The Pawn Who Would Be Queen

A number of weeks followed Luna's first regular meeting Orzel, and while at first little of much importance discussed, it was obvious the girl welcomed the chance to speak, at least somewhat. From what Celestia was hearing from her sister, the topics of conversation in the beginning more often than not were very 'surface level'. Gradually these topics became more personal, and the teen was finally opening herself up to help. Despite her best efforts, Celestia up until that point was unable to clear enough time in her schedule to meet Orzel one on one. From what Luna explained, however, Orzel was remarkably understanding in that respect. The girl apparently was also fairly quick to pick up Equestrian, though she spoke with a considerably thick accent.

The girl's new found ability to speak Equestrian presented reason enough for Celestia to justify clearing a spot in her itinerary with the ever demanding Noble Party. Additionally, there were some pressing matters pertaining to Orzel's current status as a member of the Royal Family. While they wouldn't be the topic of her initial visit, it would nonetheless be helpful for Celestia to put a face to those issues other than Luna. Royal life was a tangled web of politics and intrigue, and having only Luna to serve as a guide would leave Orzel woefully under prepared. Luna still held minimal power among the Nobility, and this tended to skew her view considerably. Such matters aside, Celestia also just wanted a chance to become a part of Orzel's life, to give her all the love and support she could...

Orzel was for all intents and purposes remarkably busy for someone without any existing royal duties, especially now that she could read and to some extent speak Equestrian. Once again her horizons of knowledge expanded as more material became accessible to her, and with it her ravenous hunger for books also grew. For the moment, thankfully, the Castle Library was more than capable of meeting the vastly expanded demand. Books, however, were not the only thing to go missing from the library. A phonograph had also vanished seemingly without a trace, though initially Celestia doubted Orzel's petite borderline malnourished frame possessed the sheer physical strength to carry such a heavy piece of furniture. That doubt, however, became thoroughly refuted as she came within a few feet of Orzel's door.

Celestia stood before the wooden slab that guarded Orzel's room, gown straightened, wings furled. The air that filtered from beyond the solid oaken barrier was notably scented with dust and old paper, almost as strong and distinct a smell as that of the Castle library itself. Within she could hear the familiar tenderhearted tenor tones of Soppressata Alfredo, playing over what was undoubtedly the misappropriated phonograph from the Castle's Library.

The dust that typically followed aged paper danced through the air seemingly in time with the song's upbeat tempo, making for a beautiful display within the rays cast from the hallway windows. Somehow, without any help as far as Celestia knew, the diminutive girl managed to lug the hundred pound device from one side of the Castle to the other. How she'd managed the feat without alerting any of the Castle staff was still unclear. Perhaps she was just so short that no one really noticed her...?

Thinking more on Orzel's origins, however, it seemed obvious that as a Drake she was simply stronger than the average Equestrian teenager. Now that Orzel was in an environment with ample ambient magic, her body would rapidly catch up to where most Drakes were at this age. Celestia's research into how Drakes matured had yielded many illuminating and concerning issues that would undoubtedly become more manifest in the coming months and years. There wasn't any increased risk of fire, as Orzel's people notably lacked that otherwise universal draconic ability, but... That she had spent the majority of her formative years deprived of the necessary magic would likely have an overall bizarre delayed effect that couldn't quite be planned for.

The unannounced seizure of the phonograph, the unquenchable desire for books and model kits, all were merely the initial hallmark stages of the dreaded 'teenaged' phase of Draconic life. Hoard building was bound to be the least of their worries, now that Celestia thought on it. Drakes weren't known for their ability to control their tempers, after all. At least this particular teenager was developing a growing eclectic taste in music, if Celestia's ears didn't deceive her. Playing from the ill-gotten phonograph was none other than Soppressata Aflredo's performance of 'The Barber's Aria', one of his earlier recordings by Celestia's estimation. Undoubtedly the music selection would change as the girl came into her own, discovering the various genres present in Equestria.

Celestia up until that moment was still thinking on just how to address Orzel, as the two remained to be formally introduced following that unfortunate night in the Gardens. Her apparent taste in music was thankfully a point that Celestia and Luna both shared. Celestia was more partial to works such as 'The Barber of Ponyville', while Luna tended to enjoy the more dramatic titles, her favorite's being 'The Tragedy' and 'Daughter of Hoofan'. Perhaps, Celestia mused, their mutual taste in music could be a decent starting off point. Regardless of where she wanted to begin, however, she was doing little by simply standing outside the door besides stalling for time. Taking one final moment to compose herself, Celestia knocked on the door and listened carefully. After a few tense moments with no response, Celestia knocked with a bit more force. This time the music abruptly stopped, though regrettably right at the crescendo of the piece.

"Dour eez open?" A questioning mezzo-soprano voice responded in broken Equestrian. Celestia could understand her well enough, but the accent was nonetheless as incredibly thicker than she'd been warned to expect. Celestia gently turned the door knob and pushed inwards, it only swung halfway on its hinges before suddenly smacking against a considerably sized pile of books. Celestia shoved the door gently, moving aside the books and taking in for the first time the cluttered space that was her adopted neice's room. She couldn't help but gawk at what lay before her, for the books by the door didn't even come close to the largest pile in the room.

Strewn about the floor, haphazardly placed and yet remarkably well organized by genre, stacks and mounds of tomes jutted up to Celestia's waist. The bed was well ordered and made with such care that it could likely pass military inspection. Several stuffed animals were arranged near the pillows, a mixture of unicorns and plush bears, going from right to left by measure of their overall height. The bed itself was surrounded on nearly all sides by more book piles, all of which 'borrowed' from the Castle library. As expected, the missing phonograph sat beside the Orzel's desk, along with a whole album of 78 RPM records. So Orzel's 'hoarding' phase was indeed upon her... Thankfully she'd chosen items that were easy enough to replace. There likely would've been much more fuss raised on the part of the castle staff if she'd started hoarding gold and gems as so many other adolescent Drakes often did.

Orzel was seated at her desk, dressed in simple looking navy blue tunic and trousers, her almond colored hair pulled back behind her head in a lazily tied bun. She was currently focused on a model airship, though not by way of her tortoiseshell glasses. Instead, a pair of magnifying goggles jutted from her face, intently set upon the carefully constructed creation of plastic and model adhesive. Her cerulean eyes held only the faintest of glows, made all the more pronounced by the magnifying lenses. A paintbrush was poised delicately in her right hand, with which she was adding what looked to a few weathering effects to her latest project.

"Am not fee-nishing of last books, needing more time..." Orzel absentmindedly, stippling what looked like rust along a few lines in the airship's hull. "Just be of leaving new ones on bed-seed tab-eel, yis? Thank you." It took Celestia a few moments to discern what the girl was actually saying, at which point she entered and closed the door behind her. Still, the more she heard the easier it became to understand her. Odds were it'd grow more discernible the longer Celestia, or anyone, was exposed to it.

"Don't you have enough books as is?" Celestia asked with a small chuckle, Orzel froze in her seat and glanced over her shoulder at the bemused elder Princess, her surprise made remarkably apparent thanks to the goggles. This visit so far was a definite instance of Deja Vu for Celestia, as she'd seen bedrooms like this once or twice before. The first belonging to her Sister when the two Princesses were younger, the second belonging to Twilight Sparkle, though neither of those two kept their chambers quite as chaotically organized. Orzel removed the goggles and squinted intently at Celestia, then grabbed her thick rimmed tortoiseshell spectacles. The girl's intense scrutiny subsided when the prescribed lenses found themselves perched upon her nose. "I hope I'm not interrupting..."

"No... Yis... Maybe?" Orzel stumbled through the words, and considering how on the spot she must've felt it wasn't totally unexpected. Celestia's arrival wasn't announced ahead of time, as evidenced by the state of the room, so it wasn't like the girl could've practiced. Orzel glanced back at her model, a Griffon airship judging by the considerable superstructure and side mounted vertical propeller mounts. "Paint eez in need of drying, suppose eez good time?" Celestia stepped further into the room, clasping her hands behind her back and navigating around the stacks of books. The midday sun streamed in through the window, casting the room in an odd mix of brilliant yellow and cool blue shadows. "Chell-oh, Princess Kell... Chall... Chalyista..." The girl stopped, muttering something to herself in Kwarczkie, judging by the tone of voice she used it wasn't pleasant. Celestia tried to ignore that, as she doubted it was directed at her. "You prefer title or no? Meece Luna not like being called Princess... Or Meece... Say sound like meece, but meece and meece are two sep-har-aht words. One title, one tie-knee rau-dent."

Orzel trailed off, quietly looking at the floor, apparently she was once again very self conscious of her difficult to decipher Equestrian. Celestia once again struggled to determine what her niece was saying... Meece... Rau-dent... Rodent. Mice. She was mispronouncing 'Miss' and 'Mice'...

"Whatever is easiest for you." Celestia responded gently, approaching the desk and leafing through the record album Orzel 'borrowed' when she'd made off with the phonograph. Most of the records seemed to be the greatest hits of Soppressata Alfredo, though there were a few Griffon tenors and Draconic baritones mixed in for an overall well rounded collection. Selecting a piece by the late great Anima Gentile, his final and most soulful rendition of 'Let No One Sleep', the Princess carefully swapped the record already on the Phonograph and set the needle down. "I realize we haven't seen much of each other, I was hoping to remedy that."

Orzel stared at her blankly, squinting her eyes despite her glasses, obviously in deep thought. The Princess was unsure just what there was to think about, until she reminded herself of who she was speaking with. In Orzel's eyes, Celestia saw the sort of uncertainty that Luna was so adamant about warning her to expect ahead of the visit. The fearful lack of confidence, undoubtedly made worse by the presence of the 'borrowed' phonograph. Hoarding was an uncontrollable urge for Drakes, but Orzel didn't know that... Hoping to ease any tension that the device might've caused, Celestia gently adjusted the volume as the music began to filter through the phonograph, the gentle and soulful singing apparently having a calming effect on her adopted niece.

"Rem-Eddy...?" Orzel repeated quietly, nervousness giving way to curiosity, scratching her head she glanced about her desk. Celestia watched curiously while the girl suddenly stood from her chair and grabbed a prodigiously large dictionary. Given the girl's petite stature, the dictionary seemed all the more immense. To Celestia's surprise Orzel opened directly to the 'R' section, flipped through several pages, then stopped and leaned closer. "Rem-Eddy. Noun. A med-eh-sin or apple-cation to be curing the diss-ease... Or core-ecting of wrongs?... This eez what you are meaning, yis?" Celestia nodded quietly, earning a pleased smile from Orzel as she closed the dictionary and sat back down. "I know you busy... More import-tant things to do... Is onder... under-standable."

"While I have been busy, coming here was no less important." Celestia insisted, a bit more defensively than she would've hoped. While typically she could handle intentional barbs, the comment about 'more important things to do' recalled to mind the numerous memories of the weeks prior to Luna's becoming Nightmare Moon. How many 'more important things' prevented Celestia from spotting the coming disaster? She would never truly know... Unaware of the effect her words brought about in the Princess's mind, Orzel merely shrugged and went back to staring at the unfinished model. Celestia concluded that perhaps pressing the issue wouldn't be entirely wise, so she opted to change the subject.

"I'm glad to see you're putting the Castle's library to use, I don't think I've seen this many books depart its halls for several years..." Celestia continued, glancing out the window at the city beyond. "You're free to borrow as many as you want, you know? The phonograph, on the other hand, is something I would prefer you'd asked about before hand..." Orzel bit her lower lip, looking about her room and finally at the phonograph. It was clear the girl was conflicted, but Celestia needed to set clear boundaries about what was and wasn't acceptable to hoard... Luna would need to have her own discussion of course, this was merely laying the groundwork. "Even so, I'm impressed you carried it here by yourself, it must've been heavy..."

Orzel nodded absentmindedly, once again looking intently at the small airship on her desk as if it might've been missing something. Celestia meanwhile took in the rest of the room, spotting half a dozen or so other model sailing ships of various navies strewn throughout. They were arrayed on the lowest shelf on the wall, surrounded on either side by stacked books. Oddly, not a single model was done in a paint scheme Celestia recognized. Large white dragons on crimson sails, obviously hand painted judging by the brush strokes, atop ships with black hulls and gold and white trim. The airship currently in the process of being weathered was also receiving a similar scheme, though with no sails the white dragon was instead pictured upon a red shield at the aft of the ship. Each paint job on the completed models was considerably more precise than its predecessor, and Celestia could easily see that so far the airship resting on the desk would be the best so far.

"That's an interesting choice of model... Peregrine-class, right?" Celestia asked, somewhat worried that she wasn't making much progress.

Orzel's intense interest in the model just as well could've been her attempting to ignore Celestia, and it was hard not to fear she'd said something to irritate the girl. However, at the mention of the ship's class Orzel's eyes moved to meet Celestia's. The eye contact lasted briefly, Orzel's faintly glowing irises rapidly darting to the floor. Luna had warned her sister about the stigma Orzel associated with making eye contact with 'her betters' as well. In spite of the many gains they'd made, the girl still felt like she was unworthy of looking at Luna or Celestia directly, and that frankly broke Celestia's heart. Even her least confident subjects could meet her eyes, but not her niece...

"Yis, eez core-ect." Confirmed Orzel, scooting her chair back so as to offer Celestia a better view. "Eez not of my shel-ect-shun... They just... Air-aive." The Princess hummed quietly, figuring it would probably be worth a talk with Luna later about perhaps taking Orzel out to pick her own models. The journey's outside the Castle might provide a decent chance to get her familiar with the outside world, and maybe help her feel a little more in control of her life. Moreover, she would need a dedicated language tutor, as her butchered pronunciation of words simply didn't do her obvious intellect justice. Immersing herself in the actual language might prove a useful teaching aid in that respect. "Eez inter-resting. Griffon en-chant-ment to be of hovering... Stron-gurr than Equistran deh-sign, but not as aye-fish-ent." Celestia raised an eyebrow at that, stopping beside the desk and looking at the model in question. Sensing an opening, the woman pushed just a little further.

"Is that so? What makes them Stronger?" Inquired the Princess, as expected she saw Orzel's face brighten, a spark of intrigue glittering in her typically sad eyes. The girl turned in her seat, pointing at the model, specifically at a few of the tiny plastic engines affixed to the side on struts. The model lacked the familiar 'gas bag' so readily associated with airships from other countries, and in actuality looked more like a real naval ship that had simply been plucked from the ocean and modified for flight. This was typical of Griffon airships overall, though Celestia always figured it was the military design equivalent of a fad...

"Ehn-gines make go far-word, but also power en-chant-ment..." Orzel explained, then gestured above the model where the gas bag would've been. The ship was armed fairly lightly, for a Griffon ship, with only four single mounted five inch multipurpose guns. Given it was a patrol craft, however, that was understandable. The ship's specifications weren't of importance to Celestia, at least, not in their own right. However, Celestia couldn't deny that Orzel seemed more engaged when speaking at greater length about the airship, and that was reassuring. "Larger soup-or-structure, more weapons, better stab-bility... Can also landing in wah-ter if neck... Ness... Neh-cess-sary." She stopped, rubbing her chin and mumbling to herself in Kwarczkie, then looking out the window at a distant silhouette of an Equestrian rigid airship. Previously unseen as it had been blocked by several tall skyscrapers, it was now slowly working its way over the city. "When Equistra ad.. Addy... What eez word for make change?"

"Adapt?" Celestia confirmed the last word curiously, eying several of the books resting on Orzel's desk, the girl simply nodded. The music playing from the phonograph was gradually coming to an end, and so Celestia took a few brief moments to levitate a new record up to replace the old one. Meanwhile, Orzel was going about the task of cleaning her paint brushes. Her question was a difficult one to answer, especially considering Orzel wasn't the only one to ask it. It was also brought up numerous times by the Equestrian Ministry of Defense, as well as various other non-aligned members of the National Council. Here, however, Celestia didn't have to worry about appeasing certain persons, so she made her reasoning clear. "There's no threat that currently warrants building ships like this, and I don't foresee one in the future."

"So, you wait until threat eez upon you? Until eez too late?" Orzel countered distantly, setting her cleaned brushes aside, carefully arranging them from largest to smallest. Once again, Celestia noted Orzel seemed particularly keen on arraying them as neatly as possible, going so far as to use the flat edge of a ruler to line them up evenly after she'd finished her sorting. "Even old Pera-green-class eez better than Equistran airships, so you must taking steps to rem-eddy..." The girl paused, briefly mulling over the newly discovered word. "Yis, must rem-eddy."

Orzel's question about waiting for a threat to emerge was yet another one put forward many times by numerous Pro-Military politicians. In this case, however, Celestia suspected Orzel's desire to prepare for an unseen threat stemmed from her traumatic experience more than anything else. While Celestia could understand a desire to not see such a thing happen again, there was also the matter of the status quo to contend with. Equestria maintained peace through a balance of trade deals and non-aggression pacts, and suddenly 'upping the ante' in terms of airships could threaten to upset the balance of power. The girl seated before her, however, knew little of NAPs and international trade standards. To her, the matter of defense was likely a far simpler issue. She perceived a lack of strength, so the solution was to simply just acquire more strength, by whatever means necessary.

Orzel picked up one of the books nearest to her, which Celestia recognized as a Beginner's Guide to Equestrian, primarily because it was popular among immigrants that came to Equestria seeking a better life. The pages contained numerous lessons and exercises, all designed to better assist an aspiring language learner both in acquiring new skills and solidifying old ones. The girl stared at the cover for a few moments, then set it back on the desk and sighed, looking off thoughtfully. Celestia could see the gears turning in her niece's head, as if she was debating on whether or not to say something. This time, Celestia's intuition told her to hold off on pressing forward, to let Orzel come to the decision for herself...

"Meece Chalyista?" Orzel finally asked while looking at Celestia, though once again she failed to meet the woman's eyes directly. "I read, I ahnder-stand words... But." She looked down at her hands, sighing and shaking her head. "Why words hard, am I not smart?" Every word she spoke seemed hesitant, each syllable staggered and visibly difficult for her to parse together. Orzel silently opened her mouth, as if to further explain, only to close it and look away from Celestia with a glint of shame in her eyes.

"Quite the contrary." Celestia assured, leaning against Orzel's desk to better meet her eyes. "There are few people, even adults, that could speak with as much fluency as you have so quickly achieved." The girl didn't respond, simply gulping as she set her head in her hands. "It will take you time and effort to perfect your pronunciation, but that's why I'm going to try and visit as much as I can. I don't speak draconic like Luna, so it'll be good practice." Orzel only nodded, sitting up straight as she apparently couldn't get comfortable, even as more calming music filled the room. "Would you be interested in eating dinner with Luna and I later tonight? You could get a better look around."

"Maybe..." Orzel said quietly, and Celestia had a feeling that was the best answer she'd get. "Can I be alone?" The Princess nodded, standing up straight and maintaining her serene expression. Her thoughts turned once again to Luna, and all Celestia could do was hope she wasn't making the same mistakes. Orzel likely wouldn't turn into a being like Nightmare Moon, but the possibility of alienating her to the point of loathing still existed. Ultimately, however, Celestia doubted much could be gained by refusing the girl's request. She'd made progress enough already. "Thank you for visit..."

"You're welcome..." Celestia warmly spoke, gently patting Orzel on the head. "I'll send someone along in a few hours to collect you for dinner, okay?" Orzel nodded wordlessly, and with that Celestia quietly made her exit. Stepping out into the hallway, the Princess started on her way towards the throne room for what would be the beginnings of the afternoon court session. The walk would be a straightforward, if slightly long one, with plenty of time for Celestia to dwell on a series of concerns she'd kept under lock and key for her first solo meeting with Orzel.

Hopefully the girl would accept the invitation to dinner, as the matters that previously occupied Celestia's mind could possibly be put to rest there. Luna would most likely be relieved to settle the issues as well. Certain questions had been raised by the few members of the National Council made aware of Orzel's existence, questions that lacked easy answers. While on paper it was within the purview of the Crown to grant nobility and titles to anyone for any reason they so chose, in practice things were frustratingly more complicated. The National Council could make life very difficult for those attempting to pass new laws, regardless of if the laws were vital or not, and they would only relent if their demands were met. On this matter, however, no amount of posturing or protest could alter what would be done.

The problem was that Equestria lacked a precedent for a child adopted into royalty, let alone if that child was a non-citizen... What their duties would entail, what role they would play in the Royal Family, Orzel would likely have to fight for every inch of authority... There was also the more pressing issue that Equestria was sorely lacking in the department of Royalty for the moment. Luna's return a year or so ago, while bringing great joy to Celestia's heart, also highlighted how tenuous and overly centralized power had become.

What would happen to Equestria in the event Celestia and Luna were both slain or otherwise incapacitated? So much relied on the existence of a reigning monarch that, without one, Celestia feared the entire country could collapse upon itself. She had a few long term plans in the works to remedy the situation, to decentralize power and reduce the government's overall size. In the short term there was only Luna, Blueblood, and herself to possibly take the throne. Mi Amore Cadenza was soon to join the fold, at least officially, though even her addition wouldn't be enough. That, unfortunately, left little choice but to elevate Orzel.

Orzel was intelligent enough for the position, as evidenced by her thirst for knowledge. She was well on her way to being physically healthy as well, aided by the arcane awakening of her draconic biology. Those were all important factors, but where the problem arose was with state her mental health...? It was hard to say if she would ever be able to take on such a heavy responsibility as ruling a country. At present she certainly couldn't hope to lead Equestria through a crisis, but if they started teaching her as soon as possible... Maybe she could be.

What Celestia feared most was the how girl's state of mind would interact with the emergence of draconic instinct. She was at present emotionally unstable, prone to rash behavior and self doubt. Traits that wouldn't out and out disqualify her if she was an Equestrian, but when taken with a draconic lineage certainly didn't make the idea of her guiding the entire country through a crisis any more appealing. For the moment Celestia saw little choice... A choice to which Luna reluctantly agreed. They could've selected a General or Councilman, but Celestia needed someone that wasn't out to further their own career or prone to being politically partisan.

Orzel could be molded and taught in a way that suited Equestria's needs, taught to be a pragmatic leader in the event of an emergency where she needed to take power. It was a cold, calculating, disquieting decision to make... One that turned Celestia's stomach, but what other choice was there? Equestria had to survive, the nation maintained the balance of power around the globe, and ensured world peace so long as it remained. It could not continue to reliably do so with the possibility for an internal power vacuum, or worse, total governmental collapse.

To ensure a healthy line of succession in the event the worst came to pass, there was simply no other way but to put the burden on Orzel. It was decisions like this that made Celestia wish there was anyone else to do her job, but there wasn't... Every problem in the whole world landed on her desk, and even with Luna's help she could hardly keep up. In the realm of geo-politics, sometimes she was forced to do bad things for good reasons, and good things for bad reasons...

The cost of these decisions were paid in the hours upon hours spent awake in her bedchambers, staring vacantly up at her ceiling, too tired to do anything, but still unable to sleep. For more than a thousand years she'd faced her conscience alone, as all rulers must... How many mistakes had she made in those years? They might've been small, but they certainly added up. Now she and Luna would both bring a traumatized orphan into that realm, consigning her to the very same fate of tortured conscience for the greater good of all... With a sigh and a shake of her head, Celestia looked out the window at the city of Canterlot... The crown atop her head felt that much heavier now...

Orzel's sigh echoed off the cavernous vaulted ceiling above as she made her way through the castle hallways, following behind a guard in shining gold armor. The hours since Celestia's visit were spent tensely painting her latest model, pacing the floor, and wanting to just crawl under her bed to hide. It wasn't that she didn't like the Princess, Orzel didn't really know her enough to dislike her... It was just that the girl's anxiety over meeting Celestia and Luna at dinner was unlike any she'd ever felt before, an indescribably abstract terror induced by the mere thought of breaking bread with royalty. This fear invariably spawned the uncomfortable ache she now felt in her lower back, even as she tried to assure herself that she would be alright. No amount of self reassurance could bring her rampaging worries to heel, and with moderately good reason. This would mark Orzel's first meal taken outside of her bedroom, as well as the first time she'd left the comforting seclusion of her inner sanctum for anything resembling a 'social call'.

Needless to say, Orzel's overactive imagination was ballooning the issue to catastrophic proportions, with consequences she perceived would be equally destructive. So, why then had she decided to go in the first place, when she was so certain only failure awaited her? Orzel wasn't really sure of that herself, and that in and of itself would've been enough to send her into a tizzy. Was it some desire for self destruction or blind hubris that possessed her to think it wise to ever leave her room? The girl glanced over her shoulder, looking back upon the marbled hallway. Half of her mind was screaming at her to bolt, to run back to safety and never leave, to just lock herself away and bury herself in books and plastic kits. All that prevented her blind flight, however, was what those kits represented. Fragility, insignificance, weakness... Just several traits that she hated about herself.

Orzel and her escorting guardsman passed numerous illustrious paintings of men and women in noble clothing, ranging from throughout the ages of Equestrian history. Some she recognized from her books, others remained unknown to her. From the hawkish eyes of General Sun Dew to the conniving glare of Manipolare the Callous. All seemed to track Orzel, glaring at her, to the point she visibly wilted beneath their unwavering gaze. There upon the canvas was yet more evidence that she simply didn't belong here. She may have been a member of the Warrior Caste, but with her damnably weak eyes she was hardly fit to fight for the Empire. Had she come of age in Cesarski, her only hope would have been an arranged marriage with another member of the Warrior Caste, an eventuality Mother and Father had done all they could to ensure she'd be ready for... One thing was clear, no one in the Empire would ever want a painting of her.

Exhaling tensely through her nose, Orzel's shoulders slumped forward. Her butchery of Equestria's spoken language earlier that day was but a prelude to what lay ahead. It was bad enough that she stood out so visibly, a detestable weed among the well curated garden of nobility, but her imbecilic destruction of the spoken word would cement her inadequacy for all to see. Nervously she raised her eyes from the floor, glancing at the guard and then about her current path, searching for any crack or crevice she could scamper into and hide. Her moment presented itself after a few more minutes of walking, arriving as they passed an intersection of hallways. As stealthily as she could, Orzel stepped into the right portion of the intersection and pressed her back up against the wall. The guard apparently didn't notice, his echoing footsteps continuing on faintly down the hall without pause.

Sighing with relief, Orzel tried to take a moment to catch her breath and assemble her thoughts. That moment became a minute, which stretched on into several, all spent leaning against the wall. Paralyzed. Dejectedly her eyes remained fixed on the floor, darting back and forth whilst her mind sorted the calamity about to unfold. The Princesses would be furious at her for failing to arrive at dinner, but virtually any punishment they bestowed was a preferable alternative to making a complete and utter fool of herself. So caught up in her own thoughts was she that, at first, she didn't recognize the sound of footsteps approaching from the very hallway she'd taken shelter in. Their owner was practically right next to her when she realized what the noise had been.

There stood a man dressed in a regal assortment of clothing, most of it a notable shade of blue, obviously a noble by the way he carried himself. Impassively he looked down upon her, his eyes belying an intense intellect otherwise hidden beneath his flat expression. The nobleman's skin was as pale as new fallen snow, and he wore his blonde hair in a stylish coif, not a single strand of which was out of place. The impeccably groomed stranger virtually oozed resolve, and his silent stare compelled Orzel to try and stand up closer to the wall. Gulping nervously, she averted her eyes downwards and away.

"Are you lost, child?" The man asked in Equestrian, his tone careful and refined. That took Orzel by surprise, she'd expected to be shouted at, or otherwise forcefully told off for being in a place she had no right to be. She briefly opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself as she feared the monstrosity of sound that would pour forth. If he wasn't angry already, brutalizing the local language was sure to push him over the edge. Her silence, unfortunately, was wholly unacceptable to the stranger. "Come now, speak up."

"N-No..." Orzel mumbled cautiously in Equestrian, her voice bearing her incredibly thick accent. "No speak Equistran good." She added, hoping that would be enough to sate the noble's curiosity. The man seemed undeterred by her lack of fluency, placing his hands on his hips and cocking his head to the side. She could see confusion in his eyes, likely him attempting to figure out just what kind of language Orzel spoke. "I go?" She asked hopefully.

"No." The man stated flatly, gesturing down the hallway the guard previously departed along. "Come with me, this is no place for you to run about." If only the man knew just how true those words actually were. Reluctantly, Orzel followed the nobleman down the hallway she'd initially hoped to avoid, though her escort was no longer visible ahead of her. Once more Orzel contemplated why she even considered leaving her room tonight. Things had just gone from bad to worse, as now there would likely be three powerful people upset with her. "I must have a word with Shining Armor, far too many children wandering off..." The man mumbled under his breath with a disapproving shake of his head. "Gods forbid one of you gets hurt. Perish the thought..." He glanced down at Orzel, and the girl quickly averted her eyes once more. "Do you find me appalling?" Orzel shook her head. "Then why look away? It's rude."

"Not where I from." Orzel struggled through the words, eyes still stuck upon the marble flooring. She gulped once again, here was a Noble that didn't know who she was, or why she acted the way she did. Why did the Equestrians have to be so backwards, how could they function without the rigors so common to Imperial society? Every passing moment she must've been offending him, digging a deeper hole for herself. Her racing heart felt as if it would leap from within her chest, and the ache of anxiety in her back was nearly unbearable. "Op... Opp... Opp-o-site is true." She sounded each word out carefully, her stilted speech grating against even her own ears like sandpaper.

"I see..." The stranger hummed thoughtfully, clasping both hands behind his back whilst he kept pace with Orzel. She would be unable to slip away so easily this time, barring a sudden lapse in interest on the part of the nobleman. "Well, be that as it may, it's considered rude here. You don't seem like a rude child to me, so come now, eyes up!" His voice was insistent, but thankfully not in a chiding way. The girl gulped nervously, raising her gaze from the floor. The beating in her chest grew louder in her ears, but her fear of further offending the man forced her to confront her apparent 'rudeness'. "From where do you hail, your accent is... Strange."

"Far away." Orzel responded with purposeful vagueness, unsure of if her motherland's name would have any meaning to the man. She doubted it would, all things considered. "Sorry Equistran bad..." The stranger shrugged simply, retaining his implacable expression as they continued down the hallway. Her desire not to further offend him drove her to more carefully choose her syllables... Rough as they may have been, at least she wasn't butchering words as ruthlessly as was the case when earlier visited by Celestia. "Steel... Still stud-y-ing."

"At least you're trying to learn our language." The stranger responded, shaking his head quietly. "Far too many tourists arrive with no means of communicating. Take pride in that!" Orzel nodded quietly, tucking her hands into her pockets and consciously forcing herself to look straight ahead rather than at the floor. "Be sure to let me know if I'm speaking too quickly for you, by the way. I realize understanding a foreign language must be difficult when you're still learning."

The fact that this nobleman was speaking to her normally, and in some form complimenting her, was a strange and bizarre experience for the girl. Luna's words about 'all people being treated the same' sprang to mind, as did the various ideas she'd come to know by means of her vast collection of books. The thoughts rattled around her brain with undeniable boldness, gradually eroding years of conditioning with frightful efficiency...

The girl once again remained silent, doing her best not to buckle under the cold staring paintings that lined each side of the hallway. Ahead of them a rather frantic looking guard was making his way down the hallway, even at this distance she could tell it was the very same man she'd slipped away from earlier. Spotting her beside the stranger, the guard stormed down the hallway with a speed Orzel hadn't expected. She tensed up and stopped walking, causing the noble to nearly bump into her. Fearing what the Guard would do when he arrived, the girl quietly moved to stand behind her latest new acquaintance.

"There you are!" The guard announced with relief, in between several gasps of breath. Orzel could hear him panting heavily, and his posture was one of exhaustion. Suddenly, the girl became quite aware of a growing sense of guilt over what she'd likely put the guard through... There she was, afraid of being yelled at, and yet she'd not stopped to consider what would happen to her assigned escort should he have failed to arrive with her. "Prince Blueblood, I apologize for the intrusion. I've been looking for this girl for nearly twenty minutes." Blueblood looked down at Orzel, then back at the guard, his impassive expression suddenly growing suspicious. "Come along, child, they're waiting for you."

"Hold one moment, guardsman." Blueblood stated, stepping aside so that Orzel could no longer hide behind him. Her nervousness must've been evident on her face, as his suspicious eyes gradually abated to something more akin to curious uncertainty. Torn between fear over how the Princesses would react and guilt for how poorly she'd treated the guardsman, it was a wonder she hadn't fainted under the strain. Blueblood apparently picked up on her inner turmoil, as his withering gaze became a tad more sympathetic. Quietly he looked back at the guard, setting his jaw with a grunt of stern command. "Who is waiting for her?"

"The Princesses, my liege. Celestia herself bade me to bring the child to the dining hall." The guard explained nervously, undoubtedly fearing many of the same things Orzel feared... "This is Princess Luna's daughter, Princess Orzel. She will be most displeased should I fail to arrive with her in tow." Blueblood furrowed his brow, taking in the information and looking once more at the girl. Orzel, meanwhile was standing with an utterly stunned expression, to such an extent that a stiff breeze might've been enough to knock her over. Any feeling of guilt or inner turmoil had been thoroughly pulverized by two simple words, and replaced with overwhelming astonishment. Did the guardsman just call her 'Princess Orzel'? Surely there must've been some sort of mistake... She may have been Luna's 'daughter', but not by blood. How could she hold such a title as Princess?

"I have heard rumors my Aunt adopted a child, though I didn't believe them true." Blueblood muttered thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin before nodding his head. "Very well, guardsman. You may return to your post, I'm on my way to the dining hall, young Orzel will accompany me." The guard nodded, saluting before walking away with the stride of a far more relieved person. She would've felt far less guilty now that the matter of the Guardsman's fate was no longer in jeopardy, at least if she wasn't still pulling herself together. "Come along, Princess..."

"I am not Princess." Orzel's words carried numb disbelief, all she could manage to do was follow behind Blueblood, eyes once more cast to the floor. Astonishment was rapidly giving way to a veritable maelstrom of confusion, a storm compounded by the suddenness of it all. Not once did Luna make mention of Orzel's becoming a Princess, nor had Celestia, the subject hadn't even been brought up. Going by the standards of the Szafirian Empire it simply didn't make sense, the few adopted children of the Emperor were not afforded such honors. After all, how could someone not of Royal blood hold Royal office? "Must be mis-take..." Orzel asserted. "Am not all-owed to be Royalty." She repeated softly, shaking her head.

"Possibly so where you come from, but not here." Blueblood countered with a slightly more sympathetic tone, it was evident from his softening features he could sense Orzel's confusion. "I know both of my Aunts very well, they don't make such mistakes." He paused, chuckling faintly as he looked down at himself. "Well, perhaps once, but not in your case. The law is quite clear, they may confer the title upon anyone they so choose. I suspect that may very well be what they desired to speak to me about tonight..." He tucked his hands into his pockets. "Typically I am not invited to their nightly meals."

"Why?" Asked Orzel while forcing herself to look up at the man, her heart gradually returning to it's normal quiet rhythm as the initial shock wore off. The Prince had a sort of confidence to his stride that she recognized the more she walked with him, the kind that had been favored by her Father whenever he returned home, and it placed her mind more firmly at ease. Blueblood faintly chuckled upon hearing her question, a rueful smile appearing on his well groomed face.

"It's a matter I doubt someone of your age would understand." He explained with an audible hint of mirth, which did little to answer her question. She likely very well could've understood what the matter was all about, if only she'd been given the chance to hear it. Even if she couldn't have, there wasn't a question in existence that couldn't be answered with proper research and tenacity, as she was fast coming to believe. "It would have been nice to be informed of your existence earlier, though I suppose that too is to be expected. Aunt Celestia and I aren't exactly on speaking terms." Blueblood's tone became a bit more harsh, his jaw tensing in visible frustration. Orzel remained silent, now nervously glancing between the enigmatic Prince and the hallway ahead.

After a few minutes of silent walking, Blueblood turned down a hallway that terminated in a pair of large oaken doors. They were just as ornately decorated as the rest of the castle, bearing expertly carved reliefs and gold insets, depicting an eight pointed sun and crescent moon on each door. Orzel could make out the faint smell of potatoes and fish wafting from beyond the great barrier, a smell she'd never expected to encounter again in all honesty. It was Commoner food, after all... Then again, she didn't really know what constituted 'Royal food' to begin with. The girl took a deeply calming breath and followed the Prince, the gratefully familiar aroma helping to curtail her newly omnipresent anxiety.

Blueblood pulled open the doors and revealed what lay beyond with hardly enough time for Orzel to clear her head. The room was immense, with a large wide wooden table at its center, flanked by decoratively carved chairs and illuminated by brilliantly crafted golden candelabras. It was without a doubt the largest single piece of wood Orzel ever laid eyes upon, perhaps outside of those used to build the hulls of the Empire's warships. The smoothly polished cocobolo surface glittered in the candlelight, even with much of its surface obscured by various trays of food. Some were hidden beneath silver covers, while others bore a few loaves of bread or pieces of fruit.

Both Princesses were seated at the heads of the table, dressed appropriately for the occasion, apparently in the middle of some hushed conversation. A man in a tuxedo stood off to the side of the room beside a metal cart, his lips set in a scowl beneath his thin handlebar mustache. Blueblood's sudden entrance drew the attention of both Princesses, abruptly halting their earlier discussion while their eyes passed first to the Prince and then to Orzel. Blueblood found himself on the receiving end of a pair of annoyed looks, Orzel might've worried they were meant for her if not for how directly both Luna and Celestia were staring right at the Prince. She could see a great deal of conflict in Luna's eyes when they finally met her own, a sight most unusual given Luna's typical aspect of stoic strength and compassion. The girl briefly glanced over her shoulder, casting a fleeting glance to the hallway just as the man in the tuxedo closed the doors... There was no escape now.

"Welcome, Orzel, I'm pleased you were willing to join us. Please, take a seat." Celestia gently greeted, then gestured to a seat to the right of Princess Luna. "Blueblood, it's... Agreeable to see you again as well." Blueblood merely nodded noncommittally, moving to take a seat at the middle of the table. Orzel quietly moved to sit beside Luna, each of her breaths shallow, each movement made with utmost care. The look in Luna's eyes set her anxiety alight once more, what was it that had the woman so on edge? Surely what the Guard and Blueblood had said wasn't true, Celestia and Luna weren't going to make her a Princess, so what then was the meaning of the invitation? "I requested the chef make a few Draconic seafood dishes, to spice things up a bit. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not." Blueblood responded with a faux cordial tone, before sighing as the server came forth with a pair of trays. One was set down before the Prince, the other before Orzel. The man lifted the lid from her tray before moving on to the Prince and Princesses, the meal that lay beneath was... Familiar, though not from her time in Equestria. A piece of pan fried whitefish, accompanied by mashed potatoes and what appeared to be an Equestrian approximation of kielbasa... Not all that different from what her Mother used to make. Despite her growing anxiety, seeing and smelling the dish brought a small smile to her lips. The other dishes set about the table were uncovered soon after, revealing several different types of fish and a few salads.

Celestia and Blueblood began eating, talking occasionally among themselves, while Orzel stared quietly at her plate. It wasn't that she didn't like the food, but some part of her worried over what it might represent. Why were they serving her favorite food, unless they had some bad news to tell her, and this was their way of softening the blow? After a few moments enduring the mounting dread, Orzel glanced over at Luna, who seemed to be waiting for her to start eating. Closing her eyes, the girl took a moment to try and clear her head, as she'd become completely paralyzed with indecision. There were so many questions, so many worries, and she just couldn't handle them all on her own. She needed help, real help, and the only person she could hope to turn to in that moment was sitting to her left...

"Miss Luna?" Orzel quietly asked in her Szafirian, leaning closer to Luna while the fear came sprinting towards her, but there was nowhere to hide within her own mind. Luna hummed in acknowledgment, lacing her fingers together and looking at Orzel expectantly. The Princess's posture softened, just as it typically did when she came to visit... Talking in that manner felt easier, more natural, and it was the only time the girl ever felt safe expressing herself. In that moment, Orzel came to the conclusion that if ever there was a time to trust that Luna wanted what was best for her, it would be this one. "I heard the guard call me a Princess, and Mister Blueblood says it is not a mistake... Is that true?"

"Well..." Luna began in the same language, quietly looking at Celestia across the table, the room suddenly going silent. Luna's eyes returned to Orzel's, shimmering in the candle light, it was clear she too was carefully choosing her words. "Yes, Orzel. That is one of the reasons we wanted to speak to you tonight." Orzel stared at Luna, once again stunned, her jaw practically scraping the floor. "You mean a great deal to myself and Celestia, and even if we have not known each other for very long you are nonetheless a member of the Royal Family..." Luna continued, pausing for a moment and resting a gentle hand on Orzel's shoulder. "You are my daughter, and that grants you the title of Princess... Furthermore, as my daughter, you are my heir. One day, when you are ready, the Obsidian Throne and all the duties that come with it, will be passed to you." The woman turned in her seat, meeting Orzel's eyes directly. "I admit, this will not be an easy undertaking, but as with all things..." She took Orzel's hand softly into her own. "You shall not be alone."

"It is... A lot to take in." Orzel admitted, quietly biting her lower lip and looking at the table. So it was real, Luna and Celestia had made her a Princess, just like that. Never mind that she didn't know the first thing about being a Princess, once again Equestria had proven just how strange it was compared to the Empire. There she was, a member of the Royal family, simply because she'd been adopted? Quietly processing just what she'd been told, and being more than a little skeptical of its truthfulness, Orzel leaned backwards in her seat.

In the Szafirian Empire, those that took on the responsibility of caring for an orphaned child were widely celebrated. In many cases, at least according to her Father, it was done merely as demonstration of one's piousness or devotion to the state. Generally the adoption was without a full commitment from the parents in question, something Orzel feared would be the case with her. Yet evidence contradicted that assertion. Luna had taken her in instantly, without hesitation, and embraced the frightened teen as her own flesh and blood. The woman went expressly out of her way to make Orzel feel welcome, to provide her with access to fields of knowledge and information that simply wouldn't have existed in her old life... Only in that instant did both heart and mind come to an accord within Orzel. What Luna so adamantly claimed about status of birth being unimportant, about her not being alone, it was all true...

Soon yet another thought clawed its way into the forefront, that being the subject of the 'duties' Luna mentioned. In the Empire, there was said to be no higher calling than to perform one's duty to the state. Her Father readily answered the call as a Naval officer, her Mother was a Shield Matron, but Orzel was too weak eyed to ever serve on a Navy ship, or in the temples of Vindicta. There was no way for her to uphold her 'duty' outside of marrying and having children, who in turn would grow up to serve the state. That was the way of the things, all were expected to 'do their part' without so much as a hint of defiance, even those unable to actually fight. It was the only way for the Empire to survive, that's how it'd always been. The world was filled with people that would want nothing more than to eradicate the Empire and all its peoples from existence... Thus the state, particularly the MIS, had to take a heavy hand if they were to survive in the face of roving bands of savage primitive tribes, backstabbing rival nation-states, and those rebellious 'Enemies of the State' that would seek undermine the Emperor's glorious rule.

From what Orzel read thus far in her beloved books, Equestria was everything the rebels and other dissenters claimed to have desired. Yet it was not the anarchic wasteland of apocalyptic destruction the Ministry of Truth purported would arise from such a society. She didn't fear the arrival of the agents of the Ministry of Internal Security here as she might've done back home. In fact, as far as she'd seen, there was no sign of the Equestrians having an sort of apparatus for making those that disagreed with the state disappear. So what did that mean for her now? As a Princess, was it not her task to make Equestria more like the Empire? Initially her heart demanded as much, as it had always been conditioned to do, but this time it was Orzel's mind that won out. She was, for all intents and purposes, a member of an Equestrian family now... Such was the way of adoption, by Szafirian custom. Her duty now lay with her family, with Equestria, with its ideals and its people.

"If it makes things easier for you..." Luna spoke up, drawing Orzel from her thoughts. "Whatever 'caste' you may have once belonged to, it is my decree that from hence forth you are a child of Royalty, and entitled to all the powers, privileges, and responsibilities therein." She made a point of emphasizing the last bit. Orzel stared at the woman, uncertain of how to respond. Out of instinct, she called upon all her memories to find some way of declining, some lack of precedence or obscure technicality... Yet even by the standards of the Empire, there was no reasonable way to refuse the decree of a Sovereign. That this Sovereign also happened to be her Adoptive Mother further compounded that. Try as she might to subconsciously deny elevation, there was no feasible way of doing so, not without dishonoring Luna. "You would not decline such an invitation, would you?"

"No, Miss Luna, I would not..." Orzel responded, smiling faintly as Luna gently hugged her. "Thank you... For respecting my people's traditions, I realize they are strange to you, but..." The girl trailed off. Luna chuckled as she broke off the hug, displaying a warm smile of her own. Blueblood and Celestia had since returned to their meals, apparently content to allow the draconic conversation to continue in their absence. "If I am of your family, what is my new surname?"

"Whatever you wish it to be, Orzel. I would not ask you to give up your family's name, unless that is what you wished." Luna explained, watching as Orzel cautiously began to eat her meal. It tasted just as good as it looked, which was to say incredible. The mashed potatoes were warm and fluffy, the kielbasa to die for, and the white fish pan fried to perfection... Of course, it didn't quite compare to traditional Szafirian cuisine. The kielbasa wasn't as spicy as Orzel liked, nor as crisp, though it was by no means bad. Just... Different. "Truth be told, neither Celestia or I have surnames in the traditional sense. It is actually a question I have wondered, does your surname have special meaning?"

"My family is as old as the Empire, ever since it is said the first Szafirians landed on the shores of what would become Cesarski." Orzel explained between bites, recounting the story of her ancestors just as it had been told to her by her Mother and Father on every winter solstice. "According to legend, many of the founders had strange and wondrous powers, and my ancestors were among those that could speak and infuse objects with fantastical abilities. So, my family was known for having a 'dragon's voice'. Through the years, as magic became rarer and rarer throughout the Empire, my family lost this ability."

"I see..." Luna thoughtfully hummed, leaning back in her seat with a look of contemplation. "Now that you are in Equestria, with proper training, you may be able to restore this ability. Magic is far more abundant here." Orzel stopped mid bite, staring at Luna with yet another astonished expression. "There is a reason I can speak your language, I am certain you have happened upon books pertaining to Drakes. I believe that your ancestors once resided in this world."

"So my Mother was more correct than she could have ever known..." Orzel stated after swallowing her food, staring ahead as the realization settled in. Mother promised that the fates wouldn't allow the magic to take them someplace unsafe, and what better place than the fabled 'Old Realm'. Home to the Szafirian people countless millenia ago, a place where magic permeated every fiber of creation... With all that Orzel had seen and read, she could only concur with what Luna had said. Any anxiety that remained vanished for the moment, replaced by unbridled excitement and wonder. "You say my people once lived here... That I can restore my family's magic?"

"It is certainly possible... I am not a Drake, I cannot channel my magic with my voice alone, but the general principles of enchanting are the same." Luna agreed, leaning forwards again to get a better look at Orzel. The teen was displaying a mixture of realization, and growing horror, for the more she thought on Luna's words the harder it was to believe so much that she'd been raised to trust. If Orzel now resided within the Old Realm, then that raised several nasty questions, questions most certainly frowned upon by the MIS and the church. There could be no denying that this place was the Old Realm, there was far too much evidence to the contrary. That begged the question as to where was Vindicta, where was her infinite castle, her vast immortal armies? The Old Realm was said to be her domain, where the souls of all the Empire's honored dead came to find their rest... If Vindicta wasn't there, then where could she be? "Are you alright, is it something I said?" Orzel shoved the realization as deeply down as she could, burying it as she forced a smile and shook her head.

"No, I am fine... Really." Orzel spoke with a voice that was a bit too high, practically lying through her teeth. "I am just thinking about what it means to be here, is all... To learn to use magic, as my ancestors did." This was followed by an all too nervous laugh, one that obviously caught the Princess's attention. Luna looked at her with an intensity that was difficult to endure, and Orzel could tell just by the look in the woman's eyes that she didn't believe her story for a second. Taking several frantic bites from her plate, Orzel did her best to keep up the appearance that she was fine, but deep down she only wanted one thing... To run as fast as she could back to her room, lock the doors, and reread every single book in her possession until she forgot that terrible realization. She couldn't run, though, not at the moment... All she could do was sit, put up a brave front, and try to make it to the end of dinner...