He hadn’t had a meal like this in years. It wasn’t a feast, far from the quantity of food and number of guests required with just the two of them, but the staff at the palace certainly knew how to cook for ponies. What was left on his main course plate would soon disappear whilst an assortment of rare flowers and sugary treats remained as desert to come after the remnants of a platter of fruit, vegetables and some sugary pastry. Grover meanwhile was calmly enjoying some kind of red meat along with an assortment of boiled vegetables and roast potatoes, all of which were smothered in a mass of gravy that had been made from the water that had been used to boil said vegetables.

They’d arranged themselves at a right angle from one another, sitting at a fairly small but nevertheless beautiful wooden table after a long day of strolling and talking. It had been almost entirely formalities, having to meet and greet Thranx and endure a meeting for two hours with Benito; as well as a tour of new places at every turn. Visiting was much more interesting than being visited it seemed, at least it certainly was for Grover. For his part, Arclight had been a very entertaining guest. He’d seen some of it before, just as he had, but it meant that they shared a few laughs along the way. The stallion had seemed rather preoccupied at first; but now he looked to be a very good mood. Now would be a good time to pose a question to start a genuine conversation.

“Forgive me for asking, I’m sure it’s a question you’ve heard enough at home, but I’m curious as to how you managed to keep any position in the OHS after… Well, the post-war catastrophe.” The emperor asked as politely as he could have.

The stallion smiled and finished his mouthful of food. It was forward, but actually more respectful that the way ponies at home usually broached the subject; he could appreciate that, knowing Grover was simply interested. This would make for quite a memorable dinner story, if not a particularly happy or pleasant one.

He cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with a careful hoof, “The war proved that I was right about griffons when everypony got letters that their husbands and sons were missing in action. Most of the prisoners of war returned after a year or two, but a significant minority never returned. The fear of griffons didn’t go anywhere, the fear of losing their loved ones in a war where griffons rolled over the Riverlands no matter who might start such a conflict still lingers. Congress kept me around because suddenly the nation and they too truly believed that I had been right, just as I was realising that I was so very wrong. A lot of the agency was happy to have me back for the same reason, which is partly why I rose back up to the top so quickly. Normally a string of promotions like that would take a two-decade career or more. It’s… A difficult irony to swallow.” He admitted, looking down at the table for a moment.

The griffon nodded slowly and set down his cutlery, regretting his choice of question. Clearly the topic still affected him, even after a reasonable number of years; he couldn’t blame him for that. Anycreature in his position would feel the same way.

Grover immediately looked to amend any offence he might have caused, “Apologies, I didn’t mean to strike a nerve. I-“

“No, it’s alright. You’re an adult and there’s no harm in knowing each other personally if we plan on working together for… Well, however long until I retire; if I even get that chance. Better there be no secrets between us, not least for my line of work.”

Grover visibly relaxed in his seat. He hadn’t been expecting that, even though the earth pony had been otherwise lovely so far this evening. He’d talked to Benito a little about him before this meal, but wanted to form an opinion for himself. Clearly the stallion had changed a lot since the time he remembered in such bad light, this was proof enough.

“If I were an average citizen of the federation, I wouldn’t know whether to support the nationalists or the government; frankly. They’re both… Well, awful.”

“The nationalists aren’t just patriotic, are they?”

“You’ve a good eye. No, they’re not just nationalists. By and large they’re xenophobes before zealous defenders of the nation’s traditions, the movement wouldn’t be so unified if it weren’t for that tenet of their philosophy. I’m sure you can guess what species they want out of the federation.”

The emperor sighed, as he did indeed know. “Griffons,”

“Exactly. They blame ‘your race’ for the suffering they experienced and still endure to this day with the country in ruin. Of course they fail to mention the fact that it was a pony who was responsible for the suffering of millions and the death of tens of thousands; not to mention that it their politicians that ignored the warnings which should have prevented the market collapse with the Griffking Trade Treaty,”

“I remember my aunt and uncle talking about it a couple of years ago after the fact, how much they regretted proposing the idea to the federation publicly. They never intended the concept to be put into practice at all in the way they had spoken about it, let alone so quickly.”

“We were both opposed to the treaty, Benito and I, though I’m sure that won’t surprise you. I knew that as soon as the speech was broadcast the senators would be foaming at the mouth, thinking of monopolising the imports and getting rich. If they had cared less about themselves and more about the country they were supposed to be governing then they might have stopped to fucking think before everything fell apart for the second time that decade,”

That was supposedly the benefit of a monarchy, the emperor mused. If the government bodies beneath him were corrupt, it was the duty of the monarch to remove the rot and start over again; though if the monarch themselves was corrupt, then the institutions would follow in their footsteps. It was really more a fault of the sentient condition and the nature of the system in which the individuals worked. Failure to check power was a failure to fight corruption. A monarchy could be just as bloated and greedy, it simply relied on the heart of one creature rather than the will of many. A bad ruler would be far worse than an incompetent council of many; meaning that he must just be a good emperor. That train of thought was both reassuring and terrifying; not least because whoever followed in his talonsteps would be his own child, in all likelihood.

“Your highness?” Arclight gave out loudly.

“Hmm? Oh, Boreas... Sorry; this is the second time today that I’ve completely zoned out of a conversation for my own thoughts. I’ve… Lost a lot of sleep, it’s not you.” He returned, waving an apologetic claw over his now rather cold food.

The concerned expression from the earth pony softened instantly, he still recalled how difficult it had been to run things in the River Republic way back when. Now Grover had to deal with an empire that spanned a continent and seeped into a second, at half the age he had been then.

If there was anything the stallion appreciated, it was honesty. That was an irony considering what he was putting into motion at the moment; no griffon knew about that yet, but they should. Grover should, at least. If he was a religious pony, he would have prayed that the boy would understand.

Arclight managed a slightly pained but emphatic smile, “It’s alright, I can sympathise; though I imagine it’s probably more difficult for you than it was for me a decade ago. Why don’t we go outside? The cold air should keep you awake.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

~*~

“I haven’t seen my uncle and aunt for a few weeks either. That one’s my fault admittedly but… Well, I should really go and see them; they’re probably worried sick.” The young griffon expressed slowly, “I miss them a lot,” he added, claws firmly clasped together to stop him fidgeting.

Arclight nodded and lamented how he himself had lost touch with his family for a second time that evening. Listening to the emperor of the Griffonian Empire talk about his troubles wasn’t exactly how he saw this dinner going, but really it was quite an endearing experience. Even Grover was only mortal, no matter what some of his more devoted subjects might say. He could already feel that he was developing a soft spot for this griffon as a friend and a confidant of sorts despite the difference in age.

The earth pony agreed with a grave expression, “That’s a good idea. You never know how much you took your family and friends for granted until you lose them; try to keep them in your life, even if it’s a little inconvenient.”

Grover sighed and hung his head a little, thinking about all the work he would have to do in the morning and whether he could fit in a visit. Maybe he could, maybe not. He was honestly scared to look at his timetable right this second, mostly because it would remind him of how little time he had to himself. After a moment he looked up at Arclight again, wondering if he should even ask after divulging some of his troubles.

“What about you?”

The director looked taken aback for a moment as he answered, “Hmm? Oh, that’s… Things are difficult right now, personally and at work. I’ve a lot on my mind.”

It seemed like everycreature did these days.

“Besides what we’ve already talked about, River Swirl is on her last legs; bless her heart. I’ve been doing all that I can to keep her sane and safe, but she gets a lot of abuse these days for the jobs she has to do and she can’t handle it. She begged me not to come on this trip. It was… It was gut-wrenching to leave her alone, we’re more-or-less the only friends each other have. I don’t think she’ll last the presidency, or even the time it would take for her to resign at this point.” He explained slowly, starting from the top.

Grover looked down at his claws again before speaking, “I’m sorry, that’s… That must be hard for you. Both of you.”

“Not as hard as the choice I have to make as a result of it. Currently there are really no established parties or a united democratic tradition in the federation. I killed whatever was left of it in the republic during my coup a decade ago and most states that joined the federation afterward did so out of economic necessity rather than the desire to be part of a unified political system. Whatever happens to River, the elections will be chaos; if the government even survives that long.”

Grover was starting to grasp the gravity of the situation now, or at least knew that things were more challenging for the ponies in the east than he initially thought. He and most griffons that found interest in politics already knew that the Riverlands operated under essentially a sham democracy, but he’d not personally considered what an election would actually look like. River Swirl had been the captain of that ship for more years than any democratically elected leader should ever be and he hadn’t seen her show signs of leaving. He couldn’t name a single pony that would be willing to replace her, or any party that might put one forward. Arclight sighed heavily before continuing, taking a glance at the slightly nervous griffon next to him.

“So, I’m left with a difficult choice. I let things run their course, River will either go mad or manage to stay sane long enough to be forced into resigning and the senate installs a new president either way; somepony that probably will pose even less of an obstacle to their economic interests and the gradual corporatisation of the state.” He began, still feeling a little averse to telling Grover what he was thinking of doing.

But, perceptive even when exhausted, Grover knew what was coming. “Or you do something about it by removing her from office yourself and suspending both senate and congress, right?”

The fact that he was right, and he already knew that he was right from the weak stare directed at him, was what made the concept so mortifying. It wasn’t as though he was replacing a functioning democratic state, nor would he be so idiotic or emotionless as to engage in large scale acts of violence to secure his position. It was terrifying because of the fact that neither of them knew what would happen. Arclight had tried this before, but the circumstances were different now. Everything was different now. Would it work? If war had saved the empire, griffon pan-nationalism and harmony on the continent, then maybe a coup could save the Federation too. But could the federation survive the political upheaval caused by a hated pony and a despised institution of the state?

“What would you do, Grover?” The pony asked, snapping him out of his terrified contemplations.

They sat in silence for a little while then, drinking in the evening’s cold air in one of the palace’s few courtyards. The air was calm and the sky was a deep blue, stars dimmed and hidden by the lights from the city that surrounded them. Arclight grunted and shifted slightly in his wooden garden chair, looking upward and staring into the darkness above as the golden-feathered Griffon sat there, not knowing what he would do. Save a friend and leave his home a rotting corpse, or doom both by inaction? Would his good intentions then lead to worse even then?

Eventually he managed an answer, though it wasn’t much of one. “I… I don’t know.”

The director huffed, not out of indignance but from understanding. He had made up his mind on what he was going to do already, but he didn’t know if it was the right thing to do or even if it would work. He had seen the cogs in Grover’s head turning, going through the same questions that he had in the moments sitting with River Swirl where his choice was finalised.

“Neither do I.” He returned, turning to look at the emperor with tired eyes. “But what I do know is that I’m not losing anyone else and I’m not letting those Tartarus-damned senators take charge over the Riverlands,”

The emperor nodded after some time, knowing exactly what Arclight was going to do. He wondered whether he would be on the right side of history for doing nothing to stop him, or if he might just have to live with the guilt.

~*~

Lunch was a surprisingly formal affair. Rarity still remembered how Spike used to occasionally scarf down gems when he thought nopony was looking. That young dragon had come a long way, it seemed. He still ate gems of course, but he was polite enough to melt them into several pieces using his fiery breath before swallowing them now; even if he did need substantially more of them. He’d really grown up, even insisted on paying for her meal, which was greatly appreciated considering the limitations of her purse. Service in the army had done little for her accounts.

The restaurant didn’t serve gems, dragons had been an infrequent sight around these parts even before the civil war and they certainly hadn’t become more common since then. Instead he carried a number of them in a rucksack for snacks and meals, when it was necessary. Smart really, considering he didn’t have to worry about the weight of the things like most ponies would have to; one of the numerous perks of being a dragon.

“So, Spike… How did my darling little gentledrake end up so far from Canterlot?” The unicorn asked with a slight giggle.

It had been years since she’d spoken to anypony like that, let alone to Spike. His cheeks turned red in an instant and he almost choked on the gem that he’d been in the middle of swallowing. If it hadn’t been for his gag reflex he would’ve been reeling from surprise, embarrassment and a sudden rush of feelings that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

“I…” He managed, before needing to clear his throat again. “Mmm, sorry. Celestia… Well it’s not a heroic story, really. When Nightmare had first closed in around Canterlot Twi packed our bags and ran with me in tow. Took some trains, a few carriages and a few weeks of going on claw to make sure we couldn’t be followed and we ended up in the south. It… wasn’t a happy journey.” He explained calmly, the red on his cheeks having disappeared entirely.

Ah, of course. For all her struggle and strife, Rarity had hardly even had the chance to consider what a thirteen-year-old dragon being forced to abandon his friends and family might feel like. Rarity furrowed her brow and silently cursed Twilight for forcing him to run with him, even if it had likely saved his life. There were a lot of feelings they both had to process.

He pretended not to see her inclement expression and went on, “Since then I’ve been… just trying to get by. Got a formal education, not a degree but something good enough to pay the bills for the house. Trying my best to keep an eye on Pinkie who somehow managed to follow us south a few weeks after we got here has also been tricky. Started hanging out with Starlight every couple of weeks when she arrived here a few years ago, she’s much more relaxed now. The civil war put a lot of things into perspective for her, but she misses Trixie a lot.”

Rarity’s expression had turned from anger to a sombre happiness as Spike briefly explained how much of his life that she had missed, as though it hadn’t been the most formative years of his childhood and early adult life that they’d all been taken away from. Then, at the mention of Trixie, her eyes turned to pinpricks. Did she not know? Did he not know?

“Spike, darling… Before you go on I must tell you this; because if I don’t I doubt I will be able to stand the thought on my mind for very long. Trixie has been dead for years; I was in the same unicorn engineer battalion as her during the Great War, she… Oh, Tartarus… She died within the first month of fighting. Bled to death after a changeling sniper caught our column off guard.”

Spike sat, wide-eyed and far too tense to be comfortable. He’d tried so hard not to think about what could have happened to everypony that was conscripted, told himself the war would be over quickly and that they’d be fine. For a while, Rarity’s presence here in front of him had comforted that inkling in his heart; but now, in an instant, he was close to panicking. Rarity recognised the look immediately and shot a hoof forward to hold one of his large claws, but it didn’t help as much as she had hoped it would. At least he didn’t push the kind gesture away.

She’d never seen the distraught expression on his face when he spoke, “What should I tell her? Should I even tell her at all? Celestia, I…” He buried his face in his free claw then, his stable world shattered by somepony he should’ve been happy to see.

“I’m sorry Spike, I’m truly sorry dear. I thought letters had been sent and… Well, I gave Luna the benefit of the doubt that she might have some semblance of remorse left enough to notify her friends of such things.”

“You mean Nightmare.” Spike gave out spitefully.

She watched quietly has he bared his teeth and drew up his head, “Well, yes.”

He looked as though he would have walked outside of the shop and killed both of their tyrant monarchs right then and now. Rarity had never seen her little gentledrake so enraged, not like this. It was terrifying. He was terrifying.

It must have shown on her face, just how frightened she was, since moments later his eyes darted to hers; his flared nostrils, the awful scowl and the teeth that could have torn anypony to shreds became more cordial. She still tentatively held her hoof on that claw, but he could feel it shaking in fear. A few moments later, he pulled that same claw away and through some miracle had the self-control to gently take her pastern in his digits.

He breathed slowly before speaking, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… I don’t know what to do and I’m angry for a lot of things, not least for Trixie even though I hardly knew her. I just wish Equestria was different; and that I could do something.”

She was still taken aback, thankful and surprised that he’d managed to hold what seemed to have been unbridled rage. The old Spike was still in there, piecemeal. Everything else was new and alien, much like her scars and how she’d changed.

They were going to have to get to know each other all over again.

“It’s alright darling. Thank you for being honest with me, I understand how you feel.” She offered, slipping her leg slightly until he was holding her hoof.

“You guys taught me not to give into my feelings like that. It’s… been a useful lesson; for a very long time.” He answered, making a pained smile.

Had he been keeping his feelings bottled up all this time because of that? Rarity didn’t want to think about how they’d never had an opportunity to explain some of these things to him; again frowning and this time silently cursing herself instead. She had been partly responsible for him after all.

After almost half a minute of silence, Spike let go of her hoof and she slowly drew it back; partly because she was thinking of asking a difficult question and partly because she now felt even more guilty for not trying to find Spike sooner. Or anypony else for that matter.

The unicorn leaned over the table so that she could ask in a near-silent whisper, “Dear, where is Twilight?”

Author's Note

A small amount of trolling.

This chapter was particularly fun to write, even if it took longer than usual. That's because I'm simultaneously working on some title art for this fic at the same time as I write it. Not a bright idea, but it's mine and I like it.

Hope y'all enjoy.