The old Order team reminisced about good times and recounted the dangerous times while celebrating still being here to tell the tale. However, that could not last forever, and conversation turned towards the future.
"Since Straw, Leo, and I are out, are you looking for somepony new?" Fortune leaned back on her chair, stretching her legs.
"Well, sir Cromach has been... busy," Connie coughed meaningfully, making the griffon let out an innocent whistle, "so princess Celestia sent few candidates herself."
"Something like us?" Straw raised an eyebrow, picking a glass of orange juice from a passing servant for a change.
"I doubt anypony can have the same circumstances as you, Straw," Leo patted the hippogriff's back, sitting between him and his soon-to-be partner and hopefully later-to-be wife, "being a chosen avatar of a dark god while being hunted by servants of another insane god doesn't happen too often, you know, statistically."
"Thank heavens for that," Straw sipped his drink.
The group chuckled as one, and Connie resumed her talk about the newbies.
"After three days with the new guys I really wish the three of you would come back."
"Come on, they can't be that bad," Straw's talons pointed at his chest, "I could barely use a sword even after sir Cromach trained us in Canterlot, and when we got to Manehattan sargeant Cross beat me up even worse. I believe my team role was 'cannonfodder', wasn't it?"
"Yeeeeah, but you picked it yourself because you had no clue what a role was," Connie nodded, "Cross just loved the idea so much it is now the official description of what used to be 'utility' role. No, these new guys are plain weird, and I realize I'm talking to, among others, a satyr who threatened to blow Straw up with a grenade just so he would stop pestering her about lovesick Leo drooling over her nonexistent good points."
"It was a smoke grenade, in case you don't remember," Fortune blushed, recalling the explosion turning both her and straw Basket bright bubblegum pink, "Anyway, can they be really weirder than we were?"
"Alright, alright," Connie waved her hooves, "a minotaur with an ego the size of Celestia's cake-filled plot, a satyr with a clumsily hidden death wish, and some sort of a ridiculously adorable demon mare who seems to be out in the real world for the first time," she shook her head, "I mean, Anvil -the minotaur- isn't too bad if I'm to be honest. She's tough, hard-working, and insufferable, but I think she knows she's getting into something important and she's doing her best to get good enough to fight me, not to mention sir Cromach. She got the idea first that there is something out there which terrifies even all those who smashed her repeatedly into the ground, and doesn't like the notion of going in unprepared."
"You said you had another satyr," Fortune nudged her, "a guy or a girl? Gunnery and mechanical skills? Hot?"
Leo faked a pout.
"It's a guy, just a little taller than you are, Fortune. He's not too physically gifted, but Cross will make something out of him no problem. His name is Astray, and I don't know what happened to him before he joined us, but he suffers from the same sort of grim determination Blaze did."
"You don't know the half of it," Cromach nodded to add Connie's words some gravitas, "He's pretty much like Blaze when I first met him. Okay, maybe not that bad because he's not trying to slit his own throat, but close. Still, at least I know how to read him and I'm sure if the others grow to like him just a little they'll gain a friend who would stand against a god for them. Who knows? Maybe he and Anvil might even hit it off."
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Connie burst out in tears, "Yeah, right. She might grow to respect him if he proves himself, but I wouldn't go that far. It would be downright adorable, though, because he is shy as heck around her. She would crush his pelvis in the sack. No, no, I think he has better chance with the demon one."
"Right, about the half-demon or whatever she is supposed to be," Leo gave Connie a curious stare, "Horns, wings, claws, red scales, sharp tail? I remember pictures from Starlight's summoning books."
"Nope," Connie shook her head, "She's basically an earthpony with small differences and talons on forelegs. A ton of teeth, though, if it makes you feel better. She makes everypony uneasy at first, but even some normals spent time with her after her first weekend with us. She's actually really cute, so that must have helped."
"A pleasure demon maybe? Partially."
"I think so, but no hanging crotchtits, giant ass, and five tongues, just a mare with more sharp teeth than a shark. She's sort of simple and I think she used to be treated like a bad pet, but hey, if she likes playing fetch, dodgeball, and running all over the place I'm not gonna complain."
"And you put those three in one room," Fortune was fighting a growing grin and failing. Connie and she, although neither would ever admit it, had a similar playful personality bordering on sadism. Connie let it out only occasionally and was professional and serious most of the time, but for Fortune it was her true nature.
"Nothing and no one was broken when we left for the train this morning. Which is pretty shocking because Anvil runs around mostly naked, much to the drooling of both Astray and the normals, and he can't keep his eyes off her. She swears at him a lot, but I think she enjoys the attention. I'm getting the feeling that minotaur women don't get too much of the 'soft' kind of adoration."
"That is true," interjected Cromach, "both among the wild tribes and in Rift, females either have to be strong and skilled, thus blurring the line between genders, or they guard knowledge and take care of the house and the city. Speaking of Astray's chances, minotaur sex is more a fighting affair and whoever is stronger can do literally whatever they want to basically whoever they want. There are laws against abuse and stuff, but they are very soft compared to Equestria or the Griffon Empire. If a minotaur wants a bit of stress relief and somepony weaker is around without a protector, they better bend over or they'll be bent over. That goes for both genders, though. From what I heard the more home-focused females use, literally, younger minotaurs quite frequently."
"That's pretty barbaric," Straw scowled, having seen abuse and forced labor of orphans first-hoof.
"As I said, it's not that bad now," Cromach raised a talon, "Laws punish those who go too far or are too brutal, but in their culture this promotes strength. To be honest, I doubt Astray would mind if Anvil took him for a ride even if he was considered more a toy than a living being the whole time. I firmly believe it will turn out fine, though."
"Yeah," Connie nodded, "I know it feels weird at first, but look at what we were like when we first met."
"That's true," Leo smiled, looking at Fortune and Cromach, "It can't have started worse, and it can't have ended much better given the circumstances."
A symphony of tinkling and soft tolling of bells coming from a large clock right above the ballroom entrance cut through the loud, milling guests.
"Oh, it's time," Leo nudged Fortune, "We should go get ready."
"Right, right," the satyr stood up, slightly unsteadily after sitting for so long and few glasses of champaigne, "It's been amazing to see you, guys, but we have to make some final arrangements before Leo's big announcement. The princesses wanted to give us something special tonight."
"So, wedding's when?" Straw went straight to the point.
"Not planned yet," Leo blushed, "I've had a ton of trouble with taking care of this, my new status, becoming a property owner and so on. I'll be happy just to be engaged for now," he nodded to the others, "As Fortune said, we're always happy to see you, but we gotta hurry. See you in half an hour! We can talk more after the main event."
The two lovebirds rushed off. Connie looked longingly towards the bar in the corner.
I'm gonna need something stronger inside me for this...
"Sir, excuse me," she bowed to Cromach, "I'm going to take a break from the social stuff for a moment. You know I like ponies, but in small doses."
"Have fun, Connie," Cromach smiled, "Leo said there were some interesting nobles to check out."
"Same goes, sir," she looked away, "I just need some, ehm, additional courage in me before I go browsing, preferably liquid and cider-based."
She rushed off.
"What's gotten into her?" Straw raised an eyebrow.
"No idea," Cromach shrugged, "I think she's been lonely ever since the three of you left the Order. Connie doesn't make friends easily even in daily contact with our normal recruits."
"You know Connie and I were, as they say, friends with benefits for a short while before I left," Straw blushed at the memory of a pervy unicorn mare who taught him there was more to life than hard work, responsibility, and occasional 'manual labor', "She needs somepony she can trust completely. If she finds him, though, she'll make him one happy stallion... or griffon," Straw ended. He knew Connie's preference. Him being a hippogriff had a lot to do with the start of their brief romantic relationship.
"My apologies, young one," a new, elderly but firm voice aimed at Straw Basket cut their conversation short, "Would you be so kind and allow me a private conversation with ambassador Cromach?"
The new speaker was a long-horned unicorn giving the duo a peaceful smile. His dark blue, almost resembling princess Luna's, coat peeked in places, hidden by a gold, silver, and gem decorated robe. The image of an older wizard was completed by his silvery grey mane and short beard. His cutie mark, or a symbol embroidered on the robe at the place where a cutie mark would be, made no sense to either of the two, it was some sort of letter looking like a cross between H and K surrounded by a reddish black smoke. It had to be a magical symbol of some sort.
Straw gave a quick look to Crom who nodded.
"Of course, sir," the hippogriff bowed to the newcomer and left to grab a bite of something, his well-built figure and simple clothes drawing interested stares from single noblemares.
"Excuse me, have we met?" Cromach offered the unicorn Straw's chair.
"Ah, where are my manners," the unicorn bowed, "Arcane Hex, wizard of the seventh level. I teach at princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."
"Seventh? Isn't that the highest?" Cromach whistled.
"Systematically yes, but there are vastly more powerful and knowledgeable individuals than I am. Princess Luna is a good example, and I believe your changeling aquaintance Starlight who teaches unicorn magic under you in Manehattan is superior to me. Agelessness is sort of an unfair advantage in search for knowledge," Arcane Hex chuckled.
"Nice to meet you, mister Hex," Cromach shook the wizard's hoof, "How come you are interested in a common griffon like me?"
"Common does not even begin to describe you, ambassador. For a short time, I had access to a certain set of journals belonging to one Blazing Light, a unicorn ascended to alicornhood, which spoke highly of you. Sadly, those were pulled out of the royal library in Canterlot castle."
"Yes," Cromach nodded, "I have them. I felt it was nopony's business to read his thoughts unless it was important."
"I see. From the fraction I had access to I gleaned that there was a deep romantic relationship between you two, and thus I agree it is fully within your right to protect the journals. However, I have also worked with princesses Luna and Twilight Sparkle on a certain project regarding divine power and its properties. Alicorns refuse to be deeply studied, but I believe you, as a mortal mind in a body made of pure divine power, could help assist me in my research."
Cromach frowned, but Arcane Hex raised his hoof and continued.
"I admit I am asking out of curiosity, but I also believe my research could help you in case your power acted out in some way. That, or possibly improve your understanding of it, and the ability to use certain unnatural aspects you might possess. Have you ever met with something unusual, if I'm not asking too much?"
"It's not a secret or anything. The recruits in Manehattan have seen it on various occasions although most of them believe I am using an enchanted weapon. My power can manifest offensively as lightning. That's all I know. I can use it on my own, but it comes easier when I'm in danger. I can't really 'just test' something this dangerous on somepony."
"That is why I can offer you a place to safely do so if you decide to dig deeper into your new nature."
"I'll think about it, but I'm busy as it is already, mister Hex. There is only few of us in Manehattan and there are a lot of things to take care of, accounting mostly."
Hex chuckled.
"You don't have to tell me. I teach several classes, attend gatherings such as this one as a representative of organized wizardry, and sometimes assist in court dealings. I know how precious time can be. Just bear in mind that I am offering assistance in case you need it."
"Thank you," Cromach smiled.
"My pleasure," Hex bowed, "Ah, the princesses are here, so the main event should be starting soon. I have something to discuss with princess Luna before that, so if you excuse me."
"Have a nice evening, Arcane Hex."
"Same to you, ambassador."
Alone for the first time this evening, Cromach relaxed in his chair. His desire to mingle, if there ever was any, evaporated after the lengthy company of his friends, ex-trainees, and past teammates in one. It left warmth inside him he didn't want to disturb by striking any further conversation with somepony new. He was completely satisfied for tonight.
Perhaps he should just grab something bigger to eat before Leo officially proposes to Fortune?
His stomach twisted when he realized he probably should have done something similar to Blaze while he had the chance. The alicorn, despite Cromach's words and deeds, had always believed that Crom could and should find somepony better.
Idiot.
My idiot.
The warm feeling inside Crom turned into a lead ball, and his smile faded. He didn't notice the hoofsteps of the only pony in the entire ballroom taller than he was.
Princess Celestia hesitated only for a second when she saw his expression. She knew what he was feeling better than anypony. She had lost close ones... over and over and over and over. Immortality had its cycle of events as well.
"Remembering the fallen, Cromach?" her soothing voice served more to open wounds than to bring peace.
"Just remembering, your Highness," he answered non-commitally.
The chair next to him creaked under the alicorn's weight.
"It was my fault," was all the princess could say, faced with such could shoulder.
"Yes, it was."
"I made a wrong decision."
"No, you didn't make any decision. You just sent Twilight to sort things out for you. Had you come yourself, you might have understood what was going on and refrained from using the Elements, but you didn't. Like always, you sent your student to do something you should have done... and this time she messed up. She didn't have enough knowledge or experience to deal with the situation, she couldn't have. That's why I'm not mad at Twilight. You, on the other talon, had everything that could have prevented his death and you didn't move a muscle. Even Luna sent a unit of Nightguards to cooperate with us. Everypony helped except for the one who could really have made a difference..."
"I-"
"Leave me be, you lazy swine. Return to your castle and politics and don't bother me," Cromach spat out, looking anywhere other than at Celestia. He didn't care about the consequences of his words in the slightest.
Celestia just closed her eyes and said firmly:
"You kept all you knew away from me. I had to send Twilight so that at least somepony might have returned with some clearer witness if things went wrong."
"You kept Connie, Leo, Fortune, and Straw locked up in the castle dungeons. When you let them out you threatened them that if they left Canterlot they would be charged with high treason and executed. And you know what? They DID do it. They didn't whine about not knowing enough about anything, they just went when Blaze and I called. They knew that if they returned they would face the worst possible punishment, but they went. That is the difference, your royal Highness."
"I issued an official pardon to all of them, and rewarded them for their service. Same goes with your Order. I cannot bring back the dead no matter how much I wish I could."
"What do you want from me, to forgive you? Hell no! I'm no hero, no saint, no guardian of peace and life. Your blatantly lazy, that's all it was - not even stupidity, just laziness, decision took away the only thing that kept me going. After all Blaze and I have gone through to carve a little piece of world for us..."
Cromach shook his head, burying his face into his talons.
"We prevailed against everything. In the end all it took was you stabbing us in the back," he mumbled, "When I saw him explode up in the sky, I knew it was your fault. At that moment, I wanted... I hoped with all my heart we would fail just so you got a taste of what losing EVERYTHING felt like. I wanted to give up more than anything."
"What stopped you?" Celestia's wing touched the griffon who just swatted it away.
"The blind hope that Blaze, as an alicorn, might come back. You can't really die, right? Your divine power just disperses and reforms after some time unless you decide against it in which case a new alicorn of your aspect appears eventually. It was the hope that before I die I might see him again same as always. Unfortunately, as Twilight's research of the Elements of Harmony went on after the events, it just confirmed what Blaze suspected already. Harmony's unique power was to disperse other divine sources so thoroughly that there would be no chance of coming back. Harmony, the insane god, won in the end, at least as far as I'm concerned."
Celestia sighed.
"My sister and I brought young lord Goldhorn and future lady Fortune a set of antique rings as a gift."
"So?"
"I settled all debt surrounding the Order so that you didn't have to work yourself to death during past months. I also ignored several 'accidents' and disappearances surrounding the orphanage in Wild Bastion when Straw Basket returned there as a full Royal Guard with influential contacts. After some 'negotiations' with Contradiction's family, I revoked the order to disown her and made her the only applicable heir to all their property. Leo and Fortune's rings that they are going to exchange tonight are powerful magical jewels protecting their bearers from harm, evil, and disease. Cromach, I am trying to help. I am trying to give all of them better and safer future just like you did for the rest of the world. The only one I don't know how to help is you."
"Well," Cromach was surprised to hear all that. He had no idea about Connie's heirloom, Leo and Fortune's magical gift, and he believed the murders of the several ponies exploiting orphans in Wild Bastion went unnoticed or at least unsolved, "Good, just keep an eye on them, properly this time."
"I want to keep an eye on you as well."
"There is nothing you can do. My problem can't be solved with money, influence, or magic."
"Indeed," Celestia nodded, and looked across the ballroom when unsteady Contradiction wobbled up from her barstool and aimed towards her and Cromach, "I am the wrong pony to help with that, ambassador, just promise me you don't turn down the right one."
"Huh?" Cromach turned at the movement of the chair being shoved aside, but saw only alabaster butt adorned with golden sun rapidly moving away.
"Hae-heh-having f'n, ser?" Connie overflowing with liquid courage stumbled over and collapsed into the already too abused chair, nearly tipping it over, "T-the drinkz 'n here ar free."
"Yeah," Cromach leaned away in horror from the cloud of alcoholic vapors threatening to melt his beak off, "Definitely."
"Leo 'n the dummy ar' cuming ina minnit," Connie shoved her chair right next to Cromach's and leaned against him, "Dey said we can stay eer tonite," she traced her hoof over his chest. She tried to unbutton his jacket with her telekinesis and failed, so she just ripped one button off, "Oops, clumsy mee. Imma bad girl who shud be punishd."
"Connie-"
She pushed her barrel against his much broader body. Cromach's chair handled it just slightly worse than the griffon, and its legs crumbled.
"Hee hee," Connie's goofy smile was in no way deterred by the spreading silence of other guests staring at her lying on Cromach with his back to he floor, and ruffling the feathers on his head playfully with her muzzle, "I'll maek yoo forget yoo ever had a coltfriend."
The small band of musicians on a dias next to the bar providing ambient music started playing a loud, celebratory tune. Lights dimmed, much to Cromach's answered prayers, leaving only a spotlight shining towards the center of the ballroom. The griffon shoved Connie aside, sitting her down in front of him and turning both of them towards the show.
Leo and Fortune entered, each one from a different side of the ballroom. Fortune's clingy dress was gone and she wore a much more decorated white and gold affair she obviously didn't enjoy in the slightest. Leo's colours made Cromach's eyes water a little again. In preparation for this event, the young noble had ordered a special suit of black velvet underlined with gold rims in places. It looked, unofficially, like a replica of Cromach's Black Ops agent jacket. Leo wanted, on one of the most important days of his life, to look like the griffon whom he considered a true goal to reach one day.
Leo idolized Cromach a lot. For a good reason, but still a lot.
The unicorn and the satyr stepped into the spotlight, Fortune holding and Leo levitating a small black box each. Leo bowed, muzzle almost touching the floor, and his box flew up and opened.
"I planned a speech, but just seeing you here like this made me blank out so I'll keep it short," he chuckled, voice audible through the entire silent ballroom, and looked up into Fortune's eyes, "Nobles in Canterlot believe a pureblood unicorn should marry only another one. It's normally more about politics than the ponies' feelings. I want none of it here. I love you, Fortune, that is my only reason and the only thing that matters to me. Will you make me the happiest unicorn in the world and share the rest of your life with me?"
The satyr smiled and opened her box as well.
Fortune stood there, paralyzed. She wanted to accommodate something snarky about nobles into her speech, but everything evaporated from her head outside of the unicorn bowing before her.
"Of course, Leo. You are the best company I could have ever hoped for," her eyes darted to Cromach for only a second, "and that's a tall order."
They all felt it, the pulse of force, echoing through the ballroom.
Cromach saw Arcane Hex jumping with speed unbecoming of somepony that old towards the princesses with a flaring horn. He just landed in their presence, visibly fighting against the onset of a spell restraining him.
Nothing happened.
Nopony could move.
Two robed ponies entered the ballroom, walking straight towards Leo and Fortune through the crowd locked in place by magic. One must have been an earthpony because the robe showed no protrusions for wings or horn, nor any bulges hiding them. The other one was a unicorn whose horn was poking out through a hole in his cape.
The unicorn levitated both rings from the open boxes and put them in the pocket in his common brown robe.
"Any movements?" Secret Seeker hissed at Black Shield who had no trouble seeing in the dim gloom of the ballroom.
"No," Shield replied automatically, scanning the guests for any signs of resistance to the binding spell she realized she'd been preparing.
"Good, let's get out of here!"