Kissed by fire

'Finally' Celestia thought, as the door to her study swung open and a familiar ebony alicorn entered. Despite the mountain of paper work before her, and the dignitary's of the griffon kingdoms. Celestia had found her mind drifting more and more to the crimson manned alicorn. With their numbers so few Celestia had never had much opportunity to meet others of her own race, save her immediate family, as she had never attended court in the celestial halls, before starting her tenure in Equestria. This made Joan a subject of keen interest for Celestia, she lamented that she had not been able to spend more time with her outside of her official position; FireMane presented a unique opportunity to converse with a being of equal age and stature. She watched as the alicorn walked around her study, content to wait for Celestia to make the first move, her fur she realised was not a complete black, rather it contained fine dark blue and purple highlights, like shards of obsidian. Feeling Celestia's eyes on her, FireMane turned giving her a small and surprising warm smile.

"Good evening Celestia"

"Good evening... Alexa" she flushed slightly realizing she had been caught staring, FireMane gave a small shudder at the mention of her name.

"...please princess...we would prefer just Joan"  before Celestia could push her on the subject, FireMane moved to one of the walls where a grand map of the world was displayed, it had been a present form the royal cartography institute of Canterlot for her birthday many years ago.

'Not the most original present from a group of map makers' she mused to herself.

The golden image held Joan's complete attention, as she traced the different continents with a hoof softly muttering to herself, Celestia set her quill down mid sentence before trotting over to the enraptured alicorn. Joan was deep in thought as Celestia stood beside her before the map.

"The world has not stood still in my absence it seems..." Joan seemed to be talking to herself more than her, Celestia silently waited for her to continue, Joan's voice was soft and melancholy and her eyes adopted a faraway look.

"I was there ten thousand years ago when earth was newly raised from the oceans depths, long before these ponies carved out a living from its soil..."

"I know Joan, I was there also" Joan gave Celestia a sad smile, something rippled behind those immaculate golden orbs.

"No you weren't princess... "She said in a soft whisper "...you did not see what I saw; the sky's were choked, by billowing black spore clouds, no day, no warmth of the sun, just darkness. The very air a poisonous fume." she took a long breath before continuing.

"But it was our duty, one alicorn alone, sent to purge the darkness clean alone..." she gave a snort "a suicide mission, which suited the Conclave just fine"

"What did they mean by 'abomination' Alexa... when you were just a foal, that's what they called you" the question took Joan by surprise she looked down at the floor her wings and head drooping in an expression that stabbed at Celestia's heart. "You weren't supposed to see that" she muttered he eyes shining with unshed tears.

Celestia finally broke, stretching her wing out tentatively and laying it across Joan's back in a comforting gesture. She quickly composed herself slightly leaning into her, "That is a tale for another time...we will tell you, we promise" she said

Realising that this line of questioning was depressing the other alicorn Celestia quickly reminded herself why she had called Alexa to see her. With a grin she trotted over to her desk to retrieve her party plans, "Joan..." she started "...come have look at this" FireMane shock off her foul mood and trotted over, before casting a critical gaze over the sprawling paper work, upon closer inspection she turned to Celestia with a bemused look "you can't be serious..." she started.

"You can't be serious" she muttered again, as a white unicorn danced around her with a measuring tape, talking nonstop as she clambered over the alicorn, taking every conceivable measurement. Joan was back in her quarters, having been escorted back there by a far too happy Captain. She had waited for a few minutes when this unicorn had bounced through followed by a spotty stallion carrying a mountain of luggage.

"...or perhaps a dazzling ensemble of sequins and gem stones... no that won't do, far too flashy... or perhaps not flashy enough, do griffons love shiny things..."

The small mare Rarity was in full fashion mode as she started drawing up different designs rapidly littering the floor with dozens of rejected concepts.

"Really miss Rarity there is no need to trouble yourself..."  Joan tried to fit in between the gaps left by Rarity needing air to fuel her monolog.

Rarity stopped mid flow her eyes going wide "...It's an honour darling, I Rarity get to design a dress for an alicorn princess! And by Celestia I will make you the talk of the party." she gushed batting her perfect eyelashes.

FireMane finally relented and accepted her fate sighing heavily, aside from her barding she had never dressed up as these ponies were so fond of doing, Celestia and Luna had cleverly sidestepped this torture by making it a policy not to endorse anyone ponies work by wearing it, preferring to wear the same garments day in day out. FireMane would kill to have her old armour back, and this yapping white unicorn was making a tempting target.

"Hmmm...Yes something tight, yet flowing to extenuate your form..."

Joan felt her murderous thoughts melt, and her ears redden with embarrassment as the mare gave her anon too subtle once over, she thanked the spirits for the mercy of her dark fur to hide her blush. After nearly forty minutes of debating with herself Rarity, held up a sketch for Joan's inspection. She was pleasantly surprised; this mare clearly knew what she was doing. Though FireMane knew nothing of fashion in general, she could still tell if something looked good, and this was nothing short of stunning.

"wow..." was all she could manage

"You...like...it!" Rarity gasped, she then proceeded to have a slight breakdown of hysterics

'maybe she is clinically insane' Joan pondered, eyeing the unicorn warily.

To escape Rarity, who was now dancing with a ponyequin in jubilation, she moved out onto the balcony of her room, took a deep breath before calmly throwing herself off the edge.

The Imperial palace, Ember

The red cloak moved quickly through the dusty corridors of palace, frequently glancing behind him, they were watching, they were always watching. The grand imperial palace had been practically abandoned ever since the empress's fall centuries ago, the gilded halls neglected, the many treasures it harboured covered up by webs and dust, but they still clung to the place like shadows to a corpse.

His hoof falls caused clouds of dust to rise up from the carpet, and moon light poured in through dusty stained glass panes. She had been gone for so long, yet her spectre lingered, be it as portraits, statues or murals, the empress glared at him as he pushed onwards. He could feel their eyes on him now, hidden in the darkness. That had been his first mistake, at this time of night they were all on the prowl under the midnight sun. The only reason he was not dead, or worse, was the sealed envelope he carried in his saddle bag and the medallion around his neck, depicting a crescent moon and a clenched fist. Others who had dared enter this dark sanctum were not so fortunate. He tried not to think of the enumerable stories that came to mind as he hurried his steps.

"Not one step more!" He froze instantly as the stern feminine voiced boomed out, echoing off the vaulted ceiling. A shadow moved in the dark, a cold chill ran through his body and his red armour shook. Summoning what little courage that had not abandoned him he rasped out...

"I have a message for Tribune Rex..." he stopped as he felt something brush past him making him jump, a ghostly chuckle danced through the air. He quickly pulled out the envelope and placed it before him along with the medallion from around his neck. this time he could hear the muffled hoof falls of somepony moving down the corridor towards him, the first thing he saw was a set of pupil-less pale blue glowing eyes, then as the creature came slightly out of the shadows he caught the glimpse of gold trimmed black barding. Tribune Rex of the empress's sentinels stepped out into the light, her black feathered wings spread wide, and her muscled frame crouched low as she stalked forwards. The red cloak was rooted to the spot in terror as she moved ever closer, bearing her fangs she hissed

"Run!"

She smirked as he immediately turned tail and sprinted back the way he had come, his fear radiating of him in waves. She looked down at the delivered items. The medallion identified the message as being from Midnight Castle, The Shrouded HQ or Central Intelligence. Marking the letter as being worthy of her attention, she deftly opened it with her hooves before starting to read, she could feel her comrades disappointment as they un-cocked there crossbows and put there fangs away, there would be no hunting tonight. Rex however did not care, as she continued to read the report a smile began to bloom across her features. She quickly relayed orders through the Sentinel's telepathic link, they grumbled but Rex immediately put her hoof down snarling, she was going on a trip.