The way I saw it, there were two choices. I could sit and listen. I doubted that was the last pointless argument that would be raised. I could sit, wait, watch, and maybe learn. There were advantages to the idea. It meant knowing the players. It also meant listening to... this.

"This is beside the point," spoke an angry tone as a mare rose to her hooves. "I know it's 'the standard' to pretend it isn't happening, but--"

The room exploded into shouts and glares in equal measure as factions began to form quickly. Whatever she had been about to raise was quickly forgotten in favor of the entrenched tribalism that ran through things.

Easy Breeze knocked my leg with a hoof. "This is getting a little nuts."

Soft Word let out a little sigh. "I can't disagree with the lady. This is not us at our... best."

"Silence!" boomed Celestia in a great tone. "This is unacceptable!" She raised a hoof to her chest, voice lowering. "Let us return to civility."

One of the mares near her turned her head. "Celestia, they have a point. The war, it drains our coffers and leaves little room for--"

The rabble rousing started to build just as quickly as it had been shouted down.

"We must defend what is ours!"

"Why haven't you brought the sun down on them?"

"We shouldn't even be fighting in the first place!"

It was no debate. It was a shouting match.

"Silence!" boomed Celestia, seemingly able to win in terms of volume. "Order... We are the top of our society. Let us behave appropriately." Her eyes swept over the agitated crowd. "Let us turn our attention to local matters."

A stallion bounced up to his hooves. "Local matters? The city is a disaster! Why is it allowed to be a lawless hole in the ground?"

I could see Celestia's jawline tense. She made soft excuses, but I was starting to get an idea. If they were at war, a serious one, maybe they just didn't have the local guards. They had all been deployed. That was far from an ideal situation.

I stood up. Countless eyes panned over to me, one of the tallest things in the room for sake of being a biped. "Honored mares and stallions," I started, trying for the most formal bow I could muster. "If it pleases the court, I would like to speak."

The conversation changed rapidly. They were talking about who I was and what I was. I was the star, for the moment, for good or ill. Celestia smiled thinly. "I present Sir Langerman. He has been surveying the city for potential improve--"

A hoof struck the floor. "You mean he's moving in on our duty?" bellowed a large mare, glaring at both Celestia and myself. "Good to just hear now we've been dismissed."

"Nothing of the sort, I assure." Celestia waved a hoof placatingly as she smiled at the large mare. "This is just for an... outside perspective, and he has no leave to initiate anything, just to look."

I looked to the irate mare directly. "It would be an honor to work with you. We should talk after court." I had stepped right on their feet, or hooves. Playing nice seemed like the right course of action. "But what I wanted to talk about--" I slowly turned as I continued. "--has nothing to do with construction."

A stallion pointed down at me from higher in the amphitheatre. "Since when do we allow misshapen minotaurs to speak in court?!"

The nubs of unicorn magic pressed against me as some unicorns took it upon themselves to examine me without shame or tact. The fact that I could see several different colors meant more than one was doing it, which also meant the blame couldn't be properly assigned to any one pony. They were patting me down and inspecting me shamelessly.

Celestia clapped her metal-clad hooves together. "May I remind that the use of magic on another in court is quite forbidden without express consent?" The lights and sensations faded quickly. "Sir Langerman has approached us as a friendly outsider. We could, perhaps, benefit from a fresh perspective to help draw us free of this rut we've found ourselves stuck in."

The oldest-appearing mare on the stage stood up. "This is against the usual protocols. You." She was pointing at me. "What kingdom do you represent?"

None she had heard of, I felt certain. "I hail from the distant kingdom of the Oo-knighted straights. I don't 'represent' them anymore than any person might their homeland. I will not be returning there, and I am aware of this."

The mare leaned forward, wrinkled brows knitted. "Because you don't want to?"

"Because I cannot," I replied truthfully. The one trip was chancy enough. "I am here, and I plan to stay. If I can make my new home better, that is exactly what I'd like to do."

The mare raised a brow before the other joined it. "You're a long way from home, young stallion. Don't you miss your friends, family? Before you rush to help your neighbors, maybe you should tend to your own needs." She sounded... I wanted to say almost nice? Like a grandma giving a gentle speaking to a lost child that wasn't hers.

Easy Breeze suddenly bounced up beside me. "Don't talk to him like--"

I clapped a hand over her snout. "Pardon her. Thank you, for your concern. This is my home. There is no doubt there, miss."

A smile spread over her wrinkled lips. "I am Shadymane, proud daughter of Mistmane." She raised a hobbled hoof to run through her mane. "I don't have the illustrious mane of my dam, but I hope to hold some small echo of things."

Celestia looked at ease with the pleasant conversation, but said nothing.

Others were less pleased. One mare coughed into her hoof. "Be that as it may, we should continue."

"As I was saying." I put a hand on my chest and released Easy in the same motion. "This is my home. I want to help Equestria, and proudly declare myself as an Equestrian."

A soft snicker came from a few rows back, but I couldn't hear their whispered comment. I could only guess. "Two legs or four, we are united."

Soft Word clopped his hooves together. "Well put." His motion of encouragement shook others, and soon others were clapping along. I didn't know Soft Word had so much influence, but it was impossible to miss how the room joined in the applause. It was also embarrassing. I was not used to being the center of an equine stomping and clapping circle.

The irate mare from earlier thrust a hoof towards me. Was she about to attack? "We of the construction guild wish to formally extend an invitation. Perhaps this outsider meant no harm. This is easily remedied. If he joins our order, then no harm was done."

That was not a road I wanted to rush down, but saying 'no' would be quite an insult, that much I was certain of. "Such an honor. I will need to speak with my assistant--" I gestured at Easy. "--before I properly reply to that. I assume the invitation includes her as well? No matter, we can discuss it later." There, delayed, I hoped.

I felt magic pressing down subtly and a hoof brushed against me. Soft was pointing at the ground as subtly as he could. I took the hint. I bowed once more, then settled back in my seat. I had been introduced.

Celestia cleared her throat. "Next on the agenda..."

A mare bounced to her hooves. "We need more guards! The only ones I even see are the ones in direct employ of nobles and royalty. This is unacceptable!"

A stallion raised a hoof. "The impediments of trade are becoming all the more insurmountable. Bandits roam the countryside, to say nothing of monsters that have not a scrap of fear in where they nest."

The discussion rapidly devolved to arguing over what had precedent over what.

~You. Sir Langerman,~ whispered a voice between my ears. Telepathy was not a talent I thought ponies had, and yet... there it was? ~Ah, good, I'm reaching you. Don't be alarmed, even if I sound like your inside-voice. It's Shadymane.~

I looked up and could see her looking down at me, meeting my gaze directly. ~Don't say anything, just listen. I may be old, but I haven't gone blind, yet. Celestia thinks you may be useful. It's obvious. Little filly is desperate for anything that'd take some of the burden off her shoulders. Poor thing, no one mare should have to suffer alone. I'm prattling, nevermind that.~ Now that I knew who was doing it, it was easy to imagine that mental voice being hers. ~Tell me, here, where lies do not easily live. Is this truly your home?~

~I have already made peace with the fact that I'll probably never go back to where I was born. I like ponies, and I want to help.~

~You sound like a farmer that's especially fond of their dog. Is that what we are? Cute pets? Perhaps useful.~ Her features darkened slightly. ~Speak the truth, or think it. I forget which is more appropriate.~

Ugh. I mean, sorta?

~How honest.~

I hadn't meant to 'think' that!

~But you did.~ She cracked a little smile. ~This is, perhaps, cheating, but it is also my talent. Our minds bridged, we see the truth, as ugly as it can be. Is that mare at your side your fondest pet? Your lapdog, as it were?~

I glanced aside at Easy Breeze. Thinking of her as a pet would be a quick way to infuriate her. She was far too proud to approach that way.

~You see that? But you see ponies, as a whole, as something less... Perhaps I am being overly cruel. Yours is not a malice, simply ignorance. An ignorance common in pony or anything else. What is not family is 'other', and 'other' is quickly reduced, hmm. I should imagine you do not think I am cute any longer.~

She was intimidating, but not scary, I thought. She was like the ultimate grandma pony. She saw through your bullshit, but if you treated her right, she'd probably give you a cookie.

Oh the smile that spread on her face. ~I'm not familiar with the way you think, but I got the feeling, and I approve. You may call me grandma, if you wish. I expect the respect a grandma deserves to go with it. Now, on your other side. Soft Word, how'd you get his interest? Watch out for him. Nice enough, but he has his own goals.~

A sudden metal clang shook me out of my telepathic stupor. Celestia had clapped her hooves, and ponies were standing up and dispersing. Easy prodded at me with a hoof. "You were looking kinda distant there. What were you thinking about?" Her ears perked up at me. "Got a crazy plan?"

Soft Word cleared his throat. "You have a guest." He gestured with a subtle flick of his head. The mare with the construction guild was approaching. "Best of luck, old chap. I'll see you tomorrow morning, I presume?" He didn't wait for an answer, hopping down to the floor and starting to walk leisurely towards the door.

I would have to face the guild leader with just Easy Breeze at my side. I could have had worse allies.

She approached with four other ponies behind her like a flock of geese, though they were all unicorns. Two of them were talking with one another in guarded tones, while the other two were watching me intently, as if I could do something at any moment.

The leader herself moved with confidence. No sane being would dare attack her, and there, in the court? It would have been madness to even consider it.

No one said I wasn't mad, by pony standards.

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