//------------------------------// // The Sun Come to Earth // Story: The Rescue // by Diamond Sparkle //------------------------------// Celestia was feeling quite pleased with herself as she looked around Aurora Square, which had filled with earth ponies determined to show their Queen how they felt,and even some protesting pegusai. The local police of Ponyville, backed up by a unit of Canterlot Royal Guards, kept a close eye on everybody going in and out of the square, but made no move to strop anyone entering or leaving, settling for blocking the routes to Canterlot. Trixie didn't look happy. "They're cleverer then we thought. Right now they can't arrest us or hurt us without our supporters kicking off and maybe even rioting. But we can only keep this going for at most, a day or two more. Most of the ponies have jobs, and they need to earn their bits. Also, they'll get bored given enough time and just drift away. And then we'll both end up locked up. Princess Aurora is not in any way stupid, she's ruled for thousands of years and she knows the weaknesses of mass movements such as ours. If we take this further and march on Canterlot, we'll be giving the green light to the Royal Guards to repress us, if we don't, interest in us will fade away. Why are the ponies all bowing down like that?" The shouts of "The ponies want the fall of the regime" died away as everypony in the square, stallions, mares, and colts and fillies alike, sank to their knees. For it was Princess Aurora who stood there, her mane flickering with the colors of the aurora borealis, her white fur perfectly clean, her royal clothing and many-jeweled golden crown glittering and gleaming, the very picture of pony royalty. She frowned. Her voice was sweet but there was no disguising the annoyance in it. "Do you? Do you really want my regime to fall? Who will raise the sun when it sinks below the horizon? Which one of you will raise the moon? If you were indeed to topple me, within weeks your crops would fail and it would get very cold around here. You would be driven to meat eating to survive, then when you could no longer hunt down animals,you would starve and die if the cold and the snow did not get you first. Is that what you want? The freedom to do without sunlight and moonlight? What is this about? Explain it to me." Celestia said "I...we think all races of ponies should be able to use basic magic to pick things up. That's all. And we don't want your regime to fall, we just needed a catchy slogan." "You know what?" Princess Aurora replied. "On that point I agree with you. I will make a Royal Decree giving all earth ponies and pegusai the right to use basic magic if they can use it. For advanced magic that if used wrongly or stupidly could harm other ponies, a license will be needed. Certain magics, those that are already banned such as necromancy and the making of love potions will remain banned. And although your protest is technically treason, you will all be pardoned." The ponies got to their feet, clopped their hooves together and cheered their merciful and unexpectedly generous Princess. She raised a hoof. "However, in exchange you will go back to your jobs and your houses and stop this protest. And please don't do it again or I will not show mercy. You...Celestia, I think your name is, come with me to Canterlot. I came here by sky-chariot so your transportation will not be a problem. I want to know more about you." The ponies, happily that their Princess had heeded their protest, were happy enough to go back to their normal lives. On the way there Celestia answered all the Princess's questions and the Princess showed a suitable interest. "So under the effects of Changeling venom you thought yourself a Princess like me and ruled for a thousand years? Interesting, very interesting and you're certainly not to blame for what happened to you. I think I need a new student, would you like to take up the post? Better to have you urinating out of the tent then outside the tent urinating in. For a paid job you can become the librarian of the new Ponyville library, as long as you behave yourself and cause no more discord. We had enough of that when Discord was free.. " "I'd be honored," Celestia smiled, as she realized her life would now greatly improve. ***