To Chase The Shadows of Redemption

Cyrel lounged with a dull boredom inside of his carriage as his group made the final strides towards the meeting point, on the outskirts of Canterlot for a more private invitation. It was probably going to be just as opulent as anywhere else in the rich city.

Still, it had shocked him that he had received this invitation at all. When was the last time someone in his line had been contacted like this by Celestia? While he had initially been suspicious as to why, there was far too many different parts of the situation he didn't get for him to have any inkling on a motive.

She had promised something that would benefit his kingdom greatly, but the finer details were to be made in person.

They soared in the sky against the final splotch of golden rays that the setting sun produced which had caused the sky to take on a rusty ginger color. The clouds had only partially parted, creating entire worlds that were separated by the vast expanse of the dark void inbetween.

As they neared the humble garden of Norrich, which had been carved into another part of the side of the mountain, he couldn't help but feel like this was too good to be true.

Cyrel had been modestly successful in his rule so far, but he knew that it was far from prosperity. He should've been jumping for any chance to improve his standing, especially since it was a tenuous thing in griffin society. Yet, coming from the hands of the ponies who had made everyone else look pathetic by comparison, it had bordered on a bitter taste for him.

They finally landed down, and as his servants and guards alike opened the doors and formed a path to both his sides to create a literal line to the area where they would be having dinner, it seemed. A large overhang for a gazebo, and a fairly open space that had a large dinner table assembled with had been filled with a plethora of delights, against the backdrop of the well maintained garden which threatened to overgrow into them at the centre of it all.

He walked slowly and with poise, ensuring that Celestia nor any pony would ever see weakness from his kind. His own had kept the same standard. Good like always.

But it was to his surprise that he saw no other ponies around at all. Celestia alone sat at what would soon be the other end of the table.

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, I didn't realize this would be quite such an intimate gathering my good lady, for I would've sent the brutes away earlier. Give us space."

One by one, they broke rank and went to spread out with distance away from them, forming a spaced out wall against any possible intruders. His servants made to rest by the carriage for the time being.

To his surprise meat was on the table. Celestia of course knew of his kinds diet, but there was still a side of him that had wondered if she would refuse it. Not exactly a good way to start negotiations, so he shouldn't be surprised.

"It is good to finally meet you as well. Please, make yourself comfortable. I figured I'd show you the respect that you deserve. My ponies arranged all of this that you see, and then I let them retire for the day. If you require anything, I can easily whisk it myself." She pointed at her horn in a teasing manner.

"That will most likely not be needed, but thank you. I know that you are most likely keen to get down and into things, and I certainly wish to hear more, but let us eat all shall we?"

"Yes, we shall."

It was only slightly awkward, but he didn't care enough for it to bother him any. She would be the one to make the first move, so all he had to do was wait. It wouldn't be long now. He couldn't help but be surprised at how good the meat they had prepared for him was. What pony had actual skill in such a thing was beyond him, but he wouldn't allow it to be anything more than an amusing thought until later. There was wine, and while extremely rare for the average griffin to partake in such a thing, he chose to down smaller amounts of it now.

"I do not desire much, Cyrel, but I am more than willing to offer a gracious amount regardless. It will be both a trade and an agreement."

"I'm all ears, Celestia."

"I desire several historical objects from the griffin kingdom, and Equestria has recently come into need for access through the Yargras path. In allowing us to take this way through your lands, we will provide construction of new roads along the path itself, increased trade, and a lump sum of bits that you will find quite generous. I only ask that you do not question why we need access to the areas beyond."

"That is a truly tempting offer, Celestia. Did you have something in writing that provides more minutia on the offer?"

Using magic, a neatly folded paper appeared besides Celestia. She hovered it over to his side and lay it gentle down in a spot in which he cleared carefully of any food.

Unfolding and beginning his look through, he saw that the path itself had been outlined clearly, even including several checkmarks. He would need to confirm a few things about it still. Next, he saw a list of trinkets and items that were being requested. Even if you ignored for the fact that he was completely taken by surprise that they, or perhaps she, even know about half of these things, he wondered what tied them all together? Surely this wasn't random besides age in antiquity?

And then he saw the bit figure. He had nearly squawked when he saw it. Had there been a mistakenly added zero?

This would certainly benefit his country, no doubt about that. It had been too good to be true, or had it? Celestia was known throughout history for the legitimacy of her rule. She made it this far because of it, and also because she was was an ageless goddess. Even the griffins who lacked education, which was many, had known about the goddess of the sun. She made the world to tick to some degree after all.

So why did he feel so hesitant looking at this? He continued to sip his wine as he pondered it.

"Ah. I must ask, now that I've had a chance to look, there seems to be several items here from our treasury. I cannot endorse sending those unless I have a very strong case to. Do you have any strong reasoning as to why?"

She didn't give him an immediate response like he had wanted. She finished the food she was working on, wiped her mouth, and then finally gave something.

"Nothing so crazy Cyrel. It has come to our attention that a local artifact from the griffin kingdom was found with a peculiar enchantment here, something of which we believe was caused by unnatural means by simply being near your kind. Even I found it fascinating, when seeing the details of what they had been working on. We are looking to test a theory around this, if you will."

He gave a little hum as he continued to think.

Were the ponies really so rich that they could offer this much to test a theory? Or was it connected to the lands beyond his they wanted access to? It seemed likely there was far more to this then she was letting on.

Everything had seemed to check out though. It didnt matter too much in the end if it didnt bother his kingdom much, it was not like Equestria had ever really been an aggressor or oppressing. This really was a breakthrough for his kingdom and rule. While he couldn't skip doing his due diligence to make sure they weren't taking advantage of the locations of which they could go through his kingdom, nor put his kingdom as risk without realizing it, this seemed well worth it.

He looked across the table, and the princess had a smug as ever look he had come to be used to in the past few minutes alone. It was only slight, but the immortal eyes shimmered with something ancient and judging. He didn't like it.

"I see. There is just one problem as long as I'm understanding the terms clearly. Several of these items are so precious that I could not give them away, even if I wanted to. If you would be willing to accept the trade with some of them removed, namely these," he marked three at random that he had personally known to be in the treasury, "then I'm sure we will be able to quickly come to a final agreement and enjoy the rest of the night."

She retook possession of the list to view what he had marked. A quick glance and already she was coming back at him.

"No. I need these if we are to have an agreement. We have been more than giving on our side, you must do away with a little of your own to make this work. Surely those useless trinkets don't come over the well being of your kingdom? Or did I misunderstand something? Are they in use? I had been expecting to hear of them collecting dust." She let out the smallest and lightest of short lived laughs.

There it was, that arrogance.

"Then I'm sorry, but we're going to have to refuse. I will not part with my families history like this. You misjudge us, Celestia."

He lied through his beak.

"What...? You cannot be serious, my good Cyrel."

"Oh? But I am?"

Finally she had begun to change her expression. It came to his surprise that the adrenaline and excitement of seeing it excited something inside of him greatly. He quickly became addicted to this feeling.

"Perhaps you simply look down on us, but I can assure you our family has a dignity that shines even in the hardest of times. I will not part with these treasures."

He could've sworn he had seen her eye twitch when he had mentioned family. He lapped up every second of this. He could savour it until the final moment, until he then finally conceded some to make the deal work.

Princess Celestia. Until now she had stood like an impenetrable bastion of grace and power. Instead, here she was at his mercy for some reason he didn't understand, laid low and the one desperate for once. Over something that wasnt even that important apparently. He knew there was more to this, and he would get to the bottom of it.

No in in his lineage had ever come close to this, and it was a glorious thing.

He refilled his drink and the conversation continued into the burgeoning night...