About two weeks after her victory in the war games, Rainbow was on her way to the palace entrance. Caesar Diocletian was meeting with several foreign dignitaries and needed her to translate for him. While he spoke zebrican, he didn't speak equish, and so asked her to do it since it was her first language. She wasn't told who these dignitaries were, but she was on her guard, just in case.

Did she think that it was one from Equestria? No, but it paid to be careful. Judging from old maps she had looked at during her pregnancy (What? She was bored out of her mind!), Equestria was a long way away. That didn't really mean anything, but she still had her doubts it was them. Besides, other species and nations spoke equish, not just Equestria.

She arrived outside the palace steps, finding the Caesar and his honor guard. She came to a halt by his side, touching down with a metallic clank of her claws and folded in her wings. Ahead of her, she saw two groups heading down the Via Imperatoria, what she guessed was the foreigners. She was able to get a better picture of them as they got closer.

One was a group of zebras. Several warriors, clad in their light subarmailis-like jackets, furs, and other bits of armor, decorated with jewel and gold jewelry. In the middle of them stood another zebra that stood out from the others. He wore a leopard skin draped over his back, reminding Rainbow somewhat of the bearskins worn by Signifiers in the army. Besides that, he wore better quality furs, more and more expensive-looking jewelry, and a feather and hide headdress. Due to their diplomatic status, they were allowed to bring their weapons inside the pomerium, the massively curved blades, wooden clubs, and short thrusting spears clearly visible.

The other group was made up of griffons, at least as many as the zebras. Most of them appeared to be bodyguards as well, wearing heavy lamellar armor and large sallet helmets, whose visors rested just over the top part of the beak. They were also allowed to bring their weapons inside the city, these being curved, slashing sabers. At the head of the group was a female griffon wearing vambraces, a beige sash held up by a large golden badge and a peaked cap with a griffonian signet on it. As she got closer, Rainbow couldn't help but think that the griffoness was somewhat familiar.

The two groups came up the steps, the bodyguards at the lead parting to allow the leaders to go past them. Diocletian said something to the zebra in, well, in zebrican, then turned to her. "Tell her 'Greetings, Chancellor Gilda of the New Griffonian Republic, and welcome to Pryha.'"

At the mention of the name, she turned back to the griffoness at the lead, looking much closer at her. Sure enough, it was her; the long purple-tipped feathers swept to the side over her head, the relaxed yet confident posture, all of it was Gilda. And judging from her expression, she must've realized who she was too. Still, Rainbow had been given an order, and carried it out, relaying the greeting to her.

"Er, Ditto, she said. "Well, let's get this underway. I still have a lot to do up in Griffonstone."

She relayed the words to the Caesar, who told her, "Translate this: 'Very well. Follow me.'" As he told the zebra likely the same thing, she translated this to Gilda. The Caesar and his guards turned and went up the stairs, followed by the two groups.

As they entered the castle, Gilda grabbed her shoulder. Using it to pull herself to Rainbows' side as they walked, she said, "So, long time no see, eh? How'd you end up workin' for the Pryhans, of all people?"

"Long story. How'd you become the Chancellor of Griffonia? You could barely manage the Flight Camp sprinters team, let alone a whole kingdom."

"Equally, if not longer story, she said.

Rainbow looked down a bit, before saying, "Hey, Gil. Listen, about Ponyville..."

"Heh, water under the bridge, Dash."

"Really? You've never been the forgiving type, even before what happened."

"Yeah, she said, rubbing a talon across the back of her head, causing her crown to fall forward a bit. "Well, when you're suddenly given control over an almost completely collapsed nation you're expected to rebuild, you learn to forgive and forget on small things. 'Sides, from what I heard, I was probably a better friend than any of those other losers."

"Yeah. Yeah, you were," she said as they arrived at the parliamentary chambers, which also served as a throne room. "Well, to business."

"Yep. Though, after this, let's go for a fly. I still say I can beat you, Rainbow flank."

"You're on featherbrain."

Rainbow didn't pay too much attention to what was said. Well, she sort of had to, to translate and all, but not really the content. She did pick up a bit, though.

The primary subject of the meeting was essentially the Caesar asking for permission. He revealed to them, and to the Parliamentarians in a grandiose speech about his plans to restore the Empire's glory. He was building up the Regiments and restoring the navy's power for an invasion of the Demosian Peninsula. He claimed that it was the primary seat of Pryhan power, besides the peninsula, and as such, it was more or less theirs. Besides, due to the crappy and violent conditions of the peninsula, it was his moral obligation to help them. As he said, 'Those who see evil and do nothing are just as evil as those who commit it'.

He asked for borders; how far his men should expand to where they wouldn't feel threatened. Gilda said that it would be the old border between Pryha and Griffonia. That being the Strait of Beccus, a pair of massive cliffs with a separation of about three miles of oceans. The zebrican ambassador, as she later learned, was much more demanding of the Caesar. He didn't want him to expand at all, apparently claiming that he wouldn't stop his campaigns of conquest at Demos. In a show of good faith that he wouldn't, he would return the lands captured under Drusilla's campaigns several years ago. That seemed to calm him down.

After that, the talks shifted to an alliance. Trade agreements, mutual defense treaties, etc. that was way over her head. She didn't even try to understand any of this, so she just translated, and didn't bother. Apparently, Gilda didn't understand any of it either, so the Caesar gave her somewhat dumbed-down versions of the deals for her. By the end, Gilda seemed somewhat satisfied, but not the zebra. Said something about going back to get approval of some council.

After all this, the two groups left to go to their rooms to prepare for dinner. After they left, the Caesar ordered her and the other Praetors to come to meet him. When she was there with the other officers, he told them of his campaign plan. He ordered them to make ready to move out. A reinvigorated navy would be ready on the coast to take them to the mainland.

Next Chapter: 65~At sea Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 15 Minutes