“What do you mean, ‘grave danger’?”

Duke Edge Stalwart walked beside Celestia through the streets of Canterlot, Duchess Platinum at his side. Everywhere around them, ponies of all races hustled back and forth, transporting building material, running foodstuffs and making a general cacophony throughout the resurrected Equestrian capitol. “We have you and Princess Luna,” Edge continued, “as well as a more proficient Royal Guard, to defend us all. The changelings have sworn fealty to Princess Aura in the north. What could so threaten our mountain sanctuary now?”

Celestia eyed a group of Earth ponies, busy pulling wagons laden with stone and wood. She hung her head, not wishing to make eye contact with any of them. They know nothing yet… How can I tell them they have no home to return to? No families?

She lifted her head once they had passed and eyed the duke. “I will declare a citywide announcement sometime soon in regards to the situation. In the meantime, take what I say as a direct order from the crown: mobilise the Royal Guard. They must be in place with a constant vigil. Around-the-clock shifts. I want a report from anypony who detects even the slightest inkling of unusual behaviour.”

Celestia looked to the sky to witness a pair of pegasi grasping a rope that was looped around a thick beam of wood. Two unicorns were aiding them with their magic. The red unicorn turned his head slightly and caught sight of the trio. “Princess Celestia! Pleasant day to you, my Lady.” The blue light around his horn flickered as he waved in their direction.

“Thank you and good morning to you too, Castor.” Celestia smiled and returned the gesture. “Although, you may want to return your focus to Pollux and your other friends.”

“Huh?” Castor looked to his brother and reignited his horn before the beam could collapse and crush the maroon stallion. “Sorry, guys!” he yelled up to the straining pegasi, who each threw him a dirty look.

Celestia smiled at the group and turned back to Edge. “It warms my heart to see everypony working together again.”

“That’s great and everything, Princess, but we have far more serious matters to attend to.” Edge waved an off hoof at the workers behind them. “As Captain of the Guard, it is my responsibility to know exactly what to say to my stallions. Tell me, what are we dealing with that is so dangerous?”

Celestia sighed and halted her walk. Edge and Platinum stopped a little in front of her and turned back, their eyes sharp and attentive.

Yes, they really are perfect for one another.

“I will tell you both, I promise. Though if you don’t mind, I would rather find a bite to eat and survey our subjects first. Where would you recommend a meal fit for a princess?”

“Oh, you definitely want the ‘Hearts and Horns’ restaurant,” Platinum said. “I used to sneak out of the castle and meet Edge there all the time.”

She sent a sly wink Edge’s way and magically flicked away a stray lock of her pale-blonde mane before continuing, “They make the most amazing oat and strawberry pancakes. Everything they create is done with ingredients delivered that morning. Their chefs are always the most courteous stallions. I’d say the food is magical, but it probably is, in reality.”

Celestia offered a petite laugh. “Very well, Duchess Platinum, lead onward to this fine establishment. A quality breakfast ought to loosen my tongue.”

Celestia’s gaze wandered about the interior of the cosy but inviting establishment. A small amount of ponies sat at assorted tables around the area. Twinkling lanterns of various hues hung from the ceiling, altogether projecting a rainbow effect around the inside. She noticed that the majority of mares and stallions present were seated in pairs, eyeing each other while they ate. She looked to her niece and nephew-in-law, a suppressed smile flitting across her mouth.

“Ah, my favourite nobles! And you even found one of our elusive princesses!”

A pale-green waiter stepped out from behind the reception booth and bowed, his darker mane restrained behind his ears. “Greetings, Princess Celestia. My name is Malachite. I will be your server this fine morning.” He rose and shifted his reverent eyes from Celestia to the smaller couple. “Your usual table, Mister and Missus Stalwart?”

“Aye, Malachite.” Edge flashed his blue eyes. “Our usual breakfast as well. Three servings… actually, make it four.” He eyed his wife and nodded.

Celestia caught a glimpse of what might have been offense in her eyes before it was replaced by their usual cheery light.

“As my Duke commands. Follow me, please.”

With another glance over the trio, Malachite used his light-green aura to lift a short rope barring access to the main dining area. He led them through past the other ponies—many of whom ceased their discussions and began whispering as Celestia passed them by—out onto a small alfresco area. “Please be seated,” he offered, pulling out three cushioned seats from beneath the umbrella-covered table. “As always, do enjoy the view. Might I add—” he turned and gave another short bow to Celestia “—that this morning’s sunrise was absolutely glorious. I could swear it was one of the more blood-red ones we’ve ever had.”

“Thank you, Malachite. I am pleased you enjoyed it. It was an afterthought to do with a certain… event that has transpired.” Celestia nodded to him and took her seat, Edge and Platinum mimicking her action. “May I ask how long the Royal Stomach must endure, before it is satisfied?”

“Fear not, Princess.” Malachite chuckled. “Berry Strudel will have your pancakes ready before you know it!” Again bowing to each pony present, he retreated toward the kitchens.

“Princess, you should have a look at this stunning view. I never tire of it.”

Platinum moved her seat a little to her left, enabling Celestia to stare out at the vast fields below. Though it was similar to her own view from the castle’s North Tower, the key difference happened to include the distant, tumbling waters of Neighagra Falls.

“I cannot see the Falls from the castle tower.” Celestia turned to Platinum. “Is this restaurant curved a little around the mountainside?”

“Yes,” Platinum said. “We are seated on a balcony as close to the edge of the city as possible. Many ponies do not like to sit out here for fear they will simply drop off the cliff-face. Yet I find the view worth whatever minimal ‘risk’ there may be.” She placed her chin on her hoof and leaned upon the table with a sigh.

“I do hate to interrupt your little sight-seeing tour, Princess.” Edge lightly coughed before resuming. “But are we not here for reasons other than pretty views and scrumptious food?”

Celestia turned to him with a straight face. “It can wait a few more moments, Captain. At least until after my meal. Secluded this place may be, yet still not private enough for my liking.” She lowered her voice. “This is a matter of life and death on a nation-wide scale, you understand?”

Edge stared into those intense, pink eyes and nodded. “Yes, Princess.” He relaxed back into his seat as Celestia did the same. “I promise to wait until your ‘Royal Stomach’ has had its fill.”

“Speaking of stomachs…” Celestia’s smile extended from ear to ear as she turned to Platinum. “Congratulations to the both of you.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Platinum kept her face passive, though Celestia made no mistake recognising the way her pupils contracted slightly, the way she seemed to be holding her breath.

The light tingle that ran through Celestia’s right leg at that very moment confirmed it.

“Oh, I believe you know exactly why I am congratulating you, Platinum.” She shifted her gaze to Edge. “How far along is she?”

“...Eight weeks,” he muttered. “At least, we believe so.” He placed his front hooves on the table in front of him and brought his head closer, speaking in a low murmur. “We would appreciate it if this did not reach the commoners just yet. We want it to be a great surprise, though it is not the time yet—especially now.”

“My dear Edge, the more you keep ordering an extra meal when you go out, the more ponies will talk. ‘Your lovely wife surely cannot have that great an appetite,’ they will say.” Celestia smiled at her niece. “You tell ponies whenever you are ready.”

“Here we are!” Malachite returned to their table, bearing four dishes of oat-and-strawberry pancakes and a flask of water in his aura. “One for the Princess… one for the Duke…” He levitated the two remaining plates past Celestia’s head and settled them in front of Platinum. “And two for the lovely Duchess. We hope the four of you enjoy your breakfast.” With a wink at the blonde mare, Malachite bowed and returned to the welcoming booth.

Celestia grinned at Platinum’s dumbstruck face.

“Told you.”

With so many sights, stalls, ponies and other species in sight, it was all Mantissia could do to restrain herself from sucking up each and every positive feeling about the fair. She flittered from each end of the city to the other, Veliger and Zinger flanking either side. The remainder of her hive alternated between patrolling the immediate interior of the weather border and resting in the hive. Every so often, the groups would rotate depending on the commands of their queen, who passed them down through her lieutenants.

Mantissia held her emotions at an impasse with every lap, fighting the urge continuously. Though she never grew physically tired of her duty—not when the Crystal Heart was easily within extraction range—it quickly became a tedious chore. She licked her lips as she imagined all their love and merrymaking below her, the crowds never thinking to glance into the sky and witness their jealous sentinel on high.

It would be so easy… Nopony would miss a drop each…

She snarled at herself, chastising her errant mind for daring to entertain the possibility. Behind her, Veliger and Zinger exchanged glances.

Our Queen?

Mantissia hung in midair, the drones never breaking formation as they retained a perfect distance behind her.

You have nothing to fear, my blood. My will is greater than any temptation.

Yes, Our Queen.

Mantissia resumed her flight. We are lucky to be alive right now. All of us. What we do may seem like servitude sometimes, yet you must be grateful for our Mistress’ mercy. Never before have we had access to a near-limitless supply of nutrition. Thinking of…

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, picturing the gleaming cerulean heart beneath the palace. In her mind’s eye, she saw it begin to gyrate faster and faster until it became a blur. From within the heart, a beam of shimmering blue light shot out and flew in a direct line toward her own heart. In the half-second that the light enveloped her, Mantissia’s eyes glowed with the same hue.

She exhaled, diverting all but a scrap of the pent up energy to her children. Her eyes returned to their regular emerald while her own heart warmed, rejoicing at their gratitude. It was a process she repeated five times daily. Mantissia could feel her herd growing stronger on their new diet of artificial love—had felt it every day since their arrival and settlement in the Crystal Empire.

She sensed the being’s approach long before it had a chance to call out to her. With a cautionary order to remain on guard to Veliger and Zinger, Mantissia turned her head and stared down at the ascending figure. Her eyes glossed over its golden body while keeping sight of its enormous black wingspan. No introduction was necessary—not for a creature with two hundred eyes and ears.

“King Sunder of Griffonia. I trust your time in this glistening realm has been enjoyable?”

Sunder continued to rise, halting just short of his target. “Greetings to you and your kin. The Crystal Princess’ advisor has told me much about you… ‘My Queen’.” He extended a claw, holding it out open before her.

Meeting his eyes with her own, Mantissia placed a holey hoof between the talons. She lowered her head and watched the griffon king place a gentle peck upon it. No sooner had his beak left her chitin than she retracted her leg and once more fixed her green eyes upon his own gold. “I appreciate your sentiment—it is most delicious. So now that pleasantries are taken care of, I ask: what business does a griffon king have with a changeling queen?”

Sunder gave a low rumble, his eyes glinting. “There are many things I would be fascinated to learn about you, Mantissia. Some ponies say ‘The princess should not trust the changelings, she should banish them all.’ Yet there are also those who say ‘They are repenting as best they can, they deserve another chance.’ Opinions around the cityfolk I have asked appear to be evenly split. How does that make you feel?”

Mantissia scoffed and turned her head, her lieutenants flying ever-so-slightly forward. “Let them think what they want. I do not need anypony’s forgiveness or understanding. I have a royal pardon from Princess Aura herself. I serve her and her alone—in return, she keeps my children and I well-fed and nourished. That, ‘My King,’ is all that matters.”

Sunder’s beak curled upward, clear creases marring his cheeks. “Ah, spoken like a true loyalist and caring mother. You are a strong one.”

“I did almost successfully invade all of Equestria.”

“And you would give up on that goal so easily?” Sunder hovered to the side, beginning to gently circle Mantissia. “From what Lady Clover tells me—” he was behind her “—you came considerably close. Were it not for the… untimely appearance of two alicorn sisters—” he came to rest in front of her again “—surely all of Equestria would have fallen easily?”

“I am done thieving emotions to survive on the bones of my hindquarters,” she spat. “My only wish is for my children—and hopefully all of my descendants—to thrive. If that is only possible through subservience, then so be it.”

Sunder backed away with a large sweep of his wings. “Oh?” He ran a single talon along the width of his chest. “Has the almighty changeling queen lost her bark and her bite? Was I wrong about your strength?”

Barely had he time to blink before his vision filled with black and green.

“Trust me,” Mantissia hissed, her eyes boring into his, “you do not wish to feel my bite.”

For ten seconds, they stared at each other. The wind blew through Mantissia’s legholes, a comical yet eerie whistle emitting from them.

Sunder’s claws each gave an involuntary twitch. He closed and opened them repeatedly.

Mantissia’s green magic enveloped her horn. It swirled around her gnarled protrusion, slowly growing brighter.

Sunder’s tail swished to and fro. The tip nicked each side of his hindquarters after every motion.

Mantissia bared her fangs. Long, white and intimidating spikes, they promised ruin to any who would meet them. A stray glint of sunlight glinted off them.

Sunder narrowed his eyes. The gleam from within them had been witnessed by many a doomed morsel.

Veliger and Zinger shivered but did not falter.

A deep sound filled the air. Sunder blinked, breaking the pseudo-competition as his laugh rang out. Once more, he flapped his wings and retreated, putting a body length of his between them. He brought a claw to his face, the edges of his eyes crinkling slightly.

“So, the changeling at least has a bark after all!” He continued to chuckle until he saw that Mantissia had maintained her position, her horn still alight. Sunder cleared his throat into his left fist, which eliminated any remaining trace of humour. “In that case, I wish to make you an offer, My Queen.”

The glow dissipated three seconds later. “What… sort of offer do you mean, exactly?” Mantissia raised an eyebrow while continuing to hover in place. A second later, she let out her own two-toned bark. “Hah! What does the mighty griffon king present that could possibly tempt me? His love?” She continued to laugh—Zinger and Veliger joined in—eventually bringing a hoof to her mouth. “I see not what else I could want from you, Sunder. Please, humour me.”

“Actually, I would ‘love’ it if you faced me in one-on-one combat.”

Mantissia’s chuckles died in her throat. For the smallest instance, the constant buzz of the queen’s wings deepened. Though she kept her composure, her slight drop in altitude betrayed her. With a slight shake of her head, she regained her height and retrained her gaze on Sunder.

“Surely you must be joking. Do you truly believe you would stand a chance?” She bared her fangs, her tongue flickering out between them briefly.

“Oh, I most certainly do, my dear,” he said, his grin widening. “If there is anything we griffons cannot pass up, it is the thought of facing a worthy opponent. It is in our very nature; we love to fight. Long have I ran upon and flown over the lands of Griffonia, yet never have I found a suitable challenger. Never have I truly flexed my wings.”

With a solitary flap he ascended higher, staring down his target. “You, who so nearly enslaved this entire nation, who made a stand against two powerful princesses and tested even their limits alone… Queen Mantissia, would you do me the honour of a true test of might?”

My Queen?

Stand down, Veliger. You are in command of the western patrol. Return home. Zinger, I bestow authority upon you over the eastern patrol. Keep them moving.

Yes, My Queen.

As you wish, My Queen.

Sunder eyed the drones as they each fled in a separate direction, leaving his prey alone below him. “Am I to assume that you accept?”

“I shall speak with the Crystal Princess about the possibility of a public melee between us.” Mantissia slowed her wings and descended to the ground. She gently touched her hooves upon the city’s grassy outskirts. A shadow covered her, accompanied by a gust of wind, forcing her knees to buckle. She straightened and lifted her head, now level once again with Sunder’s chest. “It would benefit us both if we demonstrated our powers before the common ponyfolk. Indeed, it would benefit me especially to have my victory seen by as many as possible.”

“Confident.” Sunder sneered and crossed his forelegs. “I like that. I have no doubt that you will provide a sufficient challenge for me. Although I’m curious to know how you intend to reach your princess, when you lack permission to attend the fair yourself.”

Mantissia fluttered her eyelashes and sauntered toward Sunder, placing careful emphasis on her swaying hips. “A fair question. For my answer…” She came to a halt before him, close enough to place a hoof to his beak. “Close your eyes.”

Sunder raised an eyebrow, but acquiesced. Through his eyelids he saw the piercing green light, accompanied by the strangest sound he’d ever heard. The shock of the sound almost drove his eyes open; it could be likened to the chittering of a flock of small birds… if they were tweeting at many times their usual speed.

“Dare I ask what you are doing?”

“See for yourself, Your Majesty.”

A completely different voice tickled Sunder’s ears. Unlike the dual-toned rasp of the queen, this one sounded… musical, sweet like the smell of honeysuckle.

His eyes opened; his beak dropped. A moment of silence passed between them before Sunder closed his mouth. “That... would work. I see now where your true power lies. Clover neglected to mention you possess this ability.” His largest grin of the day filled his face.

The pink-maned alicorn held out a wing and fixed her equally pink eyes on her partner. “Come. Let us meet with Princess Aura.”

The mare opened her eyes. She made to stand. She collapsed, failing. Fire seared through her leg. Her head pounded. Her vision swam. She couldn’t move. She had to move. She tried again. Her leg screamed. She wobbled in place. Her heart raced. She stepped forward. She fell down again. She yelped, lying in agony. She contemplated defeat. No, she couldn’t give up. She would die. She shook her head. She rested her leg to the side. Her other legs pushed the ground. She crawled, slowly. The useless limb dragged behind. She struggled on.

They’re dead.

Adrenaline coursed through her. The smell lingered, smothering her. She coughed, once, twice, thrice. Her lungs screamed. The ground continued to spin. She crawled further. Her sight darkened. She raised her head. Shadows shielded her. Trees greeted her. Grass ceased scratching her belly. Cool soil smeared her fur. Heat was replaced by chill. Still, she crawled.

They’re all dead...

The trees blurred. Fragrant blooms tickled her nose. She sneezed. Her leg twitched, burning again. She hissed with the forced motion. The air grew heavy. The smoke subsided. She gasped and panted. So thirsty. A large tree ahead, surrounded by bushes. Perfect. Sanctuary. She continued to crawl. The fire spread. Her leg, her hip, her back. They all burned.

Everypony… burning.

She curled up. The shadow was comforting. She could lie there forever. No, not forever. That would be bad. Stay alive. Yes. Her eyes fluttered closed. She squinted with the relentless burn. Rest now.

I must live. Next Chapter: Act One Chapter Six: Wings of Deception Estimated time remaining: 54 Minutes