The Pawn Who Would Be Queen

Of the many things that Celestia had been craving since their abrupt departure from the Grand Galloping Gala, a quiet breakfast was near the top of the list. As she sat in the expansive royal dining room, the scent of tea and eggs fresh in her nose, that quite breakfast was exactly what she'd gotten. Luna and Piercing were still asleep, Blueblood was already busy with his daily duties, and Cadence was also notably absent... Gossip from the Cleaning Staff indicated that she'd spent the evening in Shining Armor's quarters, but that was the sort of thing Celestia tried not to partake in... Even if she believed it. Whatever the reasons, the simple truth was that Celestia had the entire room to herself.

She was taking her time with her plate, working each piece of the meal at her leisure, silently pondering just what to do first with her morning. It'd likely be little more than reading the backlog of messages she'd received over the course of her absence of about two weeks, and that was bound to come with headaches... For now, however briefly, she could just sit before one of the sunlit windows, basking in the warmth of her dawn. Taking a sip from her cup of tea, the Princess reclined in her seat, eying that morning's edition of the 'Canterlot Bulletin' with modest intrigue.

There, splashed across the front page, were two mugshots. Jet Set and Upper Crust, looking into the camera with some of the most profound looks of disbelief Celestia had ever seen. Unlike other papers in Canterlot, the Bulletin was one of the few that Celestia trusted. Few details were released, but various sources were cited as having heard both Nobles verbally threaten both Princess Orzel and their tenants with financial and reputational harm. These sources were in line with reports from the Lunar Marines in the room, what with their considerably well developed hearing. The irony was that the two real estate magnates had their own reputation among Canterlot's citizenry, and as such Celestia doubted there would be much sympathy on their behalf, outside of the boiler plate Noble Party push back.

She'd already received half a dozen 'urgent' petitions for their release, coming from some of the mightiest law firms in the city... Could she order the release of Jet Set and Upper Crust? Of course. Would she? No... This was a power play on the part of the Nobles, if they could convince Celestia to release their compatriots it would send the message that Orzel wasn't to be taken seriously, something she suspected the girl to have figured out... Celestia shook her head at the thought of her niece, looking back at her plate and stabbing at an egg with her fork.

The woman knew that Orzel didn't go out of her way to cause problems, that more often than not it was the other way around, but... It could regardless get tiresome cleaning up all the controversy the young Princess inspired. Celestia of course had to take some responsibility for the state of things. The fact that both she and Luna agreed to make Orzel a Princess in the first place sprang to mind. Moreover, a monarch was ultimately at fault for certain actions of their subjects, and it was one thousand years of her complacently indulgent manner of rule that allowed this atmosphere of toxicity to fester and take root. Compared to her, the people of Equestria were but children, and she'd spoiled them as such... It just as well could have been Luna, Cadence, or even Blueblood, being lambasted by the press in such a fashion.

Realistically, she was more concerned by what she'd read several pages into the paper, in the 'International' section. Among the highlights was a drought across the continent Western Parthenia, border tensions between the Minotaur Republic and the Eastern Dragonlands, several violent coup de'tats in North Zebrica, and extensive pirate activity rising across all the world's oceans. These, it was assumed, were the proverbial 'aftershocks' from the Chaos Wave. Most present in Celestia's mind were reports of widespread strikes and other civil unrest unfolding in the Griffon Empire, primarily in the Northern Provinces. Some were protests, others were riots, but the Empire intended to quash them all with its military. She'd keep an eye on things, make diplomatic requests for leniency, but Equestria's standing policy was one of non-involvement, not without being invited in by the Griffons, and only then to serve as a mediator...

Even if she felt inclined to interfere, Celestia was already busy enough dealing with things on the home front. The effort to clean up the solutes left behind by the deluge of Chocolate Milk was getting underway. Already there were unprecedented arguments in the National Council about which areas of Equestria should get priority first. As most Black Crown strongholds were in rural areas, the areas most widely effected, it stood to reason that they'd wind up the first to receive aid...

It'd be the first major political victory Post-Bill 250 for either side, and Celestia predicted that'd lead to an explosive level of support for the fledgling party, as if things couldn't get even more complicated... She'd presided over numerous periods of unrest and disenfranchisement, but the rapid polarization she saw now was unlike any she'd seen before. The presence of a radio in virtually every household or automobile made access to information that much easier, and it was through that information that the discontentment was being spread... There wasn't anything Celestia could really do about it either, not without violating the constitution at any rate. That was probably for the best. Better to err on the side of liberty... At least the stock market was recovering.

The woman's thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the dining room doors, though Celestia was too focused on the paper and her meal to look up. In all likelihood it was Luna and Piercing, or perhaps Director Orcus had arrived with the morning threat assessment... Just what she needed after reading about all the ways the world was in trouble. A few moments passed before the seat next to Celestia was withdrawn. The woman looked up then, and was forced to do a double take, as she saw none other than Orzel scooting her seat in. Given what Celestia heard the night before, she was the last person the elder Princess would've expected to see.

Orzel appeared freshly showered, and attired in simple gray robes, rather than her usually more 'utilitarian' choice of wardrobe. As usual she wore her glasses and a headscarf, though this one was a deep shade of crimson, and lacked the typical floral pattern Celestia had come to expect. Celestia couldn't quite place it, but there was something else about the girl, something that seemed... Off. As if her very presence wasn't aberration enough. Of course the woman wasn't the only one surprised, seeing as the Royal server was quickly moving towards the table, pen and notepad already in hand.

"I will have two eggs, soft boiled, with my typical extra accompaniments, please..." Orzel stated simply, the server quickly jotting it down and walking away. "Good morning, Aunt Celestia." Celestia blinked owlishly, quickly shaking off her surprise and offering a smile.

"Good morning!" The older Princess greeted, setting her fork down for the moment and turning her full attention to her niece. At a glance Orzel was just as implacable as ever, but now that Celestia looked closer, there was actually just the faintest hint of cheerfulness to her demeanor. "I wasn't expecting that you'd join me, this is a pleasant surprise. It's been a while since we've had time to talk one on one." Celestia could detect just the faintest hint of relief in her niece's eyes, as if the absence of Luna, or anyone else for that matter, brought her some sort of comfort... Yet another thing to add to the list of things Celestia felt a need to address in the future. "I trust you slept well?" Her niece nodded, leaning back in her seat and folding her hands in her lap.

"I had the most wonderful dream..." Orzel admitted with the faintest of smiles, which Celestia knew translated to a large grin in a typical person. "I was in this massive library, larger than all of Canterlot..." The girl trailed off, the smile quickly evaporating away. Celestia followed the girl's eyes, which were fixed squarely on the newspaper. "Mother paid me a visit last night." It wasn't a question. Celestia nodded, watching as her niece picked up the paper and examined it for herself. "She was not alone... The door logs show there was a man with her. Identity unknown..." Celestia couldn't hide her surprise at that, then again, adding an enchantment that kept track of a door's comings and goings wouldn't be that difficult...

"He's a very good friend of the family... An expert on your ancestors." Celestia explained, hoping that would prevent Orzel from raising any further questions. Just who Piercing was and why he was there was a matter better left to Luna to discuss. The girl lowered her head slightly, peering at Celestia over the top of her glasses with an obviously skeptical glint in her eyes... Even if the act itself likely meant the older Princess looked like little more than a colorful blur. For a few moments Celestia considered what would be best to say, but... Nothing seemed right. She could only guess how Orzel might react to the news that her Mother was seeing someone, let alone that that particular someone would likely become her Step-Father. "I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me to tell you anymore than that at present."

Orzel emitted just the faintest of sighs, then returned her attention back to the newspaper, flipping past the front page to the business section. Just like that, the minute trace of cheerfulness left the teenager, buried beneath an avalanche of icy cold stoicism... Yet, despite her obvious efforts to come off as distant, Celestia got the distinct impression that Orzel had something she wanted to say. For one thing, Celestia didn't even know her niece read newspapers, let alone that she seemed more interested in the financial section than anything else... That, coupled with her unexpected appearance for breakfast and the evident relief at Luna's absence, told Celestia that Orzel had a specific goal in mind... Something she didn't think she could bring to her Mother. That was... Troubling.

"What're you reading?" Celestia laced her fingers together, leaning on the table and observing her niece a bit more closely. Orzel didn't take her eyes off the paper, the faintly glowing orbs darting back and forth across line after line. "Any stock tips... Keys to fabulous riches?" The woman tried to sound friendly, and that evidently caught Orzel's attention just enough for her to briefly look at her aunt.

"I am more interested to see what new technologies are being developed... There are two brothers, Misters Flim and Flam, seeking investors for an invention relating to food processing..." Orzel mumbled, lowering the paper and pointing to one of the sections. Celestia hadn't read the paper that far ahead as of yet, so she curiously examined the wording. The names Flim and Flam, however, sent a myriad of warning flags racing up the proverbial halyard. "If I had any money, I might consider buying... What is the word? A 'stake'...?" That struck Celestia once more as strange, she would've thought her niece would demand to see proof of the invention's existence, to know precisely just how it worked.

"Well, you do have money, but I wouldn't spend it on something like that." Celestia decided to continue along, hoping that perhaps a little more discussion might coax Orzel into speaking whatever was on her mind. The teen looked honestly surprised at the news, lowering the paper just a tad, her stoic mask faltering for the longest Celestia had so far seen. "You helped run the country for the two weeks we were gone. It's only fair you should be compensated for that work." Orzel's surprise was replaced by genuine confusion.

"I did that because it was my duty." She stated, as if the idea of being paid hadn't even occurred to her. Knowing how Orzel tended to think, Celestia didn't doubt that was exactly what happened. It actually brought a smile to the woman's face, though evidently that wasn't the case for Orzel, as the girl actually looked... Ashamed? "My temporary stewardship of our country was fraught with trouble... As such, I do not feel I have earned any such 'payment'. Besides, I installed new doors on my tower, each cost nearly eight-hundred Bits..." Celestia unceremoniously plucked the newspaper from Orzel, folding it neatly and setting it aside, taking extra care to ensure not a single glimpse of the two Nobles on its cover were visible.

"You did well under the circumstances, Orzel." Celestia assured gently, inwardly doing her best to refrain from cursing the names Jet Set and Upper Crust. The woman's words apparently sent the teen's eyes darting about the table cloth in rapid succession, as if she was searching for some further reason to object. Celestia needed to act quickly, as her niece's ability to find reasons to criticize herself was astonishingly well developed. It wasn't as bad as it was before she'd started therapy, thankfully, but the woman got the distinct impression there were still a great many things that Orzel didn't like about herself... "As for the doors in your tower, I recall that they needed to be replaced anyway."

That was a bit of an understatement, considering the old doors lacked a functioning lock, aside from a padlock which could only be applied from the outside. In the grand scheme of things, eight-hundred Bits per door was a bargain price, especially when taking into account the usual cost of the Castle's upkeep. Regardless of the price, Celestia could tell that even small purchases troubled Orzel. It was only natural, given the appalling standards of living described in the Szafirian Empire. From what Celestia could recall, despite living in a fairly well sized estate, Orzel's family nonetheless was often times barely able to afford basic necessities.

"I still do not feel I am deserving..." Orzel repeated distantly, resting her head on one of her hands as she leaned on the table. "You people have granted me access to more books than I ever could have dreamed of, to boundless enchanting supplies, clothes, food, a bed..." The girl tapped the side of her glasses. "With these I can see... I can actually see... The cost for these miracles is my service to my new motherland. Therefore, I feel I have already been 'paid'." Celestia placed a comforting hand on her niece's shoulder, gently coaxing the teen to look at her after a few moments of silence.

"It's not payment, Orzel, that's just what a family does for each other... You're smart enough to know that." The woman declared with gentle sternness, so that Orzel would know there was no room for arguing. Sure enough the teen nodded, albeit reluctantly, her gaze returning to the table. "Difficult as it may be to believe, even Princesses need their own money. You wouldn't use taxpayer Bits to buy a fancy new dress for yourself, would you?" Orzel stared at her blankly, and Celestia inwardly sighed almost immediately after the words left her lips. While Orzel could clean up nicely, it was obvious that designer dresses were the last thing she'd willingly spend money on. Tools, notebooks, maybe a new lab coat, but not dresses. "Okay, bad example, but you're also smart enough to see my point." There was another reluctant nod.

"If it helps, why don't we make this a lesson in economics." Celestia offered, withdrawing her hand from the girl's shoulder and taking another sip of tea. "I'll pay you what your Mother would've made for the two weeks you and Cadence ruled, I want you to use the money, however you see, fit to get the most value out of it." This was a lesson that she knew Luna had attempted once before, which didn't necessarily go as planned given some unfortunate timing. As far as Celestia knew, Orzel was still hiding the original twenty Bits she'd been given weeks ago. "Remember, the point of the exercise is to acquire something you want at the lowest price. Shop around, look for the best deal, then make the purchase."

"If you insist..." Orzel conceded hesitantly, looking at the table and twiddling her thumbs. "How much money will you be giving me?" Celestia bit her lip, that was the quarter-million Bit question... Well, actually a little more like two-hundred-thirty-thousand Bit question. The figure was... Extreme. At least by typical Equestrian standards, and Celestia suspected virtually inconceivable for Orzel.

It was sometimes difficult for even Celestia to grasp just how immense the money granted to the Crown was. Most of it came from real estate and other diversified investments, managed by a non-partisan board of directors who were, by law, required to remain as discrete as possible. A comparatively small portion came from the revenue generated by the gate admission, tours, and gift shops in the Castle's public sections. Having ruled alone for a thousand years, Celestia's personal wealth at one time exceeded the annual GDP of several countries... A portion of those funds were used to maintain the Castle grounds and interior, paying the salaries of the Castle's staff and the like.

Celestia had since divided up her vast private fortune among Blueblood, Cadence, and Luna. Orzel would likewise be added to that list when she came of age, which was why it was so vital that she learn to handle large sums of money... As a Drake, it would also be best to start her off with a comparatively small amount, so as not to overwhelm her ability to restrain the draconic urge to hoard. Obviously as a spur of the moment decision, this wasn't something Celestia had discussed with Luna, and she expected that how that conversation would go after the fact depended greatly on how Orzel reacted. She just hoped that the girl didn't have a conniption.

"Two hundred and thirty thousand Bits, give or take a few hundred..." Celestia stated bluntly, and for a few seconds she thought Orzel's eyes would actually bulge out of her head. The teen's jaw fell slack, in fact it seemed every part of her was limp. A few moments later Celestia saw the faint cerulean glow of the girl's eyes flicker...

Gradually that glow became more pronounced, taking on a distinctly greenish hue that somehow alternated between emerald and oxidizing bronze. This wasn't something Celestia was all that alarmed by, merely the outward manifestation of Orzel's draconic urge to acquire wealth... If there was anything to be really afraid of, the girl would've started another Elemental Transformation then and there. With a herculean effort, the mask of stoicism reasserted itself. The glowing intensity of those eyes lingered for several seconds, but they too eventually returned to the typical Cerulean shade.

"I... Do not... Need so much." Orzel's words were heavily stilted, further evidence that the urges were still running hot beneath the calm facade. As much as Celestia wanted to agree with Orzel's sentiment, the simple matter was that there was a reason the members of the Crown boasted such large bank accounts.

"You do, if you wish to get certain things done in Equestria." Celestia stated simply, taking on a tone that she'd not used since Twilight Sparkle's last in person lesson. "You recall that the completion of ESS Sokol is widely due to your Mother, correct?" Orzel nodded, taking a deep breath and steadying herself against the table. "When the program had its funding cut, how do you imagine she continued production? How about this Castle? It's a project I funded myself."

The woman looked about the dining room, recalling the tribulations that came with building a Castle atop a mountain. It'd been a necessary struggle, a means of helping Equestria's economy recover in the wake of the Nightmare War. The project was the single largest public work of its time, responsible for hiring thousands of men and women, building roads, aqueducts, and other vital infrastructure left in ruins following the war. With its coffers almost entirely depleted, there was no way Equestria itself could've supported such an endeavor.

"Without my fortune, the foundation for this city we call home would never have come into being. Without your Mother's funds, ESS Sokol would've been broken up for scrap. Without Cadence's, Las Pegasus would still be in the grips of a housing crisis..." Celestia turned her view back to her niece. "Equestria's government works well in most situations, but sometimes... The bureaucracy and deadlock can leave much to be desired. In such cases, it falls on the personal funds of the Crown to cut through the red tape and do what must be done." Orzel looked to have a better grip of herself, and that was heartening, but as with so many other topics Celestia could see there were many questions buzzing around the girl's mind.

"Why not just fix the bureaucracy?" The teen's voice trailed off at the end, and Celestia watched her shake her head with a modest grown of annoyance. "That would require the bureaucracy to want to be fixed, would it not?" Celestia nodded sagely, pleased to see that Orzel was getting a better grasp as to why certain things were the way they were. The woman knew that her niece's mask of apathy likely concealed a sense of deep frustration, her sensibilities towards efficiency and productivity had to be somewhat instigated.

The gears of Equestria's bureaucracy turned at a slow but steady pace, and the people responsible for lubricating those gears were the bureaucrats themselves... If the system became easier to navigate, those people would find themselves no longer necessary, which would result in them losing very lucrative positions. At the same time, making things too difficult ran the risk of them losing their jobs in response to public outcry, and so a delicate balance of inefficiency was maintained. As with the National Council, that particular part of Equestria's government was formulated when the country was considerably smaller. Celestia knew a fix might be found without the aid of the bureaucrats, if someone took the time to do a proper examination of the system, but the mechanisms with which to implement such a solution were so complex and archaic that many still made references to knights, damsels, and the odd jester or two...

"That's indeed a part of the issue, but we must also take into account the Nobility. Not just actual Nobles, those that hold titles, but those who regardless of title wield their own vast personal wealth." Celestia continued, leaning back in her seat. It was around this time that the server returned, carrying a fairly large tray of food, each plate shielded from view by a silvery cover. "This is a prime example." Celestia stated, gesturing to the tray being set before Orzel, its cover removed shortly after. "They expect the Crown to be appointed with fanciful things, and will make the implementation of policy difficult if they feel the Crown doesn't represent their ideals, as you may recall... Money, therefore, is vital to playing that role as well."

Celestia knew already that Orzel was intimately familiar with this particular concept. Bill 250 had seen an end to many of those obstructive abilities in practice, but certain mindsets would nonetheless persist well into the future. The woman took a moment to examine Orzel's choice of meal, though perhaps 'feast' would be the more appropriate word. Two soft boiled eggs, accompanied by a large bowl of rice, what amounted to maybe three pounds of cooked salmon, at least half a dozen kielbasa, a large pile of ham, four pieces of buttered toast, tomatoes, sliced cheese, and... Cucumber? In keeping with the topic of conversation, such a spread would ironically be viewed by the Nobility as a tad excessive. In their view, however, excessive was better than underdone.

"This is mine, get your own!" Orzel snapped suddenly, harshly, shocking Celestia with the hostility of her tone. The girl quickly raised an apologetic hand and looked at the table, cheeks flushing with evident shame and embarrassment. "I am so sorry, Aunt Celestia... I do not know what came over me." The girl picked up one of the plates of kielbasa and offered it to Celestia, but the woman simply shook her head. "I... Will do my best to adhere to your economic exercise..."

There was something going on here, something more, as Celestia earlier expected. Orzel typically had the appetite of a bird, and seeing her finish her plate at dinner was a rare sight, even when she opted for a small serving. Now she was tearing through her meal, shoveling heaping piles of rice or barely manageable chunks of meat into her mouth. Beyond the fangs jutting past her lip, Celestia saw that her niece's dentition was now leaning more heavily towards the carnivorous.

On more than one occasion, Celestia had the distinct opportunity to dine with Drakes, typically during trade or peace negotiations, and it'd been an eye opening experience. This, likewise, opened her eyes to the fact that there was indeed something profoundly different about her niece... With the exception of Spike, she'd never known a Drake before their first Elemental Transformation, but the Draconic Institute assured her that Orzel would remain more or less the same person after, with perhaps a few exceptions. In the Dragonlands, the Elemental Transformation typically happened after a young Drake reached full maturity, but could manifest early if they encountered danger outside the protection of its parents' lair.

That first transformation was a signal to the body to begin altering brain chemistry and physiology, an evolutionary response to the child entering a new and fundamentally dangerous world, where everything and everyone was a potential threat, where predators wouldn't hesitate to kill them without provocation or restraint. The Drake's metabolism skyrocketed, their musculature and overall durability became even more pronounced, and their fight or flight instincts skewed almost invariably towards the violent extreme of 'Fight', likely leading to Orzel's earlier protectiveness of her breakfast.

The teen already felt that the world was filled with danger to begin with, so Celestia could only imagine what it'd be like when those instincts were further amplified. Instincts that would be perfectly acceptable in the Dragonlands would not be met with such open arms by a populace already averse to Orzel's presence. Celestia would liken it to putting a yoke on a wild bull and attempting to plow a field... The work would be exceedingly time consuming, and much more likely to get the proverbial farmer gored in the process. Perhaps that was why Orzel seemed so out of sorts?

"Orzel..." Celestia spoke up, the conversation having entered a lull as soon as the girl began to wolf down her breakfast. This seemed as good a time as any to discuss Celestia's suspicions, and knowing Orzel would have trouble bringing it up on her own, it was likely best to just come out and say it. "You know that I'll listen if you have anything you want to talk about, right? Anything you might not want to discuss with your Mother?" The girl froze, her eyes darting away from her plate and glaring at Celestia, and yet in that glare the woman also saw conflict... After a few tense moments, the girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It was difficult to maintain control of my emotions before, but now... Now I am not certain as to whether I can continue to do so. Not without help... Help that I fear even Doctor Scratch cannot provide." Explained Orzel, keeping her eyes closed and her features relaxed. Celestia hummed in understanding, having expected as much. "I have been attempting to teach myself meditation, yet I fear that in this instance I lack the ability to instruct myself adequately... I want to seek guidance at the nearest Temple of Lexicos... I assume you know what that is?" That, however, was entirely unexpected... Celestia was honestly stunned silent, though she did her best to hide this fact when Orzel opened her eyes again.

"To be honest, I only learned of Lexicos recently." Celestia's admission didn't seem to phase the teen, who by now managed to restore her cold demeanor in its entirety. "You know you don't have to have to 'control' your emotions all the time? It's okay to express yourself..." Orzel just stared at her, Celestia got the impression a brick wall would've been more receptive to that idea, so she moved on. "You're certain you wish to seek this help at a temple? I know you aren't so keen on spirituality, and there are bound to be plenty of experts in meditation without that facet..." The woman paused. "I'm not trying to dissuade you, I just... Want to understand." Orzel stared at Celestia for a few moments, long enough that Celestia feared the girl wouldn't answer at all, until finally she simply nodded her head.

"It is true, my faith in things such as divine intervention is diminished, but..." Orzel started, only to trail off and look around the dining room, apparently searching for peering ears. "That does not mean I do not believe in the possibility of a higher power, nor do I desire an entirely secular life... It is a matter I have discussed with Doctor Scratch, and she was encouraging." The girl briefly held up a portion of loose fabric on her headscarf, which dangled slightly past her shoulders. "I admit, I began wearing this for a multitude of reasons, but lately...? It is a placeholder, as much as I have grown attached." She folded her hands in her lap. "I believed in Vindicta because that is who I was told to believe in. Now that I live in Equestria, I have the right to pursue a faith of my own choosing, without fear of reprisal..." She trailed off. "Or, so I have been told."

In the silence that followed, Celestia once again could only stare at her niece, pondering the girl's words carefully. Once again, in theory, there should've been no issue for Orzel... She was a legal alien, and even if she wasn't, the right to worship freely would nonetheless be applied to her. Regardless of what the constitution said, as per usual, the Crown was expected to live by different unwritten rules. There was no precedent for a member of the Royal Family that practiced religion of any kind, let alone the worship of the Draconic Goddess of Knowledge. Even considering the widely secular nature of Equestria, it would've been an easier sell if Orzel took an interest in Faust, or any of the other Gods in the Equestrian pantheon.

Piercing's recent revelation as to the actual identity of Lexicos also lingered in Celestia's mind, and the ties between the now venerated Ancient One and Orzel's ancestors were sure to be eventually revealed. There was also a far more complicated issue to be considered, that being the prospect of a member of the Crown possibly being manipulated through their faith. On that front Celestia doubted that there was much to be concerned over, Orzel already understood that risk through her experience with the Vindictan Church. Her niece would not suffer such attempts at interfering with her rule lightly, regardless of where they came from... The Equestrian public, or at least the people in Canterlot, likely wouldn't be quite so open minded...

"I take it that by asking me, you've already found a temple, and that you don't want your Mother to know." Celestia deduced distantly, and was unsurprised by Orzel's nod. "You know that it won't be easy if this comes out to the public, we have no way of knowing how people might react...?" She could see a brief flash of betrayal in Orzel's eyes, and the girl quickly moved as if she intended to stand up and leave. Celestia reached out, placing a hand on her nieces shoulder once more, keeping her from departing just yet. "I am not saying no, Orzel... This is just a path I admit I know little about. I'll help you as best I can..." Orzel stopped trying to leave, settling down in her chair as Celestia withdrew her hand.

From there breakfast resumed in earnest, and Celestia decided to take the opportunity to speak with Orzel further on the various heavy topics they'd discussed. On the topic of Temple of Lexicos, the two agreed that Orzel would accompany Celestia on one of her fund-raising trips into Canterlot. They'd use Celestia's teleportation magic to discretely make a detour to the temple on the way back, where Orzel would hopefully get a chance to speak with someone about her questions and the possibility of integrating into the Lexican community.

While not a religious person by any definition of the world, Celestia nonetheless found it comforting that her niece had taken such an interest. The girl was putting down roots, taking steps to solidify Equestria as her new home in more than name... That she was seeking to exit the castle of her own volition was also heartening. Hopefully it would signal the end of the teen's reputation as a recluse, or at the very least be a step in the right direction... If it helped the girl to get better control of her anxiety, or somehow find a new way to deal with it, so much the better. Luna likely wouldn't see it that way, it was hard for her not to worry, not to see any change as a sign of the negative.

From there they moved on to the topic of what Orzel planned to do with the money she'd receive, and once again Celestia was encouraged, this time because she learned that her niece intended to acquire a proper workshop. Rather than building one on Castle grounds, she'd seek out an existing property, somewhere secluded and quiet, where she could work without interruption. It would unfortunately prove easier said than done...

While adult non-citizens were more than welcome to purchase land in Equestria, those that were under the age of eighteen were prohibited from doing so. Typically citizenship would've been granted automatically upon Orzel's adoption by Luna, but as Orzel had arrived in Equestria by magical means not accounted for in any of the existing laws...? Well... Even in the context of Equestria's bureaucracy, that complicated things. Celestia knew a means by which that law could be bypassed, at least until Orzel was old enough to become a naturalized citizen, so her desire for a workshop wouldn't be completely hampered by red tape. It was a technicality, not necessarily in the spirit of the law, but well within the letter. It'd easily be written off as a minor example, considering the vast extent of other such technicalities were utilized by citizens from all walks of Equestrian life.

What Orzel intended to make in her workshop once she actually acquired it was something the girl spoke of only in vague terms, describing them only as 'more advanced gizmos and gadgets'. Celestia suspected the vagueness had something to do with a certain facet of Orzel's ancestors that Piercing spoke of. Luna would undoubtedly worry about that development as well, and admittedly with good reason. Most parents probably couldn't handle the idea of their child making weapons or armor, and Celestia wasn't all that keen on the idea either. Orzel seemed like such a conflicted soul already, and it was hard to imagine her making anything that could actually harm someone.

Then again, there were plenty of people in Equestria whose special talent involved those fields. Gunsmiths, blacksmiths, armorers. All got their cutie marks just like everyone else. From Celestia's point of view, it was better to have at least some idea of what was going on rather than have Orzel work entirely in secret. Safeguards could be put in place which would still allow the girl the independence to research and invent whatever she wanted, while at the same time minimizing the overall risk to herself or anyone around her...

That brought them to the lighter side of breakfast, where Orzel somewhat awkwardly asked Celestia if she wouldn't mind sending a message to Ponyville. A letter, which she'd happened to carry with her in one of the pockets of her robes. Given the lengths she went to in order to hide her feelings, it made it all the more adorable to Celestia when Orzel shyly explained the recipient would be 'Mister Spike'. Of course the woman didn't remark on just how much her niece was blushing, she didn't want to make the girl feel worse, not after their earlier 'heart to heart' conversation. There was a time not that long ago when the very idea of writing to someone unsolicited might've paralyzed the girl. It was yet another sign to Celestia that Orzel was not only recovering, but actually beginning to thrive...

From there on they continued to chit-chat, that alone caused breakfast to last well into the morning. In time they'd need to get ready to depart, as the fundraiser was scheduled for around noon. In addition to providing an excuse for Orzel to explore her questions about faith, Celestia also hoped to turn the outing into one aimed at bettering Orzel's public image in Canterlot, perhaps even allow her to meet some of her peers. On second thought, Celestia suspected she might've been expecting too much at the moment. This was just one of hopefully many baby steps... Who knew what strides her niece might make, if given enough time?

"This won't end well..." Spike groaned tiredly, watching from the doorway of Golden Oak Library as Twilight Sparkle hurried off towards the heart of Ponyville. The bespectacled librarian was in the midst of one of her 'episodes', panicking over the fact she hadn't written Princess Celestia a friendship report. The tightly wound spell-caster was therefore off to 'find a problem' to fix, leaving Spike behind once again to deal with the library's daily operation. Typically not an issue, except for today, as the library's book return chute was always particularly full on Tuesdays. Add to that the fact he was still tired from waking up early to help pick up a package of cupcakes, and Spike found himself atypically overwhelmed.

With Twilight gone off in search of her marbles, the duty of re-shelving all the returns fell to Spike. As usual it would prove a headache as, unlike Twilight, he had no means of doing so with magic. Spike quietly set to work, taking the returned books from the chute and organizing them by the decimal system Twilight was so fond of. The smell of paper and old leather were heavy in the air, and the light from the windows cast an ethereal glow upon the dancing particles. Most of the books were works of fiction, romance novels and copies of the latest 'Daring Do' novel, the latter of which Spike hadn't yet had the opportunity to read. They were easy enough to put away, as they were situated on a relatively low level shelf. The other books, those of non-fiction, would prove far more troublesome.

It was monotonous work, but nothing he wasn't used to. In truth he preferred to be on his own, despite the tedious task bestowed upon him. The boring nature of the work left him plenty of time for introspection, and lately he'd been needing more and more of that. Heartache was chief on his mind, though he remained externally strong, inwardly it was proving difficult to come to grips with certain... Unpleasant realities. He'd always suspected such a reality might present itself, he just hadn't expected it to happen so abruptly. Up until a few days ago, he'd regarded the Grand Galloping Gala as a resoundingly positive event, his meeting and conversation with Princess Orzel having given him hope for some sort of friendship with her.

His opinion of the night changed considerably after Rarity let slip she was 'seeing someone' she met there. She was his friend, Spike should've been happy for her... He was, albeit a muted sort of joy, as he came to grips with the resounding crushing destruction of his... Crush. Rarity was a sophisticated and refined woman, at least nine years his senior, if not more. She deserved to be with a man that could live up to those sorts of standards... Not that Spike couldn't be refined, he was just... Well, a 'kid'... Hard as that was to admit. Things were made all the more difficult by the fact that this was one problem he had to deal with on his own.

It wasn't like Spike could discuss these feelings with Twilight, or any of her friends for that matter. He trusted them to be discrete, but he doubted there wouldn't be some snickering or laughter on their part... The boy was certain that if he did open up, and they laughed, or didn't take it seriously, he might very well just... Lose it. There were few things that riled him as much as not being taken seriously. Moreover, where before the man had been a font of knowledge and wisdom, in this case Big Macintosh wasn't of much help either. He was too busy preparing his orchard for winter, especially after the chocolate rain...

In time, Spike suspected he'd get over Rarity, eventually, but that was little comfort in the present... For now he'd just need to bite the bullet and take his lumps in silence. Be a man. Speaking of little comfort, or rather discomfort, Spike was noting a distinctly familiar burning sensation in his stomach. On instinct he turned his head away from anything flammable, no easy feat considering he was inside a hollowed out tree filled with dozens of flammable papers and books.

A whoosh of green flames erupted from the dragon's lips, barely missing a pile of loosely organized romance novels. The fire condensed upon itself, swirling into a bright rectangle of light before ultimately producing a neatly folded envelope. Spike snatched the missive before it could fall to the floor, somewhat perplexed as to its nature. Celestia was old fashioned, preferring rolled up scrolls to envelopes, so that begged the question as to just who this message was from.

The envelope itself smelled oddly aromatic, a strange bouquet, not unlike the alchemical ingredients utilized by Ponyville's apothecary. His name, or rather 'Mister Spike', was written on one side in a hand he didn't recognize. The flap of the envelope was sealed with bronze colored wax, atypical of the red horseshoe indicative of Princess Celestia's privy seal. This seal displayed a dragon wearing a crown, clutching a wrench in one claw and a scroll in the other. It was an emblem he fondly recalled, that which he'd seen on Princess Orzel's crown. Briefly the boy wondered if the girl somehow had the ability to read his mind, seeing as he'd been thinking of her only a few minutes before.

Curious, and slightly apprehensive as to what the envelope contained, Spike broke the seal and withdrew a sheet of paper. It was meticulously folded in three places, as if whomever wrote it took great care to ensure each section was as even as possible. That further cemented in his mind just who was responsible for the message, as he couldn't think of anyone other than Twilight that might match Princess Orzel in overall fastidiousness. Abandoning the task of re-shelving for the moment, the boy took the letter upstairs towards his rather small bedroom.

Given how Spike was getting older, the idea of sleeping in the same room as Twilight became less and less appropriate. His room wasn't much to look at, having at one time actually been a broom closet, illuminated at present by a small window. He nearly tripped on a pile of dirty clothes, just barely managing to catch himself. His bed was a mess of uncoordinated blankets and haphazardly tossed pillows, and his desk wasn't that much better. It was a cheap flimsy thing, left behind by the library's former occupant.

A gray primed figurine sat waiting beside a motley assortment of modeling paints, this one being just one of many in Spike's collection of various plastic minis. This one was, fittingly, a Princess. Intended to serve as an important NPC in one of Spike's upcoming sessions... He'd yet to decide on a color palette, perhaps something in gold? The boy took a seat in his rickety swivel chair, tentatively reclining as he once more examined the folded letter. His thoughts about miniature painting were just his attempts at putting off reading the letter, he knew that...

He'd gotten plenty of letters from Celestia, but none of them ever addressed directly to him... Well, aside from her invitation to the Gala. Nervously biting his lip, Spike sighed heavily through his nose. Outside his window he could hear chirping birds, the bustle of town... The contents of the letter could've been anything, not necessarily good things. Perhaps having to do with Twilight's recent 'vacation'? The one that she insisted on not discussing while he was around... Another reason he'd felt reluctant to go to her with his 'Rarity' problem. Once again, Spike decided the best thing to do was just bite the bullet. With that in mind, he unfolded the letter and commenced to reading it in earnest.

Mister Spike,

I hope this letter finds you well, I regret having had to bid you farewell with such abruptness on our last meeting. I admit, I am just as unfamiliar in the writing of personal letters as I am with large social functions. Events in Canterlot continue to try my patience, and I am told that it is often helpful to discuss such matters with friends. We are not well acquainted enough to be 'true friends', at least not yet... I would like to remedy that fact, and become your friend, if you would be willing to count me as such.

Spike read the letter and breathed a hearty sigh of relief, he hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. Each character of every word was precisely measured to an almost mechanical degree, yet there were enough variations that he knew this hadn't come from a typewriter. The handwriting still managed to flow gracefully in Equestrian cursive, although many of the letters displayed obvious draconic flourishes, the closest Spike could think of to a written version of an 'accent'. It was so distinct that he could almost hear the Princess's voice, speaking in his head.

It is difficult for me to trust people, at least those not within my family. This naturally makes it difficult for me to interact with other book lovers, and while I know you do not share my level of obsession for literature, you nonetheless interact with the written word on a regular basis. It would please me greatly to converse further with you on that subject, or... Any subject, really. I also must admit, I am... Lonely. I would love to know more about your other interests, of course. How do you feel about tabletop games? I have a fondness for Kriegsplan, though I am told there are many others... As I said, however, I have few people to play them with.

Reading further, Spike's earlier gloomy thoughts about Rarity were briefly set aside, supplanted by a surprising sensation of elation. Not only had the Princess reached out to him, she wanted to continue talking to him, wanted to know more about him and his interests. That desire wasn't in and of itself unusual for someone wanting to be his friend, but given this 'someone' was Equestria's future sovereign...? It also might've been because he'd be getting to befriend someone that would understand him better, who understood just how much of a struggle it was to fit in among normal Equestrians.

'I have so few things to look forward to here, and a letter from you would likely prove a singularly bright spot in my otherwise overcast day-to-day. I eagerly await your response, Mister Spike, and hope that our correspondence becomes a regular affair.

Cordially yours, Orzel z Glosem-Smoka'

Her signature was the only deviation from the letter's orderly formatting, a distinctly extroverted flourish. Large, flowing, elegant... Just as a Princess's signature ought to be. It was joined by a red rubber stamp, almost identical to that which had sealed the envelope, with the addition of that days date and several words in a dialect of draconic Spike couldn't decipher. He was tempted then and there to pen his reply, but what was it he would say, exactly? The thought of saying something wrong, possibly even offending the Princess, was... Terrifying. He could somewhat better understand just why Twilight was so worried today, even if it didn't send him off on his own weird sort of 'problem quest'. Spike shook his head, reining in the anxiety and setting his jaw. Just as he'd counseled Twilight, he had to have faith that Princess Orzel wouldn't hold any minor mistakes against him.

These thoughts were broken with the familiar sound of someone knocking on the front door downstairs. It appeared, fortunately for his nerves, that a response to the Princess would need to wait. That was probably for the best, it'd give him time to gather his thoughts. Leaving the letter on his desk, the boy straightened his t-shirt and made his way downstairs, mulling over just what it was he was going to say. The Princess asked him about games, and mentioned something called Kriegsplan, which Spike understood to be a more complicated and 'realistic' Griffon proto-version of 'Contingency: Global Conflict'. War games set in the modern era weren't really Spike's scene, though he'd dabbled in the aforementioned 'Contingency'... Maybe the Princess would be interested in 'Ogres and Oubliettes'? More knocking interrupted Spike's thoughts, and with an exasperated sigh he approached the front door.

"It's a public library, y'know? You don't need to..." Spike began, opening the door, only to stop upon sighting a rather familiar woman. Rarity stood, resplendent as always, in a white button down blouse and black slacks, additionally clad in a white wool coat to shield her from the cooling Autumn air. Her violet hair was coiffed stylishly, her eyes sparkling in the late morning light. "Knock." The boy finished, slightly sheepishly, only to abruptly change gears. "Hey, Rarity! What's up?" Spike managed to muster a cheerful greeting, though his face betrayed the half-heartedness.

"Oh, hello Spike! I just was wondering if Twilight was here." Rarity explained as Spike stepped aside, allowing the woman to step into the still slightly disorganized library. "She came by my shop a few minutes ago and seemed a tad... Off. Didn't give any reason as to why, so I thought I'd come check on her." Spike quickly gathered up several of novels on the library's central table, returning to his earlier task of re-shelving whilst Rarity peeked around the room.

"She's worried about one of the items on her checklist, I don't know if she'd want me talking about it... I'm betting on her tiring herself out, then she'll come to her senses." Spike explained, earning a bemused chuckle from Rarity, who in addition to looking over the box containing the cupcakes they'd gathered earlier that morning, also seemed to note the empty envelope from Princess Orzel. Rarity picked it up before Spike could get to it, first examining his name with evident fascination, then looking at the broken wax seal. "Uh... Twilight's obviously not here. Don't you have to be getting ready for the picnic?" Spike tried to sound nonchalant, but Rarity merely looked at him, grinning a Cheshire grin that sent a jolt of uncertainty down his spine.

"Of course, dear, just... Indulge my curiosity for a moment..." The woman offered, holding up the envelope with a raised eyebrow. "No formal address, plus the design of the wax seal. I can only deduce this is from Canterlot..." The woman paused to sniff the envelope, and Spike inadvertently blushed. "Add to that what smells like perfume and your flushing cheeks... Methinks it contained a letter from a certain Crown Princess, and not one of the 'formal' sort either." Spike quickly snatched the envelope, tucking it into the back pocket of his jeans. "Relax, I suspected something between the two of you. Given how you looked together at the Gala, a very handsome couple." Spike quickly shook his head, doing his best to conceal the ongoing flush to his cheeks

"It's not like that! Not at all! She just... Sent me a letter." Spike explained, but Rarity's grin remained. "A totally platonic letter." The boy emphasized, though in truth he wasn't entirely sure of that. The Princess had referred to their future correspondence as an 'affair', after all. Then again, Spike might've been reading too deeply into that. Of course Rarity would be the one to discover the envelope, especially given how Spike was still coming to grips with her own relationship. It was just shaping up to be that sort of day... "I don't want to talk about it, okay? She just... She's just looking for a friend." Rarity's grin lost its teasing edge, softening into something more understanding, the sort of look that Spike knew well.

"I'm sorry, darling... I'd no intention of making you upset, I'm just happy to see you talking to a girl your own age. Whatever your relationship is with the Princess, she is lucky to have it with you." The woman offered, patting him on the shoulder. "I know it can't be easy for you to find people like that here in Ponyville, at least people who aren't related to the Elements of Harmony, especially seeing as certain announcements on my part have been... Difficult for you." Spike couldn't hide his surprise at that, as he'd always done his best to remain discrete. This only earned him another chuckle from Rarity, who playfully pinched his cheek.

"Come now, you really think a master seamstress wouldn't have an eye for noticing details?" Rarity added, tucking her hands into her coat pockets. Spike sheepishly shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck, his cheeks turning an even deeper red. How could they not? He was absolutely mortified to discover his 'hidden' crush wasn't so hidden. "You're a sweet boy, Spike. I'm flattered, really..." Hearing those words soothed some of his tension, even in the face of so much embarrassment. Taking a few calming breaths, Spike straightened his posture and cleared his throat.

"Promise you won't tell Twilight about the letter? Or anyone, for that matter..." Spike asked cautiously, recalling what the Princess's letter said about trust. He doubted Twilight, or anyone of her friends for that matter, would do anything bad... That didn't mean they might not tell someone else who wouldn't be so discrete, and the last thing Spike wanted was to make problems for Princess Orzel with the people in Canterlot... Or, rather, more problems... "I'd prefer to keep certain parts of my private life private, y'know?" Rarity nodded, smiling serenely.

"I won't tell a soul." Rarity swore, crossing her heart before returning her hands to her jacket pockets. "Now, you were right earlier. I've got to be going. There's a picnic to prepare for, and I've yet to finish my latest project. Do try to find Twilight, will you? Maybe seeing all of us later will help her 'come to her senses', as you said. At the very least, it'll give us a chance to maybe talk her off of the proverbial ledge." Spike smiled at the request, nodding in acceptance as Rarity started towards the door. "I'll see you later!"

Spike's continuing heartache was replaced by something bittersweet as he watched her go, it came shortly after the revelation that she'd at least known about his feelings for her. Rarity was still his friend, Spike doubted there was anything that would change that, but it was clear now that his suspicions of never having a shot with her were true. Pursing his lips, the teen resumed putting away his current arm load of books, listening until he heard the door close behind Rarity. The boy exhaled another tense sigh after she was gone, carrying on with his task while his mind worked through... Everything.

Spike was getting older, his seventeenth birthday being right around the corner, and that meant he needed to start acting accordingly. While he had a fair grip on controlling his emotions, his understanding of those emotions remained widely... Superficial. That bittersweet heartache was burning him up inside, gnawing at his sense of control, but as always he'd just put on a brave face. Bite the bullet... Be a man... Those were fast becoming his mottos, the mottos he heard espoused by the heroes of his favorite radio plays, or in the pages of the many fantasy novels he'd read, or the hard working men of Ponyville.

One thing was certain... Even having received a letter from a prospective friend, the day was still shaping up to be the worst day since... Well... Yesterday. Yet another tense sigh resonated throughout the empty library. The more he thought about it all, the more it seemed to drag his thoughts down, sinking into a mental swamp of silent misery. After completing his current stack of books, Spike swiftly ditched the envelope in his room, hiding it and the letter in the sock drawer of his dresser. On his way back downstairs he grabbed the box of cupcakes and made his way outside, pausing only to turn the 'OPEN' sign in the window to 'CLOSED'... Twilight would probably lose her mind if people came into a library left totally unsupervised, or at the very least lose her mind more than she'd already lost it.

A sudden and nearly deafening explosion echoed through town, almost knocking Spike flat on his keester, clearing his head of thoughts about Rarity or the Princess for several merciful seconds... For a few moments the boy feared Ponyville to be under attack, at least until he spotted a billowing rainbow colored mushroom cloud rising from the edge of town. It seemed most of the people around him came to the same conclusion, whatever it was likely had to do with Rainbow Dash, so no sudden outbreak of panic was forthcoming. Spike had an inkling Twilight might've had a hand in whatever caused such a big explosion, so he decided that walking towards the source of the blast was probably his best chance at finding her. Hopefully that'd be the only potentially destructive thing to happen today...

Orzel and Celestia's trip into Canterlot went about as well as the girl dared hope, though to be fair she considered anything short of a riot to be a resounding success. The fundraiser was her first public appearance since the launch and christening of ESS Sokol, and her proximity both to her Aunt and the philanthropic cause it supported seemed to better endear her to the people in attendance. It wasn't easy, of course, as the entire function was filled with members of the Noble Party... They were characteristically passive aggressive throughout the event, and the entire situation proved spiritually taxing for the young Princess. That made it all the more fortunate that the true purpose of the outing was in the pursuit of answering questions about spirituality.

Celestia for her part was dressed plainly, her typically flowing ethereal hair constrained now to simple pink, so as to not draw unwanted attention. Orzel likewise had changed out of the dress she'd been forced to wear for the fundraiser, returning to the simple gray robes she'd taken to wearing during meditation. Looking at the two of them, it'd seem remarkably unlikely that either held a title as lofty as Princess. Of course, the considerable but unseen cadre of Nocturne Agents likewise ensured no one would get too close.

This portion of the city, known colloquially as 'Little Ognyagrad', was home to a modest enclave of Drake merchants. Its placement near the Draconic Institute also made it an ideal place for students of that hallowed institution to live and commute, and it was these aspiring scholars that made up the majority of its permanent residents. The Drakes themselves were a more transient group. Those living in Little Ognyagrad, Equestrian and Drake alike, were a deeply spiritual and traditional people. To that end that, both Princesses found themselves standing among rather odd structures... Odd for Canterlot, at any rate.

For Orzel, it was almost as if she'd stepped into a drawing of Cesarski... Everything was just a little bit different, the motifs just a little bit off. The Temple of the Lexican Orthodoxy stood out considerably, situated as it was among the otherwise unassuming shops and apartment buildings. Here it was hauntingly quiet, despite a close proximity to the Institute and an already bustling city. So quiet, in fact, that Orzel suspected some sort of sound dampening enchantment to be at work... If only she could've looked the area over for runes.

Much as she was tempted to do so, she wasn't here to satisfy that spur of the moment curiosity. Her eyes flitted back to the surprisingly large building ahead of her, given how obscure the Lexican Orthodoxy was, she hadn't expected Canterlot's temple to be as large as it was. Then again, here in Little Ognyagrad, it probably wasn't all that obscure. She'd yet to encounter any other Drakes, likely on account of the Nocturne Agents, but that would likely change the moment she entered the Temple... They couldn't follow her inside, after all.

Primarily constructed of red bricks, and characterized by a distinctly pentagonal footprint, the temple was several stories tall and more resembled a miniaturized star fort than it did a place of worship. Orzel rather admired its geometric exterior, which displayed a most beautiful blend of the utilitarian with the artistic. While most of the walls were occupied by large stained glass windows, certain sections displayed wonderfully painted murals. Not only of religious images, but of mathematical equations, tips about gardening, even basic Arcane principles. The murals were evidently cared for regularly so as to provide their knowledge freely to any and all that might just happen to wander by. Orzel had expected as much...

Each corner of the pentagon was elaborately decorated with collections of polished white soapstones, all arrayed so as to mimic the layout of a fort's individual lunettes. Each stone garden was in turn dominated by stout octagonal brick pavilions, topped by tarnished bronze onion-esque domes. A strong smell of frankincense and sage wafted from their open windows, with wisps of whitish-gray smoke being carried away on the afternoon breeze. In some ways, Orzel was reminded of the Temple of Vindicta, but then again, most temples in the Empire shared common elements of design. The girl expected she'd find numerous small shrines within the pavilions, each likely venerating a tenet of the Lexican Orthodoxy... At least if they held to those common elements.

Orzel pursed her lips, the similarities between this temple and that of those in her Old World raised a lot of questions, questions she hoped she might find answered within. Celestia hadn't said two words since they'd arrived, which Orzel took to mean she was allowing the girl to soak everything in. There was something in the air beyond the smoldering aromatics, something much more difficult to pin down... Orzel's typical anxiety was more or less holding steady, despite the ultimately new experience that awaited her. While she'd ardently snubbed ideas of spirits, ghosts, and other such terms in the past, there was something here... She couldn't quite explain it, but she almost felt... Centered. Perhaps it was another unseen enchantment, but she was leaning more towards the idea that it was the spiritual nature of the place, and her own mindset of wanting to accept it, that gave her pause.

Science was still her prime gospel, and that was why she hoped she'd find some answer here. The way things were changing, the severity of her Elemental Transformation... All indicated she couldn't rely on facts alone when it came to matters of the heart, or the soul... She still believed in souls... She'd never stopped believing, she just... Couldn't. Whether those souls manifested themselves as 'spirits' or 'ghosts' was a wholly different matter, yet even in that instance... She found her mind surprisingly open.

"Well, we're here..." Celestia tentatively broke the silence, clasping her hands behind her back. "Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" Orzel briefly considered turning her down, to assure the woman that she'd be fine... At the same time, given how she figured her Mother might react at the news of her secretly visiting the temple, it was probably prudent that she have Celestia along. If her Aunt was present, and saw that Orzel was perfectly fine, it might convince Luna to relax... At the very least it'd lessen the woman's nervousness.

"I would, actually..." Orzel began, taking a moment to adjust her headscarf. Celestia smiled warmly, but the girl quickly put her hands on her hips. "Just... Do not interfere, that is all I ask." Her Aunt nodded in acceptance, and with that brief acceptance of the teen's terms, Orzel took the first step off the sidewalk, onto a path of pave stones that led towards the temple entrance. It was a short walk, shorter than Orzel expected at any rate. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Aunt Celestia still with her, keeping pace behind her.

The Princess turned her attention back to the temple itself, quietly adjusting her headscarf and straightening her spectacles. The temple doors were plated in the same oxidizing bronze as the pavilion roofs, displaying on their surface a striking bas relief of a hooded robed womanly form, her arms outstretched over a crowd of non-descript people. For a few moments Orzel was reminded of the visions she'd seen during her meditation the day before, as well as those she'd seen in her dreams... The women in the robes... Perhaps they had some connection to this place...?

Taking one final calming breath, the teen reached out and pulled open the heavy temple door. Together she and Celestia stepped through into a significantly darker atrium, allowing the door to close softly behind them. The atrium was smaller than Orzel expected, illuminated by candlelight only, with dozens of white votive candles occupying candelabras, a chandelier, and wall sconces... The walls themselves were constructed from rough-cut slabs of basalt, inset with evenly spaced alcoves, where even more candles flickered.

A distant choral chant echoed throughout the chamber, with a considerable amount of reverb fostered by the vaulted ceiling, a ceiling which was painted to depict the same hooded woman on the temple doors, albeit in more vibrant colors. Orzel tentatively stepped forward, peering into one of the alcoves and spotting a small statuette, again, not unlike that of the bas relief. Curious, she examined it more closely, finding that the statuette lacked a face... Much like those figures she'd seen in her mind. Celestia likewise silently inspected the figurine, looking over Orzel's shoulder.

"Welcome-" A man's voice suddenly spoke from behind, startling them both enough to jump. Turning around to face the source of the noise, hearts pounding in their chests, both Princesses were greeted by a rather pale fellow...

He was of average height, but possessed an impressive belly, which made him seem stouter. Like Orzel's, his robes were simple in overall form. The fabric was a deep crimson, accented by a repeating white rectangular pattern about the cuffs, hood, seams, and other such fabric edges, not unlike the teeth of a cog. A gold chain around his neck displayed a rectangular pendant, likely crafted from soapstone or pearl, inset in a gold backing. The man's face was remarkably plain... Chubby, almost cherubic, and wreathed in a bushy russet brown beard. He presented an apologetic smile, pressed his palms together, then bowed his head.

"Forgive me for startling you..." He stated humbly, raising his head and clasping his hands across his considerable gut. While he was obviously an Equestrian, the man nonetheless spoke with a faint Draconic accent. "I am Brother Solanum, the Keeper of the Temple Grounds..." The man patted his chest, then gestured to the two Princess. "I mean no offense, but... Are you lost...?" Orzel blinked for a few moments, quickly sorting through his words before shaking her head, then looked at Celestia. The woman merely looked back at her... Right... She wasn't going to interfere....

"No, we are not lost..." Orzel clasped her hands behind her back, approaching Brother Solanum with eminent caution. "I am interested in learning more about your faith..." The girl inclined her head towards Celestia, then swapped to Draconic. "This is my Aunt, she is merely accompanying me to observe." She hoped she'd pronounced the words right. While Szafirian and Draconic were remarkably similar, the latter lacked a lot of the 'complexity' she associated with the former... Add to that she was still learning, and she suspected she might've been difficult to understand.

Solanum at least seemed to get the basic meaning of what she was saying, his expression remaining unchanged... With another respectful nod, he gestured down a hallway that spurred away from the atrium. Illuminated by more of the ubiquitous candles, small smoke pots were affixed to the walls, providing a considerable haze of the equally familiar aromatic herbs. Together, the two Princesses followed his lead, Celestia continuing to walk behind as Orzel and Brother Solanum transited the dimly lit passage.

"I am impressed you are able to speak Draconic, though your consonants are a tad sharp..." The man stated amiably, clasping his hands behind his back. "I suppose I am not surprised." Brother Solanum added in Draconic, his command of the language being far smoother than Orzel's.

Orzel knew that Celestia couldn't understand the language all that well, and she hoped that'd allow her the latitude to ask certain questions she wouldn't be comfortable doing in a more 'Common' tongue. For one thing, the nature of some of her visions, those which she'd neglected to inform anyone of... Unlike Mother, Aunt Celestia was far more difficult to predict, and while Orzel trusted her in most regards, she had no idea how the woman might react to the news that her niece was seeing and feeling strange things... Things that called to her, things that Orzel suspected were urging her even now to explore this temple... As if a part of her, deep down, barely perceptible to her conscious mind, was drawn to this place...

"What matter can the Lexican Orthodoxy assist you with, Princess?" When next he spoke, Brother Solanum's tone of voice was calm and curious, continuing in Draconic from then onwards. Orzel raised an eyebrow, but Brother Solanum chuckled faintly. "I listened to your address at the launch of ESS Sokol. Your accent is... Distinct. Your 'Aunt' is likewise easy to spot, up close." He explained simply, and Orzel had to suppress a frown... Of course it was her accent that gave her away. There was nothing for it now, other than to just come out and say why she was there.

"During the recent crisis, I underwent an Elemental Transformation, at least partially..." Explained Orzel, who was rather pleased to see that Brother Solanum didn't ask what she meant. Given the nature of his faith, however, she supposed it was natural he'd know about Drakes. "Now my emotions are growing more and more beyond my control... I have turned to meditation for assistance, but... I lack the ability to teach myself." Brother Solanum nodded again as the trio slowly continued down the hallway. "During my sessions of meditation I have... Seen things. Things that... Drew me here." The girl added somewhat hesitantly. "I wish to learn more about Lexicos, and about how you meditate." The man stopped then and there, rubbing at his densely bearded chin.

"All are welcome in the pursuit of the truth, child." He stated simply, clasping his hands behind his back, briefly glancing at Celestia. The woman thus far was abiding by her word, standing a few feet behind, apparently unable to understand anything Orzel was saying. "Tell me of these 'things' you have seen. Spare no detail." Orzel looked at the man nervously, stopping amid the hallway. Brother Solanum stood with an expression of serene patience, crossing his arms across his chest and leaning his head back in intrigue.

Summoning her force of will, the Princess explained to him what she'd seen, though it left her feeling quite vulnerable in doing so. The islands and the open plains, the forgotten citadel and the massive libraries... The figure in black robes with the luminous golden eyes, and the figure in white with eyes glowing like emeralds. The bizarre open field of raspberry colored grass, and the Monolith that called her westward. Through it all, Brother Solanum's features remained nigh-implacable, and every now and then Orzel feared that she was saying too much... Then she'd remind herself that the man asked her to spare no detail... She didn't even know why she trusted this man, after all they'd only just met. She just... Had faith.

Brother Solanum's implacability gave way to a look of deep contemplation, and once again Orzel feared she might be told to leave, that she was beyond help... After a few moments he gestured for them to continue walking along the hallway, and so that was exactly what the trio did. In addition to the candles and smoke pots, they also passed more of the small statuettes, as well as a few paintings. While Orzel couldn't be certain, they bore remarkable stylistic resemblance to some of those in the Castle that predated the Nightmare War, each looked to be carefully maintained.

The images themselves appeared to be of scholars, some of whom Orzel recognized from her studies of Equestria's past, others were unknown to her. It was only here that Celestia seemed to show any sign of surprise, apparently brought about by a painting of an odd gangly fellow... While most of the paintings had name plaques beneath them, this one was simply labeled as 'Unknown Scholar'...

"Many of these paintings have been enshrined with the Orthodoxy since before the Nightmare War, they are some of our most priceless relics." Brother Solanum explained, noticing the curiosity of both Princesses. The trio turned a corner, and Orzel spotted another pair of heavy bronze doors ahead of them, from which she could hear the chanting with far more clarity. From here it was also possible to hear the dulcet sounds of a pipe organ. "As for your visions, I believe the Monolith you describe is a sign from Lexicos herself, guiding your path to us..."

"There She bade them to construct a library for the knowledge of all the universe, that one day its contents might be freely given to the world entire." Continued Brother Solanum, the man reciting the words without pause, once more bowing his head. They were words that Orzel herself was familiar with, having just read them the night before... It'd been in the passage about the first followers of Lexicos, her 'First Children'...

"As for the figures you've witnessed, I am afraid that is outside the realm of my expertise. You would be wise to seek the counsel of our visiting Seeker." The group stopped before the doors, and Brother Solanum gave the Princesses another apologetic smile, swapping back to Equestrian. "We are in the beginning of evening services... I must ask that you await their conclusion before speaking with the Seeker. You are both, of course, welcome to join us in prayer." Orzel nodded quietly, rather eager for the chance to observe and even take part in a Lexican prayer service... It was one of the reasons she'd come, after all.

"I would like that..." Agreed Orzel, taking another moment to straighten her head scarf. As she was preparing to address Celestia, however, the room was suddenly illuminated by the golden glow of the elder Princess's magic. A few moments later, Orzel was pleased to see a scroll appear in her Aunt's palm... Hopefully it was a response from Spike. Quickly unfurling the message, Celestia's eyes darted across the page... Moments later, the woman pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing in annoyed frustration. "Is something wrong?" Celestia nodded wordlessly, biting her lower lip.

"A situation has arisen in Ponyville that demands my immediate attention, unfortunately..." The woman explained, using her magic to make the scroll vanish in a puff of white smoke. "I admit, I was hoping I could get a chance to converse with you in Equestrian, Brother Solanum. I've got my own questions, but..." The woman looked at the chubby man with an expression that Orzel couldn't quite discern. "They shall have to wait for now. I'm afraid I have to go. I'll pick you up as soon as I can." Orzel nodded in understanding. By now the many crises that arose throughout Equestria, which in turn demanded the intervention of the Princesses, were becoming par for the course. "I'll see you soon. Love you." Celestia added, hugging Orzel tightly before quickly making her exit. After a few moments, Brother Solanum and Orzel looked at one another, the former expressing concern.

"You are certain you wish to continue without your Aunt's presence?" The man asked earnestly, but Orzel simply nodded, waving a slightly dismissive hand through the still lingering cloud of white smoke. "Very well... Please, follow me."

With that, Brother Solanum opened the doors to the waiting chamber. This allowed the chanting and organ music from within to finally come into clarity, for a few moments Orzel feared she might be overwhelmed. The room beyond was impressive, easily as large as the expansive Castle library, which accounted for the temple's overall extensive footprint. Decorative tables lined the outer walls, upon which rested various artifacts. Numerous receptacles and crimson glasses contained a whole host of the flickering candles. While they provided fair illumination, the overwhelming amount poured through the series of sizable stained glass windows lining the chamber's outer walls, the very same she'd seen from outside.

Half a dozen pews were arrayed in a semi-circle around a large wooden altar, which displayed a large bronze statuette of the same figure Orzel had thus far seen so much of. Two brass smoke pots rested upon the altar, flanking the statuette and filling the air with dense billowing strands of foggy aromatic smoke. Amidst the flickering candles and colorful window light, the smoke brought to the room a beautiful sense of the ethereal. Taken as a whole, the sight filled Orzel with a deep sense of serene wonderment, as if she'd entered into an entirely different world... In a good way this time.

Notably, the altar only rested on a modest stone platform, barely elevated above the floor, a far cry from the towering pulpits from which the Vindictan Priests would preach. The vaulted ceiling was painted with images of a woman robed in crimson, standing in various scenes before large crowds of different people, apparently in the process of teaching them basic mathematics, or alchemy, or magic, and engineering. They were beautiful, colorful, and Orzel suspected she could spend hours just taking them in alone.

Behind the altar there stood a tall burly man, holding a large leather bound tome in one hand while his other was empty and held aloft. Behind him, looming as tall as the ceiling, were the various pipes that allowed the organ to function. The man at the altar was clad in crimson robes, like those of Brother Solanum they depicted the repeating rectangular pattern at the fringes and the like, though in this case they were a distinctly shiny gold. A tall cap, virtually identical to the klobuk typically worn by Vindictan Priests, rested proudly atop his head... A great bushy red beard filled out his face, of such volume and length as to rival that of even Starswirl the Bearded. A pendant nearly identical to that worn by Solanum dangled around his neck, further decorated by the presence of several large rubies.

Brother Solanum urged Orzel onwards into the chamber, leading her forward, to the pew closest to the altar. Walking quietly and respectfully, she took a moment to drink it all in. Between the ongoing choral chant and the beauty of the room, Orzel felt as if she was about to cry. Not from fear, not from sorrow... Here, things were beautiful... Peaceful... Serene... Just what she'd been told worship was supposed to be... There weren't any armed guards, no forced smiles or frightened glances. She didn't feel the need to search the crowd for lurking MIS agents or informants... They were just... People.

The pews were almost packed with men and women, all dressed in hooded robes identical to those of Brother Solanum. As a matter of fact, Orzel was the only one wearing gray robes, which left her feeling somewhat awkward. All those in the pews had their heads tilted forward, their eyes closed, hands clasped together. All were filling the air with the soothing sounds of choral chanting, unaware of Orzel's late arrival... The lyrics of this particular litany were being sung in draconic, and despite the harshness of that tongue, to her ears they still sounded sweet. Composing herself, the girl walked to the front pew and seated herself beside Brother Solanum. There she bowed her own head and lacing her fingers together in her lap, listening to the words as they were sung by the Seeker and those around her.

"We give praise, Lady Lexicos... Mother of knowledge, she who gave birth to the light of truth, and who drives away the chill of ignorance and fear..." The lyrics sounded far better in their native Draconic, as Equestrian didn't really have proper translations for some words. The Seeker's voice carried a distinctly organic draconic accent, the sort that one acquired by having it as one's first language, much like Orzel's.

"We shall not live in fear..." Chorused the rest of the congregation, though at first Orzel's was slightly belated as she'd yet to learn this particular chant. She managed to catch up quickly, at least after listening to a couple verses. With her eyes closed, the Princess continued to follow along in the litany, her thoughts focusing themselves as they'd done in her previous foray into meditation. Once more, she was inundated with flashes of imagery, vast open prairies and rocky mountain tops. At first she stood alone, but as time went on she was eventually joined by the two hooded women...

The woman clad in white was always standing closer than the last time, blazing emerald eyes staring at Orzel with purpose. The woman in black, meanwhile, remained constantly at the girl's side. The soft glow of her golden eyes bestowed a sensation of calm contentment, the sort that helped to set the girl's mind at ease... Once more, Orzel saw the Monolith, but where as before she'd felt pulled towards it, now no such urge presented itself. Somewhere atop the massive slab of stone, impossibly distant beyond her sight, Orzel felt as if someone was watching her... Urging her to dig deeper into her own thoughts...

She decided to heed that insistent coaxing, in the interest of immersing herself into the service, and as she did the images of the Monolith faded into a black abyss. Then, as if she'd stepped on some sort of mental landmine, an explosion of previously unrealized ideas coalesced in her mind. She was seeing snapshots of diagrams, mathematical equations, even alchemical recipes... Ideas she'd thought of only in the vaguest of terms, now given shape and form. From the recesses of her subconscious, a new desire barged forward... Where before she'd tinkered and created small gadgets as a hobby, this felt... Different. Enhanced somehow... Similar to how she felt when she'd first started studying the field of Enchanting.

Eventually, as the tumultuous explosion subsided, new and more complex contraptions filtered through Orzel's thoughts. There were so many that she couldn't keep track of them all, strange and new and... Visceral... Armor, weapons, potions, and enchantments, all her's to bring to life. The dots were connecting, introspective constellations guiding her on a course of new discovery. Some of them, she realized, were already laid out in her notebooks... Schematics she'd doodled while idly musing over engineering textbooks, or otherwise created in a fit of boredom. They were only supposed to be thought experiments, but... Orzel supposed some of them could be turned into something more tangible.

At the center of all those thoughts, staring intently into Orzel's eyes, the woman in white hovered in the gloom. She and Orzel now stood eye to eye in the theater of her mind, so close that the girl could finally glimpse the face concealed within the black abyss of the hood. The woman had bronze glittering metallic skin, curling black fluted horns, a razor sharp carnivorous smile, complete with long forked tongue... The blinding emerald eyes stared eagerly into her from beyond a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles, spectacles just like Orzel's own. Realization dawned in an instant, the figure in white was... Her. Not an exact representation, obviously... Mother had the alter ego of Nightmare Moon, so what if... What if this was Orzel's alter ego, her 'Nightmare Moon'? Mother assured her that wasn't possible, but... Mother couldn't know everything.

What surprised her, frightened her even, was that she wasn't... Frightened. Not in the slightest. Orzel didn't fear the 'Dragon Her', or the contraptions and instruments of death that floated around her, or what they all might represent. It all felt... Natural. As if she was merely gazing into a mirror. She should've been scared out of her mind, right? That was the normal Equestrian response, and she herself tended to feel the same way about the unknown... Fear. Why was there no fear this time? Why not in the face of this 'Dragon Her'...? How did she even know this Dragon Her was, in fact, her?

Like so many things she'd seen in her admittedly few meditative visions, it just didn't make sense... Somehow, be it intuition or divine inspiration, she just... Knew. Before she could go deeper down that bizarre path, her trance-like meditation was broken abruptly, brought about by the end of the litany. The sudden absence of a continual mantra forced her brain to turn its attention back to the waking world at large, and so she was saddled with more questions than she'd arrived with. They were questions that would need to wait, as the service was still ongoing.

A half hour was spent listening to the Seeker, who spoke the entire time in draconic, just as he'd done with the chant. Orzel knew enough to follow along, and the experience actually proved helpful in her further learning of her third language... Granted, knowing Szafirian already gave her a head start, but any assistance was welcome. The sermon itself was about the merits of forgiveness and self-acceptance, which spoke to her in a way that was as subtle as it was sublime, a welcome change from the 'fire and brimstone' rants she'd grown up with.

The sermon was followed by a lengthy period of silent prayer, and while Orzel had yet to decide if she wanted to pray to Lexicos specifically, she nonetheless wanted to pray. It was a deeply personal matter that guided her prayers, one that'd been gnawing at her ever since the evening she'd learned the nature of this world... The Old Realm. The thought of her Mother's soul wandering, forever adrift, was the fuel of countless nightmares, and so that was what she prayed for an end to. She prayed for the safety of the souls of her Mother and Father, and all those lost in the destruction of Cesarski...

In keeping with the topic of forgiveness, she prayed even for those she'd hated. It was the first time Orzel had prayed in earnest since she could last remember, and to her relief, she found that it agreed with her. When she thought of those she'd lost, thought of the burning city and roaring monsters, they were unaccompanied by the typical terrified trembling. On the contrary, her anxiety melted away, and though she knew that too was temporary, for the moment she was at peace... She went on to pray for all that she'd seen, all that she'd lost, and all she stood to gain... Thanking whatever powers might be for Luna, Aunt Celestia... Everyone in her life...

The period of prayer lasted an hour, perhaps even more than that. The services concluded with two choral hymns, accompanied by the organ, whilst the Seeker took the leather bound tome he held and reverently placed it in a white stone box, previously concealed behind the altar. Once again, Orzel didn't know the words, and that only added to her feelings awkwardness whilst the others sang. Brother Solanum cast her a smile of reassurance, and that helped... If only slightly. With the final hymn's conclusion, all eyes settled upon the Seeker as he bowed his head to the statuette on the altar, a movement that once again the other worshipers and Orzel mimicked.

"Lady Lexicos, your children thank you for your gift of knowledge, and beg your benevolent guidance in our studies, that we might one day better understand the infinite mysteries of our evolving universe..." The Seeker stated solemnly, then turned to face the congregation and extending his arms outward. "This service is concluded, with the light and love of our Lady in your hearts, depart now in peace." Orzel watched the others rise from their pews and gradually file out of the room. It seemed she wasn't the only observant one, however, as the Seeker watched the leaving parishioners with his arms outstretched. A pose that he held until the room was almost entirely empty.

It was around that time that Orzel was relieved to see that her Aunt Celestia standing near the doors to the chamber. The girl deduced she'd likely returned some time during the service and hadn't wanted to interfere... The woman looked uncharacteristically irked, likely because she hadn't expected the service to last so long. Orzel inwardly sighed, it wasn't like she'd wanted to make her Aunt wait... At least the 'urgent matter' in Ponyville had apparently been solved. The woman quickly approached the front of the room, face set in evident concern, though that expression relaxed when she drew closer to Orzel. After a few moments, the Seeker strolled closer to the front pew as well, allowing Orzel her first up close look at the man.

She immediately noticed, hidden beneath the fabric tails of his klobuk, two reddish-orange horns on either side of his head which had a vaguely 'slicked-back' appearance. A pair of slightly yellowed canines jutted past his lower lip, which prompted Orzel to briefly feel her own fangs, as if that would ensure she was seeing the man correctly. This made him the second Drake she'd ever met, though she really should've expected as much, given their current locale... Brother Solanum stood beside Orzel, quietly gesturing for her to join him as both Celestia and the Seeker came to a stop.

"Seeker Topaz, a wonderful service as always." Brother Solanum offered genuinely in draconic, which earned a small smile from the Seeker, evidently named 'Topaz'... "Please, forgive my late arrival, I was needed in the entryway..." The man gestured to Orzel and her Aunt, but Topaz merely nodded in silence, his smile remaining in place. "I know it seems unlikely, but I speak truth when I say this is Princess Celestia and her niece Orzel. The girl has come seeking Lexicos' guidance..." Solanum clasped his hands together, slipping into Draconic. "Though they are unfocused, she has seen visions of the Monolith." Topaz nodded again, staring at the two Princesses with a poker face that could rival Celestia's... Orzel stared right back, remaining implacable, while Celestia affected a greeting smile.

"Welcome, both of you. I am Topaz, the visiting Seeker of this chapter of the Lexican Orthodoxy." Topaz spoke evenly, offering an abbreviated bow, something that Orzel returned in kind. She did her best not to stare at his horns, though evidently not well enough, as the Seeker's implacable mask gave way to a warm smile. "As I said, I am visiting. I hail from one of our monasteries in the Southern Dragonlands, yet I am informed you come from even further away." Orzel nodded cautiously, inwardly wincing... She really didn't want to explain what life was like in the Old World when the Seeker inevitably asked. "It is not every day that I counsel heads of state... Please, make yourselves comfortable." He looked at Solanum. "You may take your leave, Brother Solanum." Solanum nodded, bowing his head to both Princesses and bidding a quick farewell before making his exit.

"Thank you, Seeker..." Celestia agreed as she and Orzel took a seat in the pew. Topaz's smile became more welcoming, as he too took a seat, taking the spot of Solanum beside Orzel. "I hope our presence wasn't too distracting. Our visit was a rather 'spur of the moment' decision." Topaz shook his head, waving a dismissive hand through the aromatic fog.

"All are welcome here, you were by no means a distraction." Topaz assured genially, resting his hands in his lap. "I believe it is more than coincidence that Lexicos bade me to visit this chapter, now that you have come seeking guidance." Topaz added, speaking directly to Orzel. When next he spoke, he did so in draconic, which Orzel suspected was for the benefit of privacy. "Tell me of your visions, spare no details..."

Sighing in exasperation, Orzel recounted once again the various things she'd seen and felt during her meditation. The islands and deserts, the fields and mountains, and of course the Monolith... The Princess also described the nature of her latest visions, those that took place during the service. How she didn't fear them, when she thought that she should. How she'd even conceptualized some new ideas already, without even realizing what they could be turned into. How it was surreal, to see images of machines and contraptions that could be more than simple flights of fancy...

Throughout it all, Topaz displayed little more than silent interest, his features hardening into another stoic mask. This did little to assuage Orzel's growing sense of anxiety, which was becoming harder and harder to restrain with every syllable. What if she said something to make the Seeker angry? What if he refused to help her, or worse, actively condemned her. Though her stoic mask remained intact, Orzel was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the end of her explanation. Her only solace came in the form of Aunt Celestia's smiling, if somewhat annoyed, face... Obviously she wasn't keen on being left out of whatever Orzel was saying.

"I see..." Was all Topaz offered, idly stroking his robust facial hair, granting the Princess a better glimpse of several large gold rings that inhabited his hand... This movement also allowed Orzel to glimpse another odd facet of the man's appearance, a patch of crimson scales just barely hidden by the cuff of his robes. His finger nails were another point of oddity, as they appeared to mimic the color of his horns. The Seeker's stoic expression softened to one of understanding, and he laced his fingers together whilst reclining comfortably on the wooden bench.

"It is not uncommon for the visions of novices to be scattered. In time, as you practice, you will find it easier to focus on specific topics." Topaz explained amiably in Equestrian, which helped reduce her fears of being chastised, and apparently satisfied Celestia's apparent curiosity as to just what they'd been discussing. Orzel's nerves were still shot, however, so she remained rigid in her seat. "The content of your visions intrigues me..." The girl braced herself, taking a deep breath and gritting her teeth. "The Monolith is the repository for all the knowledge in the universe, a monument built at the behest of Lady Lexicos in another plane of existence. That you have seen it in your meditation is a sign that Lady Lexicos seeks to aid you." Orzel sighed through her nose, pursing her lips, only to wince as once again her fangs got in the way.

"Then why does she not just help me?" Her tone was rather blunt. "Why not reduce the severity of my emotions? She is a Goddess, is that not within her power?" The girl leaned back in the pew, realizing that later she'd likely have to explain a bit more to Celestia than she would've liked. For now, true to her word, Celestia was merely observing in silence. Topaz's smile grew apologetic, as if he was used to hearing that question. It wasn't lost on Orzel that she'd just acknowledged Lexicos as a deity, and on that matter she wasn't quite sure how she felt...

"It is within Her power? Certainly, but to do so would deny you the opportunity to learn and grow..." The Seeker explained evenly, pressing his palms together as if in prayer. "Knowledge requires wisdom..." Began Topaz.

"And wisdom requires patience..." Orzel finished, albeit with half-hearted acceptance. She was at least relieved to see Topaz nod. That he hadn't yelled at her, at least not yet, was encouraging. The girl looked once more at the statuette, the smoke pots continuing to smolder on the altar. She closed her eyes, bowing her head forward. "I am in a constant fight for control, Seeker... My emotions are always in flux..." The teen felt Topaz shift beside her. "Now I have these new thoughts... Desires to build things... The woman in white, the 'Dragon Me' I told you of, she is at the heart of it all. I am not frightened of her, and that... That is what scares me."

"We are Dragons..." Topaz stated simply, and once more Orzel felt him shift beside her, apparently moving to bow his head and join her in the posture of prayer. "For as advanced as the world has become, there are still aspects of ourselves that elude full understanding." Orzel hummed in agreement. "A Dragon's first Elemental Transformation marks the awakening of their true power, comparable to the arrival of an Equestrian's 'Cutie Mark'. That is why you do not fear your 'Dragon Self'. On a spiritual level, you realize she is not a threat to you, because she is you..."

"You are afraid of not being afraid, because to show your feelings, your true feelings, is not the 'Equestrian' thing to do. You cannot subdue your emotions, and you fear how those around you will react to that fact." Topaz continued in a voice that seemed more solemn than it'd been before, Orzel opened her eyes and sighed. The Seeker cast a brief look at Celestia, then spoke again. "In many ways, the Equestrians are a remarkably opened minded people, the sort of society Lady Lexicos smiles upon, but at times they can fall prey to certain... Shortcomings." Celestia narrowed her eyes at the man. "You disagree?" He asked with genuine curiosity.

"No, but Orzel already knows that, and I fail to see how reminding her of it is beneficial." The woman stated flatly, and Topaz held up a single calloused finger. Orzel cast her eyes towards Celestia, doing her best to remain calm, fearing that her Aunt's response might earn some sort of reprimand.

"It is pertinent to why she feels at odds with herself." The Seeker defended, lowering his hand back to his lap. "I suspect she realizes that because she is different, her peers will not know exactly how to quantify her. Is that correct?" Orzel nodded somewhat hesitantly, her eyes returning to the floor. She silently brought her palms together, as she'd done during the earlier prayer. "You are in control for now, but a time will come where your emotions may get the better of you... Even the patience of the most disciplined Dragon has its limits."

"So I cannot be certain I will remain in control, and I will be further ostracized because of that..." Sighed Orzel, shaking her head with a growing sense of... Futility. She needed strength, now more than ever, because she'd reached another sobering conclusion. "They will never accept me for what I am."

It was something that she supposed had always been lingering in the back of her mind. Ever since the first time she'd spoken to Twilight Sparkle, her greatest fear had been that of losing her family, of being abandoned... To be cast out, rejected... She doubted her family would do such a thing, but the same couldn't be said for the rest of Equestria. More than anything, she wanted was to serve her new Motherland, and the idea of her subjects despising her regardless of her convictions cut the Princess deeply.

"Not all of them, no, but I suspect the majority will welcome you, if you give them the chance." Topaz declared reassuringly, his voice evidently intending to rekindle the Princess's hope, and likewise mollifying Celestia's brief look of indignation. "For the darkness of ignorance chilled the hearts of mankind, and so Lexicos bestowed upon her children the warming light of truth, that it might melt away their fear." He stated with a great amount of conviction, and Orzel felt a large calloused hand pat her on the shoulder. "Ignorance prevails so long as you allow it, Sister Orzel. You must show Equestria that you are not a danger to them, but rather a boon. It is not fair, I know, but I suspect you realize by now that life seldom is..." The man tapped the side of his head. "Lexicos smiles upon you, she has blessed you with an active mind. I recommend you commit to a single field of study, work hard, persevere, even when times are difficult... Do these things, and you will go far."

Orzel lifted her head and inhaled deeply, her nostrils flaring as the aromatic smoke filled her lungs, her eyes falling once more on the statuette of Lexicos. Seeker Topaz was right, of course... She was the Crown Princess, the Heir to the Obsidian Throne... Upon her coronation she would swear an oath to defend Equestria to the fullest of her abilities. She needed only to show the people of Equestria that she could help them... An odd sensation washed over the Princess, and she leaned back in her seat... It was like watching a ship come through the fog, a bolt of inspiration... With the funds Aunt Celestia was paying her as part of their 'economic exercise', she had means to truly devote herself to not only studying, but actually creating something. Something not cobbled together from pieces of junk she fished out of the Castle garbage, or otherwise borrowed from the various maintenance departments. Something that might show Equestria she wasn't some mere child, or a monster to be feared...

The girl looked back to Topaz, his use of the title 'Sister' hadn't gone unnoticed. Now her journey to the temple was complete... She'd read the Lexican holy book, attended their services, spoken with a Brother and a Seeker... It'd given her a better look at who Lexicos was, what the Lexican Orthodoxy stood for. The unending pursuit of knowledge, and the task of spreading that knowledge so that everyone could benefit from it. As far as draconic religions went, Lexicos was probably the most benevolent and pacifistic deity one might find in in the Draconic Pantheon. Orzel decided then, rather suddenly in fact, that she liked being referred to as 'Sister Orzel', liked the idea of Lexicos watching over her, and she liked the prayer service she'd attended...

"Thank you for your counsel, Seeker..." Respectfully stated Orzel, resting her hands in her lap, inwardly reaching a decision that she knew would likely make things complicated for her upon returning home. Given how much her Mother worried, and the likelihood that she'd forbid Orzel from further exploring the Lexican Orthodoxy, there didn't really seem to be any alternative. "Do you have any advice as to how I might better focus my meditation, aside from practice alone?" Topaz stroked his beard once more, apparently an indicator of thought, then nodded sagely.

"With most Dragons in our order, to practice meditating upon their hoard is enough to rein in their emotions to a controllable level." The man began, turning his gaze skyward, back towards the paintings on the ceiling. "In your case, I would recommend training in some form of combat. It is as rigorous on the mind as it is on the body, and in that way, might grant you more control than meditation alone."

Orzel's eyes beheld the painting in silent contemplation, once more wincing as she pursed her lips. She still recalled the sting of being considered unfit for military service, the silent shame of knowing that her near total blindness disqualified her from even working in the Empire's war industry... Now in Equestria she was growing stronger, smarter, faster, more agile... With the aid of her glasses she could see just as clearly as anyone. So, in theory, she could also fight... The girl looked at Aunt Celestia, and she could see that this was probably a topic that'd require a lot of debate at home. The sort of debate that wouldn't be considered appropriate in front of the public.

Once again Orzel imagined how Mother would react, especially once Orzel informed her that she not only visited the temple, but that she intended to continue attending services, possibly even converting to the Orthodoxy... That wasn't even including her plans to purchase a workshop with the express purpose of sating the newly uncovered instinctual urge to build things of a destructive nature. As much as Orzel might've wanted to add 'I also want to learn how to fight' to the list of revelations, she suspected that might've been taking things a step too far.

Mother was already likely to hit the roof, if not outright go through it. Knowing just how powerful her Mother's magic could be, Orzel wasn't entirely certain it would be in a figurative sense either. The girl didn't like the idea of making her Mother upset, but... She had managed to run the country in her Mother's absence. Even with Cadence's help, it'd been a difficult undertaking. She'd made snap decisions, decisions that had impact on the lives of thousands of her subjects, so the argument could be made that, in this case, she could make weighty decisions that would only impact herself. Surely Mother had to see the logic... Surely. Then again, as far as Orzel knew, logic didn't always win when it came to adults... It could very well end up being one of those 'because I said so' arguments.

"I will consider it, Seeker..." Agreed Orzel, returning her gaze to Seeker Topaz. "I have only a few more questions." The man nodded readily, and so the girl spent the next twenty minutes or so asking him about the particulars of the Lexican Orthodoxy. What sort of things were expected of its practitioners, when services were held, how one converted from another faith, and so on...

She was pleased to learn that overall the Lexicans were as open-minded in practice as they purported to be in their holy book. The pursuit of truth was paramount, even if that truth proved unsavory or difficult to accept. Fidelity to one's own conscience was the second most important tenant, and thus the Lexican Orthodoxy could never influence the Crown's decision. That'd been the primary possibility that really concerned Orzel, as it would make it impossible for her to convert... Her liking both boys and girls, a virtual death sentence under the teachings of the Vindictan Church, was welcomed by the Seeker without incident.

Although Orzel expected as much to be the case, as Lexicos seemed a fairly progressive deity by Imperial standards, it nonetheless came as a great relief. All worshipers, known to one another as 'Brothers' or 'Sisters', could spread the word of Lexicos if they wanted, though at a temple that duty was reserved for a chapter's Seeker. Seekers, generally, being the most senior worshiper or scholar. Some, like Seeker Topaz, dedicated their lives to scholastic pursuits in secluded monasteries throughout the world... Only venturing out when called upon to do Lexicos' work. If Orzel wasn't committed to her role as Princess, she might very well have considered running off to do the same thing...

Topaz informed Orzel that in the future she'd need to attend services wearing robes like those of the Brothers and Sisters, something that the Princess intended to do regardless. She could continue wearing her headscarves if she wanted to, which also came as a relief. It was an archaic practice in the Lexican Orthodoxy overall, but a fair number of temples still adhered to it. They served more as an emulation of Lexicos' favored clothing than anything else, though there was some added meaning. Acceptable colors for a girl Orzel's age were red, violet, black, white, or any variation or combination. The only thing off the table was anything with gold embroidery, as that was reserved for married women. In that respect, it wasn't all that dissimilar from Szafirian custom, if a bit more simplified...

With her questions answered and the hour growing late, the sun already having set, Orzel and Celestia bid the Seeker farewell. As he returned to the altar to tend to the smoke pots, the two Princesses began their walk out of the temple. It was awkward at first, primarily because Orzel wasn't sure what to say, but Celestia seemed content to make the first overture.

"I take it you enjoyed the service?" The woman asked, clasping her hands behind her as the two walked down the dimly lit hallway. Orzel nodded quietly, assuming a similar posture, eyes fixed forward. "I'm sorry I couldn't join you for the entire thing. Perhaps next time?" Orzel nodded again, glancing sideways at her Aunt, silently probing for any signs of what might've called her away to Ponyville. The woman appeared uncharacteristically on edge, her words carrying just the faintest hint of irritation... Whether that was a result of the sudden 'Emergency' or the conversation with Seeker remained to be seen. "I only caught pieces of what you were discussing in there... What was that about your 'Dragon Self', and a 'Monolith'?" Orzel looked at the floor as they turned the corner, now passing the paintings of the various scholars.

"When I meditated... I saw things..." Orzel explained plainly. "Lots of landscapes, including one with a gigantic white stone slab, the Monolith. I do not know if I agree with the Seeker, that it was Lexicos who placed it in my head..." The girl stated somewhat reluctantly. "Perhaps it was just my mind's interpretation of the text." She looked up at her Aunt. "The 'Dragon Self' is just that... A vision of my older self, with green eyes, and more draconic features." Celestia's face gradually became one of contemplation. Rather than face the coming fusillade of questions, Orzel opted to change tack quickly. "What was the matter in Ponyville?" Her Aunt became stoic again, but this time Orzel wouldn't accept silence, not in the wake of the Chaos Wave.

"Twilight Sparkle had a bit of an episode." Celestia finally admitted with a sigh, her eyes downcast. "It's all sorted, no one was hurt, thankfully..." The woman placed a hand on Orzel's shoulder as they neared the front atrium of the temple, an act which brought both of them to a stop. "She's wound exceptionally tight. Seeing how it affected her, and having heard what you said to the Seeker...?" The woman's voice was solemn, but not in an overly negative way. "I know talking to me about wanting to come here this morning wasn't easy for you."

"I want you to know that if you ever just need someone to talk to, or if you feel like you're not fully in control, I'm here..." Celestia added before smiling faintly, and Orzel allowed a smile of her own to appear for the briefest of moments. "Now, I don't want you to worry, but tonight..." Celestia paused, mulling over her words as a fresh batch of concern began to brew in Orzel's mind. "Well, there are some things that your Mother and I will need to discuss with you. You aren't in trouble, it's nothing bad, I just have a feeling you'll be better off if we don't spring it all on you without warning, okay?"

Orzel inhaled deeply through her nose, taking her Aunt's words in, deconstructing them... Her tone was assuring, the girl detected no malice or trickery, just reasonable calm. In the wake of her latest meditation, coupled with a few stress abating techniques she'd learned from Doctor Scratch, the Princess managed to arrest the anxious tailspin before it could even begin. She was in control, on a level that felt more concrete and grounded than usual.

"Alright..." The girl started pensively as the two resumed their walk, quickly approaching the two temple doors. "In the future... I would like not to be kept in the dark. If there is a crisis, I feel I have a right to know." Celestia opened the doors with a flare of magic, her wings fluttering as the pair stepped out into the rapidly chilling night air. It only took a few moments for Orzel shiver considerably, to a point that her teeth started to chatter together.

"Let's... Put a pin in that one for now, alright?" Celestia asked as they walked down the stone path towards the sidewalk. "If it comes to a point where your Mother and I must depart, I will of course inform you as to why, but... You've got a full enough plate as it is, let's not add more to it until we absolutely have to." Orzel was about to retort, but again she got the feeling that this was an argument where she just couldn't win, no matter how right she believed herself to be. "Now, stand close to me, I'm sure they're waiting for us at dinner."

Orzel nodded, sidling up closer to her Aunt as the woman brought her magic to her palms. In the future Orzel had determined that she'd get a car or carriage to take her to services... While teleportation magic was good for speedy travel, as the spell was intended primarily for Equestrians it also had a sensation that she imagined was much like the 'Mirror Vortex' effect described in her 'EG-1' novels. That being a sensation of being enveloped by overwhelmingly frigid air, then feeling as if she'd been shot out of a cannon, before finally appearing at the other end of the spell with a short flashing headache, brief nausea, and a fleeting period of spacial disorientation...

The experienced tended to get worse the longer the distance was. She'd inform her Aunt of that fact later, as for now she just wanted to get home so she could get whatever stressful conversation Celestia mentioned out of the way as soon as possible. Taking Celestia's hand in her own, Orzel braced herself for what was to come whilst the wisps of golden magic coiled around the two of them. With an abruptness that briefly caused her to jump, the wisps flared brightly, and both Princesses were enveloped in a flash of bright light.

Considering how Luna expected things to turn out, the atmosphere of the evening meal was surprisingly subdued. While she'd not expected there to be an argument, the fact remained that her daughter tended to spiral when faced with a sudden change. That change, in this case, being the revelation that Piercing Gaze and Luna were together. It hadn't taken the girl long to deduce that there was more to it than that, or that Piercing had something to do with the Chaos Wave, as the evidence was rather difficult to refute. She'd been remarkably quiet, and thus far the girl showed no sign of panicking. Luna wished she could say the same for herself, as Orzel's own announcement about her day was... Surprising.

Not only that she'd gone out to attend a fund raiser, but that she'd subsequently attended prayer services at a temple of Lexicos, and was leaning heavily in the direction of converting. While at first Luna was resistant to the idea, the fact remained that her daughter made several valid points. That being said, it still didn't sit well with Luna, that her daughter seemed to be plunging headlong into such a decision at such a rapid pace. It was hard for a Mother not to worry, especially having made plenty of rash decisions of her own as a teenager. It didn't help that Piercing seemed fascinated by the prospect, though given their topic of discussion on the train the night before, Luna could see why.

What shook the Princess most wasn't so much the various physical changes brought on by Orzel's recent Elemental Transformation, but rather the mental ones. The girl she'd said farewell to at the Grand Galloping Gala, introverted and fearful, wasn't the same young lady that greeted Luna that evening in the dining room. She still came off as not exceptionally social, and there were still undertones of anxiety to her behavior, but they were more subdued than ever before. Luna was used to her daughter shunning the outside world and all that it contained, in favor of her own room...

On more than one occasion she'd encouraged her daughter to get out more. To meet people, and become active within a community, and now...? Now Orzel was starting to do just that. That same terribly frightened girl whom Luna had taken in all those months ago was now talking about acquiring a workshop, perhaps even starting her own small enchanting shop or engineering business. She was exploring her faith, expanding her horizons, taking chances and going out into the world. Luna was thrilled with the changes, at least most of them, but... Once again she was reminded of just how quickly life could fly by. Her daughter was only a couple years away from being an adult, and the idea of Orzel stepping out into the world as her own person... Well, Luna wasn't entirely sure how that made her feel.

She knew that Orzel would always be in her life in one way or another, they'd always be close, but it just wouldn't be the same whenever the girl inevitably went off to college. The woman shook her head ever so faintly, a melancholy smile briefly gracing her lips. Even now, as Piercing, Celestia, and Orzel conversed over dinner, it was clear to Luna that the girl was fast becoming a fine young woman. She'd make mistakes along the way, but Luna had no doubt her daughter would learn from them and grow, becoming even better for them... In that sense, it was more than enough to make a Mother proud.

The topic of discussion at present was the state of the world, particularly the ongoing issues in West Parthenia, specifically the Griffon Empire, and how Equestria should respond, if it should respond at all. Celestia, as per usual, was firmly on the side of non-intervention. It wasn't Equestria's place in the world to tell other nations how to conduct themselves. Orzel was meanwhile voicing her concerns that a sufficiently unstable Griffon Empire could very well find itself embroiled in a civil conflict, the sort of conflict that might spill over its borders into other neutral states. Piercing was fielding arguments from both sides of the issue, picking them apart in that analytical way of his. While she wasn't outright hostile towards him, it was clear that Orzel still didn't fully trust the man. Luna expected as much, but knowing how Orzel tended to think, she didn't expect it would take long for that detachment to subside.

"If we 'mind our own business' we will end up paying for it later." Orzel stated flatly as she cut into a juicy looking pan cooked steak... It was almost as large as her head, which in the past meant Orzel would only finish a quarter of it, if that. This, however, was her fourth such steak of the evening, and she was quickly going through it and a vast array accompanying side dishes as if they were little more than popcorn. "I am not saying we need to land troops or fight their war for them, but would it be so extreme to send First Fleet to keep an eye on our interests there?" Celestia shook her head, taking a bite of her salad.

"It would be far too provocative, we'd be seen as butting our nose in where it doesn't belong." The woman countered simply, upon finishing her latest morsel. "I've offered to serve as a mediator between the two sides, but mediation requires both of them to come to the table. Barring a sudden uncharacteristic wellspring of cooperation, that isn't likely to happen. That's why it's best we let the Griffon's solve their own problems." Orzel's features, while more or less expressionless already, became as impassive as a slab of solid granite, her faintly glowing eyes narrowing in the process.

"It is not just about 'solving their own problems', you know that. I have no interest in solving their problems, only ensuring their problems do not become our problems." She stated rather coldly, Luna knew exactly what she meant by that as well. It'd been one of the first lessons about running a country she'd taught Orzel. Everything is interconnected, even in ways that don't seem readily apparent. What happens in one country could have just as much an affect on a nation on an entirely different continent. "More than half the world relies on iron ore from the Empire for their economies to function, not to mention that a quarter of the world's sea lanes run through what the Griffon's claim as their territorial waters." Celestia opened her mouth, but Orzel cut her off.

"We cannot supplement the supply of iron at the same cost as the Griffons, not without dangerously depleting our own reserves. We also can't risk the Griffons seizing neutral shipping to supplement their economy." The girl continued as she leaned back in her seat, lacing her fingers together. "If we desire to keep the global availability of iron in its current state of abundance without taking military action, we shall need to charge a premium. Both for the cost of the product and the cost of protecting it in transit." Her tone was a tad shrewder than before, though her expression remained the same.

"I'm afraid I have to agree with her on this one, Celestia." Piercing admitted, rubbing somewhat awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Equestria's economy isn't nearly strong enough to serve as some sort of 'global iron charity'. While most of the world could probably get by, twenty five percent of the sea lanes suddenly shutting down could play havoc with the value of the Bit." Celestia sighed heavily, rubbing at her temples.

Luna knew all too well just how empathetic her sister could be, and while she'd run the country for a long time on her own, it was always a struggle for the woman not to feel bad for putting the needs of her own people first. That was yet another lesson that Luna made sure was at the top of Orzel's curriculum. A Princess needed to be cold and calculating in her trade and business negotiations, while at the same time not gouging her partners for every Bit they had. Doing so was a fine way to make money in the short term, but once trade relations were soured, they were exceptionally difficult to mend. The safety and prosperity of Equestria's citizens was paramount to all others. If heating one Equestrian meant leaving ten non-Equestrians in the cold, so be it... It was a cold mindset to maintain, but the world was a very cold place... Luna suspected Orzel knew that better than anyone.

"At present we're just talking about a couple striking protestors, not a full blown Civil War." Celestia emphasized, which, to be fair, was also accurate. Realistically, the odds of a Civil War sparking from something as simple as a few strikes were slim, but there were always factors that couldn't be accounted for. Even though the immediate effects of the Chaos Wave had dissipated, their lingering aftermath still presented the proverbial wild card. "Now, enough work talk at the dinner table..." Celestia stated somewhat firmly. "Have you given any thought to what sort of things you might make at your workshop, Orzel? You mentioned something about perhaps starting a small shop, and I assume that has to do with our economics lesson?" The girl looked at Luna for a moment, then nodded ever so tentatively.

"I have a few ideas..." She temporized, looking back at the table. "Some of them came to me during my meditation, actually. Others I have been considering for some time." Luna cast a glance at Piercing, evidently his interest was piqued as he leaned more heavily on the table. Luna could already guess what sort of ideas her daughter might come up with, what she'd seen in her daughter's notebook sprang to mind. "They are very technical, I do not want to bore anyone." She added, but this only served to further encourage Piercing's intrigue.

"Please, at least tell us what a couple of them do." He asked, resulting in Orzel casting another brief glance at Luna. While the girl's features remained flat, Luna could tell there was a fair bit of apprehension going on beneath the surface. Getting her to talk about her trip to the temple had been difficult enough, more a result of Orzel fears as to how Luna would react than anything else, and the woman suspected this was a similar situation... So Luna did her best to appear supportive, and that proved enough encouragement for her daughter to go into further detail.

"Well, one of them came to me as I was reading about Early Equestrian tapestries..." Orzel stated cautiously, and Luna could tell she was probably giving one of her less objectionable ideas. "A lot of artists used crystal encrusted thread, as I am sure you are aware. In theory, the same technique could be used with Alicornium or Arcanium powder, provided a sufficient bonding agent could be manufactured. Given the ability to mass produce clothing now, it could perhaps be used to produce better protective equipment."

Luna actually raised an eyebrow at that, the idea actually struck her as rather... Ingenious. It'd never occurred to her that enchanting clothing could be 'automated'. Luna suspected it would likely offend the 'purists' of the Enchanting school, to see their 'art' transformed into something that could be mass produced. As for its use in 'protective equipment', Luna was certain there'd be plenty of other applications for such a technology. Then again, that wasn't how Orzel tended to think... She was the utilitarian of the family, even more so than Luna...

"I was thinking that enchanted patches could be sewn into the uniforms of combat vehicle crewmen or firefighters." Orzel added further. "Speaking of, I have been meaning to discuss possibly issuing a change to those uniforms. They are mostly comprised of overly stuffy material, as I recall..." Orzel trailed off, looking at the table somewhat nervously, as if another idea had just come to her. "I wonder...?" The girl shook her head, casting her eyes about the room, as if worried someone might've actually been listening to her thoughts. "I suspect it is one of the many ideas I shall have to endeavor to explore when the workshop is operational." Piercing seemed likewise intrigued by the idea, but he cast a knowing look to Luna, he too had picked up on Orzel's brief pause.

"What about purely mechanical ideas? I hope you won't mind, but I did take a tiny peek at your notes." Piercing stated curiously, leaning back in his seat as Orzel continued to enjoy her meal. "I am fairly fluent in Kwarczkie, its written form at any rate..." He stated, and this earned him an odd look from the girl. "It remarkable language, your designs much impressed, but words me saw seem... Made up." He added in rather broken Szafirian, Orzel abruptly brought a hand to her mouth, snickering slightly, if it could be called that... It just as easily could've been her clearing her throat, which only served to confuse Piercing.

"You must work on your spoken Szafirian, Mister Gaze." Orzel responded in Szafirian, gradually regaining control of herself. "I apologize, but that was terrible..." She added in Equestrian while slowly shaking her head, manifesting the stoic mask once again. "As for the words appearing 'made up'? There are many technical terms in Equestrian that do not have a Szafirian counterpart. Seeing as I was the only person that was supposed to read those journals, I didn't think it would pose an issue. Some are literal descriptions, others...?" She shrugged. "I got creative. I can show you something I came up with today... It has few moving parts, and is a bit more practical, given my current level of skill in engineering."

The girl quietly whistled, a quick and lyrical sounding song. To Luna's slight surprise, a small patch of air on the table suddenly condensed upon itself like a cloud of black vapor, forming into the distinct rodent form of Orzel's familiar... Held in its tiny paws, as well as its mouth, was the leather bound notebook she'd seen on her daughter's desk the night before. Orzel offered the mouse a brief smile, scratching it under its chin and allowing it to scamper up onto her shoulder. She silently opened the notebook, turning rapidly to a page near the rear.

"Bear in mind, this is a tad unrefined..." Orzel added somewhat cautiously, stopping on one page and handing it to Piercing. "I only came up with theses rough sketches an hour or so ago." Luna leaned over to examine the page for herself, fearing for a moment she'd see the initial outline to a sword, spear, or other weapon of war.

What she saw instead was what at first glance appeared to be a standard 'Tank Top', though it was larger, bulkier, and had numerous buttons spaced evenly about its front. They weren't used to fasten it closed, that task fell to a pair of what looked like cotton webbing straps on either side. It was obviously a cuirass of some sort, with two slotted pouches on its front and rear faces, where she assumed something flat could be inserted. Beside it were several rough diagrams, the first being a simple rectangle, another was similar, though its upper corners were ground down, whilst a third consisted of five-inch squares of an unknown material bolted together, overlapping not unlike the scales of a dragon. All had writing scratched into them, which Luna translated roughly to mean 'Impact Surface'... Perhaps they were what went into the slots?

"I had the idea while in meditation, when I was looking at the Monolith..." Orzel explained further while Piercing's eyes were drawn to what looked like a rather long string of letters. "It is also based on a few of the new Science Fiction novels I read recently, as well as the ceremonial armor of the Vindictan Order. This is what I approximate 'modernized' garments of such design would look like at any rate." The man hummed thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin as he nodded. "I realize it may be different from what you were used to in your time, but we are facing different threats today than a thousand years ago."

"OUBC-XPOC... Am I translating the letters correctly?" Piercing asked, offering the book to Luna, though she couldn't really make sense of what the writing itself. For a 'rough' outline, her daughter's fastidiousness was on full display, with various calculations and notes already written into the margins. Luna in turn handed the book to Celestia, who examined it with an equal amount of curiosity and concern. "I admit, I don't know what exactly I'm looking at here. What do these letters stand for?" Orzel took the book back from Celestia as the Princess was finished with it.

"'Over Uniform Ballistic Cuirass - Experimental Proof of Concept'." Orzel stated simply, closing the notebook and setting it beside her plates of dwindling food. "The subject of armor is a topic I have rarely given much thought until recently. Still, after observing the Monolith in my meditative vision, it occurred to me that no one has found a sufficient means of countering modern firearms." Orzel picked up the notebook, then held it close to her chest. "A quick examination of available data indicates that while attempts have been made to develop bullet-proof suits of armor, the prototypes have proven restrictive both in freedom of movement and versatility, while offering little guaranteed protection."

"The problem is that these attempts thus far have been to create a full suit of armor, like that of a knight, but the weapons of today are not swords or spears... Why attempt to stop them as if they were?" Orzel continued, then suddenly smacked the book with her other hand. Luna's thoughts returned to the sketch, and upon reflection, she could once again see her daughter's point. The odd rectangles marked 'Impact Surface', and the visual cue of her smacking the book, gave her an idea as to just what it was her daughter was driving at. "Modern soldiers are trained to aim for the center mass, so we should focus on protecting the center mass. This in many ways simplifies the task." The girl looked at Luna, her expression like granite. "While I would much rather work on offensive equipment, I am inclined to believe you would have objections to such endeavors. As a result, I must redirect my focus to defensive equipment. Among other things, this is what I intend to work on in my workshop."

Orzel was absolutely right in that Luna didn't want her daughter going anywhere near 'offensive equipment', as the girl so delicately called it. A week ago, had she come to Luna saying she was even considering creating such things, Luna would've flat out refused. Casting a look between Orzel and Piercing, however, the woman's response was tempered... Orzel knew enough now not to get herself into trouble, and unlike most Equestrian teenagers, possessed a healing factor that made it less likely she'd seriously injure herself in an accident.

What was more, if Orzel's design proved actually feasible... It could prove an invaluable asset to the Equestrian military. Even if the design failed, it could still be spun as her being a Princess that cared for the lives of her soldiers, who would use all her technical acumen to help them come home to their families. It would go a long way towards silencing her detractors, and prove a boon to the girl's struggling public image. Of course, Luna knew that despite her jaded plans to spin the story to her daughter's benefit, Orzel's intentions were no less genuine. She wanted to protect those subjects that were willing to give their very lives for Crown and Country, and nothing Luna said or did would change that fact, so why not let it work to the favor of Orzel's public image?

As she looked at Piercing, however, another nagging thought made its presence known. If what he'd said about Orzel was true, if this was also the result of some sort of 'instinctive drive' to 'build a better body armor', could Luna really prevent her daughter from working towards that end? Maybe, if she locked Orzel in her tower and kept her under constant observation, but that was no way for her daughter to live... Orzel was driven, she didn't hesitate to do things without asking permission, and Luna had little doubt the girl would continue working in secret. Her daughter would take whatever risks she deemed necessary to test her armor, perhaps even using herself as a test subject... The less Luna thought about that the better. Looking towards Celestia, she needed only a glance to realize they were both thinking the same thing.

"Very well..." Luna stated calmly, holding up four fingers. "On four conditions... First, any tests you conduct are to be supervised by qualified personnel. Second, you will provide me with weekly reports as to your progress, and essays as to how they pertain to your regular studies..." The woman exhaled evenly. "Third, you do not allow this project intrude upon your regular studies." The woman cast a look at Piercing, knowing that this particular condition would be a tough one. "Lastly, I would like for you to help Piercing with his understanding of your language."

While likely to become a point of contention, Luna saw it as the best way she could get Orzel to interact with Piercing. She had no illusions about the two becoming best friends, but if Orzel could at least come to tolerate the man's presence, that'd be enough. Moreover, Piercing's knowledge of enchanting and the arcane far exceeded Luna's, and having him in her daughter's life as a sort of 'impromptu tutor' couldn't hurt. The girl thoughtfully considered Luna's terms, her eyes turning back to Piercing, as silently she placed her notebook back on the table. With a reluctant sigh, Orzel steepled her fingers and nodded in solemn acceptance, leaning back in her seat as her familiar scampered back to the table, where it took station atop the notebook. The girl's eyes turned to Piercing, staring intently at the man.

"Mother claimed earlier that you are a mage and scholar of particular skill." Orzel stated evenly, cutting another piece of her steak. "I would request that in the coming days you review the modern literature relating to enchanting and basic engineering." Piercing raised an eyebrow at that. "If you are to learn my language, you will need to do so as I work. If you are in my workshop, I would expect you to work as well..." Luna was about to intercede on Piercing's behalf, as she didn't like her daughter's tone, monotonous as it was. Piercing held up a hand to stop her, merely nodded his head with a look of respect.

"Your workshop, your rules. Never fear, I'm quite adept at multi-tasking!" Piercing conceded amiably, allowing a small smile to grace his features. "I shall be as helpful as, well... A helpful thing!" He added cheerfully, though he proceeded to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. "I'm afraid I don't know many modern metaphors, but as always, I'm ready to learn!" Piercing cast a look over at Luna, the sort that told her not to worry, because he was working an angle...

The woman pondered just what sort of angle that might be, until she recalled her first condition, that Orzel be supervised. With Piercing assisting Orzel in her workshop, he'd be in an excellent position to inform her of the daily goings on, beyond what Luna might read in the weekly reports. Even more importantly, he'd be able to give her a general overview of how he thought Orzel was doing in terms of her studies and overall mental health. She'd unknowingly provided herself an organic means of keeping an eye on her daughter...

Luna recalled that at Orzel's age she wasn't fond of the various attempts Celestia made to 'spy' on her, but now she was on the other side of that argument. Much as she'd yearned for privacy as a teenager, the fact was that she was a Mother, and Mothers sometimes had to do things they themselves wouldn't like. For now it seemed that the conversation had been restarted, and with Orzel conceding to Luna's conditions, the rest of the evening meal passed without further incident. The next few days would prove equally interesting, Luna was sure. Perhaps they'd make a family outing, or maybe take in an opera, or even one of the fascinating 'moving pictures' she'd heard so much about. Whatever they did, it seemed life was looking up, for once.