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Diplomacy through schooling

by Evilhumour

Chapter 7: Chapter Seven

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Chapter Seven

It was just a few days into their honeymoon and Pharynx was in bliss. “This is wonderful Lus,” he muttered to his wife, who was sitting across from him on the massage bench. “Still not sure why I am surprised you guys had this private island, but I ain’t complaining.”

“Technically, it was just Celly’s until I returned,” Luna said as she stretched out as their servants rubbed her back. “She bought it from the original owners for a private getaway at some point while I was unavailable, intending to use it as a vacation spot for herself if she ever had the opportunity. After I came back, she offered me the use of it as well if I ever wanted - when I asked why she picked it out in the first place, she said she’d heard that the surfing was supposed to be very good near here.” She smiled. “After you proposed, she promised me exclusive use of it for our honeymoon.”

“Celly, surfing?” Pharynx snorted. “I’d pay to see that.”

“My sister has a long list of things she’d like to try if she ever has time off,” Luna said. “Surfing is one of them; I think hearing about it from the harpies may have inspired her.” She then chuckled. “Though I do agree with you that it would be a truly entertaining sight to behold. For that matter, I have heard that Twilight gave it a try when she was in Ornithia, and has declined to comment on how it turned out.”

“If it’s anything like her dancing, it was probably a sight,” Pharynx said with a chuckle of his own.

“She learned that from Celly, actually,” Luna told him.

“Well, it clearly doesn’t run in the family,” he said with a chirp as the servants managed to work on a kink that he had been having trouble with for a while.

“Smart grub,” Luna said with a smile on her face.

“A strong sense of self-preservation goes a long way,” he agreed. “But seriously, you are good on the dance floor.” He considered. “So’s Scolopidia, for that matter - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trio dance that worked out so well for more than a few minutes. And I once got assigned to spy on some dance club for several months and absorb their skills to share with the rest of the hive.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Research to help your people blend in?”

“That, and there were rumors that one of the dancers was actually a changeling from another hive working some scheme of their own Queen’s,” he said. “If they were - and it turns out they weren’t - Chrysalis wanted to know what they were up to.”

“So that’s how you know to dance so well,” Luna purred to herself with Pharynx grinning at her.

“I can’t hide anything from yo-” Pharynx stopped and gave the approaching individual a look. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Prince Pharynx,” the pony said, bowing his head. “Just a message that came in from Canterlot; nothing that requires your immediate attention but-”

“Bring it over, my little pony,” Luna said, sitting upright. “Might as well see what my sister deemed important enough to send a message and yet not urgent enough to intrude personally.”

“As you wish, your highnesses,” the pony said, bringing the letter over to them with the rest of the ponies leaving the room. Luna waited until Pharynx gave the nod to signify they were alone before breaking the seal to read the letter. After a moment of reading, Luna nodded her head. “Ah! I see what prompted such a response.”

“What, did Twilight make friends with another would-be danger to the realm?” Pharynx asked as he moved beside his wife.

“Actually, yes,” Luna said. “And it’s one you and I were involved in as well - that mare who’d formed a cult based on a hatred of Cutie Marks, whom we were sending nightmares to after you proposed to me and I began preparing you for the use of your new abilities.”

“Seriously?” Pharynx rubbed the back of her neck. “And I was just kidding…”

“Kidding or not, that’s exactly what happened,” Luna said as she rolled the scroll back up. “It would seem that Discord had detected her magic at work and informed Twilight. She and her friends went there the day after our wedding, and were able to talk her down. They brought her back to Canterlot after that, and she’s been assigned a strict regiment of therapy to help her get past her issues.” She looked at her husband. “Also, Twilight’s trying to find the young colt - now a grown stallion - who is responsible for triggering such issues, so that she may have words with him over the consequences of his actions. She’s still somewhat busy with her work on setting up her school, and has to divide her attention between that and the search, so it’s taking a little longer than she expected, but she expects to have found him soon.”

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Something about Celly’s and my old castle,” Luna said. “Apparently Miss Lulamoon got the idea that she wanted to use it for something at some future time, and wants to talk to Celly and I about it together after you and I get back.”

“Right.” he said, continuing to rub her back.

“At any rate, nothing that actively requires our attention until we get back, or that we cut things short,” Luna said. “So do keep on with what you’re doing, please?”

Pharynx smiled. “It would be my pleasure,” he said.


Almost two weeks after the royal wedding, Sunburst was nervous; he hadn’t been to Canterlot Castle ever. But when the summons from Princess Twilight had come in, requesting his presence there, he’d been too terrified to decline.

What would a Princess want with a failed student like me? he wondered as he entered the meeting room.

Inside, he found Equestria’s newest princess, sitting and going over some paperwork. When she heard him entering though, she looked up, her expression unreadable.

“Sunburst, of Sire’s Hollow,” she said. “Only child. Parents, Sunspot - now passed, and Stellar Flare, still living in Sire’s Hollow.”

Sunburst nodded nervously. “That’s me,” he said.

“Graduate of Princess Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns.” She gazed at him. “Though when I checked the records, I was quite surprised to find that while your grades in the theoretical exams were some of the best recorded, the practical scores were considerably lower than expected for somepony who got his Cutie Mark while performing magic.”

Sunburst blinked. “How did you know that?” he asked. “I didn’t think that was a matter of public record.”

“I recently met someone who was there when it happened,” Twilight said. “A foalhood friend of yours - Starlight Glimmer.”

Sunburst blinked. “Starlight? Wow, that’s… that’s a name I haven’t heard in years.”

“I know.” Twilight gazed at him. “Sit.”

He did so.

“Sunburst, I called you here for a very important reason.” Twilight looked him straight in the eye. “You were Starlight’s closest friend - her only friend. Why didn’t you at least try to stay in touch with her after you came to Canterlot?”

Sunburst gulped. “Well, I…” He hung his head. “Because I was embarrassed.” He gestured to the papers she had. “You saw my scores; I was a failure. Reading about magic is one thing, but I couldn’t actually do any of it. Researching magic is my real talent; that spell that got me my mark was a fluke. And after all the expectations my family had for me, I didn’t want them to know. Or Starlight, because she’d have been so disappointed in me. I’d rather she just forgot I ever existed than know that her best friend was a failure.”

Twilight’s gaze softened for a bit, before she sighed. “And you let your doubts take over,” she said. “You decided to wallow in self-pity rather than admit the truth.”

“Yes.” Sunburst looked at her. “Can… can I go now? I’m sure you don’t want to be around a failure.”

“No.” Twilight looked at him more sternly. “Sunburst, do you know how hurt and abandoned Starlight felt when you didn’t stay in touch with her?”

Sunburst looked blank. “Um, no.”

“Well, she did.” Twilight’s expression hadn’t changed. “You sent her into a downward spiral that led her to extremes the likes of which I haven’t seen in any normal pony - yes, I know she didn’t write you either, but if you had tried to keep in touch, maybe it would have helped her. I brought you here because I hoped bringing the two of you back together would help her now.” She sighed. “And I think I’m going to have to turn this over to another pony who can explain to you just how badly off she ended up because of your actions. A pony who’s been listening to Starlight, hearing her out when she needed someone besides a professional - not that her therapist hasn’t been helpful, but she needed more.” She rose from her seat, went to the back corner, and with a flash of her horn, exposed the pony who’d been listening to them the whole time. “He’s all yours.”

Seeing the look on the face of the pony now standing before him, Sunburst gulped. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” he asked.

“You might say that,” Twilight Velvet said as she sat. “Now, young colt… my daughter was absolutely right, about many things. And I’m going to explain to you just how badly hurt that young mare of yours was by your actions.”

Sunburst’s ears flicked. Yep, I’m in trouble, he thought.


Even as she left the room, Twilight could see Sunburst shrinking into his seat as her mother began speaking, though shutting the door behind her cut off the sound. Outside, she found Celestia waiting for her.

“Good job of setting your other mother on him Twilight,” Celestia said as Twilight approached her. “I mean no offense, of course, but Velvet has quite a bit more experience in this department.”

Twilight eyed her. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard somepony make those sorts of remarks,” she said. “What happened while I was gone?”

Celestia leaned down and gave her a nuzzle. “The truth is, Velvet has come to recognize the feelings I have for you,” she said.

Twilight backed up and raised a hoof. “Hold it right there,” she said. “I’ve had one love confession this year already, and I still haven’t made up my mind how I feel about it. I care for Moondancer, but…”

“A different type of feelings, Twilight,” Celestia said with a light chuckle. “The truth is, of all the students I’ve had over the years, I’ve felt rather strongly about some of them - you and Sunset, for instance - but in a way that was by no means romantic.” She sighed. “I do love the both of you, but I didn’t want to say it aloud, until your mother recognized how I felt and talked to me about it. You see… I thought that saying how I felt would mean I was stealing you from her.”

Twilight’s eyes whirled as she thought about this, before finally it hit her. “You mean…”

“I mean that I love you as if you were my own little filly,” Celestia said. “Velvet recognizes that, and she’s given me the courage to admit to it. And she doesn’t mind in the slightest.”

Twilight sat down, hard.

Celestia looked at her, concerned. “Twilight?”

No response.

“Twilight?”

Still no response.

Celestia leaned in, even more concerned. “Twilight, are you alright?”

There was a flash in Twilight’s eyes, and then she moved.

The next thing Celestia knew, she was flat on her back, halfway down the hall, with a smaller alicorn’s head pressed against her chest and a pair of forelegs wrapped around her barrel.

“Princess… do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear that?” Twilight’s voice whispered into her ear.

Celestia smiled, and wrapped her own forelegs around Twilight. “Far too long, Twilight,” she whispered back. “Far too long.”


It was a bustling day in Ponyville, even though it was the start of the weekend. More and more families had arrived in the growing town with many also arriving to help finish the new school’s construction. Many teachers had arrived to begin conferences with one another to go over different lesson plans and schedules while adhering to the guidelines that Princess Twilight had left for them in her absence, having cited an issue that had arisen and required her direct attention in Canterlot, but promising that she would be back by nightfall if not earlier to help with the preparations. That had left the youths - the future students who’d come well in advance of the school’s opening - to make up their own time and begin to explore their new surroundings. Be they ponies, hippogriffs, yaks, changelings, wolves, gargoyles, abyssinians, ahuizotls, or any of a number of other species.

Like griffons.

Since Twilight’s intervention in Byzantian, the Griffon Nation had undergone a massive turnaround, and while many of its members had left their homeland to get the training and education for in how to actually run a nation, they’d finally elected a new Council of Elders, in which each member represented a different town or general area. The representative from the town of Griffonstone had been “Grandpa” Gruff, the eldest griffon in that settlement, who’d subsequently been elected the Chief Councilor (one thing the griffons could agree on: they did not want another King, not after what John did). He’d also been back in town the day that Rainbow Dash came by to reconnect with Gilda, another griffon who lived there, soon after Equestria’s latest Royal Wedding. The pair’s reunion hadn’t been pretty at first; Gilda had still had a lot of frustration and aggression to work out after how they’d parted the last time they’d seen one another. But in the end, they’d worked through everything, and consequently Gruff had appointed her to serve as the Griffon Nation’s official representative to Equestria until another griffon had been fully and officially trained to serve in the role.

He’d also made her the official emergency contact and parental figure for Gallus, an orphaned cub who’d by that time been chosen to be the first Griffon Nation student to attend Twilight’s new school. His orphan status wasn’t the reason he was sent - they’d picked many lucky chicks and cubs to go get a proper education, and he’d just been the first to be selected, going to where Princess Twilight lived no less. Soon after arriving, Gilda had told him to go out and mingle, to try and find some new friends, while she finalized the paperwork for his classes. Now, as he looked around, he couldn’t help but snort as he thought about how lucky these ponies must be to live in a place like this full-time.

It was still dull; there were not many interesting places or people to meet up with yet. Sure, this place was supposed to be a school of friendship, but he didn’t seem to be doing too well so far-

Then someone bumped into him, and he looked back to see a green Earth pony, who was looking embarrassed as he backed up. “Whoa, sorry!” he apologized as he rubbed his face. “I'm Sandbar. Are you a student here, too?”

Instinct kicked in, and Gallus huffed. “No, I just figured I'd randomly stand here and see how many ponies would walk into me.”

“Heh.” Sandbar looked even more embarrassed. “Yeah, I was kinda askin’ for that one, wasn’t I?”

“You could say that.” Gallus sighed. “At least you’re talking to me.”

“Sure I’m talking. Why wouldn’t anyone want to talk to you?” Sandbar asked.

“Same reason nocreature’s really said anything to me yet,” an orange dragon said as she walked up. “We’re cranky, and that scares people.”

“Hah!” another voice suddenly interjected. “Yaks not scared of anything!” A moment later, the voice’s source, a smaller yak with a green blanket on her back and some red decorations in her braids, walked up to them. “Yona Yak want to meet new creatures. Yak not see any non-yaks before Princess Twilight come to Yakyakistan.”

“Yona, huh?” The orange dragon smiled. “And you saw the princess too…”

“Yona did!” Yona nodded eagerly. "Yona looking forward to seeing purple pony princess again. She made good snow sculptures for smashing!"

The dragon chuckled. “Yeah, well… I saw her from a distance too, when Princess Twilight first came back from her world tour - Dragon Lord Torch wanted to have more than one of us up in Canterlot for the big day, and Princess Ember figured I was the dragon most likely to behave myself.” She held out a claw. “Name’s Smolder.”

“Gallus,” Gallus said as he held out his own to shake hers. “And this is Sandbar.”

“I’M SILVERSTREAM!” another being suddenly yelled as she popped up in their faces.

Gallus raised an eyebrow as he shook his head, wondering where the girl had come from - until she'd spoken up, he hadn't seen her anywhere around. “Loud…”

“Heh-heh… oops, sorry,” the other being said as they pulled back, revealing themselves to be a pink hippogriff, wearing a small shell-like necklace. “But I’m just so excited to be here, now that it’s safe to go out of the water again! You know, I had never been out of the water since I was born, even when cousin Skystar invited me?”

“You lived in Seaquestria?” a smaller voice suddenly asked, and the five looked to see a smaller changeling standing a ways away, her chitin an arctic blue.

Silverstream nodded. “Yep! Mom’s been there her whole life, but Dad came from Mount Aris originally before the whole Storm King thing went down there. And now that monster’s gone, so it’s safe to go up again, and I was so excited when they offered me the chance to spend time on the surface world…”

Smolder snorted. “Dragon Lord Torch’s still ticked that he missed out on that fight,” she said with a careless wave of her claws. “Not that they’d have stood a chance if there’d been a bunch of dragons there…”

“Yaks not happy about missing out on it either,” Yona said. She glanced over at the little changeling. “Changeling should be proud, it was one of your people who helped beat him!”

The little changeling blushed, and Sandbar, seeing this, smiled. “What’s your name, anyway?” he asked.

“I’m… Ocellus,” the changeling admitted. “Hi.”

“Yak happy to meet you,” Yona said, beaming. She glanced over at Gallus, who shrugged.

“Nice to meet you too,” he begrudgingly admitted. “Say, you guys wanna blow this popsicle stand and go see some sights? I’m kinda bored just standing around.”

Sandbar smiled. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll show you around Ponyville. This place is awesome!”

“I know,” Ocellus said, perking up a bit. “My family lives here now… when we’re not up in Canterlot.”

“So, if you’re from one of the full-time Equestrian hives, whose are you from?” Sandbar asked curiously as the six started moving away from the school, heading out into the streets of Ponyville. “King Thorax, or Queen Scolopidia?”

“King Thorax,” Ocellus said as they went. “He’s… nice.”

“Shyeah.” Smolder shook her head. “That means you’re from Prince Pharynx’s hive. He’s freaking awesome, for a non-dragon.”

Ocellus nodded. “The hive is almost as proud of him as they are of King Thorax for taking charge of things when… she tried what she did.” The little changeling shivered.

“You mean former Queen Chrysalis?” Smolder asked, prompting Ocellus to curl in on herself.

“Hey, ease up, will ya?” Sandbar asked, seeing the little changeling’s frightened reaction. “Sure, she’s in jail now, but that lady was still scary, from what I heard.”

“Little changeling shouldn’t be afraid of her,” Yona said. “She far away and not have magic anymore. She not capable of hurting anycreature ever again.”

“She still scares me…” Ocellus said softly as Sandbar helped her up.

Silverstream nodded as she leaned over and rubbed her feathers against the little changeling. “I know what you mean,” she said. “I never met the Storm King, but… my people had stories of what he did when he and his troops came to Mount Aris. It still scares me, thinking about him.”

Gallus shrugged. “I don’t have your experiences,” he said. “But you wanna know what’s really scary, and what all of you are lucky to have never known?”

“What’s that?” Yona asked curiously.

“Not having any real family.” Gallus looked at them. “You all have your parents, right?”

One by one, the others nodded.

“Well, I didn’t. I had to fend for myself, until Princess Twilight made it so our people had a chance again. My guardian’s okay, but I didn’t even have that until recently.” He snorted as he went on ahead, leaving them to stare after him in surprise.

“How can that even be a thing,” Sandbar began to ask before trailing off. “Sorry, that was really rude and dumb of me.”

Smolder snorted. “You said it, not me.”

“Yak have feeling this going to be covered in history class,” Yona said. “Yak is hoping to hear that griffons have better system in place soon.” She perked up. “Like yak system! Yaks make sure all little ones are watched out for.”

“Wolves do that too, from what I’ve heard,” Sandbar offered.

“So what, ponies don’t do that?” Gallus said with a smirk, watching the pony stammer for a moment.

“We do,” he said. “We just…” He shook his head. “I just didn’t think about it, is all.”

“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” Gallus chuckled, punching him lightly on the arm. “But yeah. I never even knew my folks. Gilda’s okay enough as a caretaker, now that I have one. Better her than Gruff, at least. Everyone calls him Grandpa, but that’s just a thing he likes.” He grimaced. “I’d hate to see what any kid he actually raised their whole life would turn out like.”

“Pretty cranky, I’d bet,” a voice said from overhead, before landing in front of them. “Hey, Gallus. Ocellus. New guys.”

Gallus rolled his eyes. “Hey, Rainbow Dash.”

“You know her?” Silverstream squealed excitedly.

“She’s the reason Gilda got picked as my caretaker,” Gallus said. “And if you’re looking for her, she’s still filling out paperwork,” he added as he turned back to Rainbow Dash.

“Kinda figured,” Rainbow Dash said. “Gotta fly now, but you kids take care, all right?”

“We will, Miss Dash,” Ocellus said softly, waving as Rainbow Dash smiled at them and flew off.

“So as you’ve been here the longest, what do you know that’s cool to do here?” Gallus asked Ocellus.

“Um… well, I like the library,” she said. “Even when Princess Twilight isn’t there.”

“Huh,” Gallus blinked, trying to think of a response that was not flat-out rude. “Anything else?”

“Well… that’s mostly it,” she admitted. “I don’t get out much. It’s so… loud.” Her ears flattened. “And crowded. I don’t like crowds, they make me nervous.”

“Huh, maybe we can find something that’s quieter?” Sandbar offered.

“Yona wondering where in this town would be quiet,” the yak said. “Yona heard that Ponyville was full of excitement.”

Sandbar chuckled. “Yeah, about once a week or so… did Princess Twilight ever tell you about the time one of her friends stopped a stampede of panicked cows, only to accidentally cause a stampede of bunnies a week later?”

Bunnies?” Smolder asked with a raised eye ridge. “Seriously?”

“Don’t knock it ‘till you’ve seen it,” Sandbar told her. “We’re talking over a thousand of them, all going one way. That many creatures, no matter the size, can cause a lot of trouble.”

“If you say so.” Smolder still didn’t sound convinced.

“I’ve also heard that they have this creature called Chaos around here,” Gallus said. “A complete nutter but also very powerful. Gilda mentioned I should watch out for him.”

“Oh please, I’m not that bad,” a voice said from above them. “Although I used to be but I’m better; just ask Fluttershy.”

The six looked up in astonishment to see an unfamiliar shape, who waved a claw. “Greetings, young ones.”

“Chaos!” five of them said with the changeling nymph smiling at him with no fear.

“Hi Discord,” Ocellus said. “How are you?”

“Rather well, my little changeling,” Discord told her. “Had the opportunity to schmooze with the Smooze again recently; he and I go way back.”

“That’s good.” Ocellus smiled again. “How’s he doing?”

“Well, aside from a minor incident with his cousin trying to break free and cause all sorts of havoc with a hate plague in the western Arimaspi lands last year while the rest of the world was occupied with the Storm King, he’s doing just fine,” Discord said. “Those two really don’t get along. Total opposites personality-wise. Good thing he alerted me in time; otherwise things could have gone a lot worse for our troops.” He leaned down and rubbed Ocellus’s head. “Good seeing you again, little one. Ta-ta!” With that, he vanished, leaving the others to stare at Ocellus in surprise.

"Okay, how do you know that guy so well?" Gallus demanded. "And isn't his name Chaos?"

Ocellus ducked her head. "No, that's just what he does," she said. "Discord is friends with Miss Fluttershy, and she invited all of us - him, my parents and I - to tea a few times after we moved here. He and I got to know one another, and he's really nice, if he likes you."

“Huh.” Smolder looked up at where he’d been again. “Strange guy. Seems kind of cool… but still strange.”

“I know!” Silverstream said happily. “Isn’t it exciting?”

“I think he’s odd,” Sandbar said. “But not as odd as that.” He pointed in the direction of a large, muscular pegasus, who was busy lifting and lowering a massive box with a trio of fillies standing on top of it.

Yona’s jaw dropped. “Yona has never seen any pony so big and strong like that,” she said in awe. “Yona must know more about him!”

The others chuckled as they began to walk off together.


Neighsay stretched his neck out, trying to get the kinks out without much success due to the cramped quarters of the mines.

He had quickly lost track of the days down here but not his wits or his ability to lead others. He had since managed to convince the other slaves to create a distraction for him so he could make his escape, and now was the time.

He shared a look with Signal Flare, one of the other figures of authority among the slaves, and gave him a nod. Even though they were closely watched, they had managed to communicate and coordinate their efforts, all so Neighsay could escape and come back with help.

Having caught his movement, Signal Flare nodded at two ponies working with smaller sledgehammers. One of them brought his sledgehammer down on the ground hard, then loosened his grip so the tool cartwheeled away. The handle grazed another stallion, who screamed, clutched at his cannon and started hopping around on his other legs, all the while swearing that he was going to kill the clumsy oaf who let go of the hammer. The other workers backed away from the careening hammer and the two stallions, then started shouting encouragement to them in hopes of goading them into a fight.

Neighsay retreated along with the others, then stopped when a knot of three of his fellows screened him from the guards. Shutting his eyes, he concentrated on the magic in the amulet, pictured his home, and triggered it.

When he opened his eyes again, he was horrified. In front of him was not the polished floors of his home, but the cave he had been stuck in, the other workers having been moved aside by the guards.

How, he thought to himself. How am I not out of-

His musings were cut off when he heard a disturbing chuckle, and he looked up to see his captor.

“You really thought that it would be that easy for you to just leave?” the centaur sneered.

“But my amulet,” Neighsay said, stammering to understand what had just happened.

His captor laughed again with his minions around him grinning. “Did you really think we didn’t know?” he sneered. “Your amulet’s worthless down here. You’d have to get out with it to be able to actually use it. These mines are lined with pure iron, which blocks all magic from leaving.” The minions of the centaur laughed more harshly, before their captor reached out and snatched at his amulet. “Still…” He began squeezing, only to release it and look at Neighsay. “This is not to be completely negative, my friend. You have shown remarkable talent; making yourself a leader among the lessers.” The centaur walked around and over to him. “I can use that; you are a stallion of remarkable talents and skills; with your connections reaching far and wide and yet treated so poorly.”

The other beings in the room began to make mocking sounds but the centaur snapped a glare at them.

“You have knowledge, great knowledge of Canterlot, of how to come and go as you please and ties to those in the castle of those who betrayed you,” the being cooed, placing a hand on his side as a map of Canterlot was sprawled out onto the table. “All you need to do is tell me what we need to know and you will be among my true followers, treated properly and as you truly deserved all along, dear Neighsay.”

Neighsay stared at him, with the thought of getting revenge against the Princesses for allowing this to happen to him, on that blasted youngest Princess for causing all of this misfortune to befall him. There was a moment he thought of putting that Princess in her place and it brought him a momentary surge of enjoyment.

It only lasted a second before he shook his head and tried to take a step backwards. “I’m afraid I must decline your offer, I am still loyal to the thrones and I will not betray my Princesses.”

The centaur stared at him, still holding onto him with a surprisingly tight grip. “This is not an offer I make lightly, Neighsay, and I will only give you this kind offer one last time. Tell me what I want to know.”

“I’ve said no,” Neighsay said with pride in his voice, even as the centaur shook his head sadly before he forced Neighsay down onto the table and pinning him to it with a single hand.

“Last time, Neighsay and now I will take back the carrot and present the stick,” he sneered. “Tell me or you will lose your horn. Now.”

Neighsay stared in fear and terror, with the twin emotions moving his lips but his previous pride in his role as the chancellor and a citizen of the princesses kept them shut.

The centaur snorted dismissively, shaking his head disappointedly. “So be it,” he said as he patted Neighsay’s neck before he brought down his other hand and a sheering, near blinding pain engulfed him.

“Oh we’re not down with you yet, Neighsay,” the centaur cooed viciously. “Bring me that torch!” he snapped with Neighsay trying to squirm in pain but the centaur was holding him in place. “Now to make sure you’ll never be an issue again.” The centaur chuckled as another round of pain surged through him. “Or ever use magic again, even with a transplant, not with those nerve endings burned away.” He laughed louder as he threw Neighsay the ground and gave him a kick to the gut. “Take him back to the pens; he is to be treated as any other slave now that he’s proven to be useless to us.”

Neighsay felt people grab and drag him off, his eyes opening briefly to see the being that had truly ruined his life and vowed to get even one day before the pain forced him to black out.

Next Chapter: Chapter Eight Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 28 Minutes
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