Swooping down towards a lonely cloud up above Canterlot Gusty alighted on its pillowy surface. As was her new afternoon tradition before picking up Amethyst after school with Guardian Angel, she settled in for a nap. The monthly meeting for the joint departments of the government was to take place this evening instead of the normal Evening Court at six. The meetings were usually dreadfully boring, full of smart, cooperative ponies that worked as administrators for things like agriculture, civil works, and banking.

Celestia had developed a well-oiled machine that handled the delegation of various tasks extremely well. Gusty supposed that was to be expected of somepony as entertained by regulations and paperwork as her friend was. Either way, when the proper ponies were in place things went perfectly albeit uneventfully, only once had the meeting been even slightly entertaining. The pony in question that had provided the entertainment had quickly lost his position as Minister of Natural Resources. While she had not agreed with his policies, his staunchly fanatical backing of his ideas was deeply amusing. Unfortunately, her royal counterpart had not thought the same and had him carted out of the conference before sacking him a week later.

That was about the last thought Gusty had as she started to fall into her midday slumber when the cloud she was on disintegrated. She fell an undisclosed distance before realizing that she was, in fact, plummeting to her death and not just having that momentary sensation of falling she sometimes got when falling asleep. Her eyes and mouth snapping open in horror Gusty loosed a shriek of surprise as she tried desperately to use her wings to control her fall. By the look of the rapidly approaching streets she would survive the fall but it was not going to be pleasant. And try as she might, the sudden shock had scared her enough to prevent her from gaining control of her reflexes as she groggily sunk towards the city streets.

Just before she was to breach the height of the buildings a pair of hooves hooked around her barrel and slowed her down. No longer in a tailspin, Gusty felt lift come beneath her wings as she flapped them and the hooves on her body release just long enough for them to grab her shoulder and spin her around to face her savior.

“Ohmygosh I’m so sorry! Are you alright?!” a red-maned pegasus-mare questioned hysterically.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” she answered unsteadily, as she raised a hoof to rub the base of her mane.

The mare and her snow-white fur bobbed anxiously, continuing to apologize. Gusty was pretty confused why the pony that just saved her kept asking for forgiveness, but was unable to interrupt until she had fully gained her bearings.

“Why are you apologizing?” she eventually asked

“I knocked you out of that cloud. I was just absentmindedly kicking a few as I went along and I didn’t even realize you were there until you screamed!” The mare released her, a very sad blush on her face.

Gusty backed up to examine her a bit. Her accidental assassin seemed quite earnest and truly embarrassed. Like the alicorn she was quite tall, her body more slender and her features longer but yet still soft. She looked familiar to Gusty, but lots of ponies had the same color schemes, and it was not always easy to tell the difference between them without clothing or some other trademark. Her eyes traced over to the mare’s cutie mark causing her to draw a sharp breath.

An Erlenmare flask was flanked by a pair of three-quarters-folded red wings. But most importantly, the distinguishing marking sat on a squarish grey cloud with four lightning bolts coming from its rounded corners. Their meeting was no accident.

Gusty narrowed her eyes making the mare tilt her head curiously. While trying not to let prejudice take over, the alicorn calmly exhaled the gasp she had held in. Locking eyes with her counterpart, she made sure to emphasize her distrust with her whole being.

“You are a Stormwalker.” Gusty folded her hooves as she hovered.

The mare’s eyes widened in surprise but there was no change to her mood otherwise.

“Wow!”You really are quick to figure things out.” The mare smiled devilishly

“I do have plenty of experience with Guardian Angel. I’m more upset he didn’t mention he had a big family.” Gusty looked over the mare again.

She definitely fit the bill, the big wings and the beauty clear indicators. It did not help that still less than a month ago she had been rather ineloquently reminded how a she-demon might appear. Staring on, Gusty internally remarked that this Stormwalker mare met all the requirements. Now to ferret out her true demeanor.

“First name basis, huh? And here he told me that he didn’t have a chance with you,” the mare giggled.

“How are you related to him?” Gusty questioned seriously. It was better to ignore the playful sniggering of this newcomer

“He’s my brother. He probably would have introduced me if I hadn’t been out of country just as soon as you first showed up,” she responded cordially.

The alicorn leaned her neck back skeptically. Squinting, she did see the resemblance; being armed with the historical images made it easy to believe. But this mare was a Stormwalker, and Stormwalkers always had more to them than met the eye.

“I’m sensing you don’t trust me. Fair enough. I did just knock you off that cloud on purpose. Goes to show me, amirite?” she laughed nervously. “Figured you could fly though…”

“A rather poor first impression, Miss Stormwalker,” Gusty scowled.

“It’s Pixie. Short for Pixima. I am very sorry. It was just supposed to be a prank, not you falling and getting hurt,” Pixie explained.

The alicorn’s scowl soften to pursed lips and a raised eyebrow. She had no reason to not believe her. If Pixie had intended to hurt her she would not have bothered to help once she was falling. It just so happened that the goofy mare in question also happened to share blood with a demon. A demon that, until recently, she had been certain harbored naught but ill-will towards her and the rest of the world. That managed to make her just suspicious enough to over-analyze the red-maned mare’s actions.

“Listen, let me make it up to you. Let’s stop hovering here and go get a coffee and a snack, my treat!” she smiled.

“Alright. At least you are nicer than your brother when I met him.” Gusty nodded agreeing to Pixie’s terms.

“Well that doesn’t take much, come on, I know a place!” she motioned with wave.

Gusty cocked her head to the side as Pixie glided down towards the city streets. As far she could tell from that brief interaction, she had no reason not to follow. The mare did not have the same aura as the stallion she claimed as her brother. However, calm and trusting as she may be, Gusty was no fool. Guardian Angel had managed to mask his true intentions when she had first met him, would one of his closest kin be no different? She did not believe so, as such a healthy bit of caution seeped into her mind as she followed the red-maned mare down to the ground. Of course it was not as if the she-demon could attack her in broad daylight. There were too many witnesses and a brother that would not take such action kindly. That meant that Gusty would play along with whatever game Pixie wished, for now at least.

Landing next to her snowy counterpart, the alicorn followed the other mare along the street silently. Pixie hummed as they went along, cutting quite the figure over the other ponies, her long legs making her as tall as Gusty. After a few moments they reached a small little brick shop, the aromatic smells of roasting beans wafting out its open door and windows.

“Mmm! That’s one of my favorite smells.” Pixie drew another hearty breath.

“So how do you like your coffee?” Gusty started small-talk as they trotted up to the counter.

“A strong dark roast that I can add plenty of cream to without ruining its strength. You?” she smiled.

“Blacker than night, hotter than lava, and with a spoonful of sugar,” the alicorn replied.

Meanwhile the barista took their order seamlessly as they described what they wanted. She worked fast and the two mugs were placed on a tray. Gusty levitated it up to take with them, the she-demon paid, producing a coin purse from inside her long mane.

“So, are we describing our preference in stallions or the coffee?” Pixie raised her brows with giggle and grin as they walked to a table in the far corner of the small shop.

The innuendos in her own description hit her and Gusty found herself unable to stop from snickering. At least this Stormwalker was funny in the diplomatic setting. Guardian Angel tended to be quite serious, his humor dark and less promiscuous when in the presence of the rest of the nobles. And she was going to get a healthy dose of it this evening, for now it was time to get to the subject at hoof. Just how Shadow-kin was Pixie?

Gusty fixed the mare across from her with a serious stare. She was not going to need her Truth Spell this time. As long as she kept feeling this good, discerning lies was both easy and enjoyable. It was very much like a game of charades.

“Are you like Guardian Angel? Have you eaten other demons?” she questioned.

“No, and no.” Pixie took a sip of her beverage, commenting, “I may have Shadow-kin blood but I am nothing like my brother.”

“How so?” Gusty thought she felt a deception, however there was not any power to be felt in the air like there had been with Guardian Angel.

“Well you have to feed the beast to become one. Besides from what I can tell from the family history books I’ve got; traditional Shadow-kin breeding usually results with the first born being the strongest. Could I be like him if I tried...possibly? But I’m definitely not trying. On top of the fact that while the stars may have aligned for him to be born with the full set of powers our parents are both half-breeds.” Pixie explained.

“What do you mean: your parents are both half-breeds? I had always been under the impression that they were the real deal, and were dead...because he probably ate them!” the alicorn shuddered as she spoke.

“Simply put it was a union of two ponies that was never meant to be, if Mom hadn’t been orphaned at such a young age my brother might be pretty normal, save his dazzling personality.” Pixie rolled her eyes at her own sarcasm before continuing.

“She met Dad because our great grandfather didn’t have record of her birth. Clan Stormwalker had for years carefully groomed and arranged marriages for their children because they were trying to avoid making creatures like my brother. By the time that old colt had figured it out, Mom was already pregnant with me, and Guardian Angel was already four years old.”

Gusty nodded, remaining quiet. She had never dug too deeply into the stallion’s past, but what she had picked up over the last couple of years matched up. Celestia had described some of Guardian Angel’s childhood and, in great detail, his latter youth. It was consistent with the Princess’s information, though it was much more specific than her friend’s rendition. Albeit, everything just felt too convenient for Gusty. What a ridiculous starcrossed situation this was: perhaps that was why she was not yet satisfied with the younger Stormwalker.

“Pretty crazy how that all happened,” she mumbled over her mug not really looking at the red-maned mare.

“Yep. But truth is much stranger than fiction in my experience.” Pixie replied, with a brief pause. “What about you? You went from happy-go-lucky to deadly serious once you recognized me as a Stormwalker.”

Gusty took another sip of the coffee, enjoying the just-the-way-she-liked-it taste. She would have to come back a few more times so she could generously tip the barista. A stray thought made her smile and it seemed that it proved a rather playful answer to Pixie’s question.

“Please forgive my distrust. It is just surprising to find my enemies have assets I was unaware of, we are at war after all.” Gusty stated matter-of-factly. Her counterpart cocked her head in confusion.

“What?” she balked.

“Well, yeah...the timeless war of Alicorn vs. Shadow-kin. Sure we’ve had a cease fire for the last couple thousand years. Doesn’t mean the fighting’s over, though. Never did make formal accords…” Gusty nodded sagely as she took another sip.

“You...you-you’re messing with me!” Pixie pursed her lips and folded her forehooves playfully.

“Maybe...maybe not…” she responded tepidly, making an extra bit of noise as she took her taste of coffee. She smiled internally knowing that a calm face would only pressure the mare further, Celestia’s courtly behavior had been rubbing off on her.

“It could be that you fulfilled that ritual Luna has mentioned Guardian Angel did...that one that reduces the amount of magic in your blood, lets you be closer to a pony...or it could be that you are better at hiding your true nature that your brother.” Gusty sat the mug down waiting for Pixie’s smile to break.

“I thought you were messing with me, but now I’m concerned.” Her cheeks sagging into a fearful grimace her thin brow pinching with concern. However, the alicorn could not discern if her reaction was not acting. There was one thing she could not fake, and that was her resistance to magic.

Letting her gaze drift lazily, Gusty charged her horn and extended her magic to take hold of Pixie’s left wing. The telekinetic grip fastened normally, and though it was slightly heavier than she expected, Gusty had no real trouble unfurling the feathered limb making her counterpart look confusedly between the hum of her golden aura on her wing and Gusty herself.

“It seems I should apologize for my prejudices...but I don’t think I will,” The alicorn stated coyly.

“Indeed, indeed, you most difficult of mares.” Pixie pulled her wing free of the light grip with a hearty tug.

“But, while we are on the topic.” The pony shook her head making her red mane shimmer in the low light of the shop, “It would behoove you to know that not all Shadow-kin get the ‘trademark’ abilities. A number are like me...simply carriers of the genes and magic.”

“Well then I do apologize for my ignorance. I’ve only ever dealt with the ones that are sporting malice in their soul and a love for murder in their hearts. Well...save two I guess.” Gusty gave a nod a small smile growing on her face.

For some time they sat quietly, enjoying their beverages. Relaxing, the alicorn let loose a shallow sigh, simply watching Pixie for a moment. She was quite happy that controlling her suspicions was quite easy. Of course after all the things she had experienced Gusty had every right to be skeptical of the statements made by a Shadow-kin. However, having the ability to logic herself away from the leery thoughts felt nice regardless. Pixie had no reason to lie to her, especially if she was Guardian Angel’s sister, she probably was just meeting the mare that took up so much of her brother’s thoughts. Gusty felt a blush start up at that thought. Luckily, her practice seemed to be paying off, and just as soon as the thought came was she able to distract her wandering thoughts by instead focusing on Pixie.

Noticing, the red-maned mare cleared her throat, before taking another sip of coffee.

“I guess since you apologized I’ll let you in on a bit of a secret,” she smiled devilishly.

“Oh?” Gusty scooted forward in her cushioned seat and leaned over the small table.

“Watching my brother mature, made me very scared. I didn’t want to end up like him so I did all sorts of things to avoid ‘catching fire’ as I thought of it back then. The result was that I have no idea if I have those same powers, I basically suppressed everything. I don’t even eat fish out of fear it will make me...well...like him.” Pixie explained.

“True. But if that Shadow-kin magic was active, even a little, I wouldn’t have been able to grab your wing with my magic. As somepony who has fought an...unreasonable number of your relatives I can assure you, you’re fine. You could eat fish if you wanted to without any issue, besides all pegasi have always been known to like fish,” Gusty commented.

Her counterpart gave a long sigh and leaned back in her chair, “That is...That is amazing to hear. It has always been one of those things in the back of my mind, ya know?”

“Better than you could ever imagine.” She took a drink of her slowly cooling coffee. “But enough of the sad serious stuff! What do you like to do for fun?”

“Wow! That’s one brash transition! Okay, fine: Chemistry.” Pixie replied snapping through several emotions.

“Chemistry? Where do you get to do chemistry for fun?” Gusty could not help but sound skeptical and somewhat disgusted. Who in the world did combined math and physics for fun? Probably, Zeccaran: And evidently her new companion enjoyed it too.

“Well, I do a lot of work for the A.R.D. so...I have my own lab, all my own equipment…” Pixie described.

“The what?” she questioned back.

“Ohhhmygosh! I have soooooo much to tell you!” With that the conversation was off to the races. Gusty could not help but smile, this was probably the start of a great new friendship. And if not, it was at least a way to get under Guardian Angel’s skin.

Struggling to get the short sleeve of the gown to flatten Gusty huffed into the mirror. Behind her Amethyst stood on Bunker’s back braiding her mane into two long loops. For some reason she had decided to come dressed more formally to the Joint Government meeting than usual and now she was running late. She had been almost been late getting to tag along with her daughter and Guardian Angel after school had it not been for a quick teleport and about ten apologizes to Pixie.

They had gotten carried away with their conversation, not noticing how quickly time was passing. Suffice to say, Gusty was quite excited to get some more free time with the Stormwalker mare. Pixie was extremely intelligent and had a deep understanding of many different magics and histories. Not to mention she was hilarious, good with puns and quick with a quip. Gusty looked forward to a less tense time when she did not suspect her new companion was of the same breed as her brother. A sharp tug on her scalp made her lose her telekinetic grip on the back half of the formal gown.

“Ouch! Be careful, Amethyst, you are making it hard to fluff these pleats!”

“Sorry, mom…” the filly mumbled. She was quite focused tucking the braids down and around her mother’s neck. Her daughter moved on to combing the top of her mane to part centrally around her horn instead of to one side like usual.

Gusty went back to pulling on the navy blue outfit, just wanting to get it to sit right on her haunches. Getting the straps and the sleeves on had been easy, settling into the back hooves’ hose and crinoline had not. She could tell by the way the cloth and harness felt on her back that it was the reason she could not get the front of the garment to do as she wanted. Another tug and suddenly success! Gusty let loose a happy squee looking over the gown pleased with what she saw, but a touch confused when she noticed Bunker holding her sides

“Ha! I told you I could help!” Bunker declared lowering himself down with a smile.

“Mmmhmm,” she nodded appreciatively

The two combs that her daughter wielded moved a few more hairs and snapped together with a distinctive click! Gusty turned her eyes into the mirror to give herself a final look over. The braids looked great, laying pleasantly in the high collar of the dress. Grabbing her silver necklace and her marriage legband, she slipped them on before a huge smile crept over her features. Gusty backed up and stood to the side to get a full look and her ensemble before making quick pose.

“I guess I do manage to look pretty good sometimes,” she said.

“Da!” “Yeah!” Bunker and Amethyst cooed in response.

“Thanks, you two!” Gusty turned around and gave the pair a group hug. It took both her husband and daughter by surprise. She gave them both a quick nuzzle, to which Bunker giggled with an air of embarrassment and Amethyst loudly complained “mawwwwmmm!”

“Alright. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” And with that Gusty pumped some magic into her horn and teleported.

The brief blur of striding between the planes cleared away and she stood outside of the Throne Room. Glowing lightly with the pale yellow aura of Celestia’s magic, the doors seemed all the more intimidating. However, as she pondered the most elegant way to enter the vaunted hall hushed voices caught her ear. Gusty wheeled around to see the whole of the Nobility and the Executive Officers standing behind her. Just as she did a familiar clearing of a throat and an inquisitive presence turned her towards it.

“Don’t you look extra nice,” Guardian Angel stated, a playful glint in his eye.

“I do try on occasion...am I not late? I thought I was late…” she replied, not taking his bait just yet. Gusty looked him over seeing his traditional regalia but also his wingblades. Their shiny lengths matched the iron wreath on his head and the medals on his jacket. Their presence, however, was something certainly unusual for a Joint Departments’ meeting.

“No, you’re late. But as you can see...Celestia and Luna have yet to let us all inside. An unexpected guest arrived about five minutes before the meeting was to start,” he explained with a gesture of a hoof.

“Who is it? I hope it’s not Gertrude, I don’t know what I’m going to say to her,” Gusty shuddered, remorse still strong in her heart.

“You and me both.” Guardian Angel shook his head. “I actually didn’t get a look at them. Happened to be running late myself and when I got here the doors were already closed.”

“Oh. I see.” Gusty watched his eyes as she spoke. Just for an instant they flicked over the crowd of nobles and government officials. She noticed a number of them watch them with quiet intensity, waiting to hear what they had to say. A feeling of annoyance worked its way over to her from the stallion across from her.

Not the correct company for you to say more, I take it? She reached out to him with her thoughts.

You are getting better at reading me, my teal menace, he stated as she turned to meet his eyes.

It’s not that hard when you are trying to let me read. Anyway..who is it? Gusty smirked at him. It seemed hard to believe, but although they were opposites they worked well together.

Guardian Angel heaved a long sigh, his small grin turning to that stern look of concern. Her name is Ember. She’s a dragon. Torch’s daughter.

Oh. By Origin...that isn’t good at all! Does she know it was you? She asked worriedly. Knowing her face betrayed her emotion, Gusty turned her head away from the gathered ponies and faced the Throne Room doors.

She was there when we fought. She was trying to stop him too. Ember is the Dragon Lord...well I should say was… He explained.

What do you mean was? And...what is the Dragon Lord? The alicorn questioned unable to not turn and look at him with a more than vague amount of terror.

It was how the dragons run a sorta strange set of government. Evidently a magical stone was crafted about the same time as Equestria was founded. It was meant to unite the dragons in times of importance. Whatever dragon controls it has sway over their collective involvement with world politics. However, her mother seems to have crushed the all-important scepter that held the gem and claimed her status matriarch as the proper title to rule the dragons...by force. Guardian Angel shook his head as he spoke, evidently not embarrassed to look insane in front of his peers. Then again, Gusty thought to herself, the only peers he had were her and the Princesses.

Amusement jumped from his mind to hers and Gusty narrowly escaped laughing. She took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. If Ember’s mother was as reasonable as she had been in the past, then she could easily calm her down. Regardless it would be both endearing and mystifying to see the great green hatchling again, though she might be more ancient than fresh from the egg. Turning her attention back to Guardian Angel Gusty continued the silent conversation.

And I suppose you know all these things because of your international legion of spies? She teased.

You know me… just doing some of that Stormwalker meddling. He sighed.

Yeah, but your meddling is why I lik- “I hate to interrupt your game of silent charades, madam” interrupted the refined tones of a stallion. Gusty swiveled her neck to find the owner of the voice. Finding an older stallion with a monocle, she tilted her head.

“But I simply had to compliment you on your choice of dress.” He cleared his throat as he leaned in. His voice a coarse, hushed tone, “I’ve been waiting for years for you to take your position with some seriousness. Damnabled courtly tradition has kept me at bay.”

“Umm...who are you exactly?” Gusty smiled nervously. Guardian Angel started to snicker. Resisting the urge to turn and scowl, she instead let her prickly response reach him the silent way.

Meanwhile, the old gentlecolt had taken being miffed rather well. He seemed to be just on the verge of laughing himself. Truth be told, Gusty knew that he was some sort of government official, but had never attempted to remember his name, or position.

“My, my, haven’t even so much as cast a glance in my direction. Ever the more intriguing you are, madam Margrave.” The monocled fellow bowed, his smile breaching the edges of his mustache. Guardian Angel cut in as Gusty stood awkwardly, confused as to who this pony was mistaking her for.

“Gusty, this is Fancypants. Archduke of Canterlot, Prime Minister of Equestria. He’s a friend of mine; as rooted in traditional politics as he may be,” he explained cordially.

The alicorn paused, casting a look at her demon counterpart, before looking back over the small crowd in the hall. All of the watched, many feigning different levels of interest. The realization sent a bit of a chill up her spine, it was not nerves but more a recognition that ponies were judging her. Gusty did not like that. However, she was quite good at playing this type of game, they were about to get her best show.

“Forgive me, good sir, I have a tendency to live a little too much in the here-and-now. It is a pleasure to learn your name.” She lifted a hoof to start a formal greeting.

Fancypants did not miss a beat. He elegantly accepted the gesture and took her hoof in his own. Bowing his head down to her fetlocks he stopped just short of touching his snout to the hard of hr hoof. He leaned back up and met her eyes, in return Gusty gave him a small curtsey.

“My dear, I think you just made me lose a bet.” He chuckled, releasing her hoof. “But, in a way that makes me quite happy. Tell me, did you finally learn of your importance on the Court? Or perhaps Lord Stormwalker has bribed you to jape me?”

“Uh...I’m not sure?” she answered with a very high lift in her voice, turning back to Guardian Angel.

“Okay...I kinda get you not knowing F.P. but you don’t know your title? There was a whole ceremony and everything!” He balked at her, mouth open betraying his fangs to the open air.

Gusty cringed, struggling to recall. There had been some sort of welcoming party where most of the nobility had been present. However, she had been a little preoccupied with getting a hit in on Guardian Angel and the whole thing had turned into a fiasco. Celestia and Luna actually had to teamup to calm her down if she remembered correctly. But for the life of her she had not and did not know why the event had seemed so formal. Didn’t it have something to do with being accepted into the Royal Court, or something? Gusty facehoofed in the next instant, just enough of the memory coming back to bite her.

“I’ve been acting a fool for some two years all while being a member of the Royal House!” She seethed more to herself than anypony else. “It never really hit me until right now; I can’t believe myself!”

Fancypants started a loud chuckle that was somehow comforting instead of insulting, “Not to worry milady, we all have our moments, and I think an alicorn is allowed a more than few years to play court jester. You should hear the old rumor-stories of Celestia when she was fresh on the throne!”

“Perhaps I could get her to admit to them!” Gusty smiled back, feeling better from the Archduke’s pleasant demeanor. The three of them laughed at the thought, and for the moment the little nagging worry in the back of Gusty’s mind disappeared.

It returned the same instant that the door to the Throne Room opened with a slam. Silencing the idle chatter of the officials around them, the loud clamour drew everypony to look into the chamber. Immediately, Gusty, and she was sure everypony else too, was drawn to the pale-sapphire scaled dragon that stood between a pair of larger less vibrant drakes one colored a dull brown, the other a dingy purple.

“Ministers, Chiefs of Staff, and fair Nobles: welcome, our Joint Government meeting will begin now,” Celestia stated, her voice seeming to warm up with every word.

“Our guests are the official envoys of a new nation. The Kingdom of Jörmungandr
. Among them the young Princess Ember. we ask that you treat her and her assistants with respect, and allow them to observe our meeting. A sign of good faith between our peoples.” Luna waved a beckoning hoof as she spoke, attempting to pull the cautious ponies into the room.

Noticing nopony was moving Gusty flared out her wings and stood up a little taller. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Guardian Angel doing the same. She attempted to send a sly smile of emotion to him to find the connection rather blocked. Turning fully to catch his face, she noticed his features had softened to the point where she almost did not recognize him, the sharp glint in his eyes gone and the plain shape of his jaw out of place. Realization struck her, he was purposely putting on a show. If Ember had been there when he had fought Torch it was likely she would recognize him just by his face, but then again dragons had never been good at telling ponies apart simply by looks. However, Gusty knew that the average wyvern could easily discern differences in individuals with mere magical presence alone. It was no wonder Guardian Angel was going through the trouble. Still to mask his aura so thoroughly was impressive and Gusty could not help but feel amazed at his control.

The sudden lack of their connection made her feel rather listless, but as she faced back into the Throne Room she held her head high. She knew Guardian Angel intimately, she did not need his mind to tell her what he would do. The three straight years of studying his body language and mannerisms would be her guide now. She took a step forward at the same time she felt like he would. Like it was a coordinated dance, their hooves clopped down in unison. Gusty did not break stride, surging forward as she suppressed her smile, doing her best to remain formal as she and her opposite strode up towards the young dragon.

“The High Margrave of the Royal Court and the Lord of Cloudsdale,” Celestia declared once they reached Ember. Gusty raised her brow in momentary surprise, comprehending her title in Equestria for the first time.

A slight nudge of one of Guardian Angel’s wings let her know it was time to bow. As she righted herself, Gusty took just a fraction of a second to examine Ember closely. She reflected as she and her demonic escort turned to make way for the rest of the staff.

Gusty could have sworn Ashijinir had dyed herself that fine cyan-sapphire and stood before them. If it had not been for the presence of Torch’s heavy horns and his fierce orange eyes on Ember, she might have actually believed that. However, it was clear that Ember was her ancient companion’s offspring. She puzzled to herself for a moment after she and Guardian Angel turned about and waited for the rest of the gathering to be introduced.

Like her own name, the grieving matriarch Ashijinir had given her nation an old name. A name that stretched far back before the reign of the Shadow-kin and the Cirran Empire. Jörmungandr was more of a turn of phrase than a name in truth, simply it meant ‘all encompassing’ or ‘surrounding everything.’ Gusty could not remember, it had been far too long ago and the language of the ancient dragons lost in her oldest memories. There they would remain, waiting for someone else to jog them back into relevance.

“Looks like she didn’t recognize me…” Guardian Angel whispered, pulling Gusty from her thoughts.

“That’s what you were trying to accomplish right?” She leaned up towards his ear to respond doing her best to remain quiet as well.

“Yep. Just didn’t expect it to work so well.” He adjusted his neck so she might no be forced to stretch as much.

“So Plan B was fight her?” Gusty traced a hoof along his still extend wing and touched the blade that was fastened to its outer edge.

“Not quite. They are to help make a show of being the wrong stallion. I didn’t have them when I fought her dad so if I fought with them now, and didn’t use any other abilities she would be more easily convinced that I’m not who I am,” Guardian Angel explained.

“Sly. Devious. I’d expect nothing less from you, demon,” she teased into his ear before pressing her lifted hoof into his silken wing. Giving her an admonishing look he straightened his neck before rolling his eyes when she did not move her limb. She did, however, move it when Luna loudly cleared her throat over the murmurs of the ponies around them.

“Role call has been taken, all department heads are present and a quorum of elected ministers is present,” The Princess of the Moon proclaimed.

“Then this meeting of the Equestrian Commonwealth’s Joint Government is called to order. Please stand to your fullest and let us recite our oaths of loyalty.” Prime Minister Fancypants called out in his regal tone.

Gusty noted that simply by having met that stallion, the meeting was already more interesting. It was still going to be pretty boring, but at least she knew a little more about the players in the world’s most anticlimactic production ever.

With the meeting over Gusty let loose a sigh in relief. While it had still been a drag, being able to pay attention to the process of Equestrian government had been enlightening. Many tenets of the country depended on providing for the citizens. While Equestria produced food on a colossal scale, many fine goods were actually imported. This meant that keeping a balance between what foreign country received food in exchange for goods and services changed often. The different departments of the government saw to maintaining the artificial growing seasons, international trade, and construction of both routes and vessels to move the goods. It impressed Gusty but by no means was she thrilled with the nitty-gritty of trading raw materials for finished products.

The rest of the ponies quickly filtered out of the Throne Room. The only fellow brave enough to say was Fancypants who came and chatted briefly before bidding she and Guardian Angel goodnight. As he trotted off Gusty was forced again to meet Ember’s eyes. At first the alicorn had thought that the young dragon had seen through Guardian Angel’s attempt to be less...himself. But throughout the course of the meeting the newly christened Princess of Scales had distinctly been looking at her. It was not a look of anger, but one of intense curiosity powerful enough to make Gusty feel, frankly, quite uncomfortable.

Thus, it came as no surprise that as soon as Fancypants cleared the threshold to the Throne Room were the doors closed by the likewise exiting guards, both of tge pony and dragon sort. A short echo of the metal doors’ clamour stopped and left the group of beings to stand in silence. Ember almost instantly broke the quiet, her claws clacking on the marble floor as she walked up to Gusty leaving her attendants to gawk in surprise.

“I guess you must be Gusty Twilight,” she rasped before clearing her throat.

“I am,” she nodded with a smile. The young dragon might have fooled the nobles, but Gusty could tell she was nervous. The discomfort from before vanished and the alicorn felt a perhaps a little too giddy.

“The Princesses say that you are pretty old, that you know my mother. That maybe you could help calm her down…” Ember looked way, her face not betraying her embarrassment but her voice doing the job.

It took a lot out of a dragon’s pride to ask for help. Gusty knew that, but for Ember to make that as her first move sent nervous butterflies through her stomach. Simply it meant that the situation might be even worse than she had imagined.

“I would love to. I just want to be certain about what has her upset.” Ember’s posture visibly relaxed the tightened back up as Gusty spoke

“Well...that’s a bit of a crazy story.” The cyan dragon looked up at Guardian Angel, who was just slightly taller than her, “I thought I was going to get some help explaining it but this isn’t the stallion that was there. I don’t know what Celestia and Luna were talking about.”

Gusty turned to the demon, noticing the Princesses approaching with the two other drakes. “Oh, I think he’s the right guy, he’s just hiding it.”

“What do you mean by…” Ember’s words trailed off to be explained instead by her face.

Guardian Angel’s magical presence nearly exploded outward. His features relaxed to the angles and fangs she was accustomed to, and their mental connection opened back up like a broken dam. The sensation nearly lifted her off her hooves, but Gusty fought it, this was all apart of his show after all.

Was that really necessary? She chastised him quickly.

Necessary? No. Did I want to? Yes. He responded without looking over to her instead focused on the cringing Ember.

You’re such a drama king. Gusty rolled her eyes.

Oh, I know, sweetheart. I know. He laughed smartly. Meanwhile Ember recovered from the rather rude surprise. Gusty resolved to make an attempt to stab the disrespectful stallion later, he needed to be kept on the tips of his hooves anyway.

“Yep, you’re right. Definitely him. Even worse than the first time we met, demon.” Ember winced.

“Don’t let him get under your scales, fair dragon. It’s all a cheap sideshow performance to him.” The alicorn moved from her cozy spot next to her Abyssal companion and entered Ember’s personal space. She turned about and leaned against the young lizard, squinting her eyes at Guardian Angel.

“Hey! I’m not a sideshow!” he managed before she took to ignoring him. Her attention favored the still bewildered Ember, and the now confused and concerned Princesses.

“So I missed all the stuff you talked about with our wonderful Equestrian Regents, and I have to ask….how’s your mom been, other than shit-for-brains over there killing her mate?” she asked the dragon nearly snout to snout as she indicated Guardian Angel.

Ember placed a claw on her shoulder, her face hard, as if she intended to shove Gusty away. But the moment broke, and the slim juvenile's nerves broke with it. She roared with laughter tilting her head up and releasing a jet of flame.

“Well alright, now we’re talking!” she chortled smoke still pouring from her nostrils. “And here I thought you were gonna be some regular old prissy pony! When I saw you dressed up like that I thought: ohh great! She’s a froo-froo princess type! How’s she supposed to help?”

“No offense. It’s just a dragon thing.” Ember turned over her shoulder and apologized to the Princesses. As much as a dragon could apologize for being a dragon, anyway.

“We know…” they both sighed. Gusty had to hold back laughter as she watched their ears fold.

“And to start...I don’t really know how to answer your question.” Ember continued, her voice a little less raspy and more confident.

“Should we try charades?” The cyan dragon rolled her eyes at Gusty in the way her mother would have at such a poorly timed joke.

“Let me just start with this; Unfortunately, as much as I hate to say it. That demon-monster-thing…” Ember cast a claw in a steady point towards Guardian Angel. “I think he did the right thing taking my dad down. You can’t just go killing other creatures...even if you are a dragon. Contrary to what I used to believe might does not make right.”

A huge grin broke over Gusty’s face and she pulled the young lizard into a bear hug. Those words were the words of a just and honorable dragon. Ember came from good stock, her parents, having both started off just the same way all those years ago. The moment of joy collapsed as a pang of sorrow wedged its way into her heart. How poorly had the two ancient dragons aged, their idealism clearly quite dead these days. Releasing her grip on Ember, the alicron met the dragon’s eyes, staring into them fiercely enough to make her flinch after a moment.

“I don’t ask this lightly: What has your mother done to take control of your kin? She might be among the oldest, but there are other dragons close to her age if not her strength.” Gusty questioned sharply.

“You mean the other Elders? She-” Ember paused her scaled brow furrowing. “She called up some old oath they had taken together. I don’t really know much about it, other than they do what she says without question.”

“I don’t remember anything like that.” Gusty put a chin up to her hoof trying to remember the years of the Great Hunt and she and her family’s attempt to save the Dragons from the Cirran Empire.

“It is possible that after you were captured by the Shadow-kin that they took that oath. I know for a fact the Dragons helped defeat the Old Lords during the Cirran Civil War. It’s entirely possible that it is a blood-oath. A special tribute they agreed must be honored during times of war,” Guardian Angel cut in.

Ember’s eyes lit up as he spoke, she held her tongue long enough for him to finish: “Shadow-kin. Mother mentioned that it was one of those things that killed dad. It’s why she’s so upset. She is preparing for war. We are here to enlist Equestria’s help because she believes that they are hiding here.”

The small gathering all looked at each other. Luna looked directly at her stallion friend with a deep concern etched into her face. More stoic Celestia flicked her gaze between the party, but Gusty could tell she was slowly getting more upset.

“You aren’t really Shadow-kin are you?” Ember broke the silence, her focus locked onto the only stallion in the room.

“You might have strange powers I don't understand, even have the weird a magical presence. But you are nothing like the stories the Elders used to tell us when we were hatchlings. You’re calm...approachable...and you did everything you could to not fight my dad. You’re no vicious killer without sanity.” The young dragon took a step forward her body language suggesting she had come to an internal conclusion.

“I just hide it well.” Guardian Angel turned his face away, his voice soft. “I’m every bit the same as the monsters you heard about as a child.”

A new quiet overcame the meeting. Gusty felt the stress of the situation suddenly catch up with her. It did not help that, whether he intended it or not, she could feel the painful self-loathing Guardian Angel was going through. It was a familiar feeling for her, just not one she ever expected to feel from him. There was no faking that kind of internal strife. However, this moment too passed as Celestia cleared her throat.

“Well, Princess Ember. What would you like us to do? We are harboring the fugitive you seek.” The white alicorn cut straight to the point.

“Well...I know that...but my mother doesn’t. So we will do nothing….for now at least,” Ember nodded more to herself than Celestia.

“What an...unexpected choice. We will help you any way we can in delaying the Queen of Fire’s decision. Hopefully, our trump card will be the key to this all,” Luna looked over at Gusty as she spoke. Ember’s face perked up almost instantly as she followed the Princess of the Moon’s gaze.

“That’s right! Gusty...do you really know my mom?! Like I just don’t believe it!” the cyan dragon literally shouted with glee.

“Well...it’s probably more accurate to say that I did, know Ashijinir. And to be honest my memory’s a little fuzzy…” she tried to recover from the sudden change of pace.

“Nonsense! Tell me everything! I can’t wait to tease her about it once this whole thing breezes over!”

Gusty yawned as she turned away from the vault sized door that led into the crystal caverns beneath Canterlot. Ember and her attendants shouted praises to their hosts as they jumped from cluster to cluster of gems, sampling the stones with their teeth. She was not quite sure how long it had taken to get through her stories, but eventually their guests had relaxed and the meeting had ended. Now, she, Celestia, Luna and Guardian Angel stod in a hallway much too narrow for the group of them. They tread down the small halls of the Nightwatch barracks that protected the entrance to the vast underground chamber, each taking turns yawning.

“That went quite well...I need to get some sleep, sun doesn’t raise itself after all. Good night everypony!” Celestia finished her sentence with a teleport.

“I have to catch up on some evening work.” Luna blew a lazy raspberry. “Coming, Guardian Angel?”

“I’ll be along as soon as I’m done with a briefing I have to give to some Nightwatch agents,” he responded.

The remaining three paused in the single-file space, momentarily. The stallion slipped into another hallway before leaning around the corner.

“Be about an hour, I figure,” he stated before he disappeared, leaving Luna and Gusty to stare at each other. They stood awkwardly, neither sure how to make conversation now that they were not at odds over the nature of said stallion.

“You have been sleeping better I’ve noticed,” Luna started.

“Yep. It’s been pretty nice this last month. Really different than what I had been used to,” she replied. Gusty got the sinking feeling that the Princess knew more about her sleeping than she would say aloud.

“Indeed. It may do us some good to go on a few dreamwalks together, to continue keeping your mind distracted,” the Mare of Dreams emphasized. It was not particularly subtle, and especially prude in its implication but Gusty understood her meaning.

“That would actually be quite helpful. Please, the next time you get the chance.” The teal alicorn found herself blushing harder the more she tried to repress the thoughts of her dreams. It was more than a little embarrassing to be reminded that Luna knew all about her fantasies.

However, the stern, stoic look of the Princess softened. Nodding pleasantly, her voice much more relaxed she continued: “Monday evening, then. Have a good night Gusty Twilight.”

With that Luna faded into blue smoke and drifted seemingly out of existence. Gusty slowly began to plod her way out of the facility, struggling to remember the way out. Eventually, a thestral patrol guard found her and escorted her out of the Nightwatch’s department. Unfortunately, she had a long way to go back to her apartment on the other side of the Palace. She could teleport, but her mind was too busy with the tenuous situation that had befallen Equestria.

“Well look who it is!” cried a familiar voice.

Gusty turned her head up from the floor and found Pixie walking towards her. A tub of ice cream cradled in a hoof and a large spoon in each wing.

“What are you doing up so late?” the red-maned mare asked with a smile.

“Politics,” she grumbled to her new friend.

“Ohh. I was wondering why you looked so down….Ice cream?” Pixie offered one of the spoons on an outstretched wing. Gusty stared at the utensil for a brief moment before snatching it in her magic while simultaneously popping open the paper tub’’s lid.

“I think you just became my new bess’ frien’” she mumbled whilst shoving a huge bite into her mouth.

Pixie just laughed and grabbed her own bite. The pair of mares slipped off into an empty conference room. Gusty gladly spent the rest of the night discussing everything with the younger Stormwalker. She needed a moment with a female friend she was not in competition with, and Pixie was the perfect companion. By the time they had finished up talking and Gusty had teleported back to her home the sun was already coming up. She shook her head at herself, she loved sleep too much to be doing things like this but at least this way Luna would not be able to spy this time. And that made her both blush and smile.

Next Chapter: Act 4: Chapter 5 - The Varied Hearts of Monsters Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 42 Minutes