//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: Repercussions // by vortex123 //------------------------------// I'm sorry Twilight. I love you. I'm doing this for the future, our future." Shining stated with a frown. Twilight took a deep breath. "So am I." She said with her own frown, her eyes filled with anger, and a glimmer of sadness. Twilight then attempted to teleport from the throne to Shining Armor, though before she could cast the spell, the magic around her horn fizzled out. Shining armor sighs at that. "One of my soldiers is currently casting a magic suppression spell for that very reason, I guess even you can forget something like that, with enough anger." He says, not with a frown, but a look of understanding. "Shining." Twilight suddenly said, causing the stallion to give her his full attention. "When Nightmare Moon was a threat, how effective was the military against her?" She asked. "I'll admit, it wasn't that effective, but who could have seen something like that coming?" He asked with a shrug. "I did, but that's irrelevant." Twilight answered. "When Discord broke from his stone imprisonment, how did the military handle that?" "Ok I'll admit that in that one, specific instance, only something as harmonious as friendship could stop a spirit of disharmony. But he isn't going to be a problem for another thousand years." He relented. Celestia frowns at that, but says nothing. "Alright, I can give you that one." Twilight said with a nod. "How was the Changeling invasion stopped?" She asked. Shining said nothing for a moment, not wanting to answer, then he steeled himself. "This line of questions is pointless. Princesses of Equestra, I'll make this short and simple. From this moment onward, the fate of Equestra will be decided by the military. And in exchange, not another drop of innocent blood will be spilled in this fight. Do you agree to these terms?" He spoke in the same serious tone he had before. "If that's what you wish, then very well, I agree to those terms." Celestia said with a sigh. "As do I." Luna said with a scowl. "It's not like we have any other choice." Twilight said. "You have a choice, it's just not the type of choice you're used to making. But I'll count that as a yes." Shining said with a nod. "Now, to discuss what will happen now." True to his word, the bloodshed stopped, and the dead were taken care of. Nopony said anything. What could they say? Those they trusted to protect the kingdom, were the ones to kill so many Equestrain ponies. Wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, friends, family, role models. Everypony had lost somepony, whether from somepony else, or their very own hooves. But a message was made very clear, the age of friendship and harmony, was over. And a new age had come, an age dictated by an army of traitors. Divorces had been filed, friendships had been shattered, and some had even been disowned. The reason why was along the lines of “what’s stopping you from killing us to make a point?”, or “I won’t house a heartless monster like you!” It certainly didn’t help the situation whenever the military had to make an example out of the more rebellious ponies. And Equestria as a whole, had had been dealt a heavy blow, and had been weakened because of it… Dragon lands “So the elements are no more, and the bringers of the sun and moon are out of the picture.” The leader of the Dragon Clan summarized. Griffon Kingdom “And the citizens of that country have been betrayed by those they thought would protect them.” The griffin king muttered, then grinned. Golden Oaks library Twilight thought nothing could make her feel worse about the situation, she was proven wrong when she informed Spike about their friends’ deaths. His love for one of them only made it worse for him. She couldn’t blame him. She felt, and still feels, the same way. And to make matters worse, Spike wasn’t the only one who she had to break the news to. Celestia and Luna’s presences helped, but not much. Twilight knew very well that the five had been an important part of this community, but she never knew just how important…until now. "Can't the princesses do something?" Sweetie Bell asked, her eyes red from crying. "Equestra can't be run by…by that…monster!" "Yeah! What if he comes for us!?" Scootaloo asked. "Not even somepony as awesome as Rainbow Dash could stop him! We wouldn't stand a chance!" "I'm sorry, but no." Spike said emotionlessly, having lost the energy to muster any type of emotion. "This is just how things are now." "How can ya talk like that!?" Applebloom asked with an angry look, momentary igniting a burst of rage in Spike. "Well it's not like I can do anything about it!" He snapped at her, causing the trio to take a step back as smoke started to come from his nose, and his eyes turned into slits. "What exactly can I do!?" He asked with rage, before it melted away. "what can I do!?" He repeated in a smaller voice, sitting down and curling into a ball. He jump a little as the trio envelopes him in a hug. "Spike." Twilight called, revealing her presence to the four. "I understand how you feel, I feel the same way. Rarity, Fluttershy, AppleJack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash. When I came here, I thought I knew what magic was, until those five proved me wrong. And I don't think I've ever been more happy to find out I was wrong about something, much less something I've worked on as long as I have on magic." "Ha…I remember the first night we were here, you said everypony in this town was crazy." Spike said, giving a hollow chuckled. "I heard from Dash that she gave you her 'rainblow dry', said your mane looked ridiculous after." Scootaloo said with a small smile. "An ah heard from AJ that your hoof kept shaking after she let it go." Applebloom said with a laugh. "Rarity told me about how thrilled she was that a Canterlot pony had visited her boutique." Sweetie Bell said with her own smile. "Did you three know that Spike actually told Fluttershy about his entire life story?" Twilight asked the fillies, causing Spike to roll his eyes. "Yeah, but that's nothing compared to pinkie, she could go just as long without having to stop to breath." Spike said with a smirk. They all laughed mirthlessly for a little bit, then let out a quiet sigh. Twilight then looked (not directly of course) at the position of the sun. "It's getting late, you all should be heading home, it's a school night after all. Sweetie Bell, your parents will be picking you up soon, so you can wait here." Twilight said, causing the girls to frown. "Can't I stay here?" Sweetie asked. "I promise to not be a bother." Twilight wanted to say "yes", but… "I'm sorry, but I'd feel much better if my little Sweetie Bell came home with us." Sweetie Bell's mother stated. "It's nothing personal, we appreciate all you've done for Equestra, especially when some ponies aren't so kind." Sweetie Bell's father tried to assure Twilight "I'm sure you have enough to deal with as is, and she's our daughter anyways, so it's our responsibility to take care of her. We appreciate the thought though." Her dad said. "Very much so." Her mother said with a nod. "We'll pick her up a little before sunset. Take care out there, Equestra…isn't as safe as it used to be." Twilight could read between the lines. The less time their filly spends around a mare who's brother is the leader of an army full of treacherous killers, the safer she'll be. Twilight wasn't mad about it, far from it actually. she's actually been considering exiling herself for that very reason. She felt like it would be a fitting punishment to be honest, she felt she had no right to call the land she failed so badly, home. There was only one obstacle preventing her from doing so. Spike. She knew she wouldn't be able to convince Spike not to follow her, and she refused to drag him into something as dangerous as exile. "I'm afraid not, your parents were insistent that you go home with them." She says with a frown. "Can we stay until they come, please!?" The two said at the same time, before Applebloom spoke. "We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders, we should be there to see her off." "Alright." Twilight relents, their friendship reminding her too much of her own to say no. And so, they waited. The CMC having what might be their last club meeting for awhile. It wasn't a goodbye after all, it was more of a see ya later, they'd see each other again in the future. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FOREVER!" The trio declared with a heartfelt group hug.