As we re-entered the discussion chamber and took our respective seats, Twilight still fuming and her friends still stifling their giggles, I noticed Fia had a very sour look on her face. What is she intending?

"Thank you all for returning so promptly. Now that we've finished discussing the matter of Tirek and national defense, are there any other topics anyone would like to discuss?"

"I'd like to bring up the matter of Ancientwell." Fia began. "It would be best to clear the air here and now." She turned to look at me. "If there is to be a proper, long standing peace between our people, we'll have to work out our own, personal grudges." This time, I stopped sitting so casually and sat cross-legged on the floor with my hands on my knees.

"Are you sure we can't have peace while you and I continue to glare at each other spitefully?"

"That is not acceptable." She replied.

"So, let me see if I understand this correctly." Luna cut in. "The two of you were at war with one another, there were heavy losses on both sides, and now you seek to make, and receive, reparations for the damages incurred?"

"That is correct."

"In which case, since we were at war, I'd like to open by proposing that any losses incurred directly due to the fact that we were at war, and any unintended collateral damages be discussed, but not used as leverage." Fia looked to Aoi and Ubi, who both nodded.

"Agreed."

"In which case, the first matter I'd like to bring up, are the deaths of Trixie Lulamoon and Geirmund Freud. They died in a cave in caused by the use of mining explosives you planted to try and clear the tunnel we were collapsing behind us. While I was extremely angry about this, I realize there was no way you could have planned, or would have known, that they would be caught in it, and since they had placed themselves as combatants, they were casualties of war." As mad as I was at the time, I know that they're happy where they are, and that there was nothing that could have been done to prevent their deaths.

Fia seemed surprised that I was so willing to concede on what was likely a large issue, though, not to be out done, she did keep pace.

"As far as you collapsing the roof of the cave, causing a flood, I understand that is was the most efficient way to deal with your assailants. They were combatants, and not part of my clan. As for the innumerable innocents caught in the cascade through the tunnels, I suppose there was no way for you to know which way the water would go. As devastating as it was, I have to concede that it was collateral damage, given that the purpose of the flood was to deal with soldiers." I nodded.

"On the other hand, the deaths of my own soldiers, who were asleep in their barracks and thus offered no resistance, and the display you made, defiling their corpses to leave a gruesome message, must be accounted for."

"Despite being asleep in their barracks, or eating their dinner, as they were at the time, they were still combatants." I replied. "Also, inspiring terror in your opponent is a valid tactic to try and force submission. They all died from suffocation. It was completely painless. They were dead before they knew what was happening. All the horrific bits occurred after the fact." I explained, then paused to wait for her to nod in agreement.

"On the other hand, you executing 14 unarmed prisoners, who had surrendered unconditionally, without a fight, must be taken into account. While your actions may have been at the whim of the pony nobility you were dealing with..." I shot a glare at Celestia. "...The decision to follow his cruel whims was yours, and you bear that responsibility."

"I am aware." She replied remorsefully. "I'm sure you're aware that I'm not happy you lied to me either."

"In what way?"

"Back when we were negotiating the Steelhorn's release, you said you'd try to come up with a way to help us both out of that mess. You never intended to from the beginning."

"On the contrary. I fully intended to stand by your side at the battlements and repel the invaders. When the wild hogs arrived, I'd inform them of the change in plans, and we'd have an army to stand against the aggressors. That's why I wanted a week. I wanted to wait for the pigs to get there, but I wasn't exactly sitting around either. I was checking to see what preparations you were making to defend the fort. Since you were making no extra provisions, it seemed pretty clear to me that you were lying about fighting the other clans when they arrived and were intended to go with your original plan of throwing me to the dogs." Fia let out a low growl, bearing her teeth. Her body tensed up. She knew I had her there, and wasn't happy about it.

"Fuckin try it." I narrowed my eyes, and she thought better of losing her temper in a room full of global superpowers. "You knew long before I arrived that I was a walking calamity, and you lured me in anyway. When you bring a BOMB into your house, you have no right to get pissed off when it blows up in your face. Everything that happened down there is a direct result of you kidnapping my family to bring me there. What, you didn't expect me to lay down and die, did you?" She growled again, but kept her cool.

"In which case, in terms of reparations, I owe you nothing. However, cousin," I said with all the spite I could muster "In the spirit of the thing I'll give you this and this alone. Ringo is fine. He is where he's meant to be. Grandpa assured me of this himself." Her breath caught in her throat, and tears threatened the corners of her eyes, a sudden reversal of her previous mood.

"As far as grudges are concerned, while I understand your position, I will always hate you for what you did, but I won't act on it. Firstly, because despite our own grievances, our people deserve better, and secondly, I don't think he would like it if I tried to kill you." I stood up, then looked around to everyone at the table.

"That being said, if you or anyone else has a problem with me, you take it up with me. If you go after my family, what happened in Ancientwell will look like a Sunday picnic by comparison." I reoriented myself then sat on the floor again, laying with my back against Gilda as I had previously.

"Oh, and I want my damn amulet back. Not having it is a massive pain." She wordlessly took it off and slid it across the table to my position. I calmly picked it up and put in around my neck. Gilda shifted her weight at bit to get my attention. I looked up to her and she nodded.

"Is that everything?" Celestia asked the group.

We all remained silent.

"Well then, this concludes the first annual multinational summit. I hope to see you all next year, and hopefully, we'll have much less stressful topics to discuss. It is late in the evening, and you've all come from so far away, you're welcome to stay the night in the castle."

I sat and waited for Aoi's group to leave, then Twilight's, and Marble Pillars, then everyone else until only my own group and Celestia remained.

"Griffin, a word if I may?"

"Hmm? Yeah, go ahead."

"I'll say it again. You defeating me in a duel some time ago was very much an eye opener for me. I'd been so engrossed in politics that I had neglected to hone my mind to a different kind of tactics. That being said, you need to give me more credit. Both in regards to Tirek, and economics. I'll admit, that little game of yours caught me off guard, it is rather clever."

"What? How?" I replied, aghast.

"Did you forget that I can read minds, if I'm allowed the time and concentration to do so? That's the whole purpose of the recess. So I can take a moment to relax, and attention is off me. Some minds are more protected than others. Unlike years ago, yours is much more defended. It's like a maze. I could get in if I wanted by breaking through the walls, but you'd know and alter your thoughts. Empress Narin, on the other hand, doesn't have near the magical potential to keep me out, or detect the intrusion. She was correct to believe I'd use a listening spell, but it's not your words I'm listening for. I am curious as to what power both you and Fia have that would let you deal with a threat of that magnitude, specifically considering you referred to her as cousin during the discussion."

"Ahhh shit. Lets just say we share a common ancestor, and that he wasn't exactly a pushover."

"Be that as it may, I'll let you keep playing your little game for now, as long as you don't let it get out of hand."

"What? Why?"

"Because without the ability to purchase goods from Equestria, the New Dominion would survive just fine, sure, but it's growth would be stunted. It still is a relatively new nation and if you want it to grow quickly, it needs Equestria's support. That being said, you're people are much too prideful to accept a handout. So, I'll let you siphon a bit, if it makes you feel like you're earning it. If you go too far out of bounds, I'll just adjust Equestria's own tax rate to compensate."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because, for the same reason I'm trusting you enough not to pry into the nature of this ability you're hiding from me, neither you or I are the villains you believe we are. Besides, the tropical fruit export from the New Dominion has everypony going nuts. The thing I'm more worried about is your culture displacing our own."

"Why would that be a problem?" I asked. In response, she passed me a magazine with a photo of myself wearing a villainous looking outfit, clutching a globe. I recognized it from the photo shoot I did for Fancypants. As I leafed through the magazine, which was quite clearly a fashion magazine, there were several pictures of me in various outfits, taking a number of poses, like relaxing at a beach, or at work on a farm, as well as several of Aoi in different variations of oriental garb. He even managed to get the centerfold with a particularly stunning image.

"I understand that where you're from, clothing, pants in particular, are common fare, but for ponies and griffins, clothing the lower half, outside of full body suits like the wonderbolts wear, is considered bedroom attire."

"Like pajamas?"

"No. Not like pajamas." She trotted away laughing to herself, while it took me a moment for it to sink in.

"Gilda, I'm in a naughty magazine, aren't I?"

"Yep." She replied.

"And you knew about the clothing thing, from the moment we first met, and didn't bother to tell me?"

"Yep." She replied.

"Almost six years Gilda. This has to be a record for the longest standing practical joke in history."

"Uh huh." She smiled that devil grin. I leafed through the magazine again.

"I'd do me."

"Luckily, that's what I'm here for. Seth, do you wanna play with uncle Discord for a while?"

"Yaaaaaaay!" My son cheered as the draconnequuis swooped down and scooped him up.

"Now remember Discord, have him back before dinner at 8 pm. Other than no eating sweets before dinner, you can cause as much havoc as you want together."

"8 Pm? That's four hours from now."

"Discord, I've been gone for almost a year, and we've been busy taking care of Seth for over six months after that. Four hours from now is exactly the point."

"Oh?..... OH. Right! See you at 8!" Knowing that Discord, with all his power, would let no harm come to Seth, Gilda and I could finally get some alone time.

Author's Notes:

And that marks the end of Royal Mockery. A lot of loose ends were wrapped up. It doesn't feel absolutely perfect, but it did what I wanted it to do. And for the people bitching about Celestia, I had this planned from the start, so shaddup! Wen u gun lern 2 hav faith n BlkWng?

No can haz chzbrgr. Roflcoptrmfao. #StopTwerking

Seriously though, criticism is appreciated because it helps me become a better author, but it can get annoying when I'm like "I know! I'm gonna do it just give me a minute, I can't argue with you in comments because spoilers but gosh!"