The Lost Element

by XD-385

Equestria has long been known as the land of ponies. However, the name of Equestria is misleading. For far too long, a certain element has been missing from the world. And now, that element has been brought back. But for better or for worse?

105. Rebuilding Faith

Once I decided to leave the Alabaster and see what was happening in the encampment at the time, I did not depart the airship just yet. I walked up to the edge of the deck and gazed out around me from my higher elevation. The weather was fair with barely a cloud in the sky. Almost like the weather itself was still celebrating our most recent victory out on the Empty Plains. But I knew we still had a ways to go. And we would not be departing until we were absolutely ready. The droves of Hollows serving the emperor were not the only threats we had to contend with now. We were in danger of being sabotaged by overly ambitious infantrymen who are more interested in personal glory than the survival of their comrades.

I crossed my arms as I thought back to that previous battle. I still could barely believe anyone would break formation like that just for the thrill of taking out a row of enemy units, even if it meant sending their allies careening into the enemy and very nearly getting captured. Lightning Dust... Gilda was right in that she did turn out to be trouble. I do not know where that sociopath is now, but I hope we never cross paths again.

Sunset Shimmer admittedly fared better, even if her actions were selfish and reckless. The two of us did manage to stabilize the situation while insuring she could continue to provide a hefty dose of flanking from the north. Being the former student of Celestia would certainly lend credence to her capabilities in the use of combat magic...

My thoughts of Sunset Shimmer were redirected towards my most recent memories of Celestia. The things Sunset Shimmer said when confronted... What in the world did Celestia originally have planned for her prodigy? And for Twilight Sparkle by proxy? No matter what I consider in my mind, it cannot be anything good. Sunset desperately wanted that power and authority as if she had been told about it at some point, but Twilight has never mentioned such an end goal in regards to her studies under the Princess of the Dawn... As if she has no idea what is in store for her.

Deception... Lying by omission... The more I thought about Celestia and the supposed true nature of Twilight's tutelage under her and her refusal to elaborate, the more bitter I felt. I should not have been thinking so hard about such a thing when there is an actual war to focus on, but how could I think of Celestia the same way when I know there are things she is hiding from Twilight and myself? I love her. I really do, but... Celestia, I expected better from you...

I hated starting my day with such negativity. Especially after such a good breakfast following a night of soothing romance with my beloved queen. As if her timing could not be any better, I heard tapping on the deck coming up from behind me. A glance over my shoulder revealed the beautiful form of Queen Novo herself. She smiled at me serenely as she asked, "Enjoying the view, honey?"

"Yeah... Highest spot in the camp, so I wanted to get a good look before disembarking. Looks to be a nice day too." I replied before I found myself unable to hide my festering bitterness. I cast my gaze to the grassy ground below as I added, "I just wish I could enjoy myself more..."

Novo stepped forward and put a wing around me for a comforting embrace. She glanced at me from the side and asked, "It's about old Sunbutt, isn't it?"

"She's hiding something from me, Novo. Something important. And she's hiding it from Twilight too. How can I trust her when she's probably actively deceiving her own private student? I don't want my friend to be coerced into doing something she'll regret later." I asked in return as I felt frustration fill my heart. And there was fear there too. How much longer would it be before that dreaded day came? When Celestia would exploit Twilight's adoration of her to make a choice she would not make with a less biased mind?

"Honey... Listen." Novo whispered before she wrapped her wing around me even more thoroughly to hide our faces. She then said to me, "Let me talk to her today. What she's doing here is not OK, but I know she only has good intentions for everyone. I'll see if I can give her a push in the right direction so you two can get back to being lovebirds again. And maybe get her to think twice about what she's doing behind everyone's backs."

She truly sounded confident when she said that. Maybe moreso than usual. That deep soulful voice carried a quiet conviction in it like she knew exactly what to say to her best friend. I still had my doubts about this secretive agenda Celestia was pursuing and proceeded to ask, "You think you really can convince her otherwise?"

"Of course, honey. No one knows old Sunbutt better than me. Probably not even Luna. And besides that..." She whispered before inching her beak even closer to my face. "I want you to know that I am rooting for you and Celestia. I know how much you two love each other. And just between you and me? One little wish of mine I want to see come true is that when she and I are finally your queens, I want Celestia and I to raise our kids together with you. And that won't happen if you two are always at odds with each other."

That was such a precious thing to say... And she meant every word of it. No hesitation. No doubt or uncertainty in those beautiful eyes. Novo genuinely wanted that for us. I let out a sigh as those loving words touched my heart. "Novo... You really are the best. I'll leave Celestia to you, all right?"

The beautiful hippogriff queen placed a tender kiss upon my cheek as she spoke with her usual confident flair. "Leave it to me, baby. I'll see to it at least something has changed by tonight. Now then, we'd best not keep each other. Just remember that I'm staying here every night until everyone heads out. You know what that means."

"I know, I know, I'll be right up here tonight to stay with you. Have a good one, Novo." I replied while Novo released me from her winged embrace. I watched in delight as she spread those glorious wings and took to the air, diving off the deck of the Alabaster and swooping over the encampment towards the command center in the distance. Feeling hopeful that Novo would be able to get some results, I made my way down the gangplank to get back on solid ground and see what was happening around the encampment.

Morale was high. The place felt like it was in a good mood as I passed many ponies going about their business. I could see in the distance pegasi and some griffons rising into the air before diving out of sight. They were hard to follow with the sky behind them while wearing those suits of camouflaged brigandine. Curious, I made my way in that direction to get a better look past all those rows of tents.

I found what I was expecting once I reached an open area in the camp. Spitfire was in the process of instructing recent arrivals on how to properly carry out evacuations of wounded infantry. Every last one of them were clad in brigandine, but they did not appear slowed down by it at all. Several earth pony volunteers were resting on the ground while clad in full armor to aid in the training. I know that earth ponies must be the heaviest race of pony due to all that muscle on them, but they were the ideal choice. If our aerial evacuation personnel could handle armored earth ponies just fine, then literally everyone else would be even easier to carry.

As I observed our newest fliers getting the hang of their duties, I thought I noticed something beyond the rows of pegasi and griffons. A small house. Maybe an officer's quarters? At least that was what I thought when I suddenly remembered where Ember was stationed. The field in front of that cottage was being reserved for aerial drills. While I was there, I decided to see if Ember was in the house.

I was careful to stay right at the edge of the field to not interrupt the training session. Once I was behind everyone, I walked along the front of the cottage and even glanced at the first frontal window to the right of the door. I jumped when I saw a face on the other side. Ember was leaning on the windowsill to see what was going on. Her scarlet eyes brightened as she pointed over at the door. All too happy to see her, I hurried inside and looped around the door to see the Dragon Lord. "Morning, Ember. Enjoying the show?"

"Mmhm, there's something fun about watching them dive and then shoot back up with someone in their arms. Like it's some kind of game. Sometimes they come back up with nothing." Ember replied as she turned to face me. And with such a smile on her face. Almost as if on impulse, she held her arms out to me. A few seconds later, she noticed and sheepishly tucked her hands behind her back. "Oh... Um... Sorry."

"Huh? No, don't be sorry. Come here." I retorted before I stepped forward and pulled the petite blue dragoness against me for an embrace. Ember grunted in confusion for a moment before she relented and put her arms around me as well. I then asked, "Everything OK here last night?"

"Yes, there was no trouble, but... It's so lonely when you're not here." Ember replied with a softer tone than before. She then turned her head up to look at me and said, "I missed you. Are you sure you can't stay the night this time?"

Feeling a twinge of guilt in my heart, I scooped Ember up in my arms and carried her towards the couch at the far end of the room. She made no attempt to protest. She even clung to me gently as if enjoying the lift. "I'm sorry, Ember. Novo and I have an agreement. When she's docked here overnight, I stay with her for the night. It's difficult for us to see each other since she lives on an island far out to sea, so we take every opportunity to make up for it."

As I sat down with Ember seated across my lap, she gently dragged a finger across my chest while gazing up at me with a very understanding pair of scarlet eyes. "Because you're in love, right? I see, I see... Well, you're always welcome to spend the night with me if you ever want to. My doors are always open to you."

"Thanks for understanding, Ember. I really do love that wonderful queen." I replied while glad to see Ember was taking that well enough. I did find myself grateful to be holding her in my arms again. I then whispered softly to her, "Has anyone been bothering you out here? Have your men been bugging you?"

Ember's touch became even more intimate as she brought her finger to the underside of my jaw. She slid the back of her finger against my entire jawline as she said, "No, they know better than to intrude upon the Dragon Lord's den without knocking. I think they prefer the open air anyway. Most of them wouldn't be able to fit through the door in the first place. And if you're wondering where they are, Nightmare Moon took them out to the south to train them on maintaining formations in flight. They did well enough during their first trial, but it never hurts to iron out the kinks."

"Nightmare Moon, huh? No wonder they didn't refuse." I retorted with a brief snicker of amusement. If there is one pony in this world that even dragons will fear, it is the Princess of Dreams. Although I then glanced down at Ember's wrist as she continued to caress my lower jaw with just one finger. I was not sure if she was even aware of it at that point and asked, "You like doing that?"

"I just want to be good to you." Ember whispered as her scarlet eyes continued to display tenderness that she most likely never gets to show in the company of her people. "Gentle touches like this are a way to show affection, right?"

"Yeah, that's one way. If the recipient allows it." I replied before returning the favor. I placed my fingers on the base of her left horn and slid them down the entire shaft to the point before retracing my steps along the underside and bringing my fingers to her cheek and sliding them down the underside of her long jaw. Ember's soft gaze turned into a beaming and almost giddy smile as I think I found a ticklish spot along the way. "Do you like it when I do it too?"

"You can touch me in any way you want. As long as I can do the same to you. Deal?" Ember retorted while I just nodded. After a moment longer, Ember adjusted her positioning before placing her hands on me as she effortlessly pushed me down onto my back. I was familiar with this position as Ember crawled atop me and gently traced her finger along my chest. I think she was disappointed that she did not have the presence of mind to get my shirt off like last time, but she made due regardless.

"You like being on top?" I asked with some amusement. While she was more than strong enough to resist me if my entire body weight got pressed in her, Ember's horns constantly jutting forward and being significantly smaller than me would make things awkward if we were to swap positions. There was something soothing about having this beautiful petite woman atop me instead of stuck under me.

"Makes me feel like I'm keeping you safe." Ember replied with tender sincerity while her finger idly traced along an indistinct pattern along my chest. I could faintly feel the thumping of her own heart against me. I gazed up into those beautiful scarlet eyes set into that face coated in many scales of a lovely blue hue. Such a soothing combination of colors. As if the blue represented Ember's actual kinder personality with those fiery eyes hinting at her powerful will. And I loved everything about her. Ember's eyes began to soften further, but also displayed a look of curiosity. Was she aware that I had zoned out for a moment? "Is there...something you want to say?"

I adored her. We came across each other entirely by accident. Greeted each other with sword and spear. And yet here we were. Together and partaking in mutual tenderness. All because I got to know the beautiful blue dragoness hidden under that layer of gilded armor. But I could not tell her how beautiful I found her. Or...how loudly my heart calling out to her. But I needed to provide an answer, so I whispered very carefully. "I... I think I...want to kiss you."

Ember's scarlet eyes opened wide, but she did not push herself up or away from me. Almost as if she was not as surprised as she should have been. One would have expected the proud Dragon Lord to be much more vocal than that. Her response was equally as vexing. "You... You would be the first..."

For a moment, we just stayed there. I rested on my back while Ember remained atop me. The tenderness that hung in the air was gone and was now filled by a quiet tension. Ember continued to trace her finger along my chest, but her movements were much shakier and erratic. After what felt like much too long as us waiting for the other to make the first move, I timidly asked, "Do you...want me to?"

She inhaled sharply in response. As if trying to hold her breath to hasten her thinking. Thankfully, a convenient interruption occurred. A sudden knock at the door prompted Ember to sudden push herself up and jump down from me. Almost as if she was too eager to get away from that situation. "I'll get it!"

As I watched Ember rush over to the front door to the cottage, I sat up and held my face in my hand. More out of embarrassment than anything. I silently scolded myself for even daring to say that to Ember in the first place. The temptation to kiss her? After all I knew about dragon courtship by then? That would have been dangerous. But I did look over at Ember as she fiddled with the lock. She must not have noticed that I did not lock the door after I came in and was confused over why the lock was not opening. "How do you get the lock to release?!"

My fingers gripped my face firmly. I felt like I almost made a mistake. I value Ember highly. Extremely highly. I do not want to jeopardize our friendship. I need to be more careful, regardless of what my heart is telling me. Just as I turned my legs off the couch to stand up, Ember got the door open. "Right, hel... Um... Sorry, who're you? I don't think I ever got your name..."

I then heard a voice I recognized all too quickly, "Yeah, don't think we ever really got a chance to chat. Heard James was here and wanted to check if he'd like us to jam."

That was totally Gilda. But...she brought someone else along? Even so, I was more than happy to see her. We had not spoken to each other since the day the previous battle took place. I walked into view to see Gilda standing just beyond the door with a guitar case in hand. "Hey there, Gilda. Haven't seen you for a couple of days."

"I'm not the only one you haven't seen in a while." Gilda retorted before she looked over her shoulder. "Hey, Gabs! He's right here!"

As if on cue, Gilda ducked low to the ground. And I quickly found out why. Something shot through the air and tackled me. The impact was not too firm and whoever it was proved to be fairly light, but I then found myself wrapped up in the embrace of another griffon. One I had to take a moment to recognize as she called out in glee. "Found you!"

"Huh...?! Oh, Gabby! You just get here?" I asked upon recognizing the pantherine griffon hen clinging to me. Sure enough, it was indeed Gabby. And just as full of vitality as I remembered.

"Yep! I finished passing out all the parcels I had before stopping to grab a bite when I bumped into fellow griffon Gilda here. We chatted for a bit and then you got brought up. Small world, right?" Gabby explained before she dropped back down to the floor. I then noticed she had something tucked under her wing. But before I could inquire, Gabby beat me to the punch. "Anyway, she wanted to go play some guitar for you and I wanted to pitch in, so... Bam! I got a clarinet! Wanna hear a duet?"

Clarinet and acoustic guitar? Strange combination, if I do say so myself. Ember merely watched with no comprehension on what musical instrument even are. The only music she had heard so far was off of that phonograph in the corner. I looked over at Gilda, who just rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know. I can't remember the last time I heard of a guitar and clarinet combo either. But if that's all she knows how to play, I'm up for giving it a go."

"Hold on a minute. What's all this about...guitars and clarinets?" Ember asked with understandable confusion. She knew enough to know what music is by then, but this most likely was her first time actually seeing such instruments like the long black wind instrument in Gabby's hand.

Gilda cast Ember a cockeyed glance as she popped open the guitar case to reveal its contents. She then asked, "You serious? You don't know what these things are? What, are all you dragons back home stuck in the stone age?"

"Considering that there's nothing but stone all over my people's territory... Maybe?" Ember retorted while most likely missing the meaning of that wordplay.

"Then you've been missing out! We'll give you a show! Gilda, you ready?" Gabby said while she went off to the living room and took a seat. Although she then asked, "Um... Say, do you know any song that use clarinet and guitar?"

"Now that you mention it... Not really." Gilda retorted while we followed her into he living room. She then pulled up the stool beside the typewriter and took a seat with her fingers starting to tune the guitar strings. "I guess we can play it by ear and see what we come up with. Anyway, you two get comfy and we'll start jamming."

Ember was just confused about the whole thing. I could tell by the look in her eye that she had no idea what they were doing. Or even who Gabby is. Once we got comfortable on the couch at the back of the room, Ember whispered to me, "Is that gray griffon a friend of yours?"

"Kind of. We've only met a couple of times, but we've hit it off well enough. Gabby's hard not to like." I replied while the silence of the cottage was broken by the quiet strums and low toots of the two griffons testing their instruments. I never knew Gabby even had a musical side, but she appeared to know what she was doing.

After a moment more, Gabby looked at Gilda. "How about you lead and I'll join in?"

"Sounds good. Just jump in when you want and we'll see what happens." Gilda retorted as she started setting up a tempo. A moment later, Gabby brought the clarinet to her beak and started to play away. It turned into a rather whimsical tune with Gabby starting to overtake Gilda's playful strumming and clicking on the strings.

Ember leaned against me as her eyes lit up in delight. She was more used to the sound of a piano at this point, so the sound of a clarinet was a new experience for her. Even I was pleasantly surprised with how well that odd couple of instruments compliment each other when used right. Ember muttered to me, "I don't know what to make of this, but I like what I'm hearing."

"Yeah, who would've guessed they make a good duo?" I muttered while not wanting to distract the two performers. Gabby eventually took a moment to catch her breath, allowing Gilda to steal the show for a moment with a guitar solo for around thirty seconds before Gabby jumped back in with that clarinet held to her beak. Gilda must have been really getting into it since she was basically tapping her paw every second. For being a freestyle jam session, they almost sounded like they knew exactly what they were trying to play. The music wrapped up with a long note on Gabby's part before Ember and I gently applauded. "Sounded like some sort of ragtime there. Good show."

"Yeah, you got a good grip on that thing. Wanna go for another?" Gilda asked with her gaze focused on Gabby. The chipper griffon hen rapidly nodded her head while looking ready to play some more tunes. Gilda then strummed her guitar strings for a second to set the stage. "Right then, next song. Gabs, you lead."

This continued on for a while with the two hens playing songs entirely by ear. They took turns leading with one playing a brief solo to get a rhythm going before the other joined in. And Ember really enjoyed it. She got especially quiet during their performances, but never appeared to be bored by it all. Even seeing Gilda and Gabby so obviously enjoying themselves was a pleasure in of itself.

After a total of six songs, we decided that was enough. Gilda placed her guitar back in its case while glancing over at Gabby. "Good tunes you know how to make, Gabs. We should do this again."

"Uh huh! And I didn't even have any sheet music to remember in my head! You're really good on the strings too, Gilda." Gabby retorted while she set the clarinet aside. Her big round eyes then happened to glance at a clock nearby. "Oh, hey! It's almost lunchtime! Wanna go grab a bite?"

"Actually, how about I whip something up in the kitchen here? You guys don't mind if I raid your fridge, right?" Gilda asked with an unexpected show of initiative. Why? Did she know much about cooking?

Since the cottage was basically Ember's property for the foreseeable future, it was up to her to give an answer. "Well, you can if you want. I'm still trying to get the hang of this whole cooking thing... But can you really cook?"

"I can bake." Gilda retorted while she made her way over into the kitchen. "But I'm sure I can work the stovetops just fine too. Gimme a while and I'll see what I can whip up over here."

We left Gilda to her work without objection. With the place now quiet aside from the noise Gilda was making as she prepared a meal, I went and turned the phonograph on to play some music. It was more piano solos. By then, Ember finally had the presence of mind to speak to Gabby. "I don't think we've actually met yet. I know Gilda, but who are you?"

Gabby was all too happy to come bounding over with a big smile on her beak. "I'm Gabriella! But you can call me Gabby if we're friends!"

Ember glanced over at me in uncertainty over what to say to that. So I just smirked and said, "Just call her Gabby. She's a friend."

"Right then. So...um... Gabby. What do you do around here? You one of Gilda's colleagues?" Ember then asked while she got comfortable on my lap. I leaned back against the couch to get more comfortable while also making certain the spines on her head were bent down against her back to keep them from digging into me.

Gabby shrugged her shoulders and spoke, "Uh... Not really! I'm just a courier. I don't really do anything around here except for taking parcels and packages back and forth from Equestria. Lots of friends and family back home writing to their loved ones out here, so I do my part in getting those messages out here."

Suddenly remembering what brought Gabby to me in the first place, I then spoke up. "Say, about that... Got anything for me?"

"Oh, right! James! Fluttershy didn't have time to write anything, but she did ask me to tell you that she's rooting for you and everyone else! Be sure to come home in one piece, all right?" Gabby retorted with a gleam of realization in her perky eyes. Although she then tapped a finger on her beak as she sat there in thought. "Was there something else though...? Oh, right! Scootaloo? The little pegasus who lives with her? She wanted me to tell you she and her friends have a big surprise waiting for you all when you get back! I need to go tell Applejack and Rarity about that too! Maybe that's why she was wearing that cape..."

Oh, right. That. I suddenly recalled that special shared dream experience I had with my closest circle of friends recently. Fluttershy did mention that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been wearing their capes at all times. Maybe a show of solidarity for the war effort? Or...something else? Regardless, I smiled at Gabby in thanks. "Right. Thanks for the message, Gabby. Tell them next chance you get that I miss them and things are going well so they don't worry about us."

"Will do! Anyway..." Gabby retorted before she looked at Ember, "I don't think I've seen many dragons here in the camp! Are you new here?"

Ember wasted no time in providing a proper introduction. "I am the Dragon Lord. Ember. I'm here to assist Equestria's forces against the invading enemies from the east."

Gabby's eyes lit up again as she brought her hands to the side of her fluffy face. "Whoa, really?! The dragon queen herself is here?! Oh man, that is so awesome! I didn't even know the dragons had a queen!"

"I said the term is Dragon Lo... Oh, forget it. Call me whatever you want just as long as I know what you mean." Ember groaned in resignation in the face of this perky hen's excitement.

I found her exasperation to be quite amusing. I then spoke next to Ember's head, "To be fair, you do look more like a queen."

Ember was quick to correct me. "If I was a queen, I'd need to have an heir first. At least I think that's how it works? I've only been the Dragon Lord for five years, so maybe I'm missing something..."

"Well, I think you're a very pretty dragon queen! Really pretty blue you've got there." Gabby replied promptly as we started to notice an aroma filling the room. It smelled like potatoes. Gilda must have known what she was doing over there.

While Ember recoiled from Gabby's compliment, I took the opportunity to add onto it. I then spoke softly next to Ember's ear as I said, "She's not wrong. You are a very beautiful dragon."

"James, come on. Not in front of the guests..." Ember muttered with an uneasy giggle coming from her smiling lips. At least she did not dispute that statement.

It was then that Gabby approached closer with her eyes on me. "Say, I don't wanna bug you, but... Can I get some scritches while I'm here?"

I was about to say something only to remember that I had never even applied scritches to Gabby before. Ember was not at all familiar to the term and looked at me. "Scritches...?"

"Gilda told me about it! The way you rub your fingers through our feathers? Like being touched by heaven... Can I have some while I'm here? It'll really make my day!" Gabby explained as Gilda let out an audible chuckle from across the cottage. She knew what she did.

"You birds and your scritches... All right, come on up." I replied with a sigh of amusement. I never mind doing that for my feathered friends. It feels good to me too. Ember sat herself across from me to let Gabby bound up into my lap. I suspect Ember was finding Gabby's exuberance to be quite the source of entertainment by then. Once the feline falcon was resting across my lap, I started to drag my fingers through the fluffy feathers that lined her scalp. "How's that? Good?"

"Mmmmmmmmhmmmmmm..." Gabby muttered as all that energy just melted away. Her round head became even bigger as all her feathers puffed up in response to the simple joy of feeling scritches for the first time. I kind of wish I could find out what is so great about them, but I knew I never would due to a lack of feathers of my own. At least I could continue to provide this joy. "Gilda wasn't kidding... This is niiiiice..."

"That's it? You just rub your fingers against their scalp? Does that mean I can get some too?" Ember asked in curiosity as she leaned over to more closely observe how my fingers were working their magic.

"I don't think that's how it works, Ember. It seems to be how the touch against the scalp also effects the base of the feathers. I think..." I tried to explain while having no idea how scritches actually felt. What do they even feel like? And I know Gabby was probably not the best person to ask for a description...

After a minute or so, Gabby became unusually silent. And then I heard it. She started to purr. Her long pantherine tail slowly swished in quiet delight as she let me do as I pleased. It felt like I had a large housecat resting upon me. Ember cast mea smirk as she spoke, "Someone looks happy."

"Mmm, very happy... Gabby is happy today..." Gabby mumbled while sounding like she was on the verge of passing out for a nap. But that purring never turned into snoring, so she never quite went that far. Ember just giggled at Gabby's almost drunken retort.

"You really have a way with birds after all. No wonder our hippogriff archers are so fond of you." Ember said with a fist held to her lips. Although her eyes widened as Gabby started to push herself up before wrapping her arms against me. And then she pressed the side of her round fluffy head against my face. "Um... What's this now?"

"Happy Gabby wants to make Mr. Magic Fingers happy..." Gabby mumbled as I was caught in an embrace. This was...far too cute. I almost laughed at how adorable this was. She began to turn her head a bit to rub her feathers against me. "Fluffy feathers feel nice, right?"

"You know what...? This...actually does feel really good." I retorted as I put my arms around my fluffy griffon friend to hold her against me. We snuggled and nuzzled quite a bit with those lovely soft feathers rubbing against my face. "Aww, you're a good griff, Gabby... Fluffy bird... Or is it fluffy kitty?"

"Call me whatever you want as long as you don't stop giving me snuggles." Gabby replied with a bit of that drowsiness fading away. I think she was starting to wake up, but was still purring adorably all the while.

Gabby did not seem to be in the mood for anything besides a good long cuddle. And Ember very patiently watched from the other end of the couch while flipping the record on the phonograph once all it was producing was that subtle scratching sound. Although she did eventually ask, "So then... When is the cat bird going to let go?"

"Five more minutes?" Gabby asked softly while keeping her round fluffy head tucked under my chin. Rather than give scritches, I was just stroking my hand over the fine feline fur that was coating her body. She even smelled kind of good with those feathers right under my nose.

The aroma in the air only got thicker the more time went by. And before much longer, the three of us glanced around upon hearing what sounded like a ladle being smacked against a pot. "Lunch is served!"

"Finally! New food to try!" Ember spoke with gusto. We all departed the couch and made our way to the kitchen. And upon the table were four plates that displayed a crisp green salad and baked potatoes filled with melted cheese and sour cream while sprinkled with what I think was paprika. A simple dish, but it was not like we could expect a random guest to put out a feast for lunch. Ember looked a little disappointed by the relatively sparse amount of food, but still looked hungry enough to not complain. "Interesting... What is it?"

"Never seen a baked potato before? Or a fresh green salad? I didn't wanna make a mess in someone else's kitchen, so I kept it simple." Gilda explained before Ember took the potato in hand, which smelled like it was fresh out of the oven, and took a bite. "Whoa, hey! That's hot! You should...huh? It doesn't hurt?"

"Is it supposed to hurt?" Ember asked with a muffled voice. She really was not fazed at all. I would have been surprised, but I was much more familiar to how dragons work by that point.

Gabby leaned towards Ember in her seat. "Wow, dragons can eat even the hottest foods?! Hang on a second!"

We watched while Gabby ran to the refrigerator before she started to rummage around in it. A few seconds later, she closed it with a bottle of hot sauce in her hand. "Does that mean you can also handle other kinds of hot foods?"

"Gabs, I'm pretty hot in spiciness and hot in heat ain't the same..." Gilda retorted with bemusement. However, she then began to smirk as she glanced over at Ember. "But I kinda wanna see what happens anyway."

"What's this? Sauce that is hot?" Ember asked while taking the glass bottle filled with a bright orange fluid. It did look spicy, but probably closer to medium heat. I too was curious of how a dragon's tongue would react to it since spiciness is determined by the taste buds and not the actual temperature of the food. Ember unscrewed the cap and dropped a dollop of the sauce onto her tongue.

"Hm... Tastes...different. Not sure how to... Wait..." Ember muttered before her eyes opened wider. "What's this I'm feeling? Mouth is getting...hot? Tongue is...tingling?! What is this stuff?! It was cold when it hit my tongue!"

Gilda got a laugh of Ember finally tasting something that her own tongue thought was hot. Ember quickly scarfed down the rest of her potato before letting out a sigh. "Phew, I think that white cream helps. The heat's going away... But what even was that?!"

"You just got a taste of something spicy! But it's all about how your tongue reacts to what you're tasting. Weird, right?" Gabby explained as we all took a seat around the table. We still had to wait for our potatoes to cool first, leaving Ember with just her salad. They were all mixed with a vinaigrette of some sort. Gabby then dripped a few drops of that hot sauce onto her potato and said, "Most people just go with a little instead of a whole bunch."

We all put just a little hot sauce on our potatoes. I normally would not use it, but I knew the sour cream could counteract the spiciness. Ember took the time to enjoy her salad, crunching away with each bite. "Mm... Crisp and light... And this fluid on it is...yummy. What is it? Just plants and leaves?"

"Kinda. Salads are usually made up of lettuce and certain greens. Don't go trying to use just any leaf you find for a salad. Not everything is safe or appetizing enough to eat out there." I retorted as I was certain Ember could eat just about anything without ill effect, but probably would not enjoy something only most herbivores would like.

"Right, got it. Still, I like how crisp this is. Something refreshing about this..." Ember muttered like a budding food critic sampling a new dish. She then looked across the table while touching the barbs of her fork to the lingering bits of lettuce that remained on her plate. "I'm very pleased with the results, Miss Gilda. Thank you."

"Hey, it's cool. I didn't really do much anyway. I'm a lot more proud of how the potatoes turned out anyway." Gilda replied as we all dined in peace. The phonograph at the far end of the cottage was still playing along for the moment to provide some relaxing ambience. For the most part, I listened in to conversations going back and forth between the Dragon Lord and our two griffon guests now that they had finally gotten to know each other.

Once lunch had ended, I decided to do the dishes. Or I would have had Gabby not hastily gathered up our used plates and cutlery. "I'll handle the dishes!"

"Huh? Oh, sure." Ember replied before following Gabby over to the sink and just looking over our guest's shoulder. The peppy griffon hen went to work with the sink running while grabbing a bottle of dish soap. I suspect Ember was watching to gain some new knowledge on proper housekeeping skills.

Gilda waited by the door with her guitar case at her side. When I approached, she cast her gaze up at me and asked, "So, how's the bug?"

"Bug...? Oh, you mean Ocellus. She's actually doing pretty well. She hit it off with Smolder. Good friends, those two." I replied as I remembered that close call just after I found that little love bug. I was glad that Gilda had tailed me just to keep an eye on me, but taking aim at Ocellus with that little crossbow was completely uncalled for.

"Yeah, really doesn't give me that bad bug vibe anymore. Guess you found a good one." Gilda said with a knowing smirk on her beak. She then went over to retrieve Gabby's clarinet and came back over to me to pass the time. Gabby had finally noticed Ember looking over her shoulder and was now giving the Dragon Lord tips, although it was hard to hear them over the splashing of the kitchen sink. "Just like her. She's a really good girl. I don't usually meet griffons that peppy."

"Yep, Gabby's a hoot." I retorted while I noticed Gilda give me a much more inquisitive stare. "What? Doesn't her head and face have a burrowing owl look to it?"

"Now that you mention it... With those big round eyes... Maybe? I always thought she had kind of a falcon look to her." Gilda retorted with her gaze turning to Gabby at the far end of the kitchen. It is an interesting trait on how griffons can be so diverse on physical appearance. Different breeds of big cat and different predatory birds. Gilda definitely shows the traits of a mountain lion crossed with a bald eagle while Gabby looks like a burrowing owl or falcon combined with a panther. And I still remember that griffon chef in Canterlot who had a panther body and a pelican bill, of all things. What was his name again?

While we waited for Gabby to finish, with the wait being exasperated by her mentoring Ember, I took a look out the window. Our aerial units had departed for the time and allowed a row of hippogriffs to line up in order to mentor a new cadre of unicorn archers. I completely forgotten that the area in front of the cottage doubles as an archery range. I had even overlooked the round targets on one side and the wooden wall beyond then that was meant to take any missed shots. I felt myself smile when I saw Sky Beak among the hippogriff archers. I could recognize him anywhere.

"Sorry to keep you!" Gabby called out as she galloped over to us. Ember followed at a slower pace. "Thanks again for lunch, Gilda! The potatoes were the best thing about it."

"Hey, I said I know how to bake. You should try my macaroons some time." Gilda replied proudly. I never knew Gilda was that knowledgeable on the art of cooking. Even Rainbow Dash never mentioned anything about that skill when discussing old memories of her friend. A little underlying sweetness to compliment her tough exterior. "Anyway, we got stuff to do, right?"

"Oh yeah, I gotta check in before I head on back! They're keeping me busy during the war effort." Gabby said before jumping and grabbing me in a hug. "It was sooooo good to see you again, James. See you next time, OK?"

"Oof! Yeah, sure! Have a good one, Gabby. See you soon." I chirped before putting my arms around the peppy griffon hen. She held on for a good ten seconds or so before letting go and hurrying out the door. She most likely really did not have that much time to spare. I then looked at Gilda and said, "Thanks again for the meal and a show, Gilda. Feel free to come see me whenever you want an audience."

"Will do, big guy. I better get this stuff back now that I'm done with it. See you two later." Gilda said in farewell before she dragged the guitar case outside with the clarinet in her other hand before taking to the air and soaring to the far end of the camp.

Now that it was just me and Ember again, I turned to face the Dragon Lord. "So then... You got anything you need to do?"

"Yeah, probably. I should check in at the command center. I'll just tidy up in here and be on my way. But it was great having you over again. My doors are always open for you." Ember retorted with a genuine smile on her lips. However, she then surprised me with a question. "Before you go... What you said. That you...wanted to kiss me?"

I had completely forgotten about that in all that happened with the arrival of Gilda and Gabby. I hastily tried to find a response. "I... Uh... I didn't mean anything by it... And I gotta get going. Stuff that needs to be done before we next move. See ya."

"James." Ember spoke firmly as I was about to step outside. When I looked back at her, Ember then cast me a mischievous smile. "I didn't say no."

There was nothing I could say to that. I stammered and stuttered for a few seconds before I hurried outside and closed the door behind me. Although I swear I could hear Ember laughing beyond it. Need to be more careful from now on...

I watched the archers at work for a moment before stepping around behind them to pass by. The unicorns seldom missed the targets, but I did not see them score any perfect hits on the red circle in the middle. While I knew Sky Beak had no time to talk, he and I did wave at each other when I passed him.

I eventually made my way back over to the command center. Although I hesitated when I stood before the door. Novo was most definitely in there somewhere while surely locked in a difficult and probably vocal conversation with Celestia. It was a discussion I was certain I was not meant to hear. This was strictly between the two of them. That, and I was in no hurry to see Celestia again at the time.

Not wanting to be kept away from my chambers any longer, I stepped around to the side of the building where the window over my bed was located. There was no way for me to climb up to the section of the roof right in front of it and I had no means to call out to Smolder or Ocellus from down there. Although I then had an idea when Estoc started to walk by. "Excuse me, Estoc. Can I ask you a favor? If you'll just lift me up to that window there?"

Shining Armor's right hand man glanced back up at me before turning his gaze to the window to my room. While he did look confused at first, he suddenly let out a chuckle. "What, you get locked out? Sure, hold on a second."

I did not elaborate further, but I did soon find myself floating into the air while Estoc held me in his levitation magic. Once my feet were firmly planted on the roof, I bid him farewell before he trotted off. I then knocked on the window to try and get someone's attention. Since neither Smolder or Ocellus could really leave the command center without an escort, they were surely in there somewhere.

I soon saw movement beyond the drapes. With a sweep of a hand, I soon saw Smolder on the other side. Before I could even say anything, she smirked and rolled to the side before the window slid open and I was suddenly pulled inside by an unseen force. A familiar voice called out once I was hanging off my bed. "You're back!"

Next thing I knew, I was grabbed and snuggled by a happy little Changeling. And I was quick to sit up and put my arms around the needy little love bug. "Hey there, love bug. Sorry if I was gone long. Did you sleep off that food coma fine?"

"Oh wow, yes... I'm not hungry at all. I probably won't need to feed again until tomorrow." Ocellus retorted in my grasp. I rubbed my hand over her carapace. The hardened covers for her wings had sprang open in her excitement, so I took the opportunity to rub the softer section that her wings as usually folded against. She really seemed to like it since that is a spot which almost never gets touched. Ocellus then cooed, "But I missed you anyway... I never feel as safe when you're not around. You'll be here tonight, right?"

"Sorry, Novo's still staying, so I have to be aboard the Alabaster after sundown. You understand, right?" I replied softly. I knew she missed me and I missed that little love bug too. I did not want to trouble her with my absence. When she let out a disappointed whimper, I rubbed the back of her head. "Speaking of her... Novo's in the building, right?"

Smolder was quick to provide a response while she hugged me from behind after locking the window behind me. "Yeah, she showed up a while ago. She locked herself in the war room with Celestia, but we can't hear a thing. That was more than an hour ago. Something going on that we need to know about?"

"That long? Man, Novo must really be letting Celestia have it. If they're still going... Novo's probably being very thorough." I muttered upon remembering just how long ago I had seen her off. She was taking this situation deadly seriously. And Celestia was probably be very stubborn if Novo was not satisfied yet.

"About what? Those two having a fight?" Smolder asked with her lips by my ear.

"Not really... I mean kind of. Celestia...has been hiding things from me. Important things. And Novo's disappointed in her for it. Since the two are such close friends, Novo's using that leverage to try and talk some sense in her. And I think she'll succeed at this rate. Novo probably knows Celestia better than most." I explained while not wanting to give away too much information. Smolder and Ocellus are young and might be quick to make assumptions if I told them what I had seen and heard. I did not want them to distrust Celestia.

"I hope it works... I can still feel the weakened love you have for her. I know you want to love her like you used to... It was such a powerful love too, I can tell." Ocellus cooed gently with her hoof resting over my heart.

Smolder placed a kiss on the side of my cheek. I glanced to my side and saw those beautiful blue eyes gazing at me. "Well, if she's keeping you at a distance, we'll just have to give this sugar bear some love to make up for it."

I flinched in a strange combination of embarrassment and glee as I suddenly remembered Smolder had heard that from Novo just last night. The giggling dragoness pulled me down to the bed and rested atop me with her finger touching my lips. "We're here for you, all right? Just like you're here for us."

"Smolder... You always know how to brighten my day." I said softly before she and I shared a brief kiss. I then felt Ocellus crawl over me before nuzzling her head up against mine. "You too, love bug. Thanks for being here for me."

"Mmhm, I'm not going anywhere. I'm happiest right here with this...sugar bear? Why is he called that?" Ocellus asked with understandable confusion. She had passed out into a food coma before Novo could introduce them to that term.

"Oh, right. You were out cold. Queen Novo called him that. Which means he's our sugar bear too." Smolder snickered before she then dragged her long tongue against my cheek. "Mmmm, sweet as sugar. But I bet you know that already, right?"

"Mmhm, sweetest sugary love ever." Ocellus giggled as I found myself stuck between the two little maidens as they cuddled with me. It was hard to stay anxious around them. The deep sincere romantic love of dear Smolder and the precious adoring love of our new little friend. I was feeling better already.

To help pass the time, I soon sat myself down at my typewriter to document some of what has happened today. Ocellus eventually got cheeky and squeezed herself between the desk and my lap to stay nestled up against me. Smolder passed the time by reading the comic books we had stashed away. I thought Ocellus would be too much of a distraction while resting on my lap, but her being so still there while likely taking a nap and the occasional sound of Smolder flipping through pages combined with the clicking of the typewriter's keys gave my dormitory a certain library tranquility of sorts. It was easy to stay focused.

Smolder and Ocellus eventually got called away to deploy some more sensor crystals. Probably as a means of providing a more encompassing surveillance range due to our prolonged stay in one spot. The less distance between us and the emperor's location, the less time we had before the next wave arrived. And it would not do if we ended up getting flanked from outside the range of our sensors.

I took a break from my writing and made my way downstairs. Being so focused on what just happened resulted in me entirely forgetting about what was happening downstairs and I was very surprised to see Novo leaving the war room when I reached the bottom of the stairs. Celestia was nowhere to be seen, giving me the impression she was staying behind for a bit. The hippogriff queen looked my way with the main room of the command center all but empty. I approached her while whispering quietly, "How'd it go?"

Novo put her great wing around me to give us some privacy. She looked my in the eye and whispered soulfully, "Tough nut to crack, that one. But I think I did get through to her. Old Sunbutt was stubborn, but I think you'll be hearing from her tonight. Be patient, honey. I'm rooting for you two."

"You're the best, Novo." I retorted before my lips met her beak for a soft kiss. I then spoke softly, "I'll see you tonight, all right?"

"Count on it, honey. And mama will be giving her man a good time before bed. See you soon." She cooed lovingly at me. Only then did Novo fold her wing and make her way outside. Not yet ready to see Celestia again, I too departed before the Princess of the Dawn could exit the war room.

Once outside, I paused and crossed my arms in thought. What to do for the rest of the day... My eyes turned to the west as I saw the airship docks in the northwestern corner of the encampment. The only airships I recognized were the Alabaster and the Zephyrus. Although I was surprised to soon see the Zephyrus starting to rise higher into the air. It looked like it was time for Celaeno and her crew to depart for another supply run. It is always a pleasure to see those floating airships take off with their propellers buzzing. Probably how it must feel to watch those old zeppelins fly decades ago on Earth.

I watched for a few minutes as the Zephyrus lazily rose high into the air before starting to fly west at a gradually hastening speed. It is impressive just how fast those things can get. Faster than any blimp. Once I was alone, I considered my options. I could stop by the R&D lab, but I doubted much had changed in regards to what they were trying to develop. I last recall them discussing a means to turn those radar sensor crystals into a camera system in order to determine the equipment our enemies were carrying. That would certainly be useful and would help us refine our tactics. But what else was going on...?

I decided to start wandering the encampment as a means of just taking a walk. Just to clear my head and focus on my thoughts. I did eventually notice Nightmare Moon fly over the camp with the platoon of dragons she had been instructing. See those twelve dragons hovering before her in such a compliant fashion was amusing in its own right. They must have been terrified of her. They soon dispersed before Nightmare Moon descended towards the command center. I would have called out to her, but I was much too far away at the time.

Eventually, I made my way back over to the airship docks just for the sake of checking out the idle aircraft floating above. Just such a timeless fascination those things have. They only exist in fantasy on Earth, but to see them actually be a widespread and practical form of transportation was truly mesmerizing. "These things will never go out of style..."

"I'd say so. Sailing on one of those just isn't the same as being carried along on your own wings." A familiar voice spoke from behind me. Upon turning around, I found none other than Sky Beak standing before me while still clad in his gilded armor. He greeted me with a smile. "And how are you doing this fine afternoon, my boy?"

"Hey there, papa bird." I retorted before happily putting my armors around that wonderful father for a hug. He all too readily returned the favor with his impressively large wing. I then asked, "How're the new recruits coming along? They sniping as well as they need to?"

"Well, they're no hippogriffs, but it's amazing how easily they get the hang of those bows when using magic to control them. They don't have the eyes we do, but it hardly matters when levitation magic works so well with your vision to begin with. They'll be ready in no time." Sky Beak explained while he nuzzled his head against mine. When we took a step back to look at each other, he then said, "And I got a telegram from the kids. Silverstream really misses your scritches."

"Oh, you mean this?" I retorted with a cheeky smirk. My fingers went right for his neck and started to methodically slide through them. Sky Beak's feather puffed up adorable as he lifted his head and started to sway a bit. "That's the good stuff, right?"

"Ooooooh yes, that's the spot... It never gets old." Sky Beak said with a sigh and even an unexpectedly shrill churr in his throat. I did not want to take too much of his time, so i soon pulled my hand away while his fluffiness regressed. he promptly cleared his throat and asked, "You'll be here for dinner tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I probably will. I miss that seafood from Capricorn Island. And I want to spend more time out of the command center." I replied with my memories of that fantastic cuisine already starting to stir up my appetite. Whatever it was the chef would serve, I knew I would like it.

We soon said our goodbyes and I headed on my way and... All right, I will confess I am struggling to find more to talk about right now. Today was an abnormally slow day in turns of events and what happened around the camp and who I got to talk to. Not that I did not appreciate it. I did enjoy having a day to just chill, but it was not the kind of day you could try to make sound interesting. It was one of those times that is more enjoyable to experience than to read about.

That changed when nightfall came. Once Smolder and Ocellus returned, I spent the remainder of my day in my dormitory with them. I got some more writing done, but I mostly spent the bulk of my time just relaxing in bed with them. Smolder and I shared many kisses and whispered sweet words to each other while Ocellus would sometimes sip at my love bit by bit at a time. When dinnertime came, Smolder headed downstairs while Ocellus stayed with me since she was already technically bloated on love from last time. Having promised to save my appetite for dinner in the Alabaster's galley and unable to focus on writing with a cuddly Changeling in my company, I left the typewriter alone and relaxed upon my bed with Ocellus in my arms.

"Will you be leaving again tonight?" Ocellus asked meekly. I suspect she was suffering from some separation anxiety issues. She must have heavily imprinted onto me after all that happened right after I brought her back. Especially when the command center is full of guardsmen that were taking their sweet time in opening up to her.

"Yes, I am expected back there tonight. You know how it is with Novo and I. We're in love. Very much so. You understand, right?" I said in return as I push myself up to a sitting position so I could properly hold the little love bug against me.

Ocellus accepted my invitation and put her arms around me. "I know... I could tell how much love you two have for each other. It's just... I always miss you so much when you're away. All that love in you makes me feel safe and welcomed... I always feel like...I'm home."

Precious words, to be sure. And so I whispered into her ear. "You know I'll always come back, love bug. I didn't take you home with me just to throw you away. And when this is all over, I'll take you home to Ponyville. And that's a promise."

"Thank you..." Ocellus muttered quietly. She rubbed the side of her face against my chest, eyes squinted shut. "Even when I'm not eating your love, just feeling it is...so nice. It helps me feel happy."

"Love bugs should always be happy." I whispered as I placed a kiss atop her smooth rounded cranium. Her little wings buzzed for a second before she consciously tucked them away. "You know I adore you."

"I know, I know... I can...feel it. Right there." She mumbled almost sleepily with her hoof over my heart. "It gets a little bigger every day, but... That love right there... It's just for me. Please don't ever stop loving me, please..."

"I won't, Ocellus. I'll always adore this sweet little love bug here." I retorted as I made every attempt I could to be sweet to her. Truly a beautiful heart hidden inside an unsightly shell. I wanted to keep Ocellus happy.

She then let out a long yawn, the time of day combined with her appetite being thoroughly sated causing her to get sleepy very quickly. Ocellus mutterer sleepily, "I'll...always be your little love bug..."

Ocellus was fading fast. Not wanting to keep her awake longer than needed, I gently lowered her to the bed until she was on her side. I stroked my hand over her until I finally heard soft snoring. I kissed her one more time on the head, whispering one little goodbye. "Sweet dreams, my little love bug. See you tomorrow."

It was time for me to head out. I quietly made my way down the stairs to find the buffet was being put away. Smolder was sitting at a table with a tray covered with all manner of tasty fixings. She glanced my way and asked, "How's the love bug?"

"Out like a light. She turned in early tonight, so keep it down when you head back up." I explained before heading over to the little dragoness. A quick glance around revealed there was no one else present. I took the opportunity to place a kiss atop Smolder's head before I whispered to her, "I'll see you tomorrow, mia poca draghessa."

"Back at you, mi amor." Smolder whispered sweetly to me while showing a quick wink of her eye.

Just as I was starting to approach the door leading outside now that the command center had quieted down for the night, I got an unexpected surprise. Shining Armor stepped out from the hall leading to the officer dorms and spoke out to me. "Ah, James! Almost thought I missed you. Princess Celestia would like to see you."

I was on the verge of declining the invitation when I suddenly remembered what happened that day. Did Novo really get through to her? While still filled with doubt, I decided to take Novo's word for it and hoped I would be pleasantly surprised. "Oh... I'll be right there."

Shining Armor then retired to his chambers for the night. I looked at Smolder while she nodded back at me. We bid each other farewell while I headed down the dimly lit hall. I was quickly reminded of how to tell the room apart since pictures of the occupants' cutie marks were taped to the doors. I reached for the door handle that had a familiar sun insignia displayed on the door. "I hope you got through to her, Novo..."

The room beyond the door was dimply lit by only a lamp in the corner. And I felt my blood chill as I saw Celestia resting upon her bed with a tea tray set out before her. Regardless of Novo's words to me earlier, I could not bring myself to smile as I felt compelled to maintain some caution. Celestia at least tried to smile, although her eyes betrayed her lips. She was uneasy.

Celestia patted her hoof on the bed while using levitation magic to pour us cups of hot chamomile tea. I would not be turning in for the night for a couple more hours, but anything to help me relax would be appreciated. I hesitated for a moment before taking Celestia up on her offer and having a seat on the bed with only the tea tray separating us. It was astounding in hindsight how we went from being truly in love to me being so distrustful towards her that I could barely bring myself to speak to her.

"I understand why you're upset with me... I won't deny that you have every right to be." Celestia said softly as she had difficulty looking me in the eye. I barely glanced at her while I took my cup in hand, inhaling deeply of the steam and the fragrant hint of honey in the hot fluid. "But please believe me when I say this. I love you, James. That has not changed. And it...pains me to see you like this."

"Does it now?" I muttered with a dull monotone in my voice that only comes out when I am on guard. I finally found the will to look at her out of the corner of my eye, taking note of how Celestia had set aside all of her usual regalia in preparation for going to sleep for the night. "Novo spoke to you today. And she told me she got through to you somehow. Are you going to tell me what I need to know? About what's going on with you and Twilight Sparkle?"

Celestia's gaze wandered. She could not look directly at me. I understood the importance of concealing information that should not be made readily public, but hiding anything potentially dangerous about one of my most important friends was still a massive violation of trust. After a moment of silence, right when I was about to get up and leave due to Celestia's refusal to cooperate, she finally responded with a question. "Before I say anything, let me ask... Do you believe in...destiny?"

I nearly responded without much thought, but paused for a few seconds as I contemplated a response. I then retorted with the most fitting reply I could think of. "Do you?"

Nothing. Celestia did not even try to answer that. By throwing her own question back in her face, I had forced her into a corner. Almost as if that question about the concept of destiny was an attempt to draw attention away from the subject at hand. With a sigh, and with a sip of my tea, I looked at the wall ahead of me. "I did... At one time. When I was a much more naive young man. I believed in the concept of destiny. But only because I didn't know better. I've come to understand over time that 'destiny' is a term storytellers use to make the tale sound more epic and captivating. But that's all it is. A storytelling mechanic."

I then turned my gaze to Celestia as her eyes quivered in an indecipherable maelstrom of emotions. Concealing any real emotion of my own, I continued to speak to her. "No. I don't believe in destiny. Because the concept of having your fate bound by inexplicable forces entirely beyond your control and understanding is absurd at best and immoral at worst. No one's destiny is set in stone and never will be."

The Princess of the Dawn looked genuinely pained and deeply embarrassed. As if I had struck a nerve in a way I did not intend to or completely invalidated whatever argument she was on the verge of making. I then asked, "So why ask me that?"

With a long sigh, Celestia closed her eyes. "I wish I could tell you everything... I really do. I love you, my sunshine. A queen should not keep secrets from her king. But I am bound by protocol to avoid revealing anything to you that the public cannot know."

Convinced that I was back to square one and was not going to get any answers, I braced myself to rise to my feet and depart. But Celestia reached out with her wing to touch my arm. "But I will tell you what I can. I can't tell you everything, but I will tell you something. Please... I don't want there to be any tension between us... Will you stay and listen?"

"OK..." I muttered while I began to relax again. I took another sip from my cup as I began to feel some satisfaction in seeing that Novo did indeed convince Celestia to ease up on her secrecy towards me. "What can you tell me about the nature of your tutelage of Twilight Sparkle? Especially after what we heard from Sunset Shimmer."

After chugging an entire cup of her tea, Celestia sighed before she looked directly at me. "Yes... There is more to Twilight studying under me than simply expanding her understanding of magic and the joys of friendship. Certain aspects that cannot be known to the public until the right time. But make no mistake. I have no intention of harming Twilight. I love her as if she were my own. I would never put her in a bad position and only have her best interests in mind."

"Her best interests or what you hope her best interests are?" I asked as Celestia once again fell silent in the face of my words. I poured myself some more tea as I said, "I remember what Sunset Shimmer said. I really hope you're not planning on forcing Twilight into taking up the crown. As someone who knows and understands her, that's just not something I can see her ever aspiring to. Certainly not when considering the experience and aptitude you and your sisters have always shown."

Celestia still remained suspiciously silent. Especially when considering the very specific topic I had just mentioned. When Celestia turned her gaze from mine with what was surely a look of shame on her face, my grip on my cup became firmer. "You really do intend to do that, don't you?"

"James... I know the people of Equestria have long looked up to me... But they like to forget the many errors I have made on the throne. The heavier the crown, the harder one falls when they fail. And for a thousand years, I bore the weight of two crowns that forced me to become ever more introspective in my methods as the Princess of the Dawn. I had to acknowledge things about myself that I had ignored for too long..." Celestia explained while still unable to even look at me. And that ended up being a surprising reminder. Due to Luna having returned to the world of Equestria before my arrival, I had all but forgotten that Celestia had reigned alone for a full millennium after the birth of Nightmare Moon. Shouldering the burden of two sovereigns for a full thousand years... It was a burden I could not and did not want to fathom.

With that much pressure on her shoulders, I could understand why Celestia would end up observing her actions with greater scrutiny than before. Greater pressure must surely have given way for new doubts. While still not entirely trusting of her, I did start to understand how difficult governing the world of Equestria entirely on her own for so long must have surely not been good for her psyche. Cautiously, I reached out and placed my hand upon her hoof. "But...you've done well. Very well. It's thanks to you that I love this world so much."

Celestia's eyes suddenly glanced at me with a look of shock. I tightened my grip around her hoof and slid my hand up to hold her wrist. "I won't act like I know what kind of pressure you were under for that thousand years where Luna was absent. I can't comprehend it. But in spite of everything, Equestria thrived under your reign. And it only got better after Luna came home. You held down the fort as well as you could, right? Isn't that enough?"

She still could barely look me in the eye. I felt like I was getting somewhere with her. Celestia was not speaking, but she was listening. My faith starting to grow, I then asked a most pressing question. "Whatever it is you have planned for Twilight... Do you any doubts about it?"

"Constantly..." Celestia muttered as her gaze rose to meet mine. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to put her in a position she does not want. But...even though I am so certain that what I have planned will be for the best, both for her and Equestria as a whole... I can't help but wonder if what I'm doing will be the best decision I have ever made on the throne or the greatest mistake of my life..."

I set my cup aside and brought Celestia's hoof into both of my hands. I looked her in the eye as she gazed back at me. "At least promise me this... When the time comes... Let her choose. Without bias. If you respect Twilight as much as I do... Give her the choice to say no. Don't take advantage of her, all right?"

Celestia squinted her eyes shut as she gasped in a choking sob. Tears starting to roll down her face, she leaned towards me. "Hold me, please?"

I did not refuse. I pushed the tea tray aside and held Celestia in my arms. She wept quietly for a moment, just letting herself be vulnerable in the arms of her beloved for a short time. I was not sure if the problem had been solved, but I was convinced we had come to an understanding regarding the issue. Maybe that was enough. Although she soon whimpering to me, "Thank you for being such a good friend to Twilight... I know she appreciates you."

"I appreciate her too... We're not lovers, but we're more than friends. And we understand each other... That's not something I can say about most others." I muttered with my hand stroking through her long nebulous mane. I then whispered to her, "I won't ask anymore questions... I don't think I want to know... But can I trust you to make the right decision when the time comes? For her sake?"

"I...will most certainly try, my sunshine..." Celestia sniffled before pulling her head back to look me in the eye. She rubbed her wrist against her eyes to clear away the tears. "I love you... I truly do and I'm so sorry for giving you so much reason to doubt me..."

"I know... Love you too, dear." I muttered before our lips touched for a brief kiss. My faith in Celestia was not entirely restored, but I was much more comfortable in her presence now. It was a step in the right direction.

For the next fifteen minutes or so, we leaned against each other in silence while quietly sipping our tea. No words were exchanged. Just basking in each other's presence after a few days of unwanted tension. My hand rubbed her side with my arm wrapped around her while Celestia draped her wing over me. Once the teapot was empty, I stood up to leave. I was needed elsewhere. But when I reached the door, I looked back at Celestia and managed to smile. She responded in kind. "Good night... Sweet dreams, my king."

I nodded in silence before heading out. But I did not get far before I heard another door open behind me. I heard a whisper and turned back. Luna was peeking through the gap in her doorway. Without a word, she motioned for me to approach her. I assumed she wanted me to be discreet, so I looked around to check for prying eyes before shuffling into her room. The layout was almost identical to Celestia's aside from a few bits of decor and furniture. Before I could even say anything, she quietly locked the door as a veil of magic briefly coated the walls, ceiling, and floor before fading. I recognized this pattern. A soundproof barrier. Luna then said, "Forgive me, but I overheard."

"Not the best sound insulation here, huh?" I asked before taking a seat on her bed while the Princess of the Night rested beside me. I then asked, "So, what's up? You have something for me? You know what's going on with Celestia?"

"Far more than she thinks I do." Luna replied with a firm tone in her voice. Her eyes conveyed the dire seriousness of that topic more than Celestia herself ever did. "Not long after my return to the throne, I began to familiarize myself with Celestia's history with Twilight Sparkle. I was curious over the nature of Celestia having enrolled a private student under her watch since she had never done such a thing before I became Nightmare Moon. And I was alarmed by my findings."

My faith in Celestia was suddenly shaken by the grim tone of Luna's voice and choice of words. I remained silent to allow Luna to speak. She then continued, "Trust me, my sister has nothing but the best of intentions for everyone. But I can tell you this. While I am sworn to secrecy as this matter is indeed classified to the point that only the royal family is permitted to know of it, my sister is making a mistake. And Nightmare Moon and I know it."

"Then...why are you telling me this?" I asked with some concern. I had only just started to trust Celestia again so why tell me something that would only sabotage that faith? By her own sister, no less!

To my surprise, Luna cast me a reassuring smile. "I am telling you this so you can rest easy. Mark my words, if Celestia does not turn back from this path she has been taking for years, it will not end well for your friend or Equestria as a whole. But if you will not have faith in her, then have faith in me and Nightmare Moon. We are monitoring the situation closely and we will intervene should the need arise. We know what it is she is doing and we do not approve. I promise you that if Celestia is on the precipice of pushing Twilight Sparkle into a position she is not suited for, we will give our sister a push in the right direction."

This did a lot to soothe my worries. With the two sisters of the night supervising the Princess of the Dawn, surely the three of them could come to an understanding. Since Luna knows her sister in ways that even Novo likely does not, I felt it was a good time to ask. "Thank you... Although I understand the previous millennium was hard on her..."

Luna nodded while displaying a solemn frown. "Indeed... I was astonished that Celestia was more or less the same mare as when I last saw her. But even I could see the cracks not long after I returned. She is much harder on herself now than she ever was before my banishment and I do not believe the act of me becoming Nightmare Moon is a significant factor of it. And that doubt is surely blinding her to the truths she needs to accept about herself and the pupils she has taken under her wing time and again."

"I see... I suppose I can at least understand where she is coming from on all of this... At least that's assuming my suspicions about what she intends to have Twilight do happens to be correct... But thank you for keeping an eye on her. I'll trust you and Nightmare Moon to keep her from doing anything she'll regret." I replied as the anxiety from my suspicions were starting to fade. I just needed to have faith in my two royal friends. They would keep Celestia from making a mistake.

"We will. Please, forget about all that you heard tonight and push it into the back of your mind. Do not doubt my sister. I know she loves you and that you equally adore her. Things will turn out for the best so long as my sister and I have anything to say about her. I would loathe to see you two driven apart." Luna explained with a much more confident and calm tone of voice than before. She knew what she was doing. And I trusted her for it.

However, that last line caught my ear. I then asked, "Do you support Celestia and I as a couple."

The Princess of the Night nodded in sincerity. "I do. Celestia has displayed a certain camaraderie with others before, but not in the way she does with you. The two of you have wonderful chemistry. If a day comes where you are crowned as her king, it will be a wondrous day indeed. Even if we must be discreet about it for now. I'm well aware of your relationships and how your heart works. You are very brave to find the courage to love so many so dearly. Even where such practices are more common, few stallions can manage themselves like you have. Please, continue to be good to my sister. It would break her if she lost you."

"I... I'll do what I can... I do love her." I said with a certain sheepishness in my heart. It is easy to forget how well the Princess of the Night can read you by examining your dreams. I was just grateful for how accepting she was of the love I have for the wonderful women in my life.

"I know you do. And I don't want to see that change." Luna said softly with a dear understanding in her voice. She then motioned her hoof towards the door as the magical veil over the walls became visible for a second before starting to dissolve into a shower of shimmering light. "Now then, I know there's somewhere you need to be. Just have faith in us. All will be well in due time."

"Thank you, Luna. I really needed this chat. Have a good night." I replied while rising to my feet. Once the soundproof veil had faded entirely, I very quietly left her room and made my way outside. The encampment was once again covered in the frightful blackness of night far from the lights of civilization. This was countered by the presence of torches set at the corners of every intersection between the rows of tents to serve as path markers. The moon helped in shining some light on the Empty Plains, but not as much as I would have liked. Knowing where I needed to go, I set out for the northwest corner of the camp.

I barely passed by anyone on my way. With its mostly bright white paintjob, the Alabaster was still surprisingly easy to make out from a distance. There were many torches set around the airship docking grounds to cast more light on the place. I then made my way up the gangplank and passed a few hippogriff archers positioned on the deck as sentries. They greeted me happily while the faintest hint of fine cooking could be detected coming from somewhere. Dinner was surely being served in the galley and I did not want to miss it.

The lights inside the Alabaster's hull were dimmed to help settle its passengers in for the night. It gave the interior an even cozier calmer feeling than usual. I soon stood outside Novo's chambers, but I had to wonder if she was even inside. Knowing that she was expecting me to show up for dinner, I made my way down the hall towards the bow to see if she was in the galley.

Sure enough, there she was. Seated at the middle of a long table while looking over a scroll was the glorious hippogriff queen herself. Many of her guardsmen were seated at the tables while ready for their evening meals. A fantastic aroma filled the air. Must have been some sort of flame-broiled fish. Novo soon glanced up from her scroll and smirked at me knowingly. I smiled right back and made my way to her side before taking a seat beside my beautiful queen. "Missed you, honey. Ready for some good eats?"

"Always. I'm glad I didn't miss anything." I replied while Novo placed a kiss on my cheek with no care of who might see it. Even Sky Beak was seated at the table and just chuckled at the sight of his own queen being sweet on the young man who had become like a son to him. Strange dynamics, in hindsight... Although I then whispered to Novo, "Thank you."

She glanced at me in puzzlement at first. "Huh? Whatever for, ho... Ooooh, you talked to her? Everything all right with you now?"

"Much better, really. I wouldn't say everything's entirely resolved, but I'm satisfied with the results. I think everything will turn out fine in the long run." I explained without wanting to go into too much detail with so many prying eyes and ears around us. I am sure I could trust Novo with the details that were known to me at the time, but that was not the time to discuss it.

"Great to hear, baby. You two are so good for each other. It would be a shame for you two to have a falling out over a petty squabble." Novo cooed to me right as the doors to the kitchen opened. And the chefs were eager to roll out the goods. "Enough talk though. Time for some good eating."

Dinner was fantastic. And with plenty of good company. It was nice to just rest and talk with friends and extended family. Finally got to catch up on things with Sky Beak. Silverstream has been frequently getting in touch with messages to say hello even more often than Ocean Flow and Terramar. And she really misses me, from the sound of it.

That fantastic seafood supper did its job a little too well. I was expecting to engage in wonderful acts of intimacy with my beloved queen, but it being so late on top of how filling dinner was took a lot out of us. Novo and I went straight for her bathroom for a hot shower once the galley closed for the night. Before long, that beautiful fluffy bird of paradise was an adorably soaked mass of feathers. And for a while, we just stood there with nothing between us. Embracing and caressing and just being so in love.

We kissed and held each other. Like standing under a warm waterfall after a day of being apart. Novo sighed beautifully with her hand cupping my face as those gorgeous eyes gazed into mine. "You sure you and Celestia are back on speaking terms?"

"Yes... I don't know what you said to her, but she told me enough. And I think we've come to an understanding. I don't think she'll be making the wrong decisions anymore." I replied softly before Novo and I shared a long and silent kiss. I let out a huff of relief as I whispered, "You really are the best... Thank you for what you do."

"Oh, honey... I'm just looking out for you and that sexy Sunbutt. I wasn't kidding when I said I hope she and I can raise our kids together. I know she'll be a wonderful mama someday and how she so dearly wants to have your foals." Novo cooed to me while we began to share wonderful kisses with each other. Although she then threw a cheeky curveball as she muttered with a chuckle in her throat, "And it'll be nice to have a fellow royal MILF to spend time with. I know she'll rock that hot mom look as well as me when it happens."

"Oh my god, Novo...!" I groaned while breaking out into laughter. To be fair, I suspect that Novo was not wrong. Celestia will make an utterly gorgeous queen when the day arrives... Hopefully sooner than later.

The shower went by without a hitch and was followed by the steady process of using hairdryers to dry out Novo's fluffy plumage. It took minutes, but it was worth it to see that gorgeous bird of paradise become so adorably fluffy. Once I was out in the bedroom while deciding to go without any undergarments tonight, I turned to the bathroom's doorway and saw Novo sway with her wings partially spread. Twisting her body from side to side like a shaky fan dance of sorts just to look cute. "Is this queen fluffy enough for my sugar bear?"

"So fluffy that I wanna squeeze you like a cotton ball." I retorted with a chuckle. I then took a seat on Novo's round bed with the sheets pulled down and patted the mattress to call her over. Novo gracefully walked my way, but did not come to my side. She instead came right into me and pushed me to my back before resting her body atop me. Now comfortably pinned under this beautiful fluffy bird of a mare, I gazed up at her while she looked down at me with such a sincere smile on that beak. Now so comfortable in the soft glow of a single lamp nearby, I whispered my heart out to her. "I am just so in love with you..."

"And I can tell, honey." Novo cooed with a hand coming to my brow. She traced her fingers through my hair, almost bringing me to tears with her sheer tenderness. These were the sincere experienced affections of a woman who was very well versed in the art of love and it only made me adore her more. She then softly asked with that deep soulful voice, "You really do mean it... Am I just that irresistible to you?"

"Yes... Oh my god, yes. It's not even just your beauty or even your voice. You..." I muttered as I tried to find the right words. "I mean I've never been all that picky about women. Just as long as they're not emotionally unstable, I think I can love anyone. But you... You're exactly my type. Mature...loving women. Always sincere with their affection... That's my favorite kind of woman and you are just oozing with that type of personality. And I love you for it."

"Then you truly struck gold when you came to my home, James. But I struck just as much gold as you. Because I adore patient gentle men like you." She whispered back to me as her beak met my lips for yet another kiss. "My sweet sugar bear. I don't think I can even put into words how much I love you, my future king. Just know that you'll always have me."

"I believe you, my love..." I said with a delighted sigh. For just that night, all was well. It did not matter what was happening out there or where we were. Novo and I were together and that was all that mattered to us. Moments later, Novo rested on her side while I draped an arm over her from behind while she draped her tail feathers over me. I held my beautiful fluffy queen against me while the covers were pulled over us. "Love you so much, Novo... Sweet dreams, dear."

"Sweetest dreams for you, James. My sweet swan king..." Novo cooed to me in the dark. Basking in the fluffy feathered warmth of my beloved queen, I soon drifted off to sleep.

Morning came as I found myself waking up very comfortably warm. And I soon remembered where I was and who was tucked under the blankets before me. With a sweep of my arm, I flung the covers off me to find Novo still with her back to me. Still drowsy for the moment, I snuggled up against the softly snoring queen before me.

Her feathery coat was like heaven. Even the faint presence of her natural scent was enjoyable. Or was that the lingering scent of the shower gel she lathered herself up with last night? I held her and dragged my fingers along her sleek beautiful body. And sure enough she began to stir. I placed my hand upon her chest and whispered to her ear, "Good morning, mama bird."

"Mmmm... Hm? Ooh... Good morning, honey. You giving mama a nice start to her day?" Novo cooed sweetly at me while barely turning her head to look back at me. I dragged my fingers through her feathers, applying scritches as I went. Novo's cooing turned into deep sensual churrs. But once I reached her hips, I instead began to rub them. And an idea formed in my head as I held that glorious rounded motherly flank. Novo chuckled as she felt my caress against the hips she was so proud of. "Something catch your eye back there, baby?"

"Only the best part of your body." I retorted as I rubbed and gently squeezed her motherly rump. Holding her against me, I began to grind myself against her soft feathery flanks. "Been a while since I last started my morning like this, dear."

"Ooooh, James... It's a bit early for this, isn't it?" Novo giggled as she sighed in delight. I knew we had been without some deeper intimacy for a while and I wanted to make up for lost time. But before I could start to really get into the moment, Novo looked back at me with a knowing smile. "But as much as Id love to start my day with a little love from my sugar bear... Do me a favor, love. Wait until the last night before everyone heads out again. Save yourself for me. I want the fullest filling daddy can give me before we have to say goodbye for a little while. That all right with you?"

That certainly sounded like a challenge, but I was eager to please my beautiful queen. And it would be so fulfilling too. I embraced Novo from behind and spoke softly to her. "Aw, you're gonna make me wait? Heh, sure. I'll keep myself distracted until then. Hopefully it won't be much longer."

"Trust me, I would ride you every night under the best of circumstances. But I want to see you off with the best night of your life, baby. You know I love you, James." Novo cooed before she reached over and brought her beak to my lips. "Now then, how about you get dressed for some breakfast? I'll see to it they whip up some crab omelets for you."

Novo did not disappoint. Breakfast was fantastic. And now I am in the study of the Alabaster to finish up this entry. Yesterday was fairly uneventful and simple, but what did happen that was worth noting was important and uplifting. I think things are going to be OK with Celestia from now on. I will try not to think about the original implications of the context behind her and Twilight's relationship. And I will keep that all a secret from Twilight. I would not want to create any bad blood between them when I do not even know the full story.

Today looks ready to be a simple one again. I can appreciate that. Weeding out the bad apples from the militia must be taking longer than expected due to the arrival of new volunteers. Even so, I doubt it will be much longer now. At morale is still high.

I better head out now. Ocellus is going to want some cuddles as soon as possible.