“So you wish that I ennoble you,” Celestia said. It was a statement, not a question, and a curt one.

Mute slowly nodded up at her. He had to crane his neck to meet the alicorn’s gaze and her swan-like neck did nothing to aid him. In fact Mute found himself annoyed by how the light seemed to bounce off her pristine fur straight into his eyes. However, he remained composed and tried to keep his worry off his face. He needed her to exalt him and he couldn’t give her any reason to doubt his ability or motive. Zarathon relied on him to see this through.

The two sat in a round chamber with a large window overlooking the statue gardens to their left. A table separated them and the princess had poured them both a cup of tea. Mute had tried the hot beverage but found it lacking. It had tasted like worry and uncertainty, not like her tea.

Celestia sighed and leaned back into her seat. The heavily cushioned chair creaked from the princess’ weight and she gave Mute a tired look. “Do you have any idea what you ask of me?”

Mute nodded again and grabbed his pen. He wrote into his notebook that lay splayed out on the table between them and turned it around so she could read what he’d said. ‘I know that there are many responsibilities and much administrative work. I also know I would aid in running the realm in various other ways.'

“No, I mean if you understand the position you’re putting me through by asking this? You are asking me to give Lord Zarathon Holtam access to my most important officials and servants. You are requesting that I give Lord Zarathon Holtam permission to view the restricted section of the Canterlot Library. You are telling me to let Lord Zarathon Holtam walk around Canterlot Castle,” Celestia said and placed a hoof on her brow like she wanted to massage away a bad migraine.

Mute blinked in confusion at her and flipped around the book to write more. ‘This is for me, not for—’

“Don’t finish writing that. Where you go, Mute, Zarathon follows. I had to order you to leave him outside this very room, did I not? Would you like me to believe you would not bring him with you during your duties here? That he would not use your position to his advantage? Zarathon is a security risk to the realm and the only reason he is not locked away is due to us needing his magic. The fact you follow him willingly gives us even less reason to trust you with a noble title,” Celestia said in exasperation and took a sip of her tea.

Mute frowned at the princess and flipped to a clean page. ‘It is Zarathon’s price to continue aiding you.’

Celestia sighed heavily and put down her teacup. “I know. The selfish snake… He is willing to use my people’s lives as leverage for a cushy existence. Does that not tell you that this is a bad idea? Ask that he name another price, one that is attainable and realistic.”

‘He has no other price, and neither do I.’

The princess gave him an annoyed look and shook her head. “Zarathon will not strongarm his way into power, not here, not now. He will not make demands or weasel his way into power through the element bearers. This will be an equally beneficial agreement or I shall reveal to Equestria of his misdeeds and manipulations. Do you believe you can keep your newfound allies if they knew what Zarathon is trying to do? With what you are aiding him to do?"

Mute looked away uncomfortably and shook his head. The ponies would not be happy if they knew Zarathon used them as leverage. Furthermore, it would create more animosity between the element bearers and Zarathon, something they could not afford when they needed them on their side.

Celestia looked at him with a huff. "If Zarathon wishes for you to have a noble title then so be it, but I decide what privileges you hold. I will not allow you entry into the restricted section of the library. Your voice, or rather writing, will be advisory in the court, not legislative. Zarathon will have no hand in my laws. Furthermore, Zarathon may not accompany you during any of your duties. He may remain in your room at the castle but he is barred from entry into day court. And should I find out you reveal confidential information to him then your title will be revoked. Zarathon will also pay a price for this exaltation. He, or you, is to teach the soldiery of Ponyville more quiran magic."

Mute’s eyes widened and he felt his body twitch. He wanted to jump up and slam his hooves into the table in frustration. He felt like he should growl and yell at the princess so she understood, but he took his pen with a calm hoof and wrote. ‘While unfortunate, I can accept limitations. Though you should know it will be hard to convince Zarathon to teach anyone but myself.'

"You will have to convince him if you wish to become a noble," Celestia said with a glare. "I will not accept that Zarathon keeps this information to himself. Tell him he either agrees or you will not receive a noble title. Or you teach in his stead. Either way, this magic can not be kept from us any longer."

'Fine, but I need access to the restricted section. That is part of Zarathon’s price that is non-negotiable.’

Celestia gave him a suspicious look. “Why?”

‘I can not tell you. Zarathon does not wish for you to know.’

“Yet you expect me to give it to you nonetheless? I can answer any question he has without letting him see the archives,” Celestia said and looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes traced a mural that was painted there, one of a peaceful valley full of trees.

Mute pondered on her words for a second before he shook his head and wrote. ‘He is certain you would not be truthful on the matter.’

Celestia’s eyes widened in shock and she snarled in anger. She slammed her hooves onto the table and shook the porcelain teacups. “Not truthful!? How dare he! Zarathon holds the lives of my people over my head and despite that he says I’d lie!?”

‘He was adamant you would lie. He wishes to know more about the disappearance of his people and he has been told that any relevant information is in the restricted section. I suggested he ask miss Sparkle to look for us, but he only trust my eyes.’

“Is that why he wants all of this? To look at old papers?...”

Mute snorted in amusement and shook his head. ‘No. He wants me to learn governance as well. He wishes for me to be respected by your people. More than anything he wants a guarantee I will be safe.’

Celestia looked out the window in deep thought. “I know little about what happened to the quirans. They returned west and disappeared. There is nothing there but wilderness and bandits now. If he wants you to look into the old documents… He will find nothing but pain there I’m afraid.”

‘Even so, he must know,’ Mute wrote down firmly.

“So in exchange for saving ponies who become possessed, Zarathon wants an agent in my court and to look into the restricted section… Fine. I shall grant you the title of viscount and permission to look through any old documents in relation to quirans. But, you will not have that right until after the ceremony. And I will give you the documents on the quirans and nothing else. The restricted section will still be off-limits for you. I shall also be kind and grant you an ascension ceremony so that you may be exalted in front of the court and have your respect. I will call upon you when the ceremony is prepared,” Celestia said. "And Zarathon may not attend."

Mute chewed the inside of his cheek in frustration and he muttered under his breath. But he did not have much of a choice. He bowed his head at Celestia and closed his notebook. He placed the book into his saddle bags and threw them over his back. He walked to the door and touched the handle only for the princess to call to him.

“Mute…” Celestia began, her eyes stuck on the statue garden outside, “It was war. We seldom have a choice over our actions when the need is dire. What my sister and I did, we did for Equestria and our people. Remember that when you read through the documents.”

Mute eyed her wearily before he gave her a slow nod and left the chamber.

Perhaps it was his thoughtful and downcast look or maybe the fact he was a more common sight in the capital city, but the ponies seemed less abrasive this day. They did not walk as far away as possible from him nor did they glare or look at him in fear. They still gave him cautious looks, but many just ignored him. Progress was still progress. Though the two guards that followed him looked at him with disdain. They must have noticed the foul mood of their beloved princess.

“You’re being quiet, Mute. Did Celestia say something to offend you?” Zarathon asked.

Mute shook his head in response and looked up. The cobblestone street was filled with unicorn stallions and mares that went into cafes and shops at fast paces. In fact, it seemed like the city itself moved at a fast pace, like it did not have time to think. It reminded him of Manehattan, though he preferred the stone buildings of Canterlot far more than the glass and steel behemoths of Manehattan.

“I have a hard time accepting the price, but I need to see those documents. I will have to teach the ponies more of the basics and reveal details about our runic alphabet. It pains me to do so, but I must for the sake of my people. moreover, you claimed she will exalt you soon, but did she mention what you will be doing? Will she assign you property or wealth? She said your role will be advisory but will you manage affairs of state?”

Mute shrugged in response and scanned the street. There might be more guards watching over them and he’d rather not be near them. He needed to think.

Zarathon hummed. “And she does not want me to see the forbidden section. Typical... I can not attend during any of your courtly duties or even look into those documents without the censors getting to them first. Who knows what she will remove!?”

Mute nodded at that and spotted an empty table at a cafe. He walked up to it and sat down, placing his notebook on the table. ‘She said you will only find pain in those documents.’

Zarathon’s flames died down and Mute felt the pebble grow cold against his horn and skull. He looked up in concern only for the pebble’s flames to return.

“So be it. I’d rather know the truth than remain ignorant. I need information if we are to find them. If I have an inkling about Crazt’s reforms and decisions I might have an idea what to expect,” Zarathon said.

‘Even if we learn what he did before vanishing it has been a thousand years since then. They might have returned to the old ways or found entirely new ways of governance and culture. We will still not be prepared,’ Mute wrote down quickly and with annoyance.

Zarathon scoffed. “Perhaps, but it is better than nothing.”

‘Why are you not honest with Celestia about what you want? We both know it is fruitless to look for clues about modern quirans in the past. Tell her what you really want to know.’

“I do not ask it because I fear the answer. Because I fear I would kill her if she gave me a very wrong answer.”

Mute put down his pen with a heavy sigh and looked around the cafe. The other patrons seemed to avoid his gaze and the serving staff did not dare approach his table. Not that he wished for pony food, but still. Mute refocused his attention on Zarathon and understood why the pebble did what he did. Mute would have done the same.

That was when Mute’s eyes caught sight of a green shine. He looked into the street and noticed a grey pegasus that stared at him with wide eyes. Mute once again caught sight of the undeniable green shine in the pegasus’ eyes and he stood up abruptly. It could not be…

The two guards that had followed Mute since the castle—said guards standing by a clothes shop in a poorly disguised manner—eyed his sudden reaction with suspicion. Their eyes fell on the grey pegasus who composed himself and walked away into the back alleys behind some shops.

“Follow him, Mute. Lose the guards as well,” Zarathon mumbled quietly.

Mute nodded and quickly drew up a ward into his notebook. He then stood up and walked away from the cafe. Mute did not walk down the same alley as the pegasus but rather he followed the main road toward the market. He glanced over his shoulder and noted that the guards followed him. They spoke of something, and Mute thought they looked agitated before they hurried their steps.

That was when Mute dove into an alleyway. He opened his notebook and ripped out the page he’d drawn a ward on.

“I always hate these kinds of wards…” Zarathon muttered and lit the arcane symbol.

As the ward burned the paper was consumed by flame, but the magic worked. The light shade of the alley turned more and more black and it filled out the open space between the brick walls. Mute felt as if he dipped his hooves in icy water and as if molasses flowed over his back as the shadows enveloped him. The light of Zarathon’s flame died down and the ward was completed.

As the guards rounded the corner and walked into the alleyway, they faced a wall of complete darkness. They stopped and looked at each other anxiously as if neither were willing to explore the unnatural blackness. But in the end, they did not have to as the firm shadow evaporated and returned the alley to its true form. But Mute and Zarathon were gone.

The guards’ cursing drew a lot of confused stares from passers-by.

Mute followed the back alleys back up the street where he’d seen the pegasus. He opened and flexed his elytra as the sun once again touched his chitin and he tried to shrug off the sensation of shadows coiled against his body. He tried to move his wings only to grunt in pain. It was not worth it. They did not heal any more than his horn.

He tried to ignore the pain in his back and closed his elytra as the alley widened and the smooth brick walls gained doors and windows. Small apartments were nestled behind the bustling shops and cafes, though they looked abandoned and run down.

“I wonder how much rent they’d take for one of these… Maybe we can become landlords? I feel our coffers could use a steady revenue stream, especially if something like Spike’s rampage happens again,” Zarathon mumbled.

Mute laughed at that and continued down the alley.

As they rounded a corner Mute looked around and he noticed the grey pegasus further down the alley. The pony stood next to a door of one of the apartments. The pegasus eyed him wearily and looked over his shoulder. The pony fidgeted and seemed poised to run away. Mute understood his worry, but the guards were gone.

Mute approached him slowly and eyed the pegasus’ features. A cloud cutie mark, a large muscly build for a pegasus, and a scar along his left side. It was him.

Mute stopped in front of the grey pegasus and they eyed each other wearily. Neither moved or made an attempt to speak or in Mute’s case write. Eventually, the grey pegasus took a step forward and spoke, uncertainty and trepidation in his voice.

“Tibia, is that you?...”

Mute recoiled from the name and looked away with a snarl.

“Do not call him by that name! He is Mute, lord of cinder, now. He wants nothing to do with that name!” Zarathon huffed in anger.

Dragonfly looked at the pebble in surprise. “It spoke… So the rumors are true. And Mute? What is that? A cruel nickname?”

“No! It is a name not tarnished. Do not speak that name again or Mute will likely hit you. He does not want to hear it,” Zarathon said adamantly.

Mute refused to meet the other changeling’s gaze. He did not want to be reminded. He just wanted to make sure Dragonfly was in good health and then leave.

Dragonfly looked uncomfortable and uncertain, but he gave them both a slow nod. “Fine, Mute it is. But still, you’re alive! We were certain you had died in the jungle!”

Mute shook his head and opened his notebook to write. ‘I wandered for days until I met Zarathon and a parasite. Do you remember the stories of the parasites? They are real.’

“I know they’re real, we lost a few scouts to them just a month ago. We’re lucky enough we had Praetorians with us that were able to kill them before they escaped. Still, the Everfree and Ponyville are both off-limits for all lings’ until the infestation is gone or brought under control. Yet I heard rumors here in Canterlot of a changeling that has been fighting them. Is that you?” Dragonfly asked.

Mute gave him a wry grin. ‘I have nothing better to do, right?’

“I gave Mute the tools needed to kill shades. We will get the infestation under control eventually, but until then I recommend all changelings leave Canterlot and the surrounding areas. Any settlement or road with a connection to the Everfree might be infested. We can not afford possessed changelings during times like these. Mute and I do not have enough say or arcane power to deal with such threats,” Zarathon firmly said.

Dragonfly nodded in understanding. “I respect your advice, but I and all other lings’ in the city are here on the queen’s orders. I am training Broodlings and the Infiltrators brought dozens of Workers with them. Our operations in Canterlot have tripled since you left, Mute. We can’t just leave.”

‘Tell Chrysalis it is too dangerous then! This is about the safety of the Hive!’ Mute wrote down with a frown.

“No can do, brother… She has increased our activities in Canterlot more and more without an end in sight. Ever since Lampyridae, you know… The queen has been obsessed with Canterlot,” Dragonfly sighed.

Mute put down his pen at the mention of her name. Could he still not even say her name in his mind? He closed his eyes and tried to will away the mental images of her smile and pink mane. Zarathon’s flames caressed his horn in support.

“Please don’t mention the princess. My friend is not good at grieving, and he is yet to let go. Give him time, please,” Zarathon said quietly.

“Ah, of course. I apologize, Mute. I didn’t mean to… You know what I mean. As I was saying, the queen won’t stop operations in Canterlot. And I highly suggest you don’t talk to anyone but me. Gnat and Louse are stationed elsewhere and they are some of the few that would be friendly. The Praetorians would not hesitate to kick you if they walked by.”

Mute cringed at that but nodded in understanding.

Zarathon mumbled beneath his breath at ungratefulness and traitorous behavior and it brought a small smile to Mute’s lips.

“Please don’t blame the other lings’ too much. The Whitecoats are still a problem even though the Queen struck back against them. They raided the hatchery three months back. They never reached the eggs, but it was close,” Dragonfly said grimly.

Mute’s eyes widened and he quickly opened his notebook. ‘The Whitecoats are still alive?’

“Barley. The Queen can’t quite kill them all. It is hard to kill some of their more seductive ideas after all… So seductive some lings' are willing to do anything, even to the detriment of the Hive. After all, there was an attempt at the Queen’s life last year. Due to the attack, the young Princess Ovin was moved here for her own safety, not that this is public knowledge,” Dragonfly sighed. “I need a drink…”

‘Ovin is here?’ Mute wrote in disbelief.

Dragonfly just nodded.

Zarathon hummed in concern. “You are putting yourself and the princess at risk by telling us all of this.”

“Ti— Mute, would never hurt her. In fact, she would probably want to speak with him. She liked you, you know? She begged the queen to lift your exile for a month after they left you in the jungle,” the disguised changeling said with a small smile.

‘She’s a good kid…’ Mute wrote slowly, desperately trying to calm the raging sea of emotions that tried to force themselves upon him.

“She never blamed you for what happened. Neither did the prince. He was outraged when he learned what happened, you know? ‘You bring him back this instance, mother!’ is what he said when he returned. That got him thrown in a cell, but he probably thinks it was worth it,” Dragonfly chuckled sadly and leaned against one of the brick walls.

Mute couldn’t help but smile at that. Prince Coxa the Unmovable. It would be hard to find a stronger voice of dissent than him or a more loyal friend. ‘Is he in the Hive?’

“No, he was sent north as a punishment. He is to be given as little information about the Hive as possible until he repents, which is unlikely to happen. He’ll be allowed back eventually like he always is,” Dragonfly said with a shake of his head.

The two stood silent for a minute before Dragonfly flexed his ear. He sighed and dragged a hoof down his snout. “I can hear ponies approaching. I must go. If you see me alone again then please speak to me, but try to avoid me if I am with Praetorians or Broodlings. They wouldn’t be pleasant to you. It would also jeopardize their safety.”

Mute nodded in thanks and embraced the grey pegasus. They patted each other on the back and Dragonfly hurried down the alley. Mute quickly wrote up the shadow ward once more and darkness blanketed the area. By the time the two guards arrived in the alley, Mute was gone.

The changeling and the pebble would reemerge until they reached the train station. Mute tried to shake off the tired feeling that fell over him and he sighed.

“Chrysalis is about to do something, Mute. We should hurry with our search before something happens. Once the changeling queen makes a move that will cast us adrift,” Zarathon said quietly.

Mute nodded and looked back at the city. Specifically, his eyes found the Canterlot library. They would need Celestia’s permission to attain the volumes they were looking for. But once they had it they would find the answers Zarathon sought.

Then they would go west, find the quirans, and return Zarathon to his throne. No matter the cost.

The first chapter of the new year! I hope you liked it and if you didn't I would love to hear why in a comment! Comments is how I learn what I am doing right and what I am doing wrong. I hope to hear from you all! Have a good day.