Celestia could feel the eyes of everyone boring into her, eagerly awaiting an answer to a question that deserved an answer.

"Truthfully," Celestia began, "I do not know."

"How could you not know?! He was your lover for crying out loud!"

"Please understand Twilight that it was a very turbulent time. I was far more rash in my actions and less controlled with my emotions back then."

"That doesn't mean you should have left his remains there!"

"You're right, but-"

"But why?! Why did you leave his remains down there?"

"I was afraid," Celestia replied sadly.

"Afraid of what?"

"Of many things, but mostly of how the nobility would react."

"You were afraid of those stuck up snobs?" asked Rainbow, her disapproval evident in her harsh glare.

"Even six centuries ago, when I discovered the truth, the nobility were still far more powerful than they are today and the depths of their corruption required my full attention of exposing them. When it comes to Richard's remains, I guess I just.....forgot. "

"You just...forgot?" Twilight repeated, not quite believing what she was hearing. "You 'forgot' about your lover's remains?!"

"I know it sounds horrible Twilight, but it really is as simple as that. I am not infallible Twilight, I make mistakes, like any pony. My dealings with humans make up a great many of them."

"Were the nobility so bad that they drew your attention away from giving your lover the dignified burial that he deserved and should have had?"

"Regrettably so. It took decades of political manoeuvring to strip them of almost all their power."

"How did you accomplish that?"

"With evidence gathered two centuries previously by one Bosphoramus Heartstrings."

Twilight's eyes almost boggled out of her mind at recognising the name, "THE Bosphoramus Heartstrings?"

Celestia nodded, "The very one."

"What's so great about him?" Rainbow asked, not understanding Twilight's reaction.

"What's so great about him?" Twilight repeated in disbelief, "He was only one of the most influential nobles of the time! It was because of him that all foals received a free education and free school meals, not to mention ending the nobles protection from commoners regarding criminal charges. Before him, a commoner could only have charges pressed against a member of the nobility if that pony had the support of at least three other members."

"And because the nobles always preened each other's wings none of them were ever charged with any crime," Rainbow finished, seeing things clearly for how they were.

"Exactly. Nobles could also arbitrarily sack any commoner from their jobs because of the wealth and power. Bosphoramus Heartstrings abolished that power for good, and most of the nobility hated him for it."

"Most?" queried Rainbow, "That meant he had allies?"

"Yes," Celestia replied, "Duke Affluent Heart was his strongest ally, today's Duke Fancy Pants is a direct descendant of him."

"How was the corruption in the nobility exposed?" asked Twilight.

"Bosphoramus Heartstrings was very wealthy and owned large amounts of lands and factories, making him very powerful and making him equally powerful and wealthy enemies."

"Why did other nobles hate him?" asked Rainbow, "Apart from being friendly towards humans?"

"He financed several programmes intended to foster better relations between ponies and humans, including providing funding for the construction of Trottingham."

"I guess we know where Lyra gets her love of humans from," Rainbow said, "It runs in the family."

"Whilst her family has for the most part being staunchly pro-human, after Bosphoramus's death his family lost a lot of influence in court, though his allies managed to have enough sway to prevent his enemies from fully implementing their own agenda."

"How did you weaken the powers of the nobility?" asked Twilight.

"By playing their own greed against them."

"How so?"

"In very simple terms, I offered them tax breaks and luxury excursions over a long period of time, and while they were distracted I would quietly have laws tweaked and changed just enough to make a difference, but not so much it would be noticeable straight away. Over time the nobles eventually realised what was happening but were powerless to prevent it. Eventually I gave them a choice, either accept their new limited powers, or be abolished for good."

"I take it that since there's still a nobility that they accepted?" asked Rainbow.

"Yes, would you like to know who assisted me in accomplishing it?" asked Celestia, looking at Twilight with a twinkle in her eye.

Rainbow, like the others, caught on to where Celestia was looking and joined suit.

"Twilight?" Rainbow said, "Do you know something we don't?"

"I don't know the answer to what Princess Celestia is asking, I'm just as curious as you are."

"Twilight," Celestia replied, "The pony who helped me deal with the nobles was a stallion by the name of Star Night."

Almost immediately, Twilight's eyes lit up with shock and awe, "Star Night?!"

Celestia nodded, "It wasn't public knowledge that he helped me, and by his request I kept it secret from public; but as a thank you for his help, I offered him a Dukedom. He refused, but did, with some reluctance, accept my second offer of an estate with a generous financial payment."

"What's wrong Twi?" asked Rainbow, "You look like you just seen tea spilled on a book."

"Star Night is one of my ancestors!"

"WHAT?!"

"I always thought he made his fortune in gold and silver mining!"

"Whilst he did have some success in that regard prior to assisting me," Celestia said, "After my gifts to him it helped to greatly expand his business interests. It was also he and the ancestors of Lyra Heartstrings and Duke Fancy Pants that I allowed Trottingham to run mostly independent of Canterlot control, and permit the continued existence of the Human museum."

"About that," Rainbow quickly said, suddenly looking angry, "Why did the museum manager say that they have to put on displays with information that portrays humans in a negative light and I quote, 'so long as we agreed to describe the items and how and why they were used in the manner she wanted'? Or that you only allowed it continue existing if the Griffons gave up control of Wight Island?"

Celestia shamefully lowered her head and breathed out long through her nose, "Because it is true."

"Why did you do it?" asked Rainbow, "It seems you were just as hungry for power as the nobles."

"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded.

"It is alright Twilight, Rainbow is right to be angry. I behaved no better than the nobility and allowed my fear......and hatred of humans to cloud my judgement."

"But it's been centuries!" Rainbow screamed, "How can you hold onto a grudge for so long?!"

"In all honesty Rainbow, I guess you could say I 'forgot' about how I felt about humans. Gordon's sudden and unexpected appearance brought all those feelings back, like a dam wall bursting."

"And you said to me he reminded you of someone?" Luna asked, "A past lover you haven't told us about?"

"No, Richard was the only human I ever loved. But Gordon, I know I've seen a human who looks similar to him."

"Maybe you're mistaking him for someone else?" Twilight suggested, "There were thousands of humans at one point, there must have been some of them that looked alike, or similar to Gordon."

"It's possible, but with Gordon it feels like something else, but I can't work out what."

"Speaking of Gordon," Rainbow said aloud once more, "What are you going to do with him once he's discharged from hospital?"

"He'll be free to return to Ponyville."

"What about his babysitters?"

"Babysitters?"

"Sorry, I meant his wardens."

"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded again before turning back to the Princess, "What Rainbow meant was were the guards sent to watch out for Gordon."

"You mean spy on him and report anything he does to the Princess?"

"Rainbow! That is not the case! They're not sending reports on everything he does!"

"Really? Well then, why don't we ask the Princess herself?"

Twilight, and the other who had been watching with keen interest, looked over to a sheepish looking Celestia, "It is true Twilight. I have been receiving reports not just from the guards, but undercover ponies also."

A loud scoff and disapproving shake of the head let the whole room know what Rainbow thought of that particular action. Like Twilight, she too was sceptical when Gordon suggested that Celestia was spying on him and reporting back his tiniest of mistakes and movements. Hearing the princess admit it though, vindicated him and she wasted no time is voicing her displeasure over the matter.

"Were you disappointed that he didn't act like you expected him too?" Rainbow asked, "Were you wanting him to 'act like a human' just so you could prove your point? And if the latter is true then that would make you an awful, spiteful pony who would gladly see your own subjects hurt just so you could say 'I told you so'?"

"RAINBOW!"

Rainbow turned back to Twilight, scowling, "What?!"

"Everypony please be calm," Celestia pleaded, "Twilight, Rainbow is right to question me on my behaviour. And, I shamefully admit that a part of me wanted him to do something to one of my subjects so that I would have a legitimate reason to lock him away."

"For the rest of his life no doubt," Rainbow added, "Whilst the ponies who tortured him will get away with little more than a slap on the wrist."

Rainbow was about to storm out of the room but was gently held back by Celestia's magic. Gently floating her towards her, Celestia gently placed her hands on Rainbow's shoulders, "Rainbow, whilst the ones who tortured Gordon will be punished via a Court Martial of which I have no control over, I assure you that they will be punished severely for their actions."

"Until that actually happens, I won't believe it. Your actions lately, and new revelations about you have forced me to question many things I was brought up to believe without questions or doubts about you."

There was no ignoring the shock, and hurt, on Celestia's face as she let go of Rainbow; allowing her arms to fall limply down by her sides.

"Now if you'll excuse me," Rainbow said, backing away, "I'm going back to my coltfriend."

Before anyone could stop her, Rainbow flew away; leaving the room silent for several long seconds.

"I hope Rainbow will be OK," Fluttershy said timidly.

"She'll be fine," Applejack replied, "She's jus' upset about Gordon."

Twilight meanwhile, looked over to her mentor and saw her clearly rattled by the actions of Rainbow looking vacantly down at the floor deep in thought. Torn between letting her mentor be and wanting more answers, she ultimately decided in the latter.

"Princess?" she said, gently shaking her with a hand on the shoulder, bringing her out of her trance.

Brought back to her senses, Celestia looked up to see her student at her side, "Yes Twilight?"

"I was also wondering why you tampered with Gordon's experiments. Why did you do it? Why do you hate scientific advancements so much?"

Celestia knew this would have come up eventually. An academic scholar like Twilight would have sooner or later forced her to allow scientific advancements anyway, regardless of the potential social and political outcomes, not to mention questioning everything ponies grew up believing in. Realising she could no longer hold off the inevitable and taking a deep breath through her nose, Celestia relented and gave Twilight what she hoped would be an answer that at the very least, partially justified her reasons for holding Equestria back.

"Rapid industrialisation and technological advancements almost lead to the fall of the Griffon monarchy because of wealthy industrialists who put profit before anything else, and the Griffon King being only a constitutional monarch was powerless to prevent it."

"It was only due to tax reliefs and other economic incentives that he remained on the throne," Fairfax added, "Thankfully, things aren't as bad now as they were then and industrialists now pay their share of taxes, given that tax dodging is seen to us as a cowardly tactic to avoid your civic duty to fellow citizens."

"What do yer mean?" asked Applejack.

"In Griffonia, taxes pay for universal health care, education for children, salaries for teachers, police officers etc like here in Equestria, by avoiding paying tax you are seen as not being concerned with the welfare of those less well off than yourself who can't afford private education or private healthcare. Being discovered deliberately dodging paying tax can cause irreparable damage to one's reputation and end your business overnight."

The ponies assembled were slightly shocked at the new revelation. Equestrian newspapers would have their readers believe that Griffons were uncivilised and only out for themselves. Hearing that they were a more socialist society than feudal as lead to believe, painted the Griffons in a different light. At least to the girls.

"Back to the matter at hand though," Celestia said, her interruption getting her a scowl from Fairfax, "I feared the same may happen to Equestria and that the nobles would regain their power and lead Equestria to ruin. To prevent that I restrained advancements so that it could advance in a controlled manner."

"But all you did was send the scientific community underground," Luna countered, "I know many ponies under my alias as Aurora Selena who have many great ideas that could bode well for many ponies, maybe even our Griffon neighbours."

"And what of us, Luna? What will we do when ponies no longer require us?"

"Ponies will always come to us for guidance and advice. Can you really see our subjects usurping us from power?"

"Some ponies have tried before," Celestia replied.

"They tried to usurp you for different reasons, and were punished harshly. Too harshly."

"A grave mistake that I can never amend," Celestia replied, looking away in shame.

"Perhaps a public apology and posthumous pardon will go some way to acknowledging your wrongdoing," Luna suggested, "I believe that some of their descendants live in Trottingham, primarily because it's safe from the nobles who despise them simply because of what their ancestors did."

"I suppose it is better than doing nothing," Celestia replied, "And I shall deal with the nobles should anything be tried by them."

"How?"

"Seizing what they value most. Their money and land."

Rainbow stormed into the infirmary, forcing the doors open with so much force the sound of them hitting the stone walls they were attached to sounded like a cannon shot, startling the nurses tending to Gordon as well as the man himself.

"Fucking hell, Dashie!" Gordon exclaimed, "Scare me like that again and there'll be a horrible brown mess for the nurses to clean up."

Coming to her senses, Rainbow looked over to the bed and saw Gordon sat with his legs over the side, being tended to by two nurses.

"Why are you sat up and having those bandages removed so soon?"

"I was yelled at by the nurses for being out of bed."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I needed a piss so I got up and went for one, forgot I was on painkillers which had the side effect of making me slightly weaker meaning I couldn't stand properly meaning I fell to the floor."

"Well it serves you right! You shouldn't have got out of bed!"

"But I needed a piss."

"You have a bed pan."

"I am not urinating into a bed pan with nurses watching."

"We were not in the room at the time," one of the nurses said, "If you wanted to use the toilet that badly you should have called for assistance."

"But-"

"We are here to assist you, Captain. But because of your stubbornness to accept help, you fell over and hurt yourself, damaged your dressings in the process thereby forcing us to apply new ones," the nurse stated with increasing annoyance.

"Well, at least now you can apply the ointment Zecora provided."

"That is not the point, Captain!"

Hearing the new voice, everyone looked over to the doorway to see the one pony that should be feared by patients and staff alike.

"Matron," one of the nurses said, "We were attending-"

"I'm aware of the situation nurse," Matron said, walking over and looking sternly at Gordon, "Why were you out of bed when you were advised against it?"

"I needed a p-"

A forced cough from the matron prompted a last second change in words from Gordon.

"I required to relieve myself."

"As has been stated, you had a bed pan."

"I much preferred using a toilet."

"You were unable to walk without assistance."

"But-"

"But nothing, Captain. You acted foolishly against medical advice and as a result only injured yourself further. I would have thought that given the state of your injuries you would have stayed put."

"That's pretty much what Rainbow said."

"She's a smart mare, unlike her coltfriend."

Gordon rolled his eyes as Rainbow looked on with smug satisfaction.

"Now," the matron continued, "I understand you have been provided with an ointment that will assist in the healing process?"

"Yes," Gordon replied, picking it up off of the bedside cabinet, "Here it is."

"We shall apply it now before the new bandages are applied."

"Will it hurt?"

"Yes," the matron replied quickly and firmly, "It will sting but try to stay still."

Picking up the tub and unscrewing the lid, the matron took a small dollop of ointment and began to apply it to Gordon's back, the stinging sensation causing him to wince. After spending several seconds applying a liberal amount of ointment, the matron motioned to the nurses to begin applying the new bandages as Rainbow watched on. Within a few minutes, the nurses had finished.

"There," the matron said, "Now, lie down and STAY. IN. BED."

"But I need a piss."

Back in the dining room, the others were still gathered together to hear more from Celestia and on how she heard of the disappearance of Bosphoramus Heartstrings. The mood was not as tense as before; however, there were still stern glares aimed at Celestia coming from Shining, Blueblood and Fairfax. Though she had noticed, Twilight could not fathom why they were acting as they were, given that they knew the Princess did not order Gordon to be whipped.

Maybe they're just shocked by what had happened.

"Are you OK, Twilight?"

Twilight looked up to see Celestia addressing her, "Yeah, I'm OK. Sorry, were you saying something?"

"I was just about to tell you what I know about the disappearance of Bosphoramus Heartstrings."

"I thought there wasn't anything that explained his disappearance."

"There isn't. His disappearance is a mystery to me, but I do know more than most."

"Before you start, can I take notes on this?"

"Of course, but please keep this amongst ourselves, at least for now."

"Sure thing, but can I at least tell Rainbow and Gordon?"

Celestia nodded, "I'm sure it will be of interest to Gordon in particular. Now, where to begin. I suppose I would have to start on his pro-human business dealings."

"His investments in Canterlot?"

Celestia nodded, "Yes. He invested considerable funds from his own pockets to the construction of Trottingham, or New Nottingham as the humans called it, as a permanent and major human settlement; with more planned for the future."

"Didn't Bosphoramus Heartstrings specialise in metals such as iron and steel?" asked Twilight.

"Yes, and given that humans required such metals for various reasons it made them a huge potential customer, and human blacksmiths provided an excellent source of knowledge and labour to supply for an ever increasing market."

"He employed humans?"

"Yes, both to make materials and to teach apprentices. Fortunately, among the humans who came were Master blacksmiths who were very skilled in their craft and in the instruction of novices."

"About that," Twilight stated, "Does it seem odd to you that the humans who came included not just soldiers, but their families too? Who between them were skilled in many crafts? How did the humans first come anyway? And why would the crusaders families be brought also if they were thousands of miles away?"

"I truly don't know Twilight. From my conversations with Richard, I know that the crusaders families were back home in England. To see them again was just as much a shock to them as appearing in Equestria."

"What was Richard's account of events?"

"He wasn't too sure himself, as at the time the crusaders had made camp for the night and most were asleep, but those who were awake and on a security patrol told of flashes of light before falling unconscious."

"And the next thing they remembered was waking up in Equestria?"

"Yes, soon followed by the unfortunate skirmish with the Solar Guards I spoke of earlier."

"And everything else that followed," a familiar voice sounded, "And here we are now."

"Rainbow!" Twilight squealed happily, "How is Gordon?"

"He's fine, fallen back to sleep so I let him be. But back to what you were discussing, here we are now."

"Indeed," Luna replied, turning to look at her sister, "Which begs the question, where do we go from here?"

"We shall try to mend things with Gordon, and undergo a change in attitude and opinion on humanity."

"Does that mean no more anti-human propaganda at the Human Museum?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes," Celestia replied, "I will write to the Mayor of Trottingham and the manager of the museum to inform them."

"What about ponies from Trottingham with human sounding names that are treated less favourably elsewhere in Equestria?" Rainbow followed up, "What about them?"

"I will try to address that issue with the mayors of other cities but I can't promise anything. It will take time for pony attitudes to change."

"And what about Gordon?" Rainbow asked with notably more venom, "Are you going to continue treating my coltfriend like crap?!"

"Rainbow!" Twilight scolded.

Rainbow didn't waiver in her harsh glare aimed at Celestia. Rather than admonish Rainbow for her behaviour, instead she respected her for standing up for someone close to her and on principle.

"It's quite alright Twilight," she said calmly, "Rainbow is right to be angry with me."

Celestia then turned her attention back to Rainbow, the pegasus mare's feelings and concern for Gordon's well-being obvious to anyone who can see, "Rainbow Dash, please believe me when I say that I am truly sorry for the way I have been towards Gordon, and that I will do my best to make up for it."

"I doubt he'll believe you. And I advise against trying to convince him, you'll only make him madder."

"Well.....when he wants to, please tell him I am available at any time if he ever wishes to speak to me."

"I will do, but I seriously doubt he'll ever take you up on the offer."

"Nevertheless, would you please pass the offer on?"

"Fine."

"Thank you. But back to the matter of Lord Heartstrings. During his lifetime, Bosphoramus, through various means, acquired evidence of corruption in the nobility ranging from insider trading, gerrymandering to have close friends appointed as Mayors or councillors, obstructions of justice preventing their fellow nobles from facing criminal investigations, very harsh punishments being handed to commoners over very trivial matters by magistrates who were secretly on a particular noble's payroll...the list is extensive."

"It sounded like he had a sophisticated network of agents uncovering things that certain ponies didn't want uncovering," Twilight added, "You must have been relieved he was on your side."

"I was, and despite his death his agents were so good at their roles that I requested they come into the service of the crown. I made them a part of a top secret intelligence agency known only to a very select few outside the field agents and their main role was to expose the nobilities' corruption."

"Should you be telling us this?" asked Fluttershy, "I mean, if it's supposed to be top secret."

"It's quite alright Fluttershy, the agency in question disbanded after I succeeded in limiting the noble's powers. Their main reason they were employed and trained was for that reason alone, so their task had ended."

"What sort of punishments did the guilty nobles receive?" asked Twilight.

"Various, depending on the severity of the crime. Many were stripped of their lands and titles, others were put in prison; those who were assisted into public office via illegitimate means were removed from their position and banned from serving in any public office for life. But to add the cherry on top of the cake, I appropriated the corrupt noble's illegal funds and redistributed them to all the common ponies of Equestria."

"I can't imagine the nobles liked seeing what they saw as their money being spent on commoners," Rainbow said, smirking slightly, "They had it all and it still wasn't enough."

"Indeed," Celestia replied, "One noble in particular who was stripped of her land and titles spent the rest of her life in destitution, ironically only surviving on the generosity of ponies she had abused previously. Some of those ponies occasionally gave her a bed to sleep in and a hot meal at night. Though, to her credit, she did at least atone for her mistakes and made peace with those as she previously saw as beneath her."

"You mean some nobles took it harder than others?" Asked Rainbow.

Celestia nodded, "One noble, a Viscount I believe, infuriated that his assets were going to be seized and redistributed to commoners, burnt down the warehouse containing highly valuable medicines and other medical equipment."

"What happened to him afterwards?"

"He died due to being poisoned by a toxin which ironically would have been cured; but the warehouse he burnt down contained the only antidote to the toxin, and a fresh batch would not have been made in time."

"Karma's a bitch."

"Rainbow?" queried Twilight.

"Oh, it was something Gordon told me. About how past actions can come back to get you."

Celestia looked down at the picture of herself and Richard she held in her hand, where a single, solitary tear splashed down onto it.

"They're certainly coming back to me."

Author's Notes:

In chapter 7 I've removed Gordon's award of a VC, and changed it so that he got his Military Cross for that action instead.

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