“If you're going to be Queen, you had best look the part.” Snowy had said last night. “Especially for creatures like dragons.”

“It'd help if I knew how.” Tempest had countered.

“Then I'll show you. It's not hard.”

Well, so much for honesty. Tempest sat, bewildered, in front of her bedroom's mirror. Snowy had already combed Tempest's mane and tail, a fierce battle if there ever was one. Now, she had dug out Maelstrom's jewelry that had made the crossing and not been lost in the shipwreck. The necklace had been easy enough for them to figure out; a silver cord with a single ruby on it. “It goes well with your eyes, and I think that's good.” Snowy said.

“You think?” Tempest replied, looking skeptical.

“I'm only going on what I've seen Empress Alaia wear in this last week.” Their exposure to the feminine side of humanity was as lacking as their exposure to proper noble mares. Coldstar and Streaming Breeze were both commoners by birth, they would not have, and did not know any thing about this. Snowy was the best source on how to be proper, in that case. It could be worse, Tempest thought, I could actually be dealing with Coldstar still. Tempest did not miss her much.

Unfortunately, the other pieces were not so easy to work with as the necklace. Snowy and Tempest both had trouble figuring out how to open the bracelets, and eventually gave up on that when Tempest realized taking a sword to them wasn't a good idea after all. There was another piece, which looked like necklace too; Snowy said it was for her mane, though. Neither could imagine how one was to wear it. Tempest noted that she had nothing even resembling a crown. A queen with no crown or throne... It wasn't an impressive thought.

“And there we go!” said Snowy. Tempest's ears went flat when she saw herself.

“A flower?!” she exclaimed. Snowy had gone and placed a flower in her mane! A white something or other, she wasn't good with types of flowers. Tempest resisted the urge to shake it out.

“You need something for your head.” explained Snowy, with an exasperated look. “Otherwise, the dragon won't take you seriously when you stand next to the King of Man. Humans do not seem to like crowns, but the dragon knows we Equestrians do. We lack a crown at the moment, so this will have to do.”

“Fine...” sighed Tempest. As much as she hated to admit it, Snowy was right on more than one account. She couldn't let Îrilôs, Emperor or not, completely eclipse her. And, the flower did contrast nicely to her fur and mane. It almost makes me look pretty, thought Tempest. Almost. There was a hint of envy in her heart that Snowy was always able to look good, while she had to go through this comedy of errors to even approach that. Such was life, though. At least Tempest wasn't the one grounded for the moment on account of strained wing muscles.

“Yes, I think this will do.” Snowy said to herself. “I'll make a queen out of you yet.”

“God willing...” muttered Tempest.

“Strong words from an unbeliever!” teased Snowy, with a slight laugh.

“It's a figure of speech-”

“Don't be like Aharôs, Tempest.” her friend reminded her. “Streaming and I would appreciate it if you retained your ability to laugh.”

“Funny.” Tempest rolled her eyes. “But thanks for helping, anyway.”

“It's what I do.” Snowy said, a self-satisfied look about her.

Îrilôs and a few of his silent retainers were lurking near the base of the rocky spire on which perched the citadel. There was a gate in the cliff side. “Good morning, my little ponies.” greeted Îrilôs, waving.

“Good morning.” said Tempest coolly.

“You look absolutely adorable with that flower.” the Emperor said, humor in his smile. Tempest felt her face get warm; she scowled at him.

“The Queen of Highcrest will not be humbled by the Emperor of Ar-Athazîon.” Snowy said in a dignified tone.

“A wise choice, Lady Snowy.” agreed Îrilôs. “You're learning well from me.” Tempest noted Îrilôs didn't have a crown at all, just his ring of office and a medallion with the eight-rayed star of Heaven. “Though I did give you today off, on account of your birthday; you don't have to come.”

“I'd like to, though.” Snowy said. “Tempest invited me along, which was a wise choice on her part.”

“Very well. Let us descend to the Foreign District now.” The gate before them led down a wide spiraling stair, which sometimes featured landings for entrances to other tunnels. The stairs were embedded in the circular shaft, with nothing in the middle but empty air. Not even railings were present. There was no natural light, so one of the retainers had a lantern.

“How long did it take to carve this out?” wondered Tempest. “The rock looks like granite.”

“I haven't the slightest idea. This entire city is riddled with tunnels.” Îrilôs replied. “We keep good track of them, thanks to the local rat-folk.”

“Wonderful...” Tempest frowned at the idea of more rats. Her one encounter with them hadn't exactly been good.

“There aren't any down here, are there?” asked Snowy nervously.

“I should expect not, these are my tunnels. Rats stick to the rattish areas.” assured Îrilôs. Rattish? Tempest had never heard a word like that before, but she guessed that was an adjective for anything to do with rats.

Down they went. It was blessedly cool in here, completely sheltered from the heat of the southern sun. “Îrilôs, would anyone mind if I spent the rest of the summer under here?” Tempest asked. “It's a much nicer climate than above.”

“Well, I don't see why not... Just stick clear of places not meant for Equestrians. Or anyone who isn't a part of the garrison, really.” the Emperor said. Tempest figured he was talking about hidden stores of weapons and black powder.

They continued on, before finally arriving at the bottom of the long spiral. Îrilôs led them down one passage, up another but shorter flight of stairs, and then they were in the bright daylight again. For a few moments, Tempest was blinded. When her vision returned, it seemed like they had emerged out of another gate at the bottom of the cliff. Far above was the Imperial Palace, and just across the street was another large building.

“The House of Dragons.” Snowy said to her. “I can't believe we're actually here!”

But Tempest was more aware that the Emperor of Sarathûl had only two unarmed pegasus girls and four of his household retainers for security, and they were standing on the side of a street. Shouldn't he be more cautious? Tempest wondered. But Îrilôs seemed to know what he was doing. Directly before them was a very large gate, which Îrilôs promptly approached and knocked on. It swung open of its own accord. “It seems we're welcome!” the Emperor reported. The three entered, but the retainers stayed outside.

Inside, they entered a massive hall. It must have been fifty feet high! Tempest had never been inside such a vast space in her life, at least not one entirely roofed. Mighty columns held up an arched ceiling, and long windows plunged down from above to let in streams of light. “Marvelous.” Tempest whispered. Everything seemed as if it had been shaped from a single, gargantuan rock. Not carved, no, but shaped, melted and twisted and pulled until it had been made into the form some builder long ago desired of it. But that was not the focus of her attention:

The dragon was bigger than a house, perhaps even bigger than a barn. His scales were dark green with golden edges, his belly was red, and his eyes were a vibrant blue. And Tempest knew it was a he, the horns coming off his head were too imposing masculine for it not to be a male dragon. He stared right at her; Tempest was frozen in place, their eyes were locked.

“The King of Man brings one touched by the Devourer before me.” spoke the dragon, in a voice that shook the hall. “Yet she is a mortal, less than a score winters have passed her by...”

“W-what?” asked Snowy. The dragon's blue eyes filled her entire vision, even though they were yet far off.

“Then it is true. A shadow demon still lives. Tell me, mortal, who are you, and whence did you come?” the dragon asked. Tempest was released, and everything was normal again. What just happened?

“I'm Tempest Blackwind, the Queen of Highcrest.” she said in a small voice.

“I do not know this place, nor your name.” the dragon said, taking a step forward and sniffing the air. “But you have power in your blood, diluted and lessened as it is. You are who you say you are. It is no surprise that the Devourer sought you, Tempest Blackwind.”

“We are not familiar with that name; what is it?” questioned Snowy as respectfully as she could.

“A shadow demon, who fled into the north long ago. Lord Aegis told us it was weak and dying. But it seems he failed to destroy it once and for all...” The dragon paused, looking into the distance before turning back to them. “I see before me the heir of Athazôs, and the Queen of Highcrest. But what would you be, mortal?”

“I'm Snowy, of the house Farpeak.” said she. “I can't say I have any title, though...”

“You speak the tongue of men well. I go by many names; the race that now rules these lands once called me the Emissary. But their tongue is ever-changing, and now they simply call me Nesailon, as if it was nothing but sound in their mouths.” So, that was his name. “Tell me, King of Man, what is the purpose of these half-alicorns?”

“These, your eminence, are friends and allies of mine.” Îrilôs stated, with a polite bow. Even the Emperor deferred to a dragon, it seemed. “Maelstrom Blackwind was wrongly denied the throne of Highcrest, twenty years ago. Though she has since passed to Heaven, her daughter Tempest continues the battle for her birthright.”

“The affairs of mortals.” snorted Nesailon. “How is it that a queen found herself in the realm of a shadow demon?” He was still directing his questions to Îrilôs.

“More mortal affairs, I am afraid. Her guardian, Aharôs of Athair, also found himself wrongfully denied his throne, and they were both forced to flee the land. Queen Tempest and...” Îrilôs didn't seem quite sure what to call Snowy. “...her companion, Snowy Farpeak, were assaulted by a wraith at Kakâdras, and forced to flee into the Far North.”

“A wraith.” rumbled Nesailon. “Wraiths, demons, chaos spirits, and the cataclysm that befell the griffons last century... Something is brewing, King of Man. Be on your guard. Sarathûl is the only nation not yet assaulted by the powers of darkness.”

“But we are certainly under assault, your eminence.” Îrilôs sighed. “Celestia Everfree has declared war upon my people. I have no choice but to fight her.”

“Her mother would never allow such-”

“Pardon my interruption, your eminence, but her mother has passed to Heaven as well. As is her father, her cousins, her aunts and uncles... Everyone, but her sister, Luna, and Lord Aegis Vigil.” The Emperor almost sounded like he cared. Nesailon frowned, a troubled look on his dragon face.

“Dark powers indeed.” he said. “But what do men know of evil? The land was young, the fires below burned hot, no sun or moon shined in the heavens, when I first walked the Earth. The world was fair in that age... I was there when your ancestors came from parts unknown, King of Man. I was there when they stood against the one you call the Great Enemy. I was there when we battled to raise the first dawn, upon a plain of ice and in halls of iron, a star of light and a star of shadow above... I know evil, King of Man. The world has become marred and broken. A taint is still upon it, now more than ever.” The three mortals were struck silent. Tempest and Snowy looked at each other; what could they say to that? She'd have to ask Snowy later what the dragon really meant. “But that is not why you are here, heir of Athazôs, tell me what you have come to tell me.”

The two pegasi sat for the next two hours, listening intently to what the Emperor and dragon were discussing. Well, Snowy at least listened intently, ongoing events in the world were more to her interest than Tempest's. Her mind drifted off, to wondering about what exactly had happened between her and the dragon earlier. It was like his gaze had paralyzed her. She did not like that notion one bit. What was he? A dragon or a cockatrice? Her troubled thoughts distracted her until Snowy suddenly stood up, and the Emperor did too.

“Thank you for seeing us, your eminence.” said Îrilôs, with another slight bow.

“It is my mission.” Nesailon told him. As the two followed the Emperor back out, Tempest felt something brush against her. She turned around to see what it could possibly be, but there was nothing. Nothing, but the blue eyes of the dragon. Beware the forces of evil, Tempest Blackwind, for deceit is their nature. Tempest flinched in fright. The Benefactor had gotten her used to voices in her head, but she wasn't expecting that here!

It was midday when they got back to the palace, and the heat was setting in, as was to be expected. “Snowy, do you mind sending a prayer up to the Lord of Heaven for some rain?” Tempest asked, after Îrilôs had left them to attend court.

“Why don't you do it yourself if you believe that'd work?” countered Snowy; it came off more as an honest question than a retort. She had Tempest there. What I wouldn't give for some break from this oppressive summer...

“Anyways...” began Tempest. “What exactly did that little monologue from Nesailon mean? About the world being young when he was, and the star of light and star of shadow? I mean, if anyone knows about what he was talking about, it'd be you.” Snowy smiled.

“I have an idea. But let's go to the library; if I'm going to spend my birthday anywhere, I'd like it to be there.” she stated.

“Fair enough.” agreed Tempest, secretly dreading how warm it would be. “So, how does being nineteen feel?”

“No different than usual, I guess. Eighteen, nineteen, what does it matter?” asked Snowy. “Do you feel any different from being fifteen yesterday and fifteen today?”

“Not really.” admitted Tempest. “So why do I have to wait until I'm sixteen to be considered an adult like you?” That was just a week before winter solstice, she had a lot of time to wait.

“It's a convenient line in the sand, I'd say.” The two entered the library. Snowy dragged her off to an isolated corner by a window, which they managed to force open. At least there was a slight flow of air that way. They settled in, Tempest preparing herself for a load of information. “How much do you know about dragons?” she asked.

“Well, my mother told me they were the oldest race on Earth, older than even the alicorns.” said Tempest. “And she told me the tale of Redfang the Wrathful, Scourge of the South!”

“Didn't Nesailon seem rather tame compared to Redfang?” Snowy raised a hoof in question.

“Yeah, but I'd just attribute that to Redfang being a story villain, not a real dragon.” Tempest replied.

“Not quite so. A long time ago, there was a split between dragons. Some turned to darkness, others stayed... I wouldn’t call them good, but they were at least not malicious, and remained that way. Nesailon is one of the latter, Redfang was one of the former.” explained Snowy. “I don't know why there was a split, but I'd guess it has to do with the Great Enemy. Some dragons helped mankind, alongside the Host of Heaven, to defeat him. From what he said... Nesailon might be old enough to have been present!”

“That's... Lord of Heaven.” Tempest swore. “How old would that make him?”

“Seven thousand... eight thousand years old?” guessed Snowy. “That war was so far in the distant past we- well, the humans only remember it through the Kaiathîsa. Everything between then and the migration south was never recorded; and was forgotten. We don't even know how accurate the Kaiathîsa is about what it does record- don't tell the humans that, though. That's heresy.”

“Got it.” nodded Tempest. “So that dragon we just met was...”

“A living memory of the elder days, perhaps even a son of Korthûnîen himself!” Snowy said, grinning. She suddenly hugged Tempest. “Thank you for taking me along, Tempest, I never once dreamed I'd get to meet someone so important to history!”

“It's what I do...” Tempest said, wriggling out of her grasp. She smiled back anyway; if anyone deserved a happy moment, it was her friend. “I never even dreamed I'd be here at all, myself.”

“Can you imagine what he's seen in his time? How much has changed? I wonder what'd he'd have to say about how much better the world is getting?” Snowy went on, caught up in her own thoughts. Tempest felt her smile slip into a frown, as she remembered what Nesailon had actually said: The world has become marred and broken. A taint is still upon it, now more than ever.

If that was the word of an ancient one who had witnessed nearly the entirety of human civilization, what did it mean about the general human belief that the world was improving?

Days came and went, Tempest met with the Empress in the gardens, Snowy continued her studying under the auspices of the Emperor, Aharôs came up with grand schemes to take back both their thrones. July turned into August, by the Equestrian reckoning. It was late in August when the the King of Lûndôvîr arrived with his six thousand men-at-arms to swear allegiance to the Emperor for the coming war. And with him came two unexpected and unlooked-for individuals...

Author's Notes:

A shorter meeting than many of you hoped for, but important for the future nonetheless. I wonder who these two unexpected "visitors" could be?

Also, important blog post for you to read regarding near future updates.