Sins of Harmony

Volume 3: Crisis to Ashes

Chapter 4: Concealing Tranquillity

Midday

October 28th, 1007 ANM

Canterlot, Parliament building

It was another day of dispute, specifically concerning foreign policy.

Numerous uprisings had taken place across the middle east and in northern Africka, caused by decades of poverty or unfair rule, and often catalysed by religious radicalism. In truth, any revolution that claimed to be motivated purely by religion was doomed, as religion was good as a fuel for revolution, but not a cause.

But in some cases, the most radical voices were the loudest.

Right now, the subject was on the tenuous peace between Equestria and its allies, and the Oceanic Alliance. If it hadn't been for the Dragon Migration incident caused by Garnet, and the Entity being's birth and wrath following it, they may likely be embroiled in a cold war.

The Entity provided a threat to unite against, but months of inactivity had weathered the peace. Now, old tensions were returning as the cool period set in.

The fundamental differences in government between some of Equestria/New Gryphon's and the various Oceanic states, or else in ideology, led to disagreements. But the history of the Oceanic Alliance didn't help, especially given the Changeling/Wyvern War and the Dingolian revolution.

But today, the subject of Hephaestus, and a key but limited member species of the Oceanic Alliance, was the topic today. Many called into question the methods being used by the Wyverns to bring themselves back, or more specifically, the only living true Wyvern's efforts.

Sighing as she looked over the report she brougth to the congress, Celestia knew that Luna had struck an agreement with Varkan.

In exchange for more open protection of his efforts to revive his race with morally questionable cloning, he had to reveal details, and location, of his base.

He'd been hesitant, but it had been Luna who persuaded him. That left Celestia to present the deal on both their behalves.

"The Kriau Islands NEMA air base will therefore see a constant patrol around them, until such time as the threats by radicals against a Wyvern revival have passed. Its a moral duty to not let a species slide into near extinction when it can come back from it with our help."

"Forgive the question, your Majesty. Why should governments try to assist an individual in reviving his race who, in the past, personally assisted in revolutions that overthrew allied governments, and whose species demonstrated ruthlessness and great capability for war prior to their extinction? Its safe to say that Varkan hasn't set the best example of peacefulness on his race's behalf." A Gryphon ambassador questioned, who appropriately, was a Changeling/Wyvern War veteran.

Leave it to a non-Equestrian to ask such a galling question, thought Celestia.

But the next one came from her own congressponies, namely the Manehatten representative:

"And what of his rumoured connections to this, Entity creature, that attacked Manehatten a year ago? If reports are right, his efforts in the past led to its creation, even if unintended. Surely its understandable as to why he may not be a most trustworthy person."

Disagreement arose in the chamber, until the clark of the court rammed his gavel to silence the court.

"Please, we cannot doom a race to extinction because of its extinction warping the only member it has left in his morals. The reports state the peacefulness of the Wyvrns returning, and already in potentially dozens of young ones."

"But Varkan has already put a request in to reclaim old Wyvern territory that has been claimed by the Fillypine government. We can't just let them move in, civil disputes will arise for certain!" A Fillypine colony representative argued.

"We will negotiate a way!" Celestia urged.

She resisted the urge to shout as the congress divulged into further dispute.

Evening, Just after sunset.

Canterlot, royal castle, dining room.

"I'm surprised they didn't bring up what Varkan did to me in Dingolia." Celestia moaned.

Opposite her, Luna shirked away a little, while Celestia ate her fruit platter. Luna ate her porridge, a basic meal for when she wasn't feeling too creative, while Celestia vented her frustrations.

"I get the feeling they don't truly understand the position Varkan is in. He seems like a distant thing to them, Wyverns and personally." Luna commented.

"His personality doesn't help." Celestia muttered, as she finished her fruit salad.

"Well, he seems to be changing with the recent born Wyverns. I saw it myself, he's really turning into a different person."

At that, Celestia had an idea. Smiling a little, the Sun Princess asked:

"Luna, how well would you say you get on with Varkan?"

Pausing, Luna replied: "Reasonably, not fully friends but on friendly terms. He certainly trusts me enough to use me to reveal his base. He wouldn't have agreed to any other princess."

Thinking on it, Celestia replied: "And would you perhaps, be able to him visit Equestria on a goodwill basis? Maybe bring the older or oldest new Wyvern with him? Show those opposing them more personal evidence to not stop their cause?"

"I, suppose you are correct. But he's paranoid about their safety. What could I possibly invite him over to without raising suspicion?"

"You normally invite ponies who know you to join you wherever on Nightmare Night, correct?"

Looking at her sister, Luna balked a little: "That's only 3 nights away! How is he supposed to get here? Even if he agrees?"

"We'll find out soon." Celestia said.

Narrowing her eyes, Luna asked: "What did you do?"

"Discord was bored, and he agreed a more personal approach could help someone with a reputation like Varkan's. It helped him shed his 'villanous' image." Celestia emphasized the term of villainy.

Same time

28th October, 1007 ANM

Mid Morning, local time

Kriau Islands, 300 miles North East of Singapaw

Repurposed NEMA air force base.

Secret Hephaestus Research facility.

Main living quarters, basements.

"Urghhh, 14, now 16 Wyvern babies, 56 dud eggs."

Varkan had a tedious job today with Hi'mari helping, along with another Hundonesian dog, the frequent assistant, Hakai Jakar.

They were in the basements, where 'waste materials' were disposed of. Basically, they had to dispose of the fire Drake eggs with Wyvern embryos that mostly didn't grow at all, or died halfway through.

Today, they had 3 eggs to dispose of. The most recent fire drake birth by a younger yellow female had yielded expected results. 2 eggs were laid, and were viable. The other 3 eggs simply didn't take at all.

In front of them, the base incinerator.

Grabbing one of the eggs, Hakai Jakar looked at the large egg before asking: "You sure we have to throw these away? We could save food money by-"

"No." Varkan's stern reply came quickly.

"Okay, just suggesting."

He rolled the egg down the chute, knowing it would be properly disposed of in the intense furnace.

Hi'mari picked up a smaller than normal egg in her amphibious hands, commenting: "This one defintiely was a failure. The egg itself was a dud."

Picking up the last egg, this one normal sized by again infertile, Varkan commented: "Many reptiles lay dud eggs like that. I can't be surprised that-"

POOF!

A bright blue flash filled the room, and a mismatched creature suddenly appeared.

"Varkan!"

CRACK!

Having leapt back in absolute shock, Varkan had dropped the egg, shattering its slightly degraded shell on the floor.

The room fell silent, as Hi'mari had barely held her misshapen egg when Discord suddenly appeared.

Nearly fuming, Varkan growled at Discord:

"You are damn lucky that was a dud egg anyway."

Looking down awkwardly at the mess on the basement floor now, Discord sensed the tension diffusing over his sudden appearance: "Yeah, I can tell by the mess it made."
"What the hell is that thing?"

Hakai Jakar's comment earnt a glare from Discord, but a smirk from Varkan.

"Excuse me! This 'thing', is Discord, Lord of all Chao-"

"How did you get in here? What do you want?" Varkan cut him off, angering Discord a little.

"Ugh, fine. First, I teleported in, your island isn't far enough from land to stop me from getting in at my range. Second, a message from Princess Celestia, with Luna's regards also."

Pausing, Varkan looked at Hi'mari, the Salamander getting the message. She led Hakai up the stairs, urging him: "We need to check on the other gravid drakes now, egg disposal was a one off job today."

Left alone in the basement, Discord explained the plan:

"In short, they want you to come, with one or more older Wyverns, to be invited as Luna's guests. She often does on Nightmare night anyway now that she's more prominent in the courts and Equestria. It may boost your public image and give a personal edge against those wishing to stop your-"

Discord looked at the room, and the spilt egg mess on the floor still.

"Cause. What were you doing here?"

"Waste disposal. We get a lot of dud eggs. But are you serious?" Varkan asked incredulously.

"Princess Luna would consider it an offence to refuse her invitation."

"Princess Luna would've told me about this when she was visiting, and not 3 days before it." Varkan commented back.

Pausing, Discord added in a mutter: "Well, she only just agreed to the idea."

"...Celestia had the idea, didn't she? She is more actively involved in the public push to support me, simply by being more present in talks." Varkan quickly deduced this.

"Don't refuse simply because Celestia had the idea, and sent me as the messenger boy. She'll owe me for that later." Discord muttered the last part to himself.

Pacing for a few moments, Varkan weighed his options. After a few moments, Varkan sighed to himself:

"If it'll help slow the threat messages I see being posted online about this, place. Alright, but on one condition."

"Alright." DIscord said, wanting to be out, as he still had a slight grudge against Varkan for his history.

"I want Kynok there too. I know he's off scot free now anyway."

"Deal."

POOF!

With a blue flash, Discord vanished, presumably using a long range teleportation method.

Grimacing, Varkan made a note to call a cleaner to wash this basement floor of the drake egg fluids.

Morning

29th October 1007 ANM

Ponyville, Friendship castle

"So what's up with Luna and this year's nightmare night anyway? What's the big deal about Varkan being invited?" Rainbow Dash asked, reclining in her throne.

"Well, he's bringing the oldest Wyvern born to give a more personal view of his efforts. Its been secret so far, so he's taking a leap of faith with the world." Twilight explained. She neglected to mention that Celestia sort of tricked Luna by taking the initiative on this matter.

"Oh I'd love to see what a baby Wyvern looks like. Maybe it'll be adorable." Fluttershy wondered.

"Well at least we'll get to see some other faces. Guess who's coming over also? My brother, Ohmen and Caarim!" Spike announced.

"Not your parents Spike?" Rarity asked.

"Couldn't make it, but they said I'm welcome to visit anytime." Spike reassured them.

"Well I'm certain they'll be able to get back together with Kynok. He's been invited too."

"Ooh, uh, yeah, Lucius is coming from the Empire, so uh, may not be so smooth reunion for them." Twilight recalled.

"Are your brother and Cadance coming with Flurry!?" Pinkie excitedly asked.

"No Pinkie, they won't be coming, and nor will Flurry Heart." Twilight said with a regretful smile.

"Aww, too bad. I really liked her!" The pink mare recalled visiting her with others when they were born, and a month ago when they had to travel north for a social issue the castle highlighted, and stopped by the Empire afterwards. What trouble said Alicorn baby caused relating to the Crystal heart was a story they remembered for the heart-warming, yet troubling time it was.

"Ah'm pretty sure Miss Cheerilee will be mighty pleased Ohmen's comin'. Apple Bloom says she's been in a better mood than normal leading up to Nightmare Night." Applejack said, hinting at the often long distance relationship they were undergoing. At least Ohmen had recovered significantly since his ruptured brain aneurysm in Manehattan's defence a year ago.

"Whatever happens, lets just enjoy it. Who knows, maybe this nightmare night will bring everypony together more than ever." Twilight surmised.

"Especially if some of the guests can be really scary when they wanna be!" Pinkie blurted out.

Looking at her collectively, Pinkie shrugged as she said: "What? They can be, right?"

"I think they'll have a hard time scaring people like Luna does. When they scare, they usually are about to kill or hurt someone." Rainbow Dash pointed out.

"I'm sure if Luna has the idea to ask a few of them to help with any events she's hosting for younger ponies, she'll ask them to dial back." Applejack suggested.

"Or she could get them to scare some of the older ponies, ones that can take more hardcore scares." Rainbow Dash suggested.

Up in the ceiling, an unseen Draconeraqus was taking notes to pass on to Luna secretly.

"Oh boy, Luna will thank me for these notes indeed."

Discord snickered as he knew those Mares had given him pointers to pass on to Luna for a Nightmare night she could help make more interesting, within reason.

Certain members she had as 'guests' would have to be reined in more than others, significantly.

Especially as one of the places Luna would visit was a small town like Ponyville that was less hectic than other places. Only by Princess Twilight living there was Luna visiting, as she was with Canterlot, the Empire, and Manehatten.

But Manehatten was more a relief effort celebration, and given the city never slept, they could put on their own festivities too easily. Same with Canterlot and the Empire.

Ponyville would be host to a Nightmare night to not forget, especially with 'foreign input' it would seem, by some of Luna's guests.

Provided, certain reunions and introductions went smoothly beforehoof.

Stubborn politics, and a future event setup, given the scenario, timing, and what might be useful as a 'public' relations outing, given Luna's ties to Varkan.

Also, Kynok's reunion with Razak and Lucius, oh joy, and Ohmen visiting Ponyville with the 3rd wheel, Caarim.

As usual, please review/critique as one would.