The three ponies were seated around the cartography chamber's table, each working away at their own task. Princess Luna reviewed requests from the construction teams, while Goldleaf calculated just how much the materials needed would cost. Hemlock Farpeak, their seventeen year-old idea-machine had been given the task of organizing everything. From maps freshly arrived from Everfree, to which cabinets held what, she made sure everything had a place. It was a more strenuous task than it seemed.

“Prifeff-” Hemlock tried to say, before realizing she held a scroll in her mouth. She dropped it, and continued. “Princess, has there been any news from the south?”

“Mmh?” The midnight alicorn looked up, having been suddenly wrenched from her concentrated state. “Oh. We have received no word from Swiftrain's expedition to the earth pony clans.”

“Goldleaf?” The pegasus turned to him.

“Nothing at all, my lady.” Answered he.

“It's been a month and a half, and still we know nothing.” Sighed Hemlock. “News outside of pegasi lands is so slow to travel...”

“I'm sorry that we are not all so swift.” Grumbled Goldleaf.

“We shall hear of it when we hear of it. Patience, Lady Hemlock.” Luna interjected, before the exchange could go any further.

“I understand, my princess.” The daughter of Silver Farpeak said, nodding her head. Even she's born higher than I am, noted Goldleaf. He himself was a common unicorn, and a stallion at that, but he had gotten through Unicornia University as the fourth in his class. This was not especially remarkable though, as the first, second, and third students had all been inferior in ability and power to their professors, who had in turn been inferior to their own, and so on. The three ahead of Goldleaf had all fallen victim to political intrigue, ending up disgraced or dead in a matter of years. The only reason I've lasted this long is because I know when to roll over. They called him a craven, and it was true. But at least he still had influence in high places, unlike the bolder mares that had been his colleagues.

And now, here he was, in with the Night Court. Not the old one, where he had been standing far from the throne and never noticed; the new Night Court, sitting at the side of Princess Luna herself. Sure, the Night Court's power was still small, but in time, it would grow. And as long as he stayed in favor and played it smart, his power too would grow. That would show everypony who ever looked down on Goldleaf! A crippled commoner would never be able to make it so far in the Day Court...

His only potential rival was the young Hemlock Farpeak, barely more than a filly out of her parents' castle. The beige pegasus was certainly filled with the energy of youth, always bouncing from one idea to the next. She reveled in the fact that neither Goldleaf nor Luna instantly shot down her various proposals and schemes. I guess Silver and Basalt Farpeak aren't keen on hearing what she has to say at home... That was Goldleaf's suspicion, anyway. He certainly admired her enthusiasm for her new station. Hemlock had even joined their nocturnal schedule, much to her parents irritation. But, who were they to stop an ambitious young mare from taking full control of her life? It was bound to happen eventually.

The next few weeks passed quietly, the two pegasi contingents taking time to rest as the remainders of their armies arrived, preparing for the journey west. Princess Luna, Lady Hemlock, and Goldleaf spent their time working hard for the good of the realm by moonlight. Between the three of them, they had managed to sort out all the issues regarding construction contracts, fees, and logistics for the next year. Given that Princess Celestia had set no other tasks for Luna other than managing Canterlot's building, the Night Court had run out of work to do.

Several nights were spent drafting up would-be plans for the future of Equestria once the human threat was dealt with. Lady Hemlock and Goldleaf pondered how things would be if they ended the earth pony fooleries once and for all, and directly controlled them as a subservient race. Princess Luna was none too fond of this idea, she wished for an Equestria where all the races could live together in harmony.

“Harmony?” Asked Hemlock, raising an eyebrow. “I don't think so. The earth ponies are inferior in every way; physically, mentally, and culturally. Without us, they'd still be running around in the muck like they had always done!”

“I'd rather kneel to a pegasus than to an earth pony.” Quipped Goldleaf in agreement.

“With attitudes like this, it's no wonder Discord controlled you so easily.” The midnight alicorn grumbled.

All three were very pleased when Celestia finally decided they were to leave Canterlot for Unicornia, even if they had to break their nocturnal schedule. As members of the Night Court, Goldleaf and Hemlock found themselves traveling in a relatively luxurious style, courtesy of Princess Luna. Celestia's courtiers and guests traveled better, of course, but at least they weren't with the common ponies or camp followers. I've got no doubt that I'd be stuck somewhere far behind had I not been assigned to assist the Princess, Goldleaf thought. A lowborn crippled stallion was of no consequence to any of these nobles. At least not until he got in good favor with the second Princess of Equestria, the Regent of the Moon herself.

The land west of Canterlot was all farmland, stretching over low and shallow hills. Many earth pony serfs tilled it, bound for life to the local unicorn magnates. They had lived here for generations, doing the same thing they had always done, working for their masters. Goldleaf's mother liked to boast that an ancestor of hers had blood of one of these landowning families, but it was so distant that it didn't matter.

Marching was easy, centuries of earth ponies and unicorns alike passing this way had worn a road into the ground. Even in days ancient and dark, the mountain Canterlot was built on had been a central meeting place for ponies of all races; and not to mention, a place to pay tribute to Discord's minions. But that time had passed, only alicorns remembered it firsthoof. Even the oldest unicorns' grandparents had just been foals in the aftermath of Discord's defeat.

All in all, it was was a very pleasant region. The serfs tilled their fields, stopping to look up in awe at the vast parade of nobility their soldiers, led by Princess Celestia herself. Many dropped to their knees, until the vanguard had passed. Younger earth ponies stayed to watch the passing, while the older ones got back to work. They passed several prosperous-looking manors, most of which were apparently lightly inhabited at the moment. The nobility of all Unicornia had been called to marshal near the coast, anypony left here was either infirm or incapable of fighting.

It was a solid week before they spotted the true mountains of the land, rising up the fields. A few even had some splotches of snow left on their crests, despite the onset of the warm months. It'll be the solstice soon... Celestia's first solstice as leader of all Equestria. What was she going to do? Something big, I'll bet. Something big... Like launching an attack Sarathûl. She'd do that, decided Goldleaf. Celestia was a fiery as the sun, just like her mother; and with all the lack of restraint of youth. Whatever the human god is called, I hope it has mercy on them when Celestia comes to collect her dues. If it was up to the unicorn, this whole war business would be called off. But it wasn't up to him.

The trek over the Unicorn Range was easy; all the passes were clear and maintained. House Platinum was wealthy indeed, the way was already prepared for Celestia's army. It was only two days later that they came upon Splendor the Magnanimous, envoy from the Queen Ember of Unicornia to Celestia's Court.

“Hail, Regent of the Sun!” Announced Splendor, kneeling in the middle of the road. Behind her was a well-armed retinue, flying the banners of House Garnet, her family. “We come before you as but servants, ready to do our part for Equestria. It is our most humble request that you and your company enjoy the hospitality of House Garnet, and rest from your long travels.”

“It would please Us greatly to join you.” Replied Celestia, reserved as ever. Goldleaf was intrigued on just how hospitable House Garnet would be. They had a reputation for extravagance and generosity, and it was thought that Splendor spent half her fief's taxes on hosting guests alone. They call her the Magnanimous for a reason... Goldleaf definitely wanted to see how this went now.

“How do you think she'll react to a commoner being so high up in the Night Court?” He asked of Hemlock. The dark beige pegasus snorted.

“You're implying the Night Court isn't just three ponies stamping papers.” Said Hemlock. “They won't have any respect for us, even if we do all the hard work.”

“It's not all that bad.” Interjected Princess Luna. “We don't have to endure such trying formalities and mind games; We have no taste for such things.”

“Exactly.” Nodded Goldleaf. “I still want to know what she has to say about me, though.”

“You're flattering yourself.” The daughter of Lady Farpeak replied.

“She has a point, Goldleaf.” Luna agreed reluctantly. “Nopony really knows who you are, nor do they have good reason.” The Princess looked pointedly not at him. “You haven't really done anything of note, nor are you of any lineage of note... Why would Lady Splendor care?”

“A wise point, Princess.” He answered, frowning.

“If it's any consolation, you're important to us.” Offered Hemlock, sounding almost sincere. Almost. The unicorn just snorted, and decided he'd keep his thoughts to himself for the rest of the day. After a two hour march which would normally have been a half-hour's walk in smaller numbers, the great company arrived at the sprawling castle of House Garnet, Deepvein. It was a magnificent structure, built of white marble and a brilliantly blue stone mined from the mountains. The turrets all had conical peaked roofs over them, plated in shining gold. The blue and white banners with the deep purple star garnet flew from every tower. Well, I suspected as much from the second most powerful family in the land. House Platinum's residence just barely out-did this, from what Goldleaf remembered.

Most of the pegasi army set up camp under the gleaming walls of Deepvein; taking up only half the length because of the fortress's size. The nobility was offered lodging within the castle, of course. Goldleaf too, somepony must have thought he was one of them. I won't complain at that. As could be expected, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and their granduncle got the best rooms; Celestia got Lady Splendor's room itself. Such was the privilege of being an alicorn. The Pegasi queens were next priority, and their retinue followed. Hemlock Farpeak declined to stay with her parents.

“If you have to put me in a servant's chamber, then do so. I need time apart from them.” The pegasus stated to the steward of Deepvein.

“That won't be necessary, I assure you.” The steward replied. She was a deep blue, middle-aged mare, named Blueschist, fittingly. Goldleaf wasn't sure what a schist even was, but the blue certainly fit. “Deepvein is a vast dwelling, we have enough room for everypony. I believe we can put you in the Old Keep, Lady Hemlock...”

“Excellent.” Nodded the beige pegasus. Blueschist then turned to the crippled unicorn.

“Who are you?” She asked.

“I'm Goldleaf.” Answered the stallion.

“Goldleaf...” The steward mumbled to herself, flipping through a sheet of papers held aloft with the white glow of her magic.

“Indeed.” Greeted a new voice, belonging to none other than Splendor the Magnanimous herself. “Goldleaf the Lame, is that not what they called you at Everfree?” Asked the unicorn noble. She was justly regarded as a stunningly beautiful mare, her mane was a vivid blue; her coat a soft cream color.

“Uh, yeah- I mean yes, my lady.” Replied he, bowing awkwardly.

“I do believe you're the first commoner we've ever hosted.” Noted Splendor to herself. “At least in my time. According to the list here, you should be in the Old Keep as well. I hope you enjoy your stay here.” She said, smiling brightly.

“You too.” Replied Goldleaf, quickly realizing what he had said. Splendor only laughed.

“I live here, Goldleaf.” With that, she continued on, talking to other ponies in the main hall of the New Keep.

“Stars above...” Muttered the unicorn, placing a hoof to his face.

“I think you've got a natural charm.” Hemlock commented, with a smirk. “Come along, let's go find out where we're supposed to be staying here.” Goldleaf followed silently. Deepvein was once a mine, and still was, for the most part. Much of House Garnet's wealth came from underneath their castle, which had grown in step with their affluence. What had once been a tower and a wall surrounding the mine entrance had grown into a well-built keep. Eventually, a village sprang up around the keep, requiring larger and longer walls, which eventually required not one, but two additional keeps and two more layers of walls, not to mention numerous towers and gatehouses. Deepvein wasn't a town, however, much of the castle grounds were open lawns and gardens. Only the earth pony serfs who worked in the mines lived in the castle village by the Pink Keep; named for the pink granite employed in its construction. The Old Keep was actually the middle of the three, and the New was obviously the most recent, being only thirty years old. The entire complex was a monument to the extravagance of the Garnet family, only outdone by the Platinums.

“Do you think the Princess will get us back to sleeping at day and working at night?” Hemlock asked, as they walked down the cobble pathway from the New Keep to the Old Keep, passing by rows of well-maintained roses. “I'm finding all this sun far too bright.”

“I hope not.” Replied the unicorn. “We won't be staying here too long, and it's far too much of a hassle to completely shift my sleeping habits.”

“Fair point.” Admitted Hemlock. They walked on for a few minutes more, before she spoke again. “So... Do you have any family around?”

“Family?” Goldleaf repeated, looking up in thought. “Well, my mother passed a few years ago, my father some years before that. My sister left home to join old Queen Amethyst's war in the south, a long time ago.” That was what, twenty-five years ago? Thirty? Regardless, that had been more of a massacre than a war; the earth pony clans in that region never stood a chance. “She's still alive; between her, my mother, and I, we managed to get me to university.” Rather, they had used the funds for Goldleaf's little sister who had died of plague.

“Amethyst's war? How old are you?” Hemlock questioned again.

“Somewhere around forty, I think. I don't really pay attention, I've had other things to worry about.” Stated he.

“Oh.” The beige pegasus took a moment to think before she asked her next question. “What is it you did, exactly? Before the Night Court?”

“I wish I knew.” Goldleaf remarked. It was true, he really hadn't been sure of his purpose at Everfree. “After I graduated, I spent most of my time working on more unorthodox magic techniques at the university, or representing the academia at Queen Ember's court. They moved me to Everfree three years ago... Told me to see what I could learn from the alicorns. I learned nothing from them, of course, but I did get access to the library there. Come to think of it, I might have been an unwitting spy.” He mused, before snorting derisively. “Likely. While I was at the Day Court, I did manage to anger some minor alicorn noble. He challenged me to a duel, I declined and stayed out of site for a while.”

“I guess that's where you got your reputation for spinelessness.” Noted Hemlock.

“I'd do it all again. I am not a fighting pony, especially when alicorns are brought into the equation.” He defended. “There has to be a better way of solving problems other than violent methods.”

“I wouldn't know.” Said the pegasus. “Lady Silver always says if you can't get somepony to do as you say, cause them pain until they do. Unless that pony is higher in rank than you; then you do as they say. There isn't anypony higher ranking than Lady Silver, besides the royal family though. This creed applied to me, my father, and everypony else on down.”

“Simply terrible.” Goldleaf stated. There had been rumors that Snowy Farpeak, Hemlock's long-lost older sister, had not been dragged off to Sarathûl by force with the retreating Blackwinds, but rather had defected voluntarily. He had always thought it unlikely for an eight-year old filly to make that choice herself, but Hemlock made it seem possible, if Lady Silver was as brutal with her family as she was with other ponies...

“It's not so bad-” Hemlock began.

“If it's not so bad, then why have you completely abandoned them in favor of Princess Luna and I?” Asked Goldleaf, smiling slightly in triumph.

“That's none of your business.” The pegasus said firmly, scowling.

“Yet, my business is yours.” Pointed out Goldleaf.

“Don't forget who is the commoner and who is the noble.” Hemlock muttered.

“Of course, my lady.” The unicorn bowed his head. “Shall I discard my ten years of education and join the serfs in the mines?”

“No- that won't be necessary.” Stated Hemlock quickly. “But the point remains, it's none of your business why I am here. Perhaps in the future we can discuss it.” So touchy, thought Goldleaf.

“So be it.”

The two found their way to their respective rooms; small compared to the lodgings at Canterlot, but not as small as the house Goldleaf grew up in, or his room in the inn he lived at during his university days. There was a window, a bed, a set of candles, a chair, and a desk to write at; good enough for him. Hemlock was in the room right next to his, it was outfitted the same way. “I wonder who lives here when guests aren't here?” She wondered, sitting in the one chair in his room.

“I haven't the slightest idea.” Answered Goldleaf, slightly irked she had taken the one seat he had. You've got your own room, go sit in there! Instead of saying anything, he scoped out the height of his bed. With only three legs available for heavy lifting, getting up to higher places could be problematic. Quite quickly, he decided he wouldn't risk a jump up, wishing to keep a humiliating failure from being seen by anypony but himself. “I'd think you would know more about castle life than I.”

“Greatfall only has one keep, and it's far more purposeful than this place.” Hemlock commented. “It's dark, kind of stale, devoid of any frivolous things. More a fortress than a home.” She looked guiltily in the direction of the door, as if to make sure nopony was there. “I don't really like it there, to be honest.”

“At least you didn't share a room; I had two sisters to contend with for space.” Pointed out the unicorn.

“True enough.”

Later that night, it came time for the feast, in the great hall of the New Keep. Celestia and Lady Splendor were seated at the center of the high table, flanked by the two other alicorns and the pegasi royals. All the other nobles were down at the lower tables, including Hemlock and the lowborn Goldleaf. There was a great variety of food, from fancy baked goods to simple arrays of fine grains from the earth pony lands in the south.

“Did you know humans eat meat?” Asked a lesser pegasi noblemare, her armor polished for the special occasion.

“Absolutely disgusting.” Growled another mare, one from Eastmarch.

“Why would anypony ever eat meat?” Questioned a stallion.

“Because they're not ponies.” Hemlock interjected.

“All carnivores are inferior, even to earth ponies, or zebras.” Said another pegasus.

“I thought that was common knowledge...” Quietly said Goldleaf to himself, feeling distinctly out of place with all these pegasi warriors.

“Just look at those griffon barbarians, or the brutish dragons.” Agreed the Eastmarch mare.

“There's a common theme between humans, griffons and dragons.” Said a fourth mare, from Highcrest, now pausing for effect. “...They let their males lead them!” The conversation group Goldleaf found himself in muttered agreement. “Now, there's nothing wrong with stallions,” Began the mare, gesturing to Goldleaf and the other stallion nearby. “But it's obvious that male-led societies are brutal, violent, and uncultured. Griffons eat their own dead! Dragons will fight amongst each other until one is dominant, even if it means kill all the others! And humans... Humans have started entire wars over their religion!”

“Why?” Asked Hemlock.

“Seems stupid.” Said the Eastmarch mare.

“What else do you expect when you put the males in charge?” Asked the Highcrest mare, knocking a hoof against her head. “They're all fools! Running off to go kill each other over some scraps of paper! I think going over to Old Alicornia and putting a stop to this madness is a good idea. It's our duty to liberate them from such backwardness!”

“My lady, might a commoner speak?” Asked Goldleaf.

“Very well.”

“I was there when Princess Celestia began this.” He began, a statement that captured the attention of the group. “She said there would be vengeance for everypony murdered by their Grey Shadow. None of us lesser ponies have ever died from the Grey Shadow, though, not unless they had a lot of alicorn blood in them. Celestia was talking about the original flight of the alicorns. She's not going to liberate them, she's going to kill as many of them as she can in revenge.” The various mares all glanced at each other. “We have more than enough land here, so why go claim more over there? It's all wilderness, untamed and uncontrolled; an entire continent of Everfree.”

“So they've all got the taint of Discord upon them.” Reasoned the Highcrest mare.

“What? No-” Goldleaf tried to correct her.

“Discord!” Growled the pegasus from Eastmarch. “Of course he'd be behind this madness.”

“You know, my grandmother told me stories of her grandmother telling her about some of Discord's minions. She said they walked on two legs, and had fingers, or claws, or something!” Added in the other stallion.

“I wouldn't be surprised if the humans were still in service to him.” The Highcrest mare went on. “If that's true, it's not only our duty to liberate them, but it's our duty to remove any who would see the return of such chaos to the world!”

“Aye!” Agreed various pegasi warriors.

“That's not what I was trying to say...” Sighed Goldleaf. Hemlock patted his shoulder with a hoof.

“You can't reason with everypony.” She said. Especially not bloodthirsty pegasi. The meal went on.

Upon the return to the Old Keep, Hemlock once again took up residence on Goldleaf's chair, not even asking to be invited in; just strolling on through after him. “It sounds like you know quite a bit about what happens in Sara thool.” She began.

“Sarathûl, just one word.” He rectified. “I know a good deal, but not nearly as much as I'd like to know.”

“They never told me anything at home, I just know they existed.” Admitted the pegasus.

“Well, where to begin...” Pondered Goldleaf. “It's thought the humans first showed up some three thousand years ago, at least in alicorn histories. Some say they go back further for dragons, who were the first to encounter them. Nopony really knows where they came from. There's still three-quarters of the world left to map, they could've come from anywhere.”

“But they came from the north, I've heard.” Said Hemlock.

“Indeed.” Goldleaf used his magic to place the blanket on his bed on the floor, and sat down on it. “From what the alicorns could gather, the human tribes had come from even more north than the land they called the Far North, implying they had trekked over the top of the world to get there. Why, nopony can say...” Hemlock leaned forward, ears pricked forward to full alertness, an eager smile on her face. “There were eight tribes, in the beginning, as represented by the eight-pointed star they use a common symbol. At first, their only unifying force was their odd monotheistic religion, which they tried to bring other races into. Until one day, a child of destiny was born: Bâlôs Taizâres. The man who united the eight tribes and moved south, into Old Alicornia, and changed the world forever...”

Author's notes: College is taking a hell of a toll on my free time. This has been in the works for over a month now... But hey, at least it's new material. I wonder if anyone is disappointed I only gave you a teaser of human history here. I also wonder who even remembered Goldleaf was a POV character...