess Celestia, Lord Triton, and the Slave King, when you make our demands for compensation to the Pantheon.”

Lady Zephyr sighed as she contemplated her councilors’ recommendations. Of the three suggestions Councilor Radjek’s was the most sensible. Of late her domain’s finances were severely lacking, whether it was due to the banditry out in the badlands that was choking off the trade routes or corruption from within she didn’t know. An infusion of bits would go a long way towards fixing many of the issues her people were facing. They could afford to lower taxes for one, while increasing patrols along the border.

But there was the issue of facing him again. She was fairly sure that if she asked the Slave King for this boon that he’d readily grant it. In fact after what had happened between them during their last meeting in the Spirit Realm, she was almost certain that he’d outright give her the bits. Normally she would have been delighted to have an excuse to see him once more, but he was married now, and seeing him receiving affection from somefeather else would be more than her aching heart could bear.

General Ansgar’s request to be granted the full strength of her army to harass the Domain of Earth’s interests was a provocative one. Part of her desired to grant his request and lead the first charge herself. In an earlier age should would have readily agreed to it without hesitation. Back when she’d been consorting with Lord Darkpaw she’d allowed her griffins to raid his domain as they pleased, but once the Slave King had agreed to become her lover they’d had a silent agreement to not interfere with each other’s domains. A policy which up until now, she’d been happy to keep.

She desired retribution for this crime against her people, but found it difficult agreeing to harm him. She supposed that part of her still wished to join with him, to be at his side once more, to return to the way things used to be between them. But she knew that could never be, not for centuries at least. Princess Luna was his wife now, and she was sure she was doing everything in her power to win his heart. Which was another thing to consider before committing themselves to war with the Domain of Earth.

The Domain of Earth now belonged to Princess Luna, as much as to its lord and her husband. By attacking the Slave King, they would in essence be attacking her as well, and once Luna was entangled in their little conflict, her sister, Princess Celestia would inevitably be pulled in. Which was almost a certainty once they commenced their attacks on the pony slavers chicknapping her citizens.

Which made Councilor Elrik’s proposal all the more attractive. Surely once she’d laid out her lawsuit before the Pantheon, they would vote in favor of granting an injunction against Lord Triton, Princess Celestia, and the Slave King. But in truth, she didn’t look forward to suing them. Lord Triton hated slavery more than anyfeather else she knew, but very few of his knights were willing to venture so far from the Western Sea. Princess Celestia had always been a fair and reasonable feather, and she hated souring the good relations their two domains enjoyed. As for the Slave King, centuries ago he’d issued a moratorium on pressing anyfeather into slavery, and as far as she knew he’d never broken it.

But regardless of her feelings on the matter, her people were suffering because of her inaction, and she owed it to them to make things right once more. Although he might not be able to put a stop to the slave trafficking that happened so far from his borders, Lord Triton held a controlling interest in the city of Shadehoof, the very place where the griffin she’d freed had been smuggled from. His inability to stop the smuggling near the heart of his power, was proof enough that he was either blind to the practice or powerless to stop it.

Princess Celestia had time and again assured her whenever she’d brought up the matter of the abduction of her citizens by pony slavers, that stopping the slave smuggling within her domain was one of her top priorities. But for all her promises and assurances, the slave smuggling hadn’t been stopped yet. In the interests of harmony she’d forbade her griffins from raiding the border towns and caravans, lest they receive a reprisal personally from her, yet Celesta hadn’t done her the same courtesy.

Although the Slave King wasn’t actively harming her, his insistence in continuing the terrible practice of slavery was driving these crimes against her and her people. She sympathized with his need for the labor, but even though her own domain had its own issues with wealth and resources, she hadn’t resorted to raiding and pillaging her neighbors. And though she loved him greatly, until he refused to buy her griffins, for the sake of her people she supposed they would have to be at odds with one another.

“Lady Zephyr, have you made a decision?” Councilor Johan asked, hoping that she’d taken the bait.

“Shall I write up a draft to the Arcanum Bank then?” Councilor Radjek asked, salivating at the thought of getting his talons on so many bits.

“I think not, councilor,” General Ansgar said, resting his talons on the table in front of him. “A war, the likes of which haven’t been seen for an age is about to commence.”

“Then I’m grateful, warmonger,” Councilor Elrik said, drinking deeply from his goblet. “That the decision doesn’t lie with you.”

“Councilors, stop this pointless squabbling,” Councilor Johan demanded, offering his fellow griffins a stern look. “We’ve each made our case to Lady Zephyr, and she’s made her decision regarding the matter.”

Lady Zephyr worriedly tapped her talon against her armrest as she looked each member of the council in the eye. Her next words to them would decide the fate of griffinkind across Equestria, and she wanted them to know she wasn’t making her choice lightly. If she chose poorly, it would be her people, not her, that bore the brunt of the consequences of her words.

Pointing a talon towards the griffin she’d rescued from a decade of toil as a slave in the south, who had so patiently waited as the council debated what course of action to take, she gestured for him to stand. Looking into his eyes, and seeing only gratitude and his devotion reflected at her, reaffirmed to her that she was doing the just and proper thing. At peace with what she needed to do, she rose up from her seat, and prepared to address the council.

“Councilors, gentlefeathers, friends,” she said, offering her subject a look of gratitude for having given her the resolve to do right by her people. “While it might be tempting to seek out an easy solution to our problem, or give into our righteous anger in seeking redress against this grave injustice that has been hoisted onto our people by these unworthy villains. We shall act by the virtues that those who’ve harmed us so constantly preach.”

Pausing a moment to allow the weight of her words to sink into the council’s mind, she felt her heart beginning to soar above the turmoil that had mired her in despair and bound her with worry for far too long. “Princess Celestia has long advocated that those of us on the Pantheon should join with her on the path of Harmony,” she said, hoping that Celestia’s benevolence would be seen in the coming days. “It’s my hope that she joins with us as we seek to right this wrong.”

“Long has Lord Triton been a friend of all those who seek after nobility, temperance, and justice,” she said, allowing the force of her element to empower and sanctify her words with her divinity. “I know that if he’s the feather I’ve long known him to be, that he’ll be a champion to our cause.”

Thinking of the one she loved, she felt her resolve beginning to buckle and break. But then she remembered how grateful her griffin had been when she’d freed him from the shackles of his pony master, and let all her doubts go. “Some may rightfully consider the Slave King our enemy,” she said, feeling a sense of clarity she’d not known in nearly an age. “True he buys our people, enslaves them, uses them against their will. But he only buys what others are selling, our true enemies are those who so cravenly profit from others misery.”

“The Slave King respects strength and honesty above all else,” she said, hoping to persuade everyfeather present she was making the right choice. “Once we’ve revealed to him all the lies and deception these heartless fiends have used bringing slaves to him, he will act for us. When he sees the strength of our resolve, and the truth of our words, he will not be an enemy, but an ally in finally ending this tragedy once and for all.”

“We shall seek justice,” she said, finally free from all self-doubt and her inner turmoil. “Not in bits, as if buying our forgiveness made these crimes against us permissible. Neither in war, for our people have suffered enough grief and loss for ten lifetimes. But through the word of law. We shall bring a suit against those who’ve harmed us, and we finally receive the justice that has been denied us for so long.”

When he heard her words, Councilor Johan dug his talons deeply into his seat’s wooden armrests as he firmly gripped them. His worse fears were coming to pass, Lady Zephyr was seeking abolition, and was planning on eliciting the aid of the three deities most able to help her.

Knowing that he needed to buy himself and his partners some time, he decided to do what he could to stall her. “Lady Zephyr,” he said, hoping to dissuade, or at least slow her down from seeking after this fool’s errand. “We are ill prepared to issue a lawsuit against the three most powerful deities on the Pantheon. And think of the consequences if the suit fails, your standing and prestige with your peers would be harmed, and relations with our neighbors might never recover.”

“Then it’s a price we’ll have to pay,” she replied, fully determined that nofeather else in her domain would ever suffer the indignity of having been made somefeathers slave. “At least then, Councilor Johan, we’ll know who our true friends are.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of…” he muttered, worried for the first time that his part in all this might finally be discovered.

“Councilor Elrik,” Lady Zephyr said, impatient to begin the process of forming their lawsuit. “I want you to form a preliminary draft of our grievances against Princess Celestia, Lord Triton, and the Slave King. Then I’d like you to send me a copy so I have something to show Lord Raiden when we ask him for his aid.”

“Of course, Lady Zephyr,” the councilor said, emptying his goblet of wine and cracking his talons in preparation of drafting the document.

“Councilors,” she said, standing up from her seat. “I’ll expect your full cooperation in this matter. General Ansgar, I’d like the army in a state of readiness. And Councilor Radjek, I’d like you to look into where the bits for our subjects have been going.”

“Of course, Maelstrom. Your will shall be done. As you wish, Lady Zephyr,” they said in unison.

“Then this council is adjourned,” she said, banging a large obsidian orb of arcanum, against the stone table, causing thunder and lightning to spark from its ebony surface. “If anyfeather needs me, I’ll be dining with my son.”

Watching the Lady of Air exiting the council chambers, he turned to look at his fellow councilors. Each unwittingly sowing the seeds of their own destruction. Foreseeing the possibility of such a disaster occurring, he’d taken steps to ensure that everyfeather concerned would have something to lose. Over the years, he’d seen to it that each of them had been personally benefiting from his joint business venture with his partners. Ensuring that if he fell to Lady Zephyr’s beak and talons, they too would fall to her fury.

Excusing himself from his fellows, he made his way towards his personal chambers. He had to act quickly if he wanted to warn his business partners. Walking through the dark passages that led to his personal quarters, he began plotting his next move.

*****

He woke up refreshed and well rested. Truly he’d not known such a blissful rest in all his forty plus years of life. Looking up at the night sky overhead, he wasn’t quite sure how much time had passed. Although a cool breeze blew across his face, he didn’t feel cold. In fact he felt a comforting warmth burning within him. Stretching out his arms, he discovered to his dismay that his companion was missing and he was laying alone in their makeshift bed.

Trying to remember what had happened between them before he fell asleep, all he could remember was the great hunger that had gnawed away at him like a hungry rat on a flesh bare bone. Although his memory was dim, he was overwhelmed with a sense of rightness in his being, and decided that whatever had transpired between them had been for the best.

Wondering what she’d thought about what had happened between them, he thought that she was probably either delighted or worried. Remembering her sorrow when she nearly lost herself in her eagerness to share her magic with him, he wondered if she was feeling any regrets about what had transpired between them. She’d been nothing but kind towards him, had greatly aided him, and so he didn’t want her suffering for any reason on his behalf.

Thinking back to when he’d first met his companion, and how worried he was about her intentions towards him. But now he was at peace with himself. Although he considered her his friend, and felt nothing but gratitude towards her, he knew that he didn’t love her in the way that she hoped he did. Before, the idea of loving anyone so soon after learning about their deaths nearly felt unbearable. But now his aching heart didn’t quite find the idea so horrid. In fact if he was destined to fall in love with her or another, he’d not fight it and would accept it if such was to be his fate.

Enjoying the silken caress of the soft sheets that made up his bed, he was amazed by how energized he felt. Truly he felt stronger then he’d felt in ages, even stronger than the years he’d lived before his enslavement. He wondered if it had something to do with the food he’d been eating, the goddess he’d been traveling with, or even the circumstances of his resuscitation.

He still wasn’t sure how he should feel about it. As far as he was concerned, he was the man who’d suffered for a decade in chains, who’d had a good friend and wonderful daughter taken away from him before their time. The man who was swallowed up by a hole in the ground, falling from the sky, and landing in this unfriendly place. The man who’d lost everything, and wandered the dark paths of the earth utterly lost and all alone.

But there was his double. A man who’d suffered as greatly or more than he had ever had. A man who’d succumbed to his hate and fury. Was he destined to loose himself to the same rage that had claimed his twin’s soul? He wondered what sort of man he’d become, was he truly the monster he’d heard described by his companion? Wishing to atone for all the blood his other self had spilt in anger, he vowed to one day confront himself, and make him answer for all the evil he’d committed.

He wanted answers. Although horrified by it, he understood the reasons behind the destruction of the Diamond Vale. But it was everything else that had come afterwards, that he had trouble coming to terms with. He didn’t understand the reasons for continuing the slavery they had both suffered under. The cruel, unfeeling, efficiency of his iron fisted reign. The cold hearted rejection of his children, his own flesh and blood. Children that he would’ve been grateful to have and to hold, if he’d but had the chance.

He wondered if his double had ever lain in bed like this and mourned what he’d become. Did they share the same hopes and fears, or had the hard centuries slowly ground away what little humanity he’d once possessed. Part of him wished to cast aside his darker half as someone who was utterly irredeemable and beyond saving, but that’s not what she’d want. Little Bleu’s one hope had been rescuing him from the chains that were slowly killing him, and she’d be broken hearted if she learned that her beloved father had saved his life only to have lost his soul in the end.

It was then that he decided that he not only owed it to himself, but to the daughter they both loved, to save him from the darkness that had corroded his soul. He knew that if he felt regret and remorse for these sins, his other half could as well. Perhaps that was the reason for his being, to give the one who had utterly lost everything, an opportunity to save himself. Not only would he prove that he was not destined to be the monster beneath the cloak and crown, he would show himself that if he chose to he could be a good man once more.

“Andrew, the darkness shall have you no longer,” he said, vowing to make things right once more. “I swear it.”

“What do you swear, Elrey love?” a warm feminine voice asked. Her voice carried the same radiant warmth he felt burning within him. A warmth that brought him comfort and happiness.

“Ah, Suzaku, you were missing when I woke up,” he said, happy to see his absent companion once more. “I was wondering where you had gotten off to.”

“I thought you might like some time to yourself after last night, love,” she said, looking away from him with concern and worry etched into her otherwise beautiful face.

“Why would you think that, Suzaku,” he said, laying in the bed and rolling his head towards her. Feeling the warmth within him burning ever hotter.

“Love, I…” she started, but failed to find the words she wished to express herself. “What happened between us last night…”

“Was simply one friend helping another,” he answered, offering her an understanding smile.

“Elrey, thank you,” she whispered, accepting his embrace as she wrapped her fiery wings around him.

“But I do have some questions,” he said, running his fingers through her feathers.

“Of course, dear,” she cheerfully said, snuggling against him. “What would you like to know?”

“Last night, we did something together, I’m not quite sure how to describe it,” he said, enjoying his companion’s familiar warmth. “This warmth I feel, it’s like a piece of you is within me.”

“That’s because there is a bit of my divinity intertwined with you,” she explained, looking into his warm brown eyes.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” he said, wondering if she was being literal or metaphorical with her answer.

“Elrey, last night our souls touched,” she said, placing her wing against his open palm. Running a feather along his palm and fingers she continued. “Love, once two souls become one, they inexorably change the other.”

“But how, I’m nothing like you or the Slave King,” he protested, wondering how any of what she said was possible. “I’m nothing special, just an ordinary man.”

When she heard his protest, she released a melodic laugh. “Oh, Elrey love,” she cooed, grabbing his face with her wings and gently touching her forehead against his. “There’s nothing ordinary about you, my dear.”

He considered her words. He supposed in such a fantastical world as Equestria, a man like himself might be considered extraordinary. But he suspected she meant something more than his race. Perhaps she considered him the Slave King’s equal, someone who was bound for great things. But beyond their shared origin and past, he had trouble seeing himself as anyone more than King the man.

“Suzaku, last night I felt a hunger I’ve never known before,” he said, wondering why he’d been driven to seek her out. “Even now, I can feel it deep within me, like an itch that just won’t go away.”

“Elrey love,” she said, stroking him with her wing. “It’ll be all right. You’re simply maturing.”

“Maturing?” he asked, arching his brow in confusion. “I’d be consider middle aged by the reckoning of my people.”

“Yes, love, but you’re not quite a wayfarer anymore,” she said, leaning up against him.

“I’m not?” he asked, unable to understand what she could possibly mean. “But I don’t really feel any different.”

“Elrey,” she softly said, hoping to soothe his fears. “You share more than just memories with the Slave King. Each of you bathed within the waters of the Well of Eternity.”

Suddenly he understood why he’d felt so drawn to her last night. Who he thought he was had died centuries ago in the cave alongside his family. He was in a dream, living a pleasant lie until he’d finally woken up. He wasn’t King, Elrey, or whatever other alias he decided to adopt. He was the Slave King, a monstrous tyrant destined to one day be consumed by rage and hate.

“Suzaku, am I going to become him?” he asked, worried that there was nothing he could do to prevent himself from succumbing to the same darkness that plagued his other half.

“No, love,” she replied, holding the frightened wayfarer to her breast. “Your choices are yours, and yours alone to make.”

“Thank you, Suzaku,” he said, relieved he wasn’t destined to repeat his twin’s mistakes.

“Elrey,” she said, looking unto his eyes. “When our souls touched, I saw that yours was one full of hope, compassion, and light. You needn’t worry about becoming the Slave King, not unless you choose to take the first steps along that dark and lonely path.”

“But, Suzaku, then what am I maturing into?” he asked, wondering what the future held in store for him as he felt her spark of divinity burning within him.

“You’ll discover that for yourself soon, love,” she said, getting up from the bed and pulling him to his feet. “Now climb on my back, Elrey. If we leave now, we’ll reach the Western Sea by this afternoon.”

Nodding in agreement, he folded up the blankets he’d been resting on, placed them in the bags carrying their provisions, and sat them down beside Suzaku. Satisfied that everything had been packed, she unfurled her wings and released her magic. Instantly the bags caught fire, before disappeared into ash.

“You know, Suzaku, I’ll never get used to how your magic works,” Elrey said as he climbed onto her back. Feeling her magic grab hold of him, he felt his heart begin to race as she pumped her wings in preparations of taking off. When she leapt into the air, he felt his heart sink into his stomach, and held onto her tight.

Enjoying the feeling of his arms around her, Suzaku looked up at her wayfarer passenger. “Fear not, love,” she said, pumping her wings a few times to gain more altitude. “If you ever fall, I will always be there to catch you.”

Feeling the spark within him, he smiled, reassured by her promise. “I know, Suzaku,” he said, finally enjoying the ride for the first time. “I know.”

*****

The Lonely Road that ran from the Neo Vale to Shadehoof was aptly named she thought. Hardly anyfeather traveled this way, not unless they were slavers of course. As the official harper for the Slave King’s court, she knew this path intimately, and had traveled it often when she was called upon by the city’s triumvirate council of governors to mediate on the Slave King’s behalf.

Normally she could travel this path in a few hours by following the abundant shadow ley lines that ran through the Domain of Earth. However not all members of her escort had experience in traveling in this manner, so they were forced to walk the entirety of the way. Stretching out her arms as she walked, her wings flapped impatiently. Looking at her companions, she had a seapony chevaleresse of the Lawgiver, an enslaved reindeer battlemage who served as the Slave King’s personal cupbearer, and the reindeer’s charge a beautiful diamond dog bitch who held more secrets then she could count.

Some of her party could fly, like the reindeer, while the others could tap into the shadows to travel by ley line, but with the exception of herself, nofeather in their party possessed the power to do both. Sighing with disappointment, she swung her arms back and forth as she tried whiling away the time as they took step after step towards the port of Shadehoof.

The city of Shadehoof was unique in that nofeather outright controlled it. The city straddled three domains, and by common consent of the three ruling powers, namely Princess Celestia, Lord Triton, and the Slave King, it supposedly stood as a symbol of unity and harmony in Equestria.

More like an iniquitous den of overly proud, thieving scoundrels, she thought to herself.

Originally the city had been a contested port of entry for ships returning from the Zebrakan which wanted to unload their goods to the three main trade routes that lead through Equestria. The road North to the Golden Eyrie and Winter, the road East to Londwhinium and the Domain of Fire, and the road South to the Diamond Vale.

However that all changed when the Slave King came to power. The young deity had recognized the value of the port’s location as a trade hub into inner Equestria and its neighboring domains, and sought to bring it firmly under his control. But due to the treaties he held with the Pantheon, he wasn’t able to outright annex the city for his own. Originally the port had lain within the spitting distance of his northern border, and so the Slave King hatched a clever scheme to bring all the commerce passing through the town under his control. If he couldn’t outright conquer the port, he’d subvert it.

Thus the Slave King built a superior competing port within the boundaries of his domain. For a time his plan worked, the ships enticed by his port’s superior services and lucrative slave markets, abandoned the Shadehoof docks. Of course, Lord Triton and Princess Celestia didn’t take this upstart’s challenge sitting down. Within the decade they’d built up their own ports in competition with his. Offering the merchants more favorable taxes and port fees, trade moved through the city like cheap wine in a seedy tavern. Seeking ever greater profitability, the merchant ships abandoned the Slave King’s port in favor of Celestia’s and Triton’s.

Annoyed that they thought to outwit him, the Slave King built an even grander city and better docks, in the hopes of drawing merchants away from the competition. In response, they built up their own ports and facilities, which prompted the Slave King to act in kind. Eventually both Princess Celestia and Lord Triton, combined their ports together in the hope of finally wresting control of the valuable trade route from their rival.

Eventually both competing cities grew in size, until they finally met each other on the Equestrian-Earth Domain border. In the end, the merchants used the ports in tandem, smuggling goods from port to port as it pleased them. In the process, everyfeather but the smugglers were losing profit and revenue. But nofeather could anticipate what happened next. To the everyfeather’s amazement, the Slave King approached his rivals and offered them a unique compromise.

In exchange for allowing the slave trade to run unimpeded in the city, the Slave King would allow everyfeather access to his ports. At first both Princess Celestia and Lord Triton protested that their city should be tainted with the sin of slavery. But the Slave King pointed out that as things stood now, slaves along with other goods were being smuggled with impunity, and unless they joined together the smuggling would only get worse.

Knowing that he had a point, both Princess Celestia and Lord Triton reluctantly agreed to his terms, so long as slaves weren’t being sold in their parts of the city. The Slave King readily agreed to this, provided that he was guaranteed they wouldn’t interfere with the slave trade within the city. In the end, the three deities decided that no one domain should control the city. Instead, they formed a triumvirate to oversee the city’s rule consisting of a governor representing each domain, ensuring that no one feather controlled the city and its lucrative trade routes.

When the agreement had been reached, it had been touted and celebrated as a sign that soon slave smuggling would be no more and that harmony would finally take root in the South. However in the end, the Slave King had the last laugh. Within a century the port was firmly under his domain’s influence. Bits bearing the Slave King’s image flowed through the city like water corrupting all they touched like a cancer, ensuring that slaves from all domains could continue to be sold with impunity.

And thus did the shining exemplar of harmony fall to the greed and corruption of wicked ponies who cared more for bits then the wellbeing of their neighbors. Although both Lord Triton and Princess Celestia acknowledged that their pact with the Slave King was one born of necessity, it’s often that they cursed the Faustian bargain they made with him in the false hope of bringing an end to one problem only to have had a hoof in creating something far worse.

As a harper, Melody was well aware of the city’s dark history, and although she personally found the city and all it stood for distasteful, she couldn’t fault it for its usefulness. If one desired the rare, exotic, or forbidden, one simply had to peruse the city’s innumerable shady vendors and merchants stalls. From pitiful souls drowning in the sorrow of their enslavement, to bizarre and fantastical items of power, if it could be sold, chances were it could be found within the city’s grand market.

But as interesting as the grand market was, the reason for their westward journey to Shadehoof was securing passage on a ship that was heading north towards Autumn. Having traveled all over Equestria in her service to the Slave King, she was quite familiar with many a ship’s captain who frequented the port, most of whom would refrain from asking questions if they were paid well enough.

She supposed that going the long way to the Golden Eyrie was a prudent course of action, but any delays in their journey left them open to the dangers that the lands outside the Domain of Earth offered the Slave King’s servants. Not that she was afraid to face danger in her service to her father’s domain. Although she wasn’t as great a swordsfeather or skilled magic user as her sisters, she was still a competent warrior in her own right.

Her real concern was that they might not return home in time. Jormungandr had warned her that she needed to return the Elements of Harmony before the summer solstice, or all Equestria would face great peril. Ordinarily she would have advised him of the entirety of the Winding One’s warning, but with such serpentine treachery loose within the court, she knew very few that she could trust to be discreet with the knowledge.

Even now, her companions were completely unaware of the responsibility that Jormungandr had tasked her with. She’d decided that once they had reached the city and secured their passage north, that she’d tell the others. For now she decided, they would concentrate their efforts on reaching Shadehoof without incident. That changeling bastard was still unaccounted for, and she was slightly worried that they might want some revenge.

“How much further until we reach the city?” Chrysalis asked with a slight whine in her voice. They had been walking the Lonely Road for hours, and the changeling turned bitch was starting to feel the rigors of hard traveling within the pads of her paws.

“If you weren’t prepared for a little walking, bitch,” Dame Squall derisively said, annoyed that Chrysalis was already complaining about traveling less than a day into their journey. “Why on Equestria would you volunteer for such lengthy sojourn?”

“Listen here, you stuck up, seapony…” Chrysalis growled, wishing she could drop her disguise into something more convenient. She’d teach that seapony some respect then. She would have followed up with an insult towards her order, but before she could say anything, she was silenced by a hard look from her keeper, Gunhilde.

“Chrysalis,” she warned, hoping to stave off any hard feelings between the two before their tempers got too heated. “I’m sure Dame Squall wasn’t questioning your dedication to our mission.”

Melody looked towards their seapony companion, before poking her in the ribs with her lute. “Yes, Dame Squall,” she said, giving her a wink. “I’m sure you weren’t trying to unduly antagonize her.”

Getting the hint, the chevaleresse lowered her head and sighed. “Please forgive me, Chrysalis,” she said, biting back her tongue against the insult she’d received by the bitch’s fin. “I’m sure you’ll prove useful during our travels, your lack of stamina not withstanding.”

Chrysalis gave the seapony mare a hard look, annoyed by her backpawed compliment. “You know my lack of stamina wouldn’t be an issue, if we could travel the ley lines to our destination,” she said, giving her a smug grin. “If only we weren’t being hampered by somehound’s lacking skills.”

Dame Squall sharply inhaled, before looking away from her. Releasing her breath, she slowly counted to twenty. She could feel her anger beginning to rise, but was determined not to allow it to rule her. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, she decided to place some distance between herself and the bitch.

“Melody,” she said, drawing on her magical reserves. “I’d like to go on ahead of us. To make sure the road up ahead is safe.”

Looking at the seapony, Melody gave her a sympathetic look, before turning towards Chrysalis. Those two seemed to have hard feelings towards each another. But she’d seen them fighting together against a common foe. When it really counted, they had come together and fought for their survival. She was sure the two of them would come together again if they were reminded of their common purpose.

“But what if we’re being watched, and our pursuers are simply waiting for an opening to attack?” she asked, giving her a faux look of concern as she falsely professed her worry. “Maybe Gunhilde could go on ahead of us, if you’re so worried. Are you willing to, Gunhilde?”

Seeing what she was trying to do, Gunhilde nodded her head in agreement. “Of course, Melody,” she said, offering her a conspiratorial wink. Although she wanted to hold her magic in reserve in case there actually was trouble, if it kept those two from each others throats, the magic she would expend in flying would be well spent. “I’ll see you all in a few hours. Behave yourself, Chrysalis.”

Before either Chrysalis or Dame Squall could reply, Gunhilde had shook her antlers and pounded the earth twice with her hoof, before leaping up into the air. With a joyous whoop, the reindeer battlemage galloped away on the winds of magic, leaving them behind in her wake.

“Show off…” Chrysalis muttered, envious of her keeper’s ability to fly. Of course in her natural form she also possessed flight, but transforming would expose the Slave King and herself, and she was determined not to allow that to happen.

“Wow, it sure got quiet all of the sudden,” Melody said aloud, offering each of them a cheery smile. Pulling out her lute, she began plucking at the strings as her feet kept the beat of her song. Opening her mouth, she began singing a lively tune.

There’s a road calling you to stray…
Step by step pulling you away…
Under moon and stars…
Take the road no matter how far…

Seeing that her companions were feeling reluctant to join her, she began singing the second verse.

Where it leads no one ever knows…
Don’t look back follow where it goes…
Far beyond the sun…
Take the road wherever it runs…

Turning around and walking backwards, she could see that her traveling companions were beginning to walk in time with the music, and she could see their ears perk up in anticipation of the next verse. Starting the chorus, she offered each of them an invitation to join with her in song.

Ever, ever on…
Hill by hill…
Mile by mile…
Field by field…
Stile by stile…
The road goes on…
Ever, ever on…

The road goes on…
Moor by moor….
Glen by glen….
Vale by vale…
Fen by fen…
The road goes on…
Ever, ever on…

One more mile, and then it’s time to eat…
A little friendship, so succulent and sweet…
To the farthest shore, take the road a hundred miles more…

A mare’s first crush, tickled from her dream…
A stallion’s lust, sweeter than cream…
Far beyond the sun…
Take the road wherever it runs…

See the road go past your doorstep…
Calling for your fins to stray…
Just like the sea’s fast and flowing currents…
It will sweep them far away…

Now that the three were fully caught up within the song’s thrall. They sang together without a care in the world, allowing their souls to soar on the harmony of their shared song.

Just beyond the far horizon…
Lies a waiting world unknown…
Like the dawn its beauty beckons…
With a wonder all its own…

Over mountain and valley, and pasture and meadow…
Stretching unending, for mile after mile…
Through fenland and moorland, and shoreline and canyon…
Bordered by hurdle, and hedgerow and stile…

As the three traveled together, they stepped in time with the music, and allowed it to carry them forward towards their destination. As she plucked the notes on her lute, Melody offered her companions a grin, happy that she’d been able to help come together if only for the brief length of their shared song.

But unbeknownst to them, the owner of a pair of sapphire eyes lay concealed from view, and watching them as they made their way along the Lonely Road to Shadehoof.

*****

He sat alone at the table, unable to summon the appetite to enjoy his exquisitely prepared meal. He’d thought to have his guests join him for dinner, but after what had happened earlier that day, he’d possessed little desire to share anypony’s company. He’d sent them to their rooms so they would be well rested for the next phase of his plan to indoctrinate them. However, he felt little joy in anticipation of breaking them further.

Although he was now the undisputed king of the crystal ponies, he’d just learned that he was nothing more than a disposable pawn of his master back in the Neo Vale. The revelation had been a bitter pill to swallow, for such a fate was the destiny of the plebs, of lesser creatures, not superior ponies such as him. But because he’d failed to prepare for his master’s treachery, he was now stuck in his snare.

He supposed it should have come as no surprise at his master’s treachery. After all, each of them were traitors to their supposed master, the Slave King. But to be told he’d been setup to fail, it was almost more than his pride could bear. Such a thing wasn’t supposed to happen to him! He who was king. He who had been nothing but loyal to Second, and had always performed his role flawlessly.

But now he’d been cast aside, and thanks to his eagerness in bringing down his rule on the backs of his new subjects, there was nopony he could turn to for aid. He dare not approach the Slave King, not unless he wanted to spend at least a century in the Cavern of Torment. And thanks to his administrative style, there was nopony he could trust to turn to for advice. All his subjects either hated or feared him, and would readily betray him to the Slave King for vengeance.

“My lord, is the soup not to your liking?” he heard his plaything, Topaz ask.

He had taken to dining with her shortly after his ascension as the king of the crystal ponies. It used to bring him such joy, watching her suffer as he abused and debased her former subjects in front of her. Oh now, how the horseshoe was on the other hoof, he lamented bitterly to himself. If she knew his predicament, he was certain that she would gloat. He could only thank creation that she’d been rendered unconscious by Bazzt Zzzt’s venom.

Thinking about how that bug had fooled him, set his face into a scowl that could curdle milk. If the changeling had managed to elude all his wards undetected, even if he was inclined to, there was nopony he could trust. Now everypony was potentially a spy for Second. He cursed the day he’d ever agreed to work with the doomhound. He’d once belonged to a minor noble house in Londwhinium, but the family’s fortune had faded, and desperate to reclaim his family’s prestige and power, he’d sought out his fortune elsewhere.

It was there in a tavern in the Neo Vale that he’d met his master for the first time. The doomhound had almost seemed as if he’d been waiting for him. Eager to make the acquaintance of somepony so powerful, he’d introduced himself and his reasons for traveling to the Domain of Earth. He’d hoped to find his fortune serving the Slave King in some capacity. He knew that ponies, let alone unicorns, willing to serve the Slave King were a rarity, and he felt confident that his magical abilities, fighting skills, and battlefield experience commanding ponies would impress the Slave King sufficiently, to guarantee him at least a small commission.

After they had spoken at length, Second had made him an attractive offer, agree to serve him in ‘The Order of the Shadow’, and he would see to it that all his dreams of power were fulfilled. At first, it had seemed too good to be true. But Second had been true to his word, and he quickly rose up through the ranks. Of course he knew had he not been quite so useful, his master would have discarded him without a second thought. But such was life in the South, and for him it had been a glorious one.

“My lord, shall I tell the servants to bring out the next course?” Topaz asked from the other side of the table.

Turning away from his uneaten soup, he stared at her with his red eyes. Normally the mare was easily cowed, but for the first time ever, she was unintimidated by his bale filled glare. He felt a dark rage enter his heart. How dare that whore refuse to remember her place! he inwardly seethed, furious that even she was no longer afraid of him. He was tempted to throw her from the table with his magic, and use her until she remembered that he owned her. However he didn’t dare, he needed her alive, lest the changeling take her place.

Furious at his own impotence, he offered her a flat look. “If it pleases you,” he growled, wishing that he could slay that changeling.

Topaz offered him a small smile, and rang a bell, signaling for the servants to clear the table for the second course, a salad. He said nothing as the ponies who served him cleared the table and placed a salad of mixed fruits and greens in front of him. It was a mix of crystal berries, walnuts, and watercress, his favorite. However his appetite refused to return, and the salad sat on his plate undisturbed. He didn’t even try poking the dish with his magic. Looking at Topaz, he frowned when he saw how much she was enjoying her meal. Enjoyment that should have been by all rights his!

During the rest of their meal, he sat in silence as she continued asking him if his food wasn’t to his liking. He said nothing, only assenting his permission to allow for the next course to proceed. All the while she wore the same serene smile as she ate. He wondered what had happened to change her. Perhaps the changeling’s venom had addled her brain, or maybe she was even possibly Bazzt Zzzt, but he had no way of telling for sure.

Once the final course of their dinner had been cleared away, they left the table together to retire to their shared quarters. Normally after dinner, he’d always enjoyed taking his liberties with the former queen, but now the prospect held little interest for him. Topaz no longer seemed to fear him, and his own fears regarding his uncertain future made any further attempts at beating her into submission utterly unappealing.

He said nothing as she stood expectantly at the foot of his bed, instead ignoring her as he silently disrobed. Placing his silken cloak inside his wardrobe, he felt hollow and empty. It was entirely unfair, it was supposed to be good to be king, and not like how it had all turned out. Removing his armor, he placed it on its stand. Although its heft had been removed from his shoulders, he still felt a great weight pressing down upon him.

Approaching his bed, his placed his crown upon his nightstand, and slid beneath the soft sheets. Lowering the lights with his magic, he tried to close his eyes and forget all about this harrowing day, but found he couldn’t. He could feel her eyes burrowing into his skull. He tried ignoring her, but was unsuccessful. In the darkened room, she was still there.

Topaz silently approached him, and looked down on the face of her tormentor. It felt cathartic seeing him so troubled. But she wasn’t after karmic justice for herself and her people. She had been presented with a unique opportunity to free them, and she would do whatever it took to make that happen.

Personally it felt revolting, knowing what was she was about to do with him. But to save them she would do it, damn the consequences. “My lord,” she softly said, kneeling before him.

“My lord, are you not well?” Topaz asked, with as much sincerity as she could muster for such a wicked creature.

“I’m fine, just trying to get some sleep,” he flatly replied, trying his best to hide the turmoil that lay within his heart.

“Do you not desire me anymore, my lord?” she demurely asked, biting back on the bile she felt asking him such a question.

“What?” he asked, confused by her concern. Of all the things she might say, concern for him and expressing a desire to share his bed was the last thing he’d have ever expected to hear pass from her lips.

“I was concerned, my lord, because you usually want me to serve you before you retire,” she said, looking up at him with all the desire she could muster.

“Bazzt Zzzt,” he growled, furious that the changeling thought to tease him further.

“No, my lord,” Topaz said, submissively lowering her head. “I’m not the changeling.”

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable by how forward Topaz was being, Sombra began scooting away from her. “What do you think you’re doing, slave?” he weakly demanded, suddenly feeling unsure and afraid.

Sweetly smiling at him, she climbed into the bed, and crawled next to him. Touching her muzzle to his, she lightly kissed his nose. “I thought we might renegotiate our little arrangement,” she said, lightly kissing him.

Dumbstruck, he said nothing as he felt her kissing him once more. Becoming annoyed, he narrowed his eyes in anger at her. Growling, he roughly pushed her off of him and climbed on top of her. “What game do you think you’re playing, slave?” he snarled, as he looked into her blue eyes

Saying nothing, Topaz licked her lips and softly kissed him. “I thought that maybe tonight we could play nicely with each other,” she suggestively said, flicking him lightly with her tail.

Sombra felt a deep longing within him when he looked at her. Her eyes possessed no anger towards him, only the promise of things to come. He remembered how lovely she’d looked when he first saw her sitting on her throne. She’d possessed a proud beauty then, something he’d enjoyed repeatedly plundering from her over the course of his reign. Slowly he’d broken her, until little more than a mere shadow remained of the once proud queen the mare had been.

He saw something similar now in her eyes, they held the same proud beauty she once possessed, but now they also held the same hunger for power he knew only too well. He suddenly felt himself becoming lost in those hungry eyes and from her heady scent that was gradually overwhelming all reason. Returning her impassioned kisses, he felt himself relax against her as she finally broke down all his defenses.

*****

Lying in bed next to his consort, he listened to her steady breathing. They had spent what seemed like hours together. At first he’d thought it was nothing but a trick at his expense, but the passion she’d shown him during their time together had won him over. Before she’d approached him, he’d felt so frustrated and angry. But now, even though he still had the same problems as before, things felt somewhat more manageable.

“Yes, Topaz,” he replied, wondering what could have possibly possessed her to pursue him like this.

Looking into her soft blue eyes, he nodded. “Yes, much better now. You have my thanks,” he said, feeling gratitude towards another for the first time in ages.

“My lord,” she said, leaning towards him. “I heard what the changeling told you.”

“How much…” he replied, trying to decide how best to deal with this new revelation.

“Everything,” she replied, placing her hoof on his. “You’re not alone, Sombra. Not if you don’t want to be.”

“Impossible,” he said, turning away from her. “I’m balancing along the edge of a knife. If I make even the slightest mistake, I shall fall to my doom. Nopony can help me.”

“What could you possibly do?” he asked, furious at himself for falling to her seduction.

“If you stop this evil you’ve brought on my people, I’ll become your wife, and plead to the Slave King on your behalf,” she said, laying all her cards down on the table.

“What makes you think I’d ever agree to that,” he said, suddenly feeling the noose around his neck becoming much looser.

“What other choice do you have, my lord?” Topaz replied, kissing him once more.

“When the Grand Galloping Gala takes place next month, the Slave King should be in attendance there,” she said, snuggling up against her husband to be. “While he’s there, you can ask him for his permission for my hoof in marriage, admit your part in these crimes against the crystal ponies, and beg him for forgiveness. I’ll be there at your side, pleading with him on your behalf.”

“What guarantee do I have that you just won’t rat me out to the Slave King the first chance you get, and hang me out to dry, Topaz?” he demanded, worried that this was all a ploy to destroy him.

“Sombra, even though I find you a vile pony, I appreciate the position you’ve found yourself in,” she explained, sitting up in their bed. “Even if we were to be rid of you, there’s no guarantee that your master Second, won’t have a backup plan somewhere in the works.”

“Why would you agree to any of this?” he asked, trying to force her to reveal her true motives.

“Because like it or not, I can’t free my people without your assistance,” she said, pointing out that necessity makes for strange bedfellows. “And perhaps even an undeserving villain like you should get a second chance.”

Looking down at the mare lying beside him, he was impressed by how bold and daring her plan was. Contemplating her scheme, he appreciated how well it dealt with his current situation. There were only two great unknowns with the plan, how Second would respond when he discovered that he’d been betrayed, and what the Slave King would do to him when he revealed the full extent of his crimes.

Of course there was always the possibility that Topaz was playing him, using him to reveal himself to the Slave King so that she could be permanently rid of him. “Topaz,” he said, giving her a hard look. “What guarantee do I have that you won’t betray me at the first opportunity? Once we’ve arrived together at the Grand Galloping Gala and have met with the Slave King, I’ll be completely at your mercy.”

Looking into his eyes, she offered him a reassuring smile. “No matter how much I despise you,” she said, pressing her hoof against his. “I would never harm the father of our foal.”

“Before dinner, I took a potion guaranteed to make a mare fertile,” she explained, hoping her revelation would entice him to accept her offer. “After that, I simply needed to spend some quality time with you, my lord.”

“I’ll have to sleep on it, Topaz,” he said, taken aback by the lengths she was willing to go to secure his aid.

As he lay in silence beside her, the former queen of the Crystal Dominion, Topaz III, looked at her lord and smiled. She was sure he would come around, after all what other choice did he have? Soon all would be made right once again, and she would return to her proper place ruling over the ponies she loved so dear.

*****

“So tell me, wife,” the masked man said, looking at the majestic alicorn from beneath his arcanum iron crown. “What should be built next? Its mind, or its heart?”

Truthfully he still didn’t know the right answer. With so many variables to consider, and only able to build one or the other, the man had turned to the wife he didn’t love for advice. Although he didn’t consider her a warrior, he respected her ancient wisdom, thoughtful insight, and tenacity. The legends he’d heard tell of her over the centuries, often spoke of the dark huntress of the night. Tales he was sure that hadn’t just been told as bed time stories to entertain and frighten children.

Earlier he’d asked her opinion of what to do regarding the changeling queen he’d suspected of causing all his recent troubles, and found that her offered advice to be meritorious. Even though his marriage to her had been one born of necessity rather than affection, so far she’d proven herself more than a lovely face, comely beauty, and shapely form. She was proving herself a useful asset to his… no rather their shared domain.

He wondered to himself as she contemplated his query, Wife, what other use might I have for you?

His weakened body needed her divinity to sustain him for now, but what of tomorrow? How could he justify keeping her beside him to himself, if he had no further need of her. He supposed she might protest that she was wife, and he had no say in the matter. But if they came to loggerheads over the issue and push came to shove, should they decide to battle each other over her right to stay with in his domain, they both knew whose will would finally emerge victorious.

Although he didn’t quite understand why she felt so dedicated to making this ill-fated union work, he knew how much this sham of a marriage meant to her. Thus he’d decided that he would at least give her an opportunity to prove herself a useful helpmeet to him. After all, it was the least he could for the little woman, before casting her aside once he’d fully regained his strength.

Looking at her husband, she contemplated his question. What should be built next? Truthfully, she wasn’t quite sure. There was so little she knew about the purpose of the great machine, except that her husband felt it would render all other war machines obsolete. Something which if it could do all that the plans promised it could, would surely revolutionize warfare in Equestria for centuries to come.

But her husband spoke of it possessing wisdom and courage, as if he might imbue the machine with a living soul. But such was an impossibility. With only few rare exceptions, few magics were powerful enough to breathe life into an otherwise inanimate object. Especially one as large as the machine her husband was attempting to build. She wondered what its true purpose was, why its construction was so ambitious, and why he would even bother building such a machine in the first place.

Those are some insightful questions, princess, the ever present voice whispered to her.

Why hast thou returned to us unbidden? she demanded, furious that the voice felt free to intrude upon this intimate moment she was sharing with her husband.

Because I am contracted with you, to aid you in winning your husband’s heart, the voice replied, reminding her of the agreement they held with each other.

She fully remembered the contract she had with the voice, and had mistakenly thought she would be the one to initiate any further contact between them.

We art fully cognizant of our contract with thee, she replied, looking down at the machine beneath her. But we ask thee again, for what purpose hast thou spoken to us?

My dear, our contract only stipulated that I help you gain the affections of your cold and distant husband, it said, letting out a low chuckle. I never agreed to only come at your beck and call.

Thou cad! she seethed, annoyed that the voice had tricked her into joining a geis with it.

Now, now, little princess, it said as it laughed. There’s no reason to be unpleasant, after all we’re roommates now, and we should be good friends.

We know now thy word is as less than nothing, thou liar, she said, fearful that the agreement she had with the voice might give it some untoward power over her.

Now that was unkind of you, little princess, the voice said, feigning hurt. I’ve kept my word haven’t I. You did get that kiss after all, didn’t you, my princess?

Thinking back to the kiss she’d shared with her husband, she felt her heart lightly flutter. It had been so nice knowing affection, even if had been for but moment, and not entirely of his own volition.

We suppose thou hast been true to thy word so far… she mused, wondering what else the voice might make come to pass.

Yes, yes I have, the voice smugly agreed, making sure she knew just who it was that had made the kiss possible.

But we art still bereft of our husband’s love and devotion, Luna reminded it, hoping to regain control of their conversation.

I know, my friend, it said, drawing her attention towards the great machine her husband had been building for his unknown purposes. But behold the machine! Is it not a glorious and divine mechanical marvel? With such a machine at your disposal, not even Celestia could stand before your ambition.

Hold still thy serpentine tongue, beast, she replied, offended that the voice thought to tempt her into attempting a coup against her own sister. We hast no designs upon anypony elses domain. We seek naught but our husband’s heart, but besides the machine belongeth to our husband, not us. To think we coulds’t wrest it from him, is foolhardy at best.

Ah, but what’s his is yours, am I right? the voice said, pointing out the joint ownership they held over each others domains. Imagine, with such power at your command, nopony would ever deny you ever again. You would be loved and respected by all.

Nay, what thou proposeth woulds’t gain us nary a speck of love, she said, putting the voice’s temptation behind her. Shoulds’t we seek after such, we woulds’t harvest naught but fear, terror, and dread.

Ah, but you would finally be respected by your subjects even greater than your sister, it countered, showing her images of everypony bowing down before her.

Such love woulds’t be as hollow as thy empty promises, she replied, refusing to entertain the treasonous idea for a moment. We dost not desire the vain and insincere accolades thou hast envisioned for us.

Is that so, little moon flower? the voice whispered, using the pet name her former paramour, Lord Cerynitis had once been fond of calling her. Then tell your husband that a gentle heart is of greater value, than a mind bent on destruction. Otherwise advise him that a clever mind will be make for a more deadly warrior, while a heart will only blunt its resolve to do what needs to be done.

We hast not yet decided our answer, she protested, worried that the voice knew her heart.

We’ll you’d better, and soon, the voice teased with a dark chuckle. Your husband appears to be getting impatient with your silence.

Although she was loathe to admit it, the voice’s suggestions had merit. A soldier without a mind would be next to useless. But no matter how effective a soldier might be in battle, if they didn’t possess the wisdom to know when to stay their hoof, or carry mercy enough within them to spare their foe when the time came, they would be no less than a blood thirsty brute. A monster who cared more for reveling in bloodshed, than defending those too weak to defend themselves.

But if she turned away from the prudent choice, her husband might deride her for choosing sentimentality over practicality. But what dids’t it matter in the end? she thought to herself, looking at the half finished machine beneath her hooves. Our husband hath said that it t’would get both. Perhaps a mind does have more value at this juncture.

Knowing she needed to answer him, she looked to her husband and offered him a gentle smile. “Husband, we believeth thy machine needeth a mind,” she said, looking into his burning eyes.

He gave her a curious look as he considered her answer, this had been unexpected. He’d been certain that his tenderhearted wife would have valued a courageous heart over a clever mind. So when she answered that a mind had more worth, he felt intrigued by her reasoning.

Deciding he needed to know more, he decided to try the impossible, getting to know the unfathomable mind of a woman. “A mind, wife,” he mused, lightly stroking his greying beard as he looked over the blueprints in front of them. “Give me your reasoning.”

When she heard him expressing an interest in getting to know her better, her heart leapt with joy, as she suppressed the urge to whoop in triumph. He was finally making a move to become closer to her, and she felt elated that he valued her opinion.

“Beloved,” she said, pressing her muzzle against the brand baring her cutie mark on his shoulder. “Thy machine is a weapon of war. Without a mind to control its actions, how else coulds’t it fulfill its one true purpose?”

“A wise and reasoned answer, wife,” he said, lifting his arcanum hand to meet her muzzle. “But I wonder if focusing too much on its fighting abilities is a mistake.”

When he revealed his concerns to her, she was surprised. Never before had she heard him confess his worries about anything. In fact, as long as she’d known him, he’d never been known to wax philosophically about anything.

Seeing him hesitate, she saw an opportunity to reaffirm her value to him as his wife and decided to seize it. “Husband, why else hast thou built thy machine, but for war?” she asked, offering her council and hoping to cement herself as a trusted partner and adviser in their domain’s affairs. “Is not the plow for tilling, and the wagon for pulling? Thy machine shoulds’t be no different.”

Pleased with her answer, he placed his hand on her cheek and rested his head against hers. “Truly, I’m fortunate to have married such a wise woman,” he said, before pulling away from her.

Turning to his dragon-half forge master, he rapped his metal knuckles against the stone table twice and smiled. “Ignatius, it appears our course is set now,” he said, offering his wife an appreciative nod.

Ignatius put down the parchment he’d been writing on and looked at his king. Wetting the quill with his red scaly lips, he prepared to write down this month’s work order. “So, master, I take it we shall be building the Devastation’s mind first?” he asked, offering his lord an expectant look.

“Yes, we’re following my wife’s suggestion,” he said, leaning against her as his strength began waning once more. “Wife, I’d say that congratulations are in order, you’ve just made your first official decree for our domain.”

When she heard his words, a rosy blush bled through her dark blue coat. His words our domain meant the world to her. Finally her husband was considering her more than an unwanted mare that he’d been forced to marry. Even if it was only for this brief moment in time, he considered her his equal.

Nuzzling against his shoulder, she lightly kissed his brand. “Beloved, we hope thou hast found our council to thy liking,” she said, wishing to convey the depth of the gratitude she felt towards him. “Shoulds’t it pleaseth thee, husband, we pray thou wilt continue seeking after our wisdom.”

Now that he’d received his lord’s instructions, Ignatius thought it would best to return to his forge. Pulling some levers, he made the observation platform return back to its proper place in the Manufactorium. “Slave King,” he said, giving Sapphire, who until now, had been looking wistfully at the happy couple in silence, an impatient look. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll begin readying the manufactorium for building the Devastation’s mind immediately.”

Nodding approvingly at his forge master’s work ethic, he motioned with his hand they were dismissed for now. “When things are ready to proceed, send a preliminary report to Harmony,” he said, giving the two dragon-halfs a thoughtful look.

“Yes, Slave King,” he replied, but seeing how weak his master still was, he sighed before voicing his concerns. “Are you well enough to use so much of your power, so soon?”

Hearing Ignatius’ worries, the Slave King released a boisterous laugh. “Ignatius, my body might be weak, but my power is stronger than ever,” he said, pointing towards the magical green flames burning in his eyes. “If I don’t push myself too hard, I should be fine.”

Ignatius nodded once and began gathering all the assorted papers and blueprints they had been pouring over. Seeing him struggle rolling up one of the blueprints, Sapphire reached out to help him. When their claws touched, she pulled hers back and gave him shy smile.

Seeing the dragoness so bashful around the drake, made the Slave King look at his wife. He saw her first look toward Sapphire and then Ignatius, and saw her eyes a small desire for them. With the exception of his regular dealings with his forge master, he’d never bothered getting to know the rest of their clan very well. Beyond sparing them when they were tiny whelps, and the occasional tours he took of the manufactorium, he’d paid them little attention. They were as nameless to him as the other beastfolk tribes and diamond dog clans under his rule.

Perhaps being so indifferent towards them had been a mistake. Thanks to his earlier benevolence towards them after their creation and Ignatius’ efforts, the Dragon-half tribe were greatly devoted to him, and creation knew that loyalty such as theirs was a rarity, especially here in the treacherous South. Deciding to start taking a greater interest in their welfare, he decided to take his wife’s advice once more.

“Ignatius,” he said, giving the dragoness an appraising look. “Perhaps you and Sapphire might go over the plans together as you plan this month’s work schedule.”

Raising his brow, he gave his lord a questioning look. “Master, I think I have things covered here,” he said, wishing to be free from the flirtatious dragoness so that he could return to the solitude of his workbench. “Besides, Sapphire and her sisters came in during their time off, they should be free to enjoy the rest of their evening.”

Sensing the dragon-half’s reluctance to socialize, he saw a reflection of himself within his forge master. He wondered if this was what Celestia had seen in himself when she’d made it her goal to see him married. Looking at the dragoness and then at his wife, he almost felt sorry for what he was about to do to Ignatius, almost but not quite. After all, the dragon-half tribe needed to grow its ranks if it was going to serve him in any meaningful capacity in the centuries to come.

Deciding that he’d give him a nudge in the proper direction, he made his wishes known. “Nonsense, Ignatius,” he said, gesturing towards Sapphire. “Two pairs of eyes are better than one. Besides, you’re always complaining about how much work gets left undone in the Manufactorium. Maybe it’s about time we considered adding another forge master to the ranks. You two could discuss our manufacturing strategy over dinner, and hammer out a schedule together.”

Taken aback by his lord’s suggestion, Ignatius looked at Sapphire before looking back at the Slave King. “I suppose it might make sense discussing some of these unsolved engineering challenges as we eat,” he said, thoughtfully rubbing his claw along his chin. “But when I mentioned earlier needing more labor here in the Manufactorium, I was thinking more along the lines of assigning some minotaurs, kolbolds, or diamond dogs to work here, not promoting a dragoness to forge master.”

When she heard him summarily dismiss Sapphire from even being considered for the position, Luna stomped her hoof in righteous indignation. “Son, pray tell, why dost thou consider thy sister unworthy of serving beside thee?” she chastised, wishing to ensure her dragon-half daughter was given a chance to prove herself at least.

“Princess Luna,” he replied, wishing now that he’d said nothing. “It’s not that Sapphire or any of the other dragonesses are unworthy. It’s just that we’re in a critical phase of development, and any unnecessary distractions might place us behind schedule.”

“So, young Ignatius, art thou worried that thou cans’t keep thy wandering eyes and hooves to thyself?” she pointedly asked, giving him a hard look.

When he heard her accusation, Ignatius’ dull red scales became brighter as he flushed with embarrassment. “Princess Luna, I… I,” he stammered, tripping over his words as he struggled to find the right thing to say in order to better explain himself.

Deciding to rescue him from any further embarrassment, Sapphire stood up and gathered the last few remaining papers and blueprints that lay scattered on the table. “Come on, Ignatius,” she said, taking his claw in hers and pulling on his arm so that he’d follow her. “If we leave now, we can still get a table at the tavern. Don’t worry, master, we’ll have something to show you in a few days. Mother, I look forward to your next visit to the Manufactorium.”

Before walking away with Ignatius in tow, Sapphire shot the Slave King a grateful look, and silently mouthed, Thank you, as they made their way away from the observation platform. Seeing how grateful the dragoness had been for his intervention on her behalf, he wondered if Ignatius was feeling resentful towards him. After a moment he decided it didn’t matter. All he’d done was give the dragoness an opportunity, but Ignatius was still free to resist her advances if he choose.

As they watched the dragon-halfs make their escape from their master and mistress, Princess Luna turned to the Slave King. “Methinks Ignatius is lucky to possess an ally such as her, who is so quick to save him from our meddling.” she said, affectionately nuzzling her husband and kissing his cheek. “Sapphire wilt be forever grateful to thee for thy aid, beloved, and thou hast our gratitude as well for making our daughter so happy.”

Thinking about Sapphire’s happiness, and his own wife’s gentle nuzzling of his shoulder brought a warmth to him that he’d not known in ages. Even now he wasn’t sure what had prompted him to push the dragon-halfs together. Normally he despised manipulation, but after looking into his wife’s eyes he’d seen her desire for the two to become closer, and had acted. Did this mean he was becoming more like Celestia, he wondered, worried that he was becoming more like her and the rest of the scheming deities on the Pantheon that he’d once considered himself above.

Sensing his uneasiness, Luna rubbed her head against his shoulder. “Beloved, art thou fatigued?” she asked, her turquoise eyes reflecting the concern she held for him. “Shalt we return to our bed chambers for respite and relaxation?”

Leaning against her silken coat, and basking in her gentle warmth, he sighed. His wife’s suggestion sounded enticing. “Yes, some rest would be good, wife,” he said, stroking her neck.

“Then come, husband,” Luna said, lifting him up onto her back with her magic. “We shall carry thee wheresoever thou needeth to go.”

Relaxing into her magic’s hold, he leaned against her and breathed in her heady scent. The pleasant feelings of warmth he’d felt earlier were returning even stronger now, and for some reason didn’t feel quite so foreign to him anymore. Resting against her long flowing mane he smiled and whispered, “Thank you.”