The room where Valindra led us to was silent as the High Lady, Scarlet Dusk, and I sat at a small round table. The room we were in was a domed one with light coming down from above us thanks to a skylight. The walls were covered with more etchings of ancient Deerfolk history, which included a few more drawings of Daniel Williams, or as I knew him, Danny.

I had a lot to come to grips with, and Valindra told me that she'd let me think on what I'd just learned for a bit. And think I did. Danny not only came here more than was seen in the old cartoons, but apparently came and stayed as an adult and married an immortal Deerfolk doe. There was even writing on the walls, quite literally in fact, that called him Guardian in the Deerfolk written language. Even if that mystery was solved, it only raised so many more questions for me. Why did he stay in this world and not travel home? Did his sisters also remain? If so, where had they gone? If the television series that I had only just begun watching was accurate, where had the Rainbow of Light gone? Were there other humanoid races like those of the Moochick or the human prince or that elf-like race?

As I was slowly getting my thoughts together, Scarlet, who was apparently ahead of me in the thoughts department, spoke up. "Your Ladyship, did your, um, late husband…did he ever talk about his sisters?"

Valindra slowly nodded, looking up at the ceiling with a wistful smile. "Megan and Mary Williams, yes, although he called the latter Molly most of the time. He told me about many of their adventures they partook in while they were just young children in a place he called Ponyland."

"My God…they really were children…" I muttered in shock. Sure, the cartoons had shown this as being the case, but when I'd learned about the possibility of them being actually real, I'd assumed that they had been older. At the least, I'd assumed they'd been teenagers. Or rather hoped.

Valindra, apparently sensing my ill ease, jumped in. "They managed to survive the flood that destroyed Ponyland, as far as I know."

"Whoa, that's another bombshell," Scarlet said with both eyes wide.

"If I take your meaning for 'bombshell' correctly, then I do apologize," she said in an apologetic tone. "I will admit, I had assumed that the stories of the Williams siblings would have been told in Equestria."

"Well, I think it happened so long ago that the Ponies have forgotten about it," I explained, deciding right then and there that sometime in the future I would travel to the former Ponyland and explore it.

"A shame," Valindra said. "Daniel always spoke very highly about the Ponies of Ponyland."

"The historical records from that time have largely been lost," I explained, "but there are some older cartoons from Earth that show one version of events back in Ponyland. Tirac's invasion, the witches, the Smooze, and many other stories involving Megan and her siblings."

"Indeed? May I see those at some point?" Valindra asked.

"Another time, but I don't see why not?" I said.

"Hun, maybe we should switch gears here," Scarlet advised me. "History lessons are one thing, but we should keep our focus on the here and now where it belongs."

She may have said it in a serious tone, but I smiled at her quotation of Qui-Gon. I nodded and turned to Valindra. "As much as I'd love to keep on asking questions, and I definitely will later, my marefriend's right. I assume that part of the reason you invited me here is because you wanted to tell me about Danny-er, Daniel?"

"That was part of my reasoning, but not the main one," she admitted. "My main reason was to hopefully come to get to know you better and to know what kind of Empire you plan on ruling. Deerfolk have not gotten along too well with a predator species. We haven't had many dealings with Dragons thanks to our distance from each other, but any dealings we have had haven't been exactly favorable towards us."

"I know that Dragons have been wild ever since the Fall of Aelyssia," I explained, "and I'm sorry you've had to deal with such unruly behavior from them, to say the least, however, if any Dragons under my rule ever cause trouble here then I won't hesitate to punish them."

"And what about those who aren't under your rule?" she asked.

That was actually a good point. I'd thought a bit about it and how I would address that issue, so I leaned back and began to think like a ruler. While yes, I was the Emperor of Aelyssia now, I wasn't entirely sure if that meant I was Emperor of Dragons. Khaleesi I am not, I thought as I looked at the High Lady. "Let me answer your question with a question: the magic that I've sensed in your kingdom: does it affect Dragons who come here?"

Valindra didn't reply for a bit, continuing to look at me before she slowly nodded. "Dragon fire and their ancient magic are greatly amplified within our borders," she explained.

"The same can be said about our magic," Scarlet replied, spreading her wings and slowly moving them, making her move quickly into the air before she glided back into her seat.

Valindra nodded. "Our land has secrets we do not willingly share with outsiders. Not even the Shadwood Elderium knows about some of the secrets. But how does this line of questioning answer mine?"

"I was trying to think of a solution to it, and I needed more information," I informed her.

She chuckled a bit. "You do strike me as the type to look for solutions to problems before they might occur. What were you thinking about?"

"Hmm, perhaps a trade of personnel, at least temporarily," I suggested. "I do have a means of instantaneous travel between great distances, and I can show them to you sometime, if you wish."

Valindra looked intrigued. "Go on," she said.

I nodded. "I believe that perhaps there is something we can offer each other. The Dragons are much more of a warrior race, and in that vein they could become much more efficient at protecting this land. Meanwhile, it strikes me that your kind are more in touch with nature than any race I know. The Empire could use some assistance in certain areas such as agriculture. Our lands were once verdant but now there's only desert on our main continent. We are working to purge the curse that the Fae cast on our soil so we can grow crops and other plants again."

She gave me a smirk. "Be wary, young man," she said, "especially when giving away national secrets."

I shook my head. "This isn't a national secret. It's a fact that the former Dragon Lands are mostly a desert when we've discovered that Aelyssia used to be much more fertile. Aelyssia is on a volcanic continent, so the soil should be fertile and growing plants, but it's mostly a desert. There has been some progress made by the help of Equestria, but that help is unfortunately minuscule, not due to the fault of Equestria, of course."

"What are you offering in exchange for some assistance in that area?" Valindra asked.

"I can offer to send a contingent of Imperial Guards to patrol the skies above your borders for any rogue Dragon or other rogue elements," I explained. "Perhaps I could even have these guards teach your own to better defend against Dragons. Reindeer are the only ones among you who can fly, correct?" Valindra nodded. "Then perhaps the Dragons I send here could help not just the Reindeer soldiers, but other races."

"We are not a warrior race. Emperor Jethro," Valindra said.

"And I hope you never need to be, High Lady Valindra," I replied, "but fortune favors the prepared. It's best to be prepared and not need to use said preparations than to be unprepared and need the preparations."

Valindra considered this for a bit. "You are young, but you do bring up good points," she finally said. "I will have to consider this very carefully."

"I understand," I said. "I can also offer fruits and vegetables that we can only grow in our land."

"In exchange for food from our own fields in trade, I assume?" Valindra asked.

"Indeed," I replied.

"That will likely be a more welcome opening to our trade than what you offered before," Valindra said with a hint of amusement. "A word of advice from an experienced leader to an inexperienced one such as yourself. Playing things safe early on will reward you in the future."

I felt foolish. "Well, damn. I'm learning a lot."

"Fear not, young Emperor," she said in a bemused tone, "I am not one to take advantage of another, as I'm sure Miss Miora would tell you."

"Thank you for that," I said gratefully.

"That being said," she continued, her smile fading, "I will not put my nation at a disadvantage in any negotiaions."

"I feel the same about my Empire," I replied just as seriously.

"Good." She looked at me, then smiled. "In the meantime, my daughter and her husband have told me some things about you from the Council of Equestria. If we are to continue these talks, I wish to know you more."

"I wish the same," I replied.

She gave me a soft smile, then nodded. "Then why don't we begin, shall we?"

Several hours later, I was sitting on a bench in the patch of the garden at the top of the Citadel eating some bread that had been provided for lunch. It looked like naan, and judging by the way steam came out of it when I broke it, the bread had been freshly baked. It had a savory taste I couldn't identify, but it was definitely delicious. Even more so if I dipped pieces of it into a steaming broth the Deerfolk had provided for me. They also had provided me with an unusual tasting butter that was delicious as well.

Next to me, Scarlet was also eating some of the bread and broth. She also had a salad that she was eating as well. Gemini, Mica, Silica, and Scoria were sitting near me on several other benches, eating the same thing along with some meat rations. Miora was also nearby, chewing thoughtfully on an apricot. I made a note to have Ember and the Council prepare apricot trees when our farming infrastructure was restored.

The four guards each had thoughtful looks on their faces. During our meeting, they had been shown around the garden. A part of me envied them because they got to see the entire garden, or more of it than I had, but I had likely days ahead of me to speak with Valindra. I took another bite of the bread, chewing thoughtfully on it as I drank in the sights, sounds, and smells around me.

"Pardon me, but may we join you?" a familiar female voice asked from behind us.

I turned to see the familiar smiling faces of the two Deerfolk who had come to the Council. "Lady Arathyra! Ambassador Ebiner!" I stood and smiled at them, gesturing to an empty bench next to ours. "Of course you may join us."

Ambassador Ebiner, upon sitting, looked at what I was eating, and smiled. "Ah, greenwood bread," he said with a smile. "Only a select few Deerfolk can bake this bread. It is valued because it can not only restore the body, but the weary soul."

I looked once more at the flatbread, eyebrow raised. Beside me, Scarlet asked, "Is one small bite enough to fill the stomach of a grown buck?"

I chuckled in amusement, and to my surprise so did Mica. That told me that he, at least, had watched the movies. Ebiner raised an eyebrow. "If you mean does it require less to fill the stomach, then no. It is meant to be eaten with other foods, but its benefits are ample. It restores the body, mind, and soul."

I had noticed that I was quickly feeling more refreshed than I had in a while. I looked at the bread, then chuckled. "If this were available in Equestria, I've no doubt Pinkie Pie would find a way to make it into a dessert," I said.

"The recipe is a well-guarded secret by the bakers," Arathyra said. "They will not share it."

"How long does it last?" I asked. The bread, despite having been given to me ten or so minutes ago, was still hot.

"The heat never dissipates," Ebiner explained.

"Not until you consume it," Arathyra added.

I nodded as I took another part of the bread and dipped it in the broth. After swallowing it, I turned back to them. "You didn't come here just to talk about greenwood bread, did you?"

The husband and wife duo exchanged a look, then chuckled. "We didn't exactly have any plans when we decided to join you," Ebiner said. "Right now, we're just two Deerfolk interested to get to know the two of you."

"Oh," I said, a bit surprised. Perhaps my new political office was making me more paranoid than need be. "Well, it's definitely good to see you again. Thank you again for your help in our battle against the Fae. What have you two been up to since coming back?"

The two exchanged a proud smile, then turned. "We are both expecting a few more members of our family in the future," Ebiner said, putting one hoof around his wife who leaned in to press her head into Ebiner's neck.

My eyes widened. "Wow, really? Congratulations! When are you two expecting?"

"When most other fawns are born for our kind," Arathyra said, "this coming May or June by the Equestrian calendar."

I nodded. "Well, congratulations," I repeated.

"Jethro's expecting a child, too," Scarlet announced.

I inwardly winced. I didn't want to appear to be boasting, but the two Deerfolk leaned forward, interested. "Indeed? That is quite intriguing," Ebiner said. "Congratulations to you. But I thought that you were the only human here."

"I am," I replied. "My wife Zecora and I are expecting a child."

Arathyra and Ebiner both looked shocked by this, but then their smiles returned. "A miracle, a true miracle," Arathyra said in a breathless tone. "I never thought I would see a day like this."

"Do either of you know how it could have happened?" Ebiner asked, sounding genuinely curious. "She is a Zebra, is she not?"

"She has…undergone a slight metamorphosis," I explained. "It's a long story."

"No need to tell us details right now," Arathyra said, and Ebiner nodded in agreement. "Still, we are happy for the two of you. A fawn is a blessing."

"And a hell of a lot of work," Scarlet said with a wry chuckle.

"That is correct," Ebiner agreed, "but worth the work. These will be our first fawns."

"It's my first child too," I said. "Well, my first biological child."

"Oh?" Ebiner asked, "have you adopted a fawn of your own?"

"Unofficially, I have taken two dragons into my family," I explained, then proceeded to explain how I had somehow become a father figure to Spike and how I had been there for the hatching of Princess Aurora and how I had named her.

When I finished, Arathyra smiled widely, as did her husband. "You certainly have an expanding family," she said. "Not to mention an Empire to run. I certainly hope you are not running yourself ragged."

"I'm hanging in there," I replied. "But back to the two of you. Are either of you nervous?"

"Yes," Arathyra said, "but we are also eager to welcome our new fawns into the world. The Fawning is a time of great joy among our kind."

"And a good excuse to throw a festival," Ebiner said with a cheeky grin. This earned him a bump on his rump by his scowling but clearly amused wife.

"The Fawning Festival is one of our biggest celebrations throughout our year," Arathyra added. "There are special foods made only for the Festival, the fawns are introduced to their communities, games are played with them, and more."

"Sounds like a lovely time," I said.

"If things go well here between you and mother, perhaps you and your family, and perhaps your friends, can come to the Fawning Festival," Arathyra suggested.

"That sounds like fun," I said.

"I'm sure our friends would absolutely love it for their own reasons," Scarlet remarked with a chuckle.

"If that does happen, and if your mother and I come to an agreement, perhaps that could be in our future," I replied.

Arathyra and Ebiner nodded. Then, Arathyra's smile faded a bit as she asked, "I understand that my mother may have revealed the true nature of our knowledge of your kind," she said, "although from the drawings and the personal painting in mother's chambers, I had no idea humans had wings or could wield magic other than the Rainbow of Light."

"I'm an anomaly," I said. "Certain events that pertain to my method of arrival in this world led to this change." I fluttered my wings behind me, barely remembering to be gentle due to the vast magic in the air here.

"I see," Arathyra said with a nod. "Is it some secret?"

"A lot of it is an Equestrian secret," I admitted, "because these are Alicorn wings."

Ebiner nodded. "Then we won't pry," he promised.

"Thank you," I said gratefully.

There was silence as we all ate our meals. Then Arathyra leaned forward, and asked a question I was not expecting. "Could you tell us what Equestria is like? The modern day Equestria, I mean."

I leaned back, chewing thoughtfully on my greenwood bread. "Well, my experience is limited since I've only been to a few places. Ponyville, Canterlot, the Everfree Forest, and Cloudsdale."

"Tell us about your hometown in Equestria, then," Ebiner said.

"That would be Ponyville," I explained. "It's a small town just south of Canterlot. When I last checked, the town had a population of…I think just over six hundred or so, mostly ponies, of course. I'd describe it as a rustic type of town, the type where everybody knows everybody. I'm still kind of new there, so I don't quite know everyone yet, but you get my meaning. There are a few farms on the outskirts of the town which provide most of the food for the town itself. It's located on the northern edge of the Everfree Forest."

"Ah yes, that's what you call the Wildwood," Ebiner said.

"Wildwood, huh?" I pondered that briefly before I chuckled. "That's a fitting name, actually. It is wild and dangerous. My wife lived there for years, and I lived there for a few weeks. It's not a place for the lighthearted. I saw a group of Deerfolk in the forest last summer. They were singing."

Arathyra and Ebiner looked at me with wide eyed fascination. "What sort of Deerfolk?" Arathyra asked curiously.

"And what were they singing?" Ebiner asked.

I thought back to that day. It was shortly before my first trip to Ponyville, so I could remember it quite clearly. I described what I had seen and what they had sung. When I was finished, Arathyra looked at me with wide eyed shock. "They sang of how the Equestrian princesses forced peace on us and the Lycans," she said. "I believe I know the song you refer to." She cleared her throat and began singing a similar song that I had heard the other Deerfolk singing. Ebiner joined in, and some other Deerfolk quietly sang or hummed the tune.

"In Elden times, the fair ones lay,
Beneath the silvery light of day.
Unto the seas, their gazes strayed,
And they, our kin, did sail away.

"To distant lands, they traveled thus,
On fairy wings and moonlit dust.
Their ships would sail from morn till dusk,
The seas of gold their only trust.

"To lands far younger than the old,
Cervinia was their abode.
Their songs were gay, their hearts were gold,
Their home was lovely to behold.

"The ages passed, their numbers grew.
Their magic kept their new land new.
In days long past, they drank the brew
Of untouched streams and fruits of blue.

"Then threats appeared, a looming squall
Of beings from their mountain halls.
For from beyond the mountain's walls,
Barbarity their only call.

"The lines were drawn, the banners flown,
The weapons sharp, the magic sewn.
The battle raged, until alone
The Alicorns blew on their horn.

"Harmonious their words, their gazes kind,
The sun and moon were on their minds.
The battle ceased, lines redefined.
And peace between us we did find.

"A peace that's forced is never one,
Despite all that the two have done.
Our memories are still quite long.
And thus, we end our ancient song."

While the tune was the same, the history behind it felt slightly different. There was no mention of the Everfree or even Wildwood. When they finished, I nodded. "That was the tune they sang, yes," I agreed, "but their history seems a lot different than yours."

"That is…unsettling," Arathyra said with a frown.

"Could they have forgotten their origins?" Ebiner asked.

"Mother probably knows about the history," Arathyra replied. "She was one of the first of the Deerfolk to step foot into the Cervinia Citadel."

"I'm just surprised the Deerfolk there haven't made any moves since a large part of the Everfree was burned down recently," I said.

Arathyra and Ebiner looked stricken when I mentioned that particular news. "Yes," Arathyra said somberly, "that was a tragedy."

"When my wife and I walked through the Wildwood during our time there, it filled us with a peace we normally only feel here," Ebiner said.

"Funny, we don't feel that," Scarlet said wryly.

"We are creatures of the forest, Miss Dusk," Arathyra said with a smile, "and as such, we find peace in the trees. Peace and security."

"Even the Reindeer?" Scarlet asked.

"Even the Reindeer," Arathyra confirmed.

I nodded, then looked over at Miora. She was still eating her apricots but kept her eyes on us with curiosity. I raised my hand and beckoned her over. "Won't you join us, Miora?" I asked. "Surely you have something to say about forests."

The Giraffe cow only raised an eyebrow, then picked up her plate of apricots with her magic, walked over, and sat down in our circle. "Our forest is more like the Everfree," she said, "so I am afraid I will not be able to say much about forests."

"I've always been curious about the Shadwood, to be honest," Ebiner said. "Nodeer has even been there, as far as I know."

"Even though your two species are on good terms?" I asked.

Ebiner nodded, but it was Miora who spoke. "We allow no one in our forest unless there is no other choice," she said.

"You might as well call your forest kingdom Doriath and your hidden city Gondolin," Scarlet muttered with a chuckle.

Miora looked at Scarlet with an expression that I would describe as polite curiosity. "I have not heard those names before," she said. "What might they mean?"

"They're fictional locations in a book series that she and I have been reading together with my wife recently," I explained. "Doriath is a forest kingdom where the elves of a continent called Middle-Earth live, and Gondolin is a hidden elf city surrounded by tall mountains. Both were destroyed at the end of that fictional world's First Age."

Miora looked curious, now, but it was Arathyra's and Ebiner's expressions that caught my attention. They were stunned, eyes wide. "Did you say…elves?" the latter asked almost breathlessly.

My attention was focused on them, eyes narrowed. "Yes…" I said cautiously. "Why? Does that name mean something to you?"

Arathyra smacked Ebiner's backside and gave him a glare. He stiffened. "Ah, sorry," he said, "I shouldn't have said anything." He stood abruptly, as did his wife. "Please excuse us."

As the two walked away, I watched them go with some trepidation. What the hell had that been about?

I discovered the reason behind their swift departure when Scarlet and I returned to the private chambers with Valindra. She had an expression of intense curiosity as we sat down. "My daughter and son-in-law have told me that you mentioned a fictitious race of beings called elves. Is this true?"

"Yes, I did," I said, frowning in confusion now. "Have you heard about such a race?"

Valinda didn't speak for a few seconds, contemplating me and then Scarlet. Finally, she turned to the mare. "Miss Dusk, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave the room for a few moments," she said. "I have something quite important to tell to the Emperor."

Scarlet looked like she was about to protest, but she paused. Clearly she had heard the High Lady referring to me as Emperor just like I had. She nodded, stood, bowed respectfully, then said, "Of course." She turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

When she was gone, Valindra stood, then walked over to a bookshelf where there were many books bound in what looked like a deep green leaf instead of the standard leather. She picked one up with her magic and floated it over towards me. As it came over, the book opened and the pages began to turn. When the book was in front of me, it was on a specific page. "My husband and I wrote a journal together in our years together," she explained, "and in one particular instance he spoke of the races that he knew from his days in Ponyland." She reached over and pointed at the journal, which to me looked more like a dictionary. She pointed to a certain entry. "Here," was all that she said. "He wrote this before the destruction of Ponyland."

I leaned in and looked at the entry, and my eyes widened. This was what I read.

Elven: Also known as Elvenfolk or Elf/Elves. They are a race of furless bipedal beings with distinguishing features such as sharply pointed ears, a skin tone ranging from pale white to dark brown, and universally light emerald green or light sapphire blue eyes. They are extremely long lived, some may even say immortal as their current king, Phylai, has sat on the Throne of Branches for nearly one thousand years as of this writing.

From what little I've learned of them from Megan's visit to their homeland when those pony foals were abducted, they don't reproduce as fast as humans, having a reproductive cycle once every hundred years. They can have children with the other bipedal races, but those unions are few and far between. They live in the Álvan Tree, a massive tree similar to the Cervinia Citadel of the Deerfolk far to the west, the Deep Palace of the Dragons, or the long-lost Yggdrasil on the continent west of here.

There are other branches of Elven who don't live in the Álvan Tree, such as those of the Green Mountains who helped us find the Golden Horseshoes which once belonged to Mimic's ancestor Queen Majesty. These Elven are distinguished by their green hair, pale green skin, and playful demeanor.

Megan spoke very highly of the Elven, and it seems as if the Deerfolk of the Citadel have taken after the manner of the Elven of the Álvan Tree. I'll still always call them Elves, of course.

I've been getting sidetracked. Sorry.

The Elven are also known for their nature-based magic. Megan told me that she once saw some Elven placing their hands on the ground and creating an entire garden in minutes after planting seeds in the ground. She even told me that the Elven have offered to teach a select few of the Earth Ponies said magic since they apparently have the capacity to learn it.

While that may sound peaceful, forests are naturally dangerous, so it's always a good idea never to underestimate how tough the Elven are despite their serene or playful behavior. They are expert archers, wield swords with a finesse and grace unable to be replicated, and know a nearly unbeatable martial art style known as Álf style.

From what Sage Moochick told us, there is a legend which goes that many modern-day races owe their very sapience in part to the Elven and their close allies, the Dwarven and Human.

I paused when I read that last part, eyes wide. Looking up at Valindra, her expression was one of grave seriousness. She nodded to the page again, and I looked back down, finding another entry.

Dwarven: Also known as Dwarvenfolk or Dwarves. They are a race of diminutive furless bipedal beings with distinguishing features such as pointed ears highly placed on their head, long hair and beards of dark to light brown, a skin tone ranging from pale white to dark brown, and nearly universally hazel eyes of every hue. They are able to live for approximately 400 to 600 years. Sage Moochick is 564 years old. They are natural miners, which is why their homeland is the Myrk, an underground realm that only they have the ability to access through their own incantations. No other race can access the Myrk without aid from a Dwarven. From what the Moochick told me, the Myrk sounds more like some other dimension than anything else. He's promised to take me, Megan, and Molly there at some point.

Despite that, there are settlements of Dwarven in Narda that are not in the Myrk. Their biggest city is located in the vast caverns beneath the Mountains of Light. Other Dwarven do live underneath the sun like Sage Moochick lives in his mushram.

Dwarven can utilize enchantment magic, using that ability to enhance any weapons they craft in the Myrk or their Nardan mountain halls. Their weapons crafting is second to none, and my own sword Excalibur is of Dwarven make. They also create magically enchanted jewelry which the Humans of Narda can use with their own natural magic.

"This is…" I trailed off as I looked up in stunned silence at the placid looking doe in front of me.

"Read the last entry," she said, "the one about Humans."

I nodded slowly, mouth dry as I looked down.

Humans: Much like my sister and I, Humans of Narda are furless bipedal beings with rounded ears, a multitude of hair colors ranging from blonde to brown to black, a skin tone ranging from pale white to dark brown, and eye colors ranging from green, blue, and brown. Among the three main bipedal races, they live the shortest, with lifespans ranging from 150 to 200 naturally, although there have been those who have lived for decades after those lifespans in their history.

Like humans from Earth, Humans here are capable of living in a wide variety of environments. Deserts, forests, plains, tundras, you name it, Humans here can survive in them quite handily. They have access to magic, but their magic, unlike Pony magic, requires a catalyst, such as a magic wand, a staff, or magic jewelry. They also require incantations in a language that sounds a lot like Latin.

Molly and I haven't met any Humans, but the one Megan met, Prince Alwyn, was once captured by Tirac and changed into a monster while being forced to serve him. He is part of the royal family of the largest of the Human kingdoms, Eallgréne.

I put the journal down, trying to wrap my head around the fact that three ancient races out of fantasy live in-well, a world of fantasy. Honestly, since I had done more research on the G1 incarnation of the MLP show, I shouldn't have been too surprised. Still, the amount of history that I'd just read about from a man long dead was something I needed to think long and hard about. Closing it reverently, as it was ancient, I floated it over to Valindra, who took it with the same care and placed it back on the bookshelf. She turned back and gave me an empathetic look. "I believe that, at least for today, we can stop our discussions. I have shown you much that you need to ponder. This was not how I anticipated matters going."

"You and me both," I managed to stammer out before regaining my composure. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I appreciate it. May I ask, though, if this is information you wish to remain secret?"

Valindra considered this, then looked at me with a serious expression. "Your knowledge of this world from your own includes the mention of Daniel and his sisters, correct?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"If anyone you know shares this knowledge, then what you have been shown today may be shared with them," Valindra said, "but with a caveat. Please be sure that they are trustworthy."

"I can definitely promise that," I replied with a serious look of my own along with a nod.

"Thank you." She then stood, as did I. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Emperor Jethro Bethridge. May you find it peaceful." She inclinded her head politely towards me.

"May you find it peaceful as well, High Lady Valindra," I said, giving her a polite nod as well before I straightened my royal clothing. "Same time tomorrow?"