Prologue in Canterlot

Celestia was standing on the balcony behind her throne, sighing contentedly with a smile on her face. Before her levitated a small picture she had received from her niece Cadence. On the picture, a black and white ultrasound image had been printed. On it, Celestia could see the outline of Princess Cadenza's partially developed foal: the hooves, the head, the wings, and the ever so slight and telltale lump on the forehead that would later develop into a horn. The powerful magic that allowed an alicorn to be conceived was the same that had saved Canterlot from the changelings: love.

The sound of steady controlled hoofsteps reached Princess Celestia’s ears as Princess Luna walked up beside her. "What dost thou think upon sister?"

"Your parents and mine," Celestia said. "They loved each other so much. I remember my father, Clover the Clever, how he taught me to use magic the first time, and my mother, bless her, she always took the time to take me on long walks along the earth pony fields."

"Chancellor Puddinghead did love to wander about." Luna nodded. "I am, however, surprised at how well Rainbow Dash portrayed my father at the pageant. Fiery and spirited."

Celestia smiled. "I always pick the pageant players based on how well they portray our founders, regardless of gender. Do you remember when your mother taught you magic?"

"Oh, yes." Luna giggled. "Princess Platinum insisted on teaching me herself, much to the chagrin of her father."

Another quartet of hooves sounded behind the royal, fictive sisters, and a blue-maned adjutant stepped towards the two sisters and bowed. "Princesses Celestia and Luna, your guest has arrived for his audience."

Celestia closed her eyes in thought and spoke. "Very well, send in King Sarkal."

Celestia and Luna walked to their thrones and seated themselves. Through the door stepped a creature that possessed a novel trait for the sisters: a height equal to their own. Nearly seven feet tall, four legs, with two ending in an eagle's claw and two with a lion's paw. The creature shifted his wings as he walked forward to the dais. He did not bow; mortal as he was he was still royalty and his regal red and purple feathers that showed through his armor reflected that truth. The Gryphon King spoke.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," King Sarkal began. He switched to a bipedal stature and adjusted the sash laying over his pristine ceremonial armour. "As you are no doubt aware, the Diamond Dog Khanate of the Blood Fangs has commenced hostilities with the Draconic kingdoms... again."

"We are aware of this," Luna stated.

"And you are also aware that the dragons now seek to begin a campaign to indiscriminately wipe out the Diamond Dogs, Blood Fang Khanate or otherwise," King Sarkal added.

Princess Celestia shifted in her seat before giving her reply, "And as the Gryphon Kingdom is allied with certain Diamond Dog clans, this situation is one which would warrant your own military intervention."

"Correct,” the gryphonic monarch said, “however, the dragons have agreed to hold a summit on neutral grounds to set forth which clans they shall wage war against freely. My requests, and in light of what will happen should they not be met should not be taken lightly, are twofold." Celestia and Luna did not move; they knew the statement was no threat, only a statement on the collateral damage that would occur if war broke out in the north. "First, that you allow the summit to be held near the pony city of Stalliongrad, and second, that you send a mediator to act as a neutral party in the negotiations." King Sarkal concluded his speech and stoically gazed at the goddesses of the sun and moon.

Princess Celestia thought for a moment. Stalliongrad was far in the north, but geographically close to the Dragon and Gryphon kingdoms. As for the mediator, Celestia had an idea, but needed to discuss it first with Luna. She turned to her sister and leaned over, whispering so softly that even the King's keen ears could not pick up the specifics.

"What do you think, Luna?"

"We feel that we would best be served by agreeing to the location. And yourself?"

"I am in complete agreement," Celestia replied before continuing to ask, "But what of the mediator? Who do you think would be best suited?"

"We haven't the foggiest, as we are still uncertain who among our diplomats is best suited to bringing down these tempers." Luna frowned for a moment; thousands of lives potentially depended on this.

"If I may make a suggestion of somepony outside your group of diplomats," Celestia said. When Luna pressed closer, the white alicorn continued. Luna's eyes widened in shock and then nodded her head in understanding.

"Yes, he is well suited for the task when one thinks about it, but is that the only reason you want to send him?" the dark blue-sapphire alicorn asked of the white.

"Not at all," Celestia replied. "You've seen how different he is from when we first met him; he's a recluse, and this could be an opportunity for him to reach out again, somewhere far from where politics has sullied his reputation." Luna gave one last nod and the two sisters looked back to King Sarkal.

"We have decided," Princess Luna began, "to agree to your proposal. Preparations shall be made to hold a summit at Stalliongrad.

"And the mediator?" the gryphon king pressed.

"We have decided that the mediator shall be our nephew, Prince Blueblood," Luna replied.

The gryphon king lowered himself back to four legs and scoffed, "With all due respect to your family, even my people have heard of his boorish and aloof attitude."

Celestia answered, "You did ask for a neutral mediator, but the very act of mediating in an event which will, in fact, have ramifications to my people renders that point moot." Celestia paused for a moment; there was no need for subtlety with the candid king. Indeed gryphons rarely beat around the bush on any matter. "I can assure you that any reputation Prince Blueblood has established for himself stems not from genuinely not caring, but not desiring to become bogged down in petty social squabbles." The gryphon tilted his head slightly. "And furthermore, he has prior experience: he did, after all, serve in war alongside your people and the Dragons several hundred years ago."

Sarkal lifted an armoured claw to his beak and stroked it. "You make a good point, and a certain uncaring manner would better convey neutrality on the issue. This is acceptable."

"We shall begin preparations immediately. You will hear word from us regarding when the summit will be prepared in a few days," Celestia said.

"In the meantime, I shall return to my kingdom and prepare a delegation team for the summit," King Sarkal concluded, and set off outside the hall. He returned to his entourage and was soon flying with them to his capital.

Celestia turned to Luna. "Do you think this will work?"

"The peace treaty? Of course," Luna replied.

"I meant the other part of my plan. Bringing Prince Blueblood out of his shell so to speak," the white sister stated.

"On that note, I am still uncertain, though if we are to succeed, we should begin by informing him of this arrangement," Luna said.

Celestia smiled and looked back to the balcony, still brightly illuminated in the midday sun. "I'll go inform him. You could do with the experience running the day court. Enjoy the Cloudsdale proposal to add cyan to the rainbows."

Luna withdrew her head and deadpanned, "You are most fortunate that we have run out of pink fur dye."

"Pity, pink is my favorite color. It reminds me of mother."