Seraphis Virtuoso

In the darkness of a nearly empty room, a Zebra was pacing. She was accompanied by one other Zebra. But he knew better than to speak, he wasn’t paid to speak.

“We knew this was a possibility…”

For Watcher Zenith of Zebrica, however, what was supposed to have been an easy day with few tasks for her to accomplish, had instead turned into a eight hours journey to meet on the neutral ground of the Sacred Pool. Her hooves were sore, and the elaborate adornments she was expected to wear did not do her any favors. She stopped pacing, and turned towards her guard.

“Where in the name of the Great Sand Serpent are they?!”

Her voice never seemed to change in volume, but the tonality was clear to anyone who bore witness. She was not happy.

“Is this a bad time? I can always fly around the pool a few hundred more times to give you time to stop your fuming.”

Zenith whirled around, behind her with an insufferable grin on his face, was Galahad, the representative from Griffonia.

“Galahad…”

Zenith hissed, which seemed to only delight the Griffon even further, if the widening grin on his face was of any indication.

“Zenith! It’s so good to see you again!”

She scowled.

“I see your insufferability has not changed over the years…”

“And why should it? My insufferability as it were, just so happens to be the reason creatures like me sticking around.” He winked at her, before dropping lightly to the ground.

“Is that so? From what I’ve heard, the emperor just wanted to get you out of his head crest.”

“Maybe so, but he can’t wait to see me again. We have a good working relationship.” He said, unfazed.

Zenith snorted.

“So says you.”

“Do I detect a hint of something you don’t want me to know?” He said with a grin.

“Don’t flatter yourself. It is unbecoming.”

Somebody cleared their throat importantly.

“If the two of you are quite finished. I do believe we have something to discuss?”

Zenith and Galahad both turned to face the newcomer: a huge red Dragon with his head held high, loomed over them, disapproval written clearly on his face. Galahad, of course, was unworried.

“Lotantor! Welcome, welcome you big smoke breather!”

“Such displays of impudence are punished severely in our kingdom, Griffon.” Lotantor growled in his low, threatening voice.

“But we’re not in your kingdom, are we?” Galahad walked up to him, meeting the hostile, slitted expression. “And you’re under direct orders to not do anything… rash, are you not?”

Lotantor scowled.

“Good then!” The Griffon clapped his talons together. “Now that we’re all friends again, why don’t we actually discuss the matter at claw, shall we?”

Zenith exhaled, long and slow. As infuriating as he was, Galahad was right.

“Queen Chrysalis’s attack on Canterlot was sudden, brief, and brilliantly executed. But we have reports that Equestria is rallying, in spite of this. Are our previous findings incorrect? Do the Equestrians have a fighting spirit after all?”

Lotantor scoffed. “Everycreature can be pushed to violence. It is folly to underestimate someone due to such small-minded logic. However… It is most unusual. From what we know of the Mantis Queen, her spy network is large, vast, and highly sophisticated. She uses it for quick, ruthless campaigns. What changed? Why is Equestria different? All projections indicated that she would be able to take control of the city in a matter of days. She would replace any messengers, and any heads of state. Not to mention taking the form of Princess Celestia herself. Equestria should have been conquered without even knowing it.”

“You two are failing to account for one, crucial piece of information,” Galahad’s voice was intolerably smug. “I’m positively shocked that you two would even show up to such a conference with outdated information.”

Zenith and Lotantor exchanged glances, baffled.

“Well, Griffon. Spit it out already. Your pontifications are beginning to bore me.”

Zenith remained silent, but met Galahad’s gaze, tilting her chin questioningly. He smirked.

“Oh now this is just perfect. Allow me to lord over the two of you, just a few moments longer.” He stretched his wings, luxuriating in his aura of superiority. “It would seem like the two of you believe Equestria to be a monarchy. However, this is both flawed, and outdated. For you see, Equestria is no monarchy…”

He paused, the absolute silence weighing heavily in the air.
“It is, and always has been… a diarchy.”