Celestia has been playing the long game with Silverhoof, the up-and-coming Director of Energy in the Ministry of Development.

When he makes the first move, Celestia must justify her reaction to the only other pony she's kept close over the long years in Canterlot.

A/N: Written as a side-story to the Winds of Change universe, built by CalmNQuiet. This is set some time after the events of chapter 5 in that story. If you haven't read that, you won't have a clue as to what this is going on about. You have been warned.