Movement from inside the tent woke me up.

I sat up in my bedroll.

Tia was up and doing something with a pair of saddlebags.

Bright sunlight streamed through the tent flap.

Oh... I had stayed up for a few hours, gotten tired, and entered my own bedroll next to Tia.

"Oh did I wake you?" Tia asked.

"It's fine." I said, stretching and rubbing my eyes. "It's time to get up anyway." I continued, pulling myself out of the bedroll.

"Good, because I'd like you to come with me to my meeting. I'd like your opinion with how things are going."

"I can do that." I confirmed, giving one final stretch.

"Excellent, I'll be waiting outside then." she said, pulling her bags over her withers and jumping out of the tent flap, leaving me alone.

I yawned and stood up. I pulled the Cragodile skin vest, Manitcore hide cloak, and sword still in its sheath, off the crate I had left them on and donned them.

I gave my eyes one final rub with the back of my hoof and pushed through the flap.

Bright morning sunlight streamed through islands of clouds in the sky. Ponies of all shapes and colors trotted by along the path between tents. The smell of numerous cooking fires roasting preserved fruits and roots on the wind.

Tia waited patiently just off to the side.

"I'm coming I'm coming." I reassured as I jumped down from the cart's lip.

"You're fine Lu." Tia answered. "They won't start without me anyway." Tia turned, joining the crowd.

I rushed to her side, unwilling to lose her in the bustling traffic of Ponies.

Tia lead me across the camp, to where one of the larger tents that had previously belonged to Pegasopolis had been erected, I could see a gathering of Ponies stood or sat around a long table through the flap.

Tia pushed the cover aside and entered.

"Sorry for the wait, yesterday was hard for us all." she provided.

"Not at all." A green Pony whose name I didn't know spoke up. "We actually just finished breakfast."

"Is there anything left? We haven't had a chance to get anything yet." Tia asked, pulling what must've been an empty crate over to the head of the table.

I noted the royal crest of Unicornia had been embossed in the table's surface as I passed by, pulling at another crate that looked to be empty.

"Yeah, here." the green stallion replied, producing a wooden bowl that had a few slices of dehydrated fruit.

"Oh! Thank you Timber Sprout!" Tia beamed, accepting the bowl.

Scraaaaape.

I pulled the crate over besides Tia and sat down.

"Here Lu." Tia said, passing the bowl to me, two slices in her yellow magic.

"Thank you Tia." I nodded, accepting the bowl with both hooves.

I took two slices out and set the bowl down on the table.

Nopony paid me the slightest bit attention.

I bit off a piece of fruit, but otherwise remained silent.

"Alright, to business." Tia started, not eating her fruit quite yet. "Timber, did you get the numbers for the Census?"

"I have." the now identified Timber Sprout informed. "Roughly 340 Ponies. About evenly split between the original tribes."

"Odd... I expected more..." Tia remarked. "Certainly feels like more." she turned to another Pony, this one I did recognize. "Plowshare, any idea how many foodstuffs we've found?"

"Hmm..." a dark grey speckled brown coated mare I recognized from Ùllahdmaiden hummed. "If we've got 340 Ponies... I'd say we could last a few years if nothing spoiled. But if the rumor mills are true, than the whole North might be migrating South. 340 might become thousands if that's true, especially if they believe us about the Windegos."

"Too many Ponies saw them." Tia shook her head. "If anypony escaped and fled North to safety, then the news will spread like wildfire. We have to assume Ponies will look to join us... Even if only out of desperation."

"Well... Depending on how many Ponies come, if we adhere to strict rationing we could accommodate a large number more Ponies for the Winter. After that we're in the clear if we can finally get a crop going." Plowshare informed.

"Strict rationing it is then." Tia nodded. "Ponies won't like it, but they won't complain if nopony is actually starving if times get lean again."

"Well what about the-" A black and white mottled stallion began, only to be interrupted by commotion outside the tent flap.

"Lady Platinum! I must insist! You know better than to barge into a confidential room uninvited!" came the voice of an old stallion.

"Starswirl, I think if they are to attempt to unify the tribes, then surely they could do with the original tribe's input!"

The figure of Princess Platinum burst through the tent flap.

"We're here!" she cheered.

Behind her, enveloped in a pearlescent sheen, floated the forms of Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead.

Hurricane looked glum at her treatment, but Puddinghead was busy pushing herself into a perpetual spin and was having the time of her life.

"Wheeeee!" she cheered.

That was the mare that Tia was surprised hadn't said anything? I was starting to wonder if Puddinghead was merely a figurehead rather than legitimate ruler.

"Speaking of." the stallion who had been speaking continued. "What about them? The original tribes?"

"Yes! Surely if you mean to unify the tribes than we three belong at the table!" Platinum advanced into the tent, carrying her two circumstantial companions behind.

Starswirl pushed his way into the tent after Platinum had vacated the space.

"Apologies! I tried to warn her that-" he began.

Tia smiled mischievously.

"You are pardoned Master Wizard, the breach of conduct is your Master's and your Master's alone." Tia said formally.

Platinum, seemingly hadn't heard Tia, for she deposited the two mares in her magic in an available space along the table, and advanced towards the head of the table.

Where Tia sat.

Platinum stopped in front of Tia expectantly.

Tia didn't budge, but raised an eyebrow at the mare.

"Oh, perhaps you're not aware." Platinum started to explain. "The head of the table is always reserved for the highest ranked Nobleborn."

"The authority of the Unicornian Crown is not recognized here." Tia flatly stated. That certainly gave Platinum a start.

"W-What?!" she stammered. "B-Bu-B-But, last night! We had a thrilling discussion! About how-"

"Any theorized blood relation we may or may not share has no bearing here." Tia interrupted. "The authority of your Crown ended the moment the Windegos wiped out your armies." she cast a glance towards Puddinghead and Hurricane. "All three of them."

"But how will you-" Platinum started again.

"Lu? If the estranged Princess Platinum continues to make a nuisance of herself, remove her from the tent."

"Of course Tia." I nodded.

"But what do you expect to-"

I drew my new sword from the scabbard.

The sharp rasp of the metal seemed to cut through even the sounds from outside.

The world fell silent.

I cast a glance at Starswirl, looking for any sign he would interfere.

The stallion was sweating profusely.

I had slain a Hydra and several of the Windegos when he could not. Could I defeat him as well?

"I think my Lady..." the stallion slowly spoke. "That it would be in both of our best interests if you were to assume... A more humble approach." he recommended.

I turned my glare back to the Princess who may or may not be my Aunt.

Her mouth was opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"Starswirl! You don't mean to-" she got out.

"The truth of the matter;" Tia interjected. "Is that while yes, I think your cooperation would be invaluable, it is not necessarily required." she glared at Platinum. "The leadership of the original tribes got us into this mess, and I don't think there are many Ponies in this camp who would trust those same Ponies to pull them out of it."

"But we're-" Platinum tried again.

"Family doesn't leave their relatives to starve, or lay siege to their home."

Platinum closed her mouth.

She looked like she was about to try again...

She stepped back, joined Hurricane and Puddinghead, and remained silent.

"Thank you." Tia straightened herself. "Now, you were saying Split?"

The black and white stallion perked up at his name.

"What do we do about the original tribes?" he asked again. "We can't trust that they'll see the error of their ways, so what do we do if they don't? We'll just be repeating their same mistakes if this becomes a massive four-way conflict!"

The fight seemed to be averted, so I sheathed the Unicornian sword and sat back down.

Out of the corner of my eye, Platinum's ears flattened.

"A good question." Tia stated, turning to the three leaders of the tribes. "You've seen what we've seen. You know why we mustn't fight. If we succeed, the Pegasi will no longer have to raid to survive." she addressed Hurricane. "The Earth Ponies won't have to worry about being killed for their crop." she nodded at Puddinghead. "And Unicorns won't starve in their huts." she looked back to Platinum, as if daring her to challenge the statement.

Platinum swallowed nerviously.

"That's all well and good;" Commander Hurricane spoke up. "But I don't think many Pegasi will be happy, fighting and war is our lifeblood. What honor is there if our meals are simply given?"

"Why not fight to protect the Earth Pony's farms? We'd all be naïve fools if we thought the monsters of the wild would live with us peacefully. Nevermind the Dragons when they come looking for gold, or the Griffins when they want Pony flesh. There would still be fighting in our future. You just don't have to starve for it."

"Huh..." Hurricane realized. "I... Never thought about it that way..." she rubbed the back of her neck.

"Puddinghead, you've been quiet, but you have the most to gain from this. If the Pegasi and Unicorns were to protect you, rather than raid, how many of your own lives would you save?"

"Oh I'm all for it!" Puddinghead chirped. "No arguments from me!"

That caught Platinum off guard, for she shook her head in shock and stared at the mare besides her.

"Platinum, how much time does Unicornia spend trying feed its own citizens? How much of your life is wasted trying to get enough food from between the conflict between Pegasi and Earth Pony?"

That threw Platinum for a loop, she looked like she was about to say a rebuttal, but whatever she was thinking fell short, and she let her hoof drop to the ground.

"Too much..." she admitted.

Tia nodded.

"We've all lost friends and family, I know I have. But I understand where everypony is coming from. And I wouldn't be worthy of attempting this, perhaps for the first time since the Flight, if I wasn't willing to forgive and forget myself."

"I'll..." Platinum spoke slowly. "I'll talk to my Mother. Surely she'll listen to me better than she would you..." she admitted.

"I'm already on board!" Puddinghead smiled, bouncing slightly. "It'll be a breeze to get all the Clans to understand!"

"Can't argue the promise of a decent scrap and warm food." Hurricane shrugged. "What's the worst Pegasopolis can do? Court Martial me?"

"I'm glad to hear you all agree." Tia nodded. "With a small enough band of Ponies, and if you hurry, you can return to your homelands before Winter truly starts. Ask around if any Ponies formerly of your army wishes to join you, the road will be much safer if you aren't alone. As a show of good faith, I'll have Timber Sprout give each of you enough food for your parties to eat for a single Moon. That should be enough to get you all home."

Wow... Tia really was a natural leader if she just came up with that on the spot. I would've probably resorted to more threats and coercement.

That or nopony would've even listened to me to start with.

"Yeah... That's probably a good point..." Hurricane admitted. "Later!" she zipped out of the tent, sending gusts of waves as the tent flap whipped from her passing.

"My lady..." Starswirl bowed to Platinum. "I ask for your permission to remain here." he asked.

"What?! Why Starswirl? Wouldn't it be better if you remained by my side?" Platinum asked, surprise written across her features.

"I-" Starswirl paused, trying to find his words. "I'd like to keep an eye on your Nieces." his ear cocked, pointing itself in my and Tia's direction.

"I see..." Platinum sighed. "I'm sure you have more reasons, so I grant your request." she leaned in close to the stallion. "Don't make me regret it."

"I won't my Lady." the stallion dipped a bit further in his bow before standing up.

"Welp!" Puddinghead piped up. "Guess I've got a fellowship to gather and trip to make!" she hopped after Hurricane.

... I wasn't quite certain that mare was all there.

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur. I finished my two slices of fruit, and the others discussed the gritty details of how they were to accomplish this fantastical feat. But the core details remained the same.

And that was all I needed.

We all know Puddinghead has a copy of the script in her saddlebag.