June 7th, 74 BNM

Mid-Afternoon

Equestria, 'Oracle' mount

Savant's Academic Guild

The clouds hung low over the mountainside, the stone buildings, like that of a monastery, were drab as the day's tedium of the academic institution went on.

Also known as the Savant Academy, the institution was built over 100 years ago, during Siral's 60 years spent in Equestria whilst Starswirl went on through time for the last of his exemplar beings.

Now run by the order behind magical tutelage for the Royalists, it had been built near the borders of the Nationalist and Royalist borders, though nestled in the difficult to traverse mountains for any sizable armies.

A mile away, the ruins of the old Oracle structure resided higher on the mountain slope, right now obscured by a low cloud cover.

And yet, having arrived at Midday, under a low profile, the 2 princesses had searched for traces of Siral himself, to no avail.

Front courtyard

The sisters met, both having searched the archives for history of the Guild itself, and on any records of Siral himself. The Guild had little history beyond that already known, and as for Siral, there was remarkably little on his journies with Starswirl, nor mention of where he had vanished to 60 years after his return, now 87 years ago to this day.

In the front courtyard, there was a small statue and a plaque to Siral, and a small carved saying on the stone:

"Beware the moral abyss that comes with great power left unchecked and unearned."

Looking at the statue of the cloaked Unicorn, his face rather hidden to the point of his true visage being depicted as mysterious, Celestia remarked with some disappointment to Luna beside her:

"So the tales of his dislike of powerful individuals was right."

"And Alicorns are very likely a big reason for that. Let alone the one Starswirl said he was harmed by."

For this reason, Celestia and Luna agreed to come to the Guild in minimal disguise. Now, they bore no wings, only their horns, and their marks of the sun and moon were hidden by their travelling cloaks.

The robed student Unicorns wandering about the academy paid them no heed, as they rarely, but sometimes had visitors. Likely they may be graduates coming back to their school for a visit in their minds.

With some thought, turning away from the statue for a moment, Celestia had a minor brainstorm with her sister:

"But why would he just vanish? Starswirl said he should have returned as he did, yet if he had, surely he would have returned here of all places."

"Maybe he gave up, as Starswirl believes. Maybe he really did lose hope for Equestria's future stability. The history seems to point that way." Luna remarked.

"If only we knew somebody who was at the guild when Siral left." Luna's next remark made Celestia give a small smile of hope.

30 minutes later

Academic Guild, building corridors

"Sorry, not sure if anypony who would have been alive back then is still alive. They'd be at least, …100 or so if they had been at school when Siral left."

The student, a mid-teen year Unicorn stallion, shuffled his book bag slightly as these two visitors, apparently from the palace magicians, asked them basic questions.

"But one spell he passed on was fighting off aging for Unicorns, was it not?" Luna asked.

"Yes, but even so, 100 years is a lot of lifespan for anypony besides Alicorns. Only the Wizards and mages of old really exceeded that lifespan, and not even Meadowbrook is over 120. I think only Starswirl's over 150."

"198, we have asked him similar questions already about Siral." Celestia remarked. At this, the stallion's eyes widened slightly, as expected, Starswirl knew Siral in person.

"And not even Starswirl knows where the Savant is?"

Shaking their heads, Celestia and Luna saw the stallion recall something, as a few students brushed past in the hallway onto their duties, given it was a break period and all.

"Well, we had someone visit a few days ago. Some old Unicorn mare, says she knew somepony who has close ties to Siral, in the present. Rumors say he's working in solitude somewhere in the world, experimenting like he used to."

"Who was this mare?" Celestia suddenly asked.

"White coat, blue/grey, almost teal coloured mane, slightly crooked looking horn. Kind of bitter, but she seemed the right age to maybe be a generation after somepony who knew Siral. She met a large number of students here, talking to them, they seem real quiet about it all though. That's all I know."

With a slight thankful smile, Celestia and Luna bid the stallion farewell, deciding that their search for Siral would have to stop here for now.

They were gone from the Guild in a few minutes after that.

Academic Guild, archives, hidden levels

Unbeknownst to the sisters, or any of the students, Siral's old laboratory and personal archives were well hidden, accessible only by those who knew they existed, where they were, and the password spell to enter. A weak spell, but precise to be as good as any password.

The 2 weeks of 'socialization' between her and the other 5, though 1 of them, Lady Ave-Dol, shepherding them into cooperation, had ended, and Teal Quirt was pleased, and nostalgic, at where Siral had asked her to head to.

Her old academy, where she learned magic so long ago. She had been in a class in the time after he'd vanished, but heard from him that he'd left because he felt there was nothing he could do to change the course of the gryphon war and civil war to come. Simple as that, and he decided to plot from there.

But now she was here, as she had been before the 2 weeks 'socialization', sowing the seeds of more, like her, to join Siral. She had been the first, but she knew more could come.

The Academy had been set up not just as an institute for magic wielders to learn under a legacy of not flaunting underserved or under-respected power, though that was one purpose. But in his long term goals, Siral wished for a place to pick and choose servants of his goals, lesser than the roles he envisioned for his current 6, eventually 7, but important nonetheless.

Like a game of chess, where Siral was the King. The 6, soon to be 7, were all to chess as a Queen was, powerful entities themselves. And the servants and forces of the citadel, be they normal pony, Stone Giant in the valley, or even hired muscle creatures enslaved as he could easily do, were the pawns, castles and knight equivalents. These students would fill the equivalent of bishop, a crucial, limited but more numerous piece.

But today, she was merely gathering some notes. Siral said that when the time came, this academy may come under scrutiny, and thee need not be anything important left to be taken by a would be foe.

As she pored over the archive notes, Teal Quirt couldn't help but find one interesting document, a small diary entry from Siral.

-It then dawned upon me, why Starswirl omitted that single line from the prophecy. To beware those close to his heart that follow him on his quest, as I did against his wishes at first.

He was not only slave to the prophecy, but he feared what I may become. A threat. A danger.

But he foolishly, and likely, told himself I would be a menace to everypony. But I have my own ideas. If that had been the case, he would have told me. But it is clear he did not tell me, because he feared I may outpace him, become more powerful than he.

Well, the 6 decades in Equestria spent while he jumped through time for the last of his exemplary beings, wasting time that could be spent aiding the world before it was truly lost, have done just that.

Not only as the difference in the passage of time meant that I now match his age when he re-emerges as I will too as I jump, but I am more powerful than when he left. And I will remain that way, for I now see the truth.

Like the Alicorns of today, the Oracles were shortsighted, clinging to their power.

It was why Geldrath left them, a collision of powers. They feared a rival power to their own.

It was why they urged Starswirl to follow their prophecy, to not let me on with him.

They feared what someone on such a journey could accomplish when not devout to their path.

And now I see that they foresaw their own doom, and asked Starswirl to seek out these 6 to bolster his own teachings, to maintain Equestria as it was. But history moved too fast for the Oracles, and they were absorbed as the Alicorns grew in power.

But power is the ability to influence change, evil, or good.

Now, I see what those 7 beings in the Prophecy, of Envy, Greed, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Pride were to them. Not threats to Equestria, but threats to THEIR power.

Those with power fear to lose it to the passage of time and change.

For this reason, for the greater world's benefit, I shall see to it that these forces arise, and be put to use of the greater good, the purpose the Oracles foresaw, and misinterpreted with fear for their own power.

The Alicorns have been allowed to rise as high as they already have, and it will undoubtedly take great powers to take them down, wipe the slate of power clean in Equestria, and start anew. Alicorns are a plague, powers granted to those unworthy in wisdom, restraint and born into positions of power to start with in too many cases.

Like many empires in history, they crack and fall at the pinnacle of their power, as they fight amongst themselves, and an exterior threat finishes them off. The world moves on, and their legacy is reduced to ash by time.

Sometimes the natural order of things simply needs a push to get started from those that understand the nature of these things. And I consider it a privilege, and a duty, to do so.

How and when I meet those I feel could best fulfill these 7 roles, only time shall tell.

The insight revealed nothing truly ground-breaking to Teal Quirt, aside from the purpose behind Siral's vision. And suffice to say, she understood.

She was privy to more than the other 5 were in these matters, and yet here she found that, among other things, Siral was rebelling against the established systems that seemed to have caused these problems in Equestria to begin with.

And despite her being a piece in Siral's 'plan', though this she already figured, a sense of honour was imbedded at how important Siral viewed her, as he'd said that they now had 6 of the eventual 7.

Even so, Teal couldn't help but grow irritated at the brief mention of 'Starswirl's 6', and the knowledge that one he'd been following that was 'destined' [she scoffed at that], had robbed her of her horn in an escape from his cruel rampage in that Salaman palace, and stopping her from ever becoming an Alicorn, which at the time had been her dream and talent at the rate she was going.

She'd had little hope of finding records of him here.

Next day

Midday

June 8th, 74 BNM

Canterlot, Magical Academy

Starswirl's study

"You are certain of this?"

"Yes, nothing beyond that however." Celestia recalled, while Starswirl put a hoof to his beard, while Luna and Celestia stood calmly as their teacher thought to himself. Turning to them, Starswirl began with some initial disapproval, but also regard for their initiative:

"I wish you had come to me before going to that academy, but I cannot argue against the success, limited it may be. But, why exactly did you go?"

"We wanted to see if we could get you and your friend to meet again." Luna admitted quietly. Not saying anything himself, Starswirl turned away as he looked towards his bookshelf.

"Admirable, but more importantly I wish to meet him for better reasons. I would like to know what he learned in his 60 years here, before the Gryphon War and the Civil War, get his opinion on matters, so that I may try and make what peace there is right now last, succeed where he unfortunately failed."

Celestia frowned slightly at this. Starswirl seemed indifferent to the prospect of reuniting with a long-time friend, he didn't seem to believe it himself. And yet, she sensed a vague hesitation under it all, a daring to wish for it in his heart, but his mind told him otherwise.

She wondered when their teacher had last truly felt happiness, a moment when he could put his mind at rest.

Times as they were, she didn't see any such times so needed for him in the near future.

When the two sisters had left, Starswirl pondered in his thoughts. He needed to know, but he needed to be careful. He would attract a lot of attention using his authority himself to access that Guild.

And yet, if he used the authority through a third party…

Getting out an ink pot, quill and parchment roll, Starswirl began a letter to an acquaintance he was wise to have incognito in Equestria, get some use out of him if he wasn't to demonstrate a lick of true kindness for the sake of it.

Chack,

It has come to my attention that rumors are spreading of an old accomplice of mine, Siral the Savant, being out and about in this world, hiding for some reason.

The academic guild he established, the Savant's Guild, has been having a mysterious visitor from time to time, a Unicorn mare of mid age, who knows by close encounter of Siral's current location.

I will mail you a package with clearance and my seal, and you shall be granted full access. I would like you to find this contact, find out what you can of Siral's situation, and report back to me.

You will be suitably rewarded as soon as you come in person to Canterlot. I may be seen, my magic can be detected clearly as my own, but you can travel undetected, Salamander though you may be. They will believe you to be a foreign scholar.

Starswirl

Later

Early Afternoon

June 8th, 74 BNM

Equestria, Nationalist provinces

Las Pegasus lowlands, Forge smiths

Pounding the sword into shape, a custom design he was experimenting with before mass producing it, Chack raised the hammer over the red hot blade once more.

As a blue flash appeared before him, he nearly yelled aloud and swung his hammer at the floating parchment. Seeing the seal on the letter, Chack grumbled:

"Why can he not use normal mail!? Maybe it is faster, but these surprises are getting old."

The Salamander put aside the letter, finishing the blade with a few more pounds before he dunked it into the water bath nearby with a hiss of steam. Now, the Salamander unfurled the letter.

Reading it, Chack's eyes grew with interest as he also pulled out an enclosed seal of Starswirl's, and saw the task he wished of him.

Seeing he had to come to Canterlot in person once it was done, Chack immediately knew he would have to arrange someone to watch his forges while he was gone.

Luckily his protege ponies were not as useless as he made some of them feel.

Evening

June 8th, 74 BNM

Equestria, Canterlot

Royal Palace, dining room

"So, I trust you two are prepared for the tournament events?"

"Yes, we had our fittings before we had the excursion to the Savant Guild on Starswirl's request. We will be ready." Celestia remarked, while Luna gave a happy nod in agreement, wiping her mouth gently with her napkin of the soup she'd been taking a spoonful of.

King Nova gave a small smile at this news, as the blue bodied king had been worrying his light green and white mane even whiter at this upcoming tournament. A gathering of Royalists, Nationalists and Separatists that was meant to ease tensions by way of friendly competition, rather than bloodshed.

In a small bit of joking though, if the jousters got too daring in their events, as they often did in peace or war, no bloodshed was a fool's promise. If not blood, then head trauma, broken bones or accidental death.

Queen Aurora had suggested the tournament as a way of easing relations, and had helped him every step of the way, the white Alicorn queen having her black and light pink mane to the side as she finished her small plate of greens for tonight's dinner.

"I'm certain you two shall be the envy of Equestria." Queen Aurora remarked, as Celestia remarked with some good humoured caution:

"Hopefully not too much. I know we are of courting age, and I wouldn't want any fighting to take place because of us."

"Not if I have anything to say about it. This is to ease tensions, not start new ones. Besides, you and Luna have your whole long lives ahead, as do we. There is no rush if that is what you are thinking." King Nova gestured to Queen Aurora and himself at the latter part, while Luna couldn't help but blush at this prospect, remarking:

"Well, I do not think me or sister have seen anypony truly of interest to us, not to anything near those standards."

"Really?" Queen Aurora asked, to which Celestia actually remarked with some rather straightforward remark:

"Nopony to that standard, no. Friends, not love. But like father said, we are in no hurry."

"Well whatever occurs, many from all over Equestria, faction notwithstanding, will be in attendance, so many of your friends will be there, as will ponies we know, friendly or potentially friendly if all works out."

"If." Aurora remarked, as she had her own doubts about certain Alicorn leaders, as well as many of the non-Alicorn leaders in the Separatists. The Separatists were politically, and powerfully, the weakest faction, but the most volatile. It was a miracle they'd accepted.

Meanwhile the Nationalists, led by the Trumanes, were more scheming as always, though their acceptance could mean anything. That being said, no faction truly wished to go to war again if it could be avoided, not with 5 years of peace under the belt.

Finishing the cherry bowl before him, King Nova asked:

"So what of any performers from the Magic academy? Shall Starswirl be putting on a show?"

"No, he said he has work he must do." Celestia remarked, to which Queen Aurora face fell slightly:

"A shame. Even when he came to us before you were born, he was not as warm as I imagined a wizard like him would be. If anything, the wars have taken their toll on him. I only hope our efforts can lift his spirits among many others."

Celestia and Luna kept quiet to their parents, knowing Starswirl's uncertainty ran deeper than many would think, even beyond what they knew.

Wizards had a tendency to keep secrets when the really didn't need to.

June 9th, 74 BNM

Evening

Equestria, 'Oracle' mount

Savant's Academic Guild

Lower, secret archives

Teal Quirt read the letter she'd received from Siral, against that of a letter sent ahead of a guest coming tomorrow. She had another day of gathering and sending archive documents away from here, when the news had come.

An agent on Starswirl's behalf was coming to the Guild, to probe the archives for any material and deliver it to Starswirl. A Salamander, around 78 years old, but in remarkably good health, as Salamanders had good healing, and yet this one had somehow used magic of some kind to help, just as Siral had aided her own age.

A Salamander who had amassed small wealth among the Nationalists, selling blade weapons and armour to non-magic forces among them. An informant for Starswirl it seemed, and one who had come to Equestria at the same time as he had.

It was him.

But Siral's letter seemed to also pick this up, as Siral had eyes and ears everywhere in Equestria, from sapient, to even charmed birds as his spies.

Avoid confrontation with this Salamander. He may do worse to you then he did in Salaman 38 years ago if you confront him. Starswirl must be kept in doubt, do not engage.

You are not ready yet, and he is too strong for you.

Upon seeing that last sentence, Teal Quirt's white furred frame shook with anger, as she felt her burning shame and rage also make it clear the permanent slight weakness her Unicorn horn now had. Brushing aside some of her blue/grey mane, she couldn't believe that Siral was doubting her.

That accursed Salamander had ambushed her, caught her in a surprise attack. He did not best her.

And what better way to keep Starswirl in doubt of their plans then his servant not being able to report back to him of anything he found?

While the factions gathered in Canterlot for their competitive festivities, sports instead of battle in these so far 5 years of peace, she would pass her time by the slaughter of the Salamander, the would be exemplar of 'kindness', Chack, by her magic, weakened or not.

She did not need any 'enhancement' from Siral to take out a single Salamander, he was no Alicorn. And by this time tomorrow, when she would return to the Citadel with the last few archive materials for Siral, he would be nothing but what little she could reduce him to.

This she swore, but Siral would be pleased, she was confident of this.

She was right, but not how she imagined.

Little did she know that she was carrying out Siral's plans, as he knew her well. He knew how to push her into actions he wished.

To build a servant up to their full potential, they must first be broken, whether by discipline for disobeying orders, or by an enemy.

Author's Notes:

Taking inspiration from the events of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, between England and France's Kings Henry VIII and Francais I, sporting events to soothe tensions rather than battle. Many events to let off any steam, any post civil war tensions, and hopefully keep a war relapse off even further still. Equestria shall be gathering in force.

Meanwhile though, a small conflict shall unfold, that sets in motion the events leading to the 2nd, and most destructive phase of the civil war. Not triggered by any of the factions, but by a suddenly emergent 4th faction of Siral's. Before any of that, the enhancements must first be proven on one of the 6, before the others.

But some of the best enhancements made on living beings are made to save their life, before they become something to choose at will.