Twas a pleasant spring day in late March. Pleasant breezes of the year’s first warm day danced from the hall window. They followed their sunray brethren slipping their way through the open door of Gusty’s bedroom. She leaned up from beneath the soft covers of her bed and yawned slowly. Crunching splutters of her husband’s snoring filled her ears as he rolled over, only vaguely disturbed by her waking. It was set to be a most boring Tuesday. There were no guests of note on the court listing and that left her demotivated. She sat there in her plush bed contemplating putting a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to her residence and going back to sleep.

However, the thought of Celestia’s disappointment encouraged her just enough to slide her back hooves down to the ground before flipping her body fully on to all of her limbs. Gusty yawned again. She absently watched the small dust particles caught in the beams of sunlight. She recovered and lazily strolled over to her clothes dresser. Locating her favorite cobalt skirt with a smile she slipped it on. It had been pressed and cleaned regularly, its grey-blue was now a sharp crisp color. It bounced pleasantly against her flanks now that its fabric was restored. She also selected a bright yellow shawl that served more as a hue complement than a real piece of covering. Moving on to her vanity she levitated up a simple silver necklace that Bunker had gotten her as a wedding gift.

Remembering her husband, Gusty levitated up her wedding legband and snapped it around her upper left leg. It was a platinum gold almost as pure white as the silver on her neck. It held three diamonds, two smaller one larger. Where Bunker had gotten it was a mystery to her and no amount of ‘persuasion’ could get him to divulge how he had gotten it. She looked into her vanity’s mirror to find her mane a total mess. Gusty took to brushing it thoroughly. After some decent work on her unruly head hair she had brushed it to perfection, her cerulean-seafoam curls glowing in the sunlight. She was just finishing when quick, small hoofsteps caught her ears by surprise.

Amethyst’s thin filly frame slipped by her bedroom door. Gusty stood up from her vanity’s cushion chair and followed her daughter. The schoolfilly had breezed quickly into the kitchen leaving her mother in the dust. By the time she had reached the room, Gusty was astounded to find toast already in the toaster and potatoes being chopped by a levitating knife. Meanwhile, Amethyst sat reading a thick book that she didn’t recognize as her daughter’s usual school material. Sharp hissing of hot oil on potatoes sparkled out as she slowly sat down at the kitchen’s table across for her daughter marvling all the while at Amethyst’s skill at fine-tuned levitation.

“What are you reading, my child?” Gusty asked finally catching herself.

“A book, Uncle Zeccaran gave me.” Amethyst barely mumbled in return.

“Really? What’s its title?” She questioned more out of obligation of conversation.

“Thaumatic Magic Theory and the Laws of Magic Conservation and Potentiality.” The filly merrily replied.

Gusty performed at least three double-takes before being forced to slap herself sane.

“Uh...Did I miss like ten years and you are now some sort of college student?” she asked her daughter.

Amethyst giggled at her. She closed the book and kept laughing as the finished home fries, toast, and suddenly jam from the refrigerator came floating over to the table complete with plate, fork, and knife. Gusty was rather dumbfounded. She had not taken the comment to be funny in the least, truth be told the older mare was scared that what she had suggested had actually happened. Quickly, her daughter calmed herself and was all smiles.

“Mom!” she proclaimed through a mouth full of potatoes. “We just celebrated my birthday last week, I’m only ten years-old!” she finished after swallowing.

Gusty nodded in agreement.

“But, I don’t know, sometimes magic class at school is super easy, so I asked Uncle Z for the hard stuff!” She tittered.

She rolled her eyes at her daughter. Few ponies were as capable of magic as Amethyst. Gusty was fairly certain that the filly had more magic than herself, she just hadn’t developed the means to access all of it yet. She just closed her eyes and shook her head at the thought.

“What?” Amethyst asked confused.

“Oh nothing, dear. Let me brush your mane before you leave.” Gusty answered.

Amethyst was mostly done with her breakfast when Gusty had returned with the brush. She pushed down the filly’s unruly pink mane until it was smoothed over the sides of her head. It became wavy and hung placidly down around Amethyst’s cute face, framing the filly’s bright purple eyes perfectly.

“There. You look extra pretty now.” Gusty smirked, pleased with her work.

“Okay, mom.” Amethyst rolled her eyes. “I have to get going now, see you at supper!”

Amethyst produced a bag previously hidden by the table. She tossed her book inside and strapped it to herself as she ran out of the kitchen. The quick opening and shutting of the door to the hall promptly followed, leaving Gusty to sit in silence.

After a time, she got up from the table and went to check on Bunker. He was still out cold. After last night’s rather lengthy and intense activities she wasn’t terribly surprised. She had made him do all the work, mostly because she rather liked a dominant stallion in the bedroom. Even though Bunker was not, he had performed admirably and was more than satisfactory but while she slept well, he now laid in a near coma. Gusty moved away from her thoughts and the door to her bedroom.

She began making her way towards The Declaration Hall. It was Celestia’s prefered location for Morning Court. If the Weather Pegasi Schedule hadn’t gotten messed up it was supposed to be an excellent day to be outside. Gusty decided that she needed to get there quickly if she was going to convince Celestia that today was a good day to be extra girly and day drink as much wine as they could as they made fun of anypony foolish enough to grace Morning Court. She grinned at the thought of her friend. Over the last two years they had become quite close, sharing stories of lovers and friends.They had come up with a system of body language too. It was for the express purpose of communicating in front of rambling petitioners without revealing their intent. Such was mostly making fun of some of the more ridiculous requests.

Gusty had reached the giant hall that led out to the inner pavilion of the Palace. Instead of walking the rest of the way through the Gala Ballroom and the state offices, Gusty unfurled her wings and jumped off the second floor balcony. She soared out the enormous two-story tall glass doors which stood open. She whistled past the Royal Library and the outdoor bakery. The fragrant smells of Celestia’s personal confectionary creation center tickled her nose as she gained height enough to sail over the top of the round-domed Statehouse as it was called. She zipped around its ivory spire and made her way towards the open balcony of the Declaration Hall. The portion of the Palace she was headed to nearly floated over the main city square and she pulled around its edge with grace.

She slid quickly into the open patillo, using the turn to slow her speed. She glided to a stop just as Celestia’s face turned to meet her with a smile.

“Good Morning, I see you are dressed to kill. Do you have something in mind?” the white mare trilled behind an ever more mischievous grin.

“Oh, yes.” Gusty responded clapping her hooves together.

The Royal Guards in the room began slowly sliding away from her and Celestia.

“What would you say to...day drinking an unholy amount of wine?” she drolly questioned.

Celestia’s grin turned into wild smile. The hiss-pop of a teleportation spell echoed around the room and behind her friend loomed a dark shadow. The sunlight picked up its slack to reveal an enormous wine cast clad in mahogany stain and gold barrel bars. Gusty shivered at the sight, she could already taste the two-hundred year-old perfection and its smokey aroma. A pair of crystal wine glasses popped into existence. Celestia floated one over to her knowingly as they made their way to the tap.

“I sometimes find it rather shocking how alike we tend to think, dear Gusty.” Celestia cooed.

“I don’t, we hangout all the time, Court is just an excuse for us to look like we are doing something important.” She chuckled back to her friend.

Celestia just laughed as her pale-yellow magic began twisting the tap into the huge cask. Gusty bit her lips in anticipation

Crwvhaam!

Gusty spun on her hooves to see what had thrown open the doors to the stairs.

A pair of armored rams, rams, had slammed the big jade doors flat against the wall. All the Royal Guard’s horns could be heard charging spells and spears chinged into ready position. Unabashed, the rams held up what they each carried, long bannered trumpets. They played a heavy fanfare and stepped to the side rigidly. Four more of the rams, more formally dressed in what could only be described as ritual kilts and blades entered in a box formation. The group strolled up casually to Celestia and Gusty before coming to an abrupt halt.

The four ramguards parted. They revealed a small ewe. She shone bright like the sun behind a fleece as golden as a dragon’s horde. Gusty blinked rapidly trying not to turn her head away from the shining flaxon fur. She narrowly succeed as the ewe stepped up past the burning beam of sunlight that made her sparkle with such ferocity.

The ewe drew a great breath, “Well, hello der dearest friend Celestia!” she proclaimed.

Gusty about fell over from the absurdity of her accent. She hadn’t heard anypony talk with such a crass brogue in a desperately long time. Beside her Celestia graciously lowered her head in a bow.

“A pleasant surprise, indeed, O’ Gertrude the Golden.” Celestia quipped perfectly.

Fleeting senses of familiarity were common for Gusty, but Gertrude seemed particularly friendly, comfortable in her mind. She looked at the old ewe whose ice-blue eyes were a touch bug-eyed. She continued speaking and making jokes to Celestia in her accent.

“Now who be yer young friend here, Celly, lass? Gertrude asked as she turned to look at Gusty with playfully squinted eyes.

The briefest of moments passed while the ewe met her eyes. The old creature loosed a gasp of something between terror and joy. Before she could react the ewe launched herself into Gusty’s face. Caught entirely off-guard the ewe successfully tackled her to the ground. The whole room fell silent as they looked at each other nose to nose. Suddenly, not two seconds later the ewe began a slew of mad laughter. She hopped up off Gusty’s chest and helped her up still cackling.

“I hardly believed me eyes!” she snorted through her chuckles, “Gusty Twilight! Bonnie lass it has been almost three-hundred years!”

“What?” she balked back to the ewe. This caused Gertrude to laugh harder.

Gusty looked over to Celestia for help, but only received a confused shrug from her friend. She wished she understood what the ewe was talking about. Her sensation from before was stronger but remained only a vague memory, she didn’t have a way to connect the dots. Meanwhile, Gertrude had finally recovered.

“Oh, that be a helluva good jape, great Gusty! But, I would rather ye take me a slight more serious than tha’.” She stated.

“Uhm….how do I know you? I know I do but…” Gusty tried her best to explain.

“Ah! Mine heart! Thee doth wound it with thine cold tongue! Cease this jest, dearest lass!” Gertrude choked, nearly on the verge of tears.

Gusty sat there trying to figure out how to explain she couldn’t remember, but wanted to. The more she thought about her situation the more nervous and scared Gusty became. The condition was a circular one that left her unable to respond beyond looking sadly at the ground. The room again became deathly silent over the haggard breathing of Gertrude. An all too familiar sensation of an unwelcome presence drew her attention to the still open door. Not a moment later Stormwalker strode into the room, drawing everyone else’s attention with his metal clad hoofsteps. Gusty just wished he would wear his helmet.

“I had heard that the Dame of the Baylands had snuck her way into Canterlot, unannounced.” He said in his incredibly close to arrogant way.

“Aye, young Lord Stormwalker.” Gertrude responded dismally.

“Fairest greetings Dame Gertrude. Something seems to be troubling you?” he bowed deeply with his front knees bending.

“Be I so easy to read fer ye? Aye, Gusty be making the impression she doesn’t know who I be.” The Dame pouted.

Stormwalker’s eyes, too pony-like for Gusty’s taste, sparkled in surprise.

“You know Gusty?” he asked eagerly stepping up past the guards.

“Aye, she be the reason the Bah-ahah-ahyland exist, boyyo! And you ask me if I know her!” Gertrude retorted through her bleats.

Gusty certainly knew of the Baylands. With great glacier-carved mountains, fjords, and thick pine forests, it was an unforgettable experience. But, Gusty doubted she had any connection to the formation of the country there. The picture had become clearer but she hadn’t quite finished bringing its final details into focus. She put her focus on Stormwalker again who had cocked a prideful smile without any obvious reason.

“Then Golden Lady of the Highlands, you should know this; Gusty is not seeking to forget you on purpose.” he answered.

She stood there in confused anger, having no idea why Stormwalker of all creatures had come to her defense. She had hoped her borealis-maned friend would have instead, but she had remained silent.

“Yes. There is a rather long story to tell, but Gusty is not slighting you, I promise.” Celestia finally chimed in. Gusty rolled her eyes.

The Dame looked between the demon and the alicorn critically. She bit her lip and narrowed her eyes before turning and spitting vehemently.

“Then be explaining such to mine ears, betwixt th’ both o’ ye.” She stated displeased.

Stormwalker looked around at the pony guards before jerking his head. They began exiting the Declaration Hall immediately. Dame Gertrude took the cue and shooed her own ram guards out as well. They shut the door behind them, leaving the two mares, ewe, and demon alone.

“Get comfortable, this is a strange and long story.” Stormwalker piped up.

Gusty groaned. She had become more than disgusted with this “helping” act the demon performed. He hadn’t put on his show in quite the spell, but each time he did ponies, and this time sheep, bought the story as if it was some sort of cure-all drug. Instead of listening to Stormwalker pander on with his tale, Gusty decided to focus on Gertrude.

The old golden ewe increasingly felt familiar to her. She looked over her small dainty frame. Gertrude bounced eagerly in the chair Celestia had popped into existence some time ago. The full Bayland brogue of her questions made Gusty start to think. She remembered the Baylands and what took place there. Sudden dazzling of Gertrude’s coat sparked everything to life for Gusty. In that moment it came flooding back.

She remembered using her magic to craft Gertrude’s Golden Fleece. She remembered fighting off the raider and bandits that plague the fledgling alliance of sheep families. She remembered building the Castle-upon-Barra, the shining accomplishment of all the Baylands’ Thanes. The vast sprawling forests and hills flashed before her eyes and the face of a small frightened lamb overtook them. She cried to Gusty’s chest her ice-blue eye’s wetting her fur and leaving her chest to ache as if she had taken an arrow. More came flooding back, the lamb became a ewe, her bravery and virtue propelling her forward until a horde of sheep and rams sprung up from the grassy hills only to kneel before her. Gusty smiled with pride at her adopted...daughter!

Reality snapped immediately back into focus. Gusty held her breath as she looked to meet the eyes of Gertrude. She hoped to convey the pain of forgetting such a wonderful friend and family member with her eyes. Somehow, the ewe turned her head to oblige her. Gusty let herself become overwhelmed with joy. This time it was she that bounded forward snagging the now aged-ewe in hooves and spinning around in a circle. She cried openly as she chanted “Gerty, Gerty, Gerty!” her pet name for the Dame, as she squeezed her old friend as tight as she could.

“Ye remember finally!” she bleated. “That’s all it tak’, eh? A wee little promptin’ from ye’s Lord Stormwalker?”

Gusty stopped spinning, staring confusedly back at Gertrude. It was the second time she had called the demonspawn a “lord.” She cast an accusatory glance towards the creature in question.

“What’s this ‘lord’ business Gerty keeps calling you?” she demanded.

“What is your deal? Don’t tell me you missed the part where I hail from a distinguished house of nobles.” Stormwalker responded.

Gusty just scrunchy-faced him in response. A demon, a military officer, and a noble, it’s no wonder the guy is so incredibly cocky, she thought to herself.

“I’ve been to every Weekly Noble Court meeting since we met! How did you not…” He started before trailing off. “Ugh...what am I gonna do with you, ya big teal moron?” he grumbled.

Gusty elected to ignore him and instead begin recounting tales of she and Bunker to Gertrude. The old ewe laughed at their escapades completely having forgotten her previous sadness. Feeling emboldened by her new ally, Gusty continued to joke and giggle with the Dame. It was only in her periphery that she noticed Stormwalker whispering to Celestia. Their conversation was muddled out and nonsensical compared to Gertrude and the influx of happy emotions she continued to experience. They chattered on for a good long time before Stormwalker yelled over them.

“Hey! Gusty, Gerty! Pay attention!” he boomed making them both jump.

“Oh why di’ ya haff a’go and ruin our fun, boyyo?” Gertrude scowled.

Gusty turned her nose up in agreement. They had been having a wonderful time. He probably was simply seeking to ruin it for his own sick twisted pleasure, Gusty believed that anyway.

“It’s not often that another country’s leader comes to Equestria unannounced to seek personal counsel with me, Lady Gertrude. What did you originally come here for?” Celestia asked calmly.

“Oh! How careless of me!” Gertrude proclaimed jumping away from Gusty. She took a deep bow and continued. “Dearest friend Celestia. I come afore ye with a humble request.”

“Y-you do?” Celestia looked up to Gusty with concern.

“Aye. We sheep of the Bah-aylands not be ones to be a’ asking for help. But, this be a matter most important to our homeland.” The Dame spoke trying to control her natural brogue.

This concerned Gusty. She felt she was remembering correctly: if Gertrude was asking for help it was extremely serious, but Gusty hoped she had recalled that fact incorrectly. The way the Dame tried to make herself especially clear, however, filled Gusty with the sensation she was unfortunately right.

“Since the year did turn, a griffon leadin’ a grand band o’ bandits, hath declared he-self the Pirate King. Dey constantly, raid mine merchants’ vessels and terrorize me and mine kin. We hatha been stopping them where we can but da blasted devils be slippery. Thrice hath they made attempts on mine life, and with the newest generation of Thanes being upstarts I fear they wilt lead to the old country fallin’ apart. Please, can Equestria led us aid, in this our hour o’ need?” Gertrude pleaded.

Gusty bit her tongue. She wanted to shout “Yes!” to the Dame, but she was not regent of the country. Given Celestia’s conservative approach to international politics, Gusty doubted she would agree to more than armed aid for trade convoys. She silently watched Celestia stoically mull over the Dame’s request.

“I have an idea: I cannot actively send our military beyond our borders, but any vessels that make it to our territory can expect strong escorts into our lands. That is the extent I can provide military and economic support without causing an international incident. However, I can send Gusty and her friends to assist you in anyway you wish. I’m sure Gusty would be more than happy to do so, with or without my consent.” Celestia responded with a sly smile on her face.

Gertrude snapped her head back to Gusty.

“Ye would be willin’ to help us once again, bonnie lass?” she asked, teary-eyed

“Of course!” She snatched up Gertrude in a relieved hug, “It will be just like old times.”

“Aye.”

They hugged it out for a while. Gusty’s warm fuzzies had nearly reached their maximum by the time they stopped. She was excited too. A new adventure and a new challenge awaited her and her crew it was sure to be most enjoyable.

“I can arrange for an armed escort to transport you, Gusty n’ Company, and your personal guard back to your home, Lady Dame.” Stormwalker cut in. Gusty had almost forgotten he was there.

“Well ya can now eh laddie? I wouldn’t say no to such an offer. I be assuming they be ponies of ye’s personal hire?” Gertrude re-brogued curiously.

“The finest air-chariot pullers and the best marksponies shall accompany you, that I can guarantee.” he answered.

“Then we shall leave on the ‘morrow before sunrise!”

“Very well. I have much to prepare.” Stormwalker spoke as he began to leave.

“Look at yeh laddie! Ye own stallion these’s days. I remember a time when ye were still suckling Celestia’s teat.” Gertrude teased. Gusty was rather disturbed by the subject matter, but being a gossip herself remained silent.

“That was a long time ago.” Stormwalker snarked turning around near the door. “Over twenty years to be exact.”

“Don’t dredge up those times Lady Gertrude, they are so...embarrassing.” Celestia chimed in.her face flushing red.

“Oh, please. You are only embarrassed because you enjoyed my undivided attention more than you would ever admit.” the demon admonished

“Oh ho ho! What happened between the two o’ ye?” Gertrude smiled, unsure, “I thought ye were an excellent couple.”

“You used to be with him?!” Gusty burst unable to contain herself any longer.

Celestia rumbled a moan somewhere between annoyed and flustered. Stormwalker nodded with a sneer before rolling his eyes and exiting. Gusty, glad he was gone, looked over to Celestia in disbelief. Her friend hid behind her mane, even with her face under the ever-moving mass her ears were red from her trials.

“Methinks ‘tis best I be a’headin’ elsewhere’s for now. Spy ye in da mornin’ Gusty lass!” Gertrude surmised in a sage manner before slipping out the door herself.

Gusty started at her friend.

“Maybe I forgot to mention him on purpose.” She sighed. “I guess I have a lot of explaining to do.” Celestia whimpered still behind her mane.

“I would hear the story, Tia. If you have any insights on his weaknesses I am more than interested.” she conferred as she moved up to the big white alicorn.

“So cold. You didn’t even make fun of me for being such a fool.” Celestia said pushing her mane aside finally.

“Are you kidding? If I didn’t know he was a demon, like you didn’t, I would have been all over him. It’s such a shame a stallion of his calibre is a filthy, evil monster.” Gusty spat back.

“I don’t think you caught my meaning. If I hadn’t betrayed him, burned every bridge, I would still be the object of his affections, well...I hope I would have.” her friend moped.

Gusty found herself baffled. She had no idea about what Celestia was referencing. The only thing she could think of being of import was the self-inflicted memory charm her larger counterpart had created to forget the details of Stormwalker. Celestia began explaining after noticing she was sitting there inquisitively staring, that explanation spared none of the details.

A myriad of topics concerning Celestia and Stormwalker’s relationship, including but not limited to; sex, pranks, and romance were imparted onto Gusty’s ears. Evidently, the once rather virtuous Stormwalker had been chosen by Celestia as her personal guard. He was a naturally gifted counter-assassin and, much to Gusty’s shagrin, lover. Celestia painted a picture of a different stallion than she had met in the Cave or that stalked the palace halls now. The other alicorn lamented her own shortcomings, that she had not been strong enough to understand him.

“I don’t understand what to do. He...I think he’s still my friend, but he’s distant, cold.” she sulked. “I feel responsible for his fall. If I had just been there for him...if I could have just controlled my fear. He trusted me more than anypony else, and I betrayed him.”

Gusty gave her friend a wayward glare, “You can’t blame yourself for his decisions. They were his not yours. You had every right to be scared. I’ve seen him in his true form too, terrifying is an understatement.” she told Celestia.

“I can and I should. I didn’t run away from him, I didn’t end our relationship. I deleted it. I made it so all the memories and good times we shared only existed in his heart. Even now that I remember...the damage is done. “Celestia responded looking through Gusty. “It broke him...I know it did. I can see it when he looks at me. I can feel him want to become close again, but then it passes behind a dark cloud of sorrow and pain.”

“Hardly. All it did was make him less of a pony to you. Made him appear as he truly is.” Gusty had to keep herself from snarling.

“No. You are wrong Gusty Twilight. You are wrong about him.” Celestia said back.

Gusty raised a brow trying her best to get Celestia to meet her eyes.

“Since he met you in that Cave those two-and-a-half years ago...Slowly, so slowly I didn’t notice until recently, he’s becoming that same quirky and kind stallion I fell in love with. It actually makes me jealous you can do that to him.” her friend blushed.

Gusty simply sat there stunned. She had nothing to say back to Celestia, at least not anything that would make her friend feel better. Her plan of getting Celestia to divulge the demon’s weaknesses was also a failure, the white mare had not mentioned anything of note. Gusty was annoyed by this supremely especially since she had learned much more about Stormwalker than she had ever wanted to, it almost made him seem like a pony. What was worse was the way Celestia talked down on herself for doing the only thing that was rational in Gusty’s opinion. It had taken an extremely strong mare to resist the call of love and deny herself the happiness she had clearly attained, fear or not.

Gusty sighed deciding her friend was more important than her grudge, one day she would have her advantage, but it was not this day. She comforted Celestia with a number of slightly-more-than-Platonic nuzzles. The white mare gave her a hug in return before regaining her composure. Celestia insisted that she take the rest of the day to get ready and inform Bunker and Zeccaran about the mission. Gusty left the Declaration Hall to fulfil her friend’s suggestions and tried to forget the particularly gory parts of Stormwalker’s bedroom skills. She grinned in anticipation. A new day and new evils were peaked over the near horizon and she could hardly wait to get started.

Next Chapter: Act 2: Chapter 2 - The High Road Estimated time remaining: 19 Hours, 46 Minutes