//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: All Good Things // by Jasmine_Vonstarlight //------------------------------// All Good Things Chapter 11 /Celestia's Point of View\ Why can't I protect them anymore? Why have I lost my grip over my empire? What have I ever done in malice to my subjects? They were fully aware that Luna would eventually return, and now that she is purified, what is there to fear? One thing has made itself amazingly clear however, she is no longer safe. Because of her, no... because of me, somepony wants us dead. And because of me, two guards are dead, and another one is dying. This was my doing, this was all my doing. I allowed these radical cells to remain in Equestria for far too long, and now they are finally starting to mobilize against the crown. They have a right to form their parties, that is just a given, but endangering other ponies, especially, my own sister is far out of the question. I have no choice but to order them to disband. If they wanted social change, their leaders could have just asked for a hearing... I feel disgusted with myself. I have indirectly killed two for three of my guards, and now I am stripping the rights of my citizens down to the barest of freedoms... what is this land coming to? No matter what kinds of revolutionary feelings were stirring, it is obvious that Luna's return was the climax that these radicals have been waiting for. I hold the crying form of Luna, failing to stifle my own cries against this rising anarchy. I can feel her nuzzle against me, guessing that it is an attempt to comfort me. She isn't crying for herself, she is sad because of my own anguish, she knows she can't do anything to improve our situation... another injustice done by my own hooves. How could I have been so foolish, I brought all of this upon her by trying to sway the public in her favor. How could they perceive us as the terrorists? What am I saying... of course I can see how they view us this way, but why? If anything positive is to come out of this attack, hopefully it will change the public opinion on the crown, and prove that we aren't corrupted after all. They the real terrorists; the anarchist radicals brooding elsewhere in Equestria. My tears continue to flow against the little strength I can muster. I have to stay strong for Luna, I can’t let her see me like this... I have to be strong for her. I have to be play the big sister role once more. “I want mom and daddy...”, I hear her mumble sadly. Whatever resolve I had left was shattered. I want them too, Lulu. I’ve missed them as well. I know the war on the dragons is a noble cause, but we can’t send for them in their ongoing struggle. Their problems are infinitely more troublesome than ours’ at this juncture. My tears reach a new level of intensity when I realize that I can’t see mom and dad. Who knows when and if they’ll ever come home... “F-Father told me to lead with bravery... how could I have failed such a simple task, Lulu?” I have failed Luna, my own sister. In this moment, when I can could have been the one she reached out to, her trust has given way to her own idea of guardianship. I sent her away, and as much as I resent what I have done, she resents me equally... “I don’t think you’re a failure, Tia... who said you weren’t brave?” I’m just falling into a pit of self doubt again, Luna isn’t mad at me... I long for mom and dad as much as she does. Still, Father’s warm fatherly tone reverberates in my ears... “Our duty to the nation calls us to fight, Celestia. But you know that your mother and I will always remain right here...”. At the time, I refused to let him go, tears (similar to the ones I am currently spilling) flowed freely from my eyes. “Protect Luna, my dear. She is as much my daughter as you are, and as dear to you as she is to me. Make sure no evil befalls her, and help her grow into the proud young mare that you are.” “I have complete faith in you, Tia.” “I love you...” I had one task. Who said you weren’t brave, Tia? “I DO! The pony who ran off the stage while three guards were killed by some MADPONY!” The colors of the world around me are now draining to black like water streaking down a foggy window during a storm. The last scrap of hope that still resided in my soul had left me. We were alone. I have failed you, daddy. Luna starts crying more audibly, and I am positive that I am the one to blame for that. Even if I am innocent of everything that has happened today, I am guilty of making a little filly cry. My outburst pushed Lulu over her breaking point, how could I convey my feelings towards such a sweet and innocent child? And now she believes that I am angry with her... “I... I’m so sorry, Luna...”, I stutter quietly, not sure how I could possibly make this right. “WHY WOULD SOMEPONY DO SUCH A THING, TIA?! THAT’S NOT FAIR!” Luna yells in anguish before letting her confusion get the better of her emotions. The poor child... she is right. It is unfair that a filly has to be introduced to the harsh world of politics and war. It is unfair that the ponies had to die, but I will never let Luna’s childhood die, especially since she another another chance at it. I guess all good things do come to an end... The white solitude of the panic room is breached by a mechanical shifting in the door, and a loud creaking announces the arrival of royal guard flanking another unicorn wearing a black suit and sunglasses. I can feel Luna bunch up out of fear, and begin to whimper. “It’s okay Lulu, he is one of my advisors.” I reassure her in a motherly tone. The pony in black speaks up. “Your highness, there are matters that need immediate attention. Please come with me.” I try my legs, but find them still unstable from my agony. The guard aids me up as I carry Luna alongside me with my magic. It hurts to see her in this state of pain, things are moving much too quickly for her to understand. “We must make haste, your highness” the suited pony reiterates, shiftily glancing around the bunker. We begin to make our way out, and as I cross the threshold, I am suddenly flanked by six guards, all of whom are darting their ears at the slightest disturbance. We trot quickly down the hallway, the mysterious agent leading the way a couple of feet ahead of us. It’s strange, I would have thought we would be able to hear yelling or explosions from down here, no such luck... or misfortune to be more precise. As we approach a stone door marked ‘Emergency Operations’, the etched slabs slowly move back at the command of the agent’s magic. He ushers the entourage inside quickly, as he lets the doors slowly slide back into place. The inside of this room is far larger than the vault that Luna and I were placed in, and in fact, this is the backup command room that I ordered to be build down here just in case of a situation like this. Many carbon copies of the agent who led us here are buzzing throughout this hive of activity scribing documents, hunching over tactical maps and blueprints of the castle and Canterlot, and many more sending desperate messages over morse code. The whole room seems livid, and their pace didn’t even falter the moment I entered the room. “Your highness, I have new developments on your situation” shouts a brawny pony over the din of the room. The pony in question was a middle aged pegasus with a short grey mane, a thick five- o'clock shadow and a peach colored coat, with visible combat scars and bruises. This was Admiral Buzzcut, the pony in charge of the Royal Equestrian Army and Navy, and not the type of character one plays around with. Walked around the other side of a large table with a blueprint of the castle laid out upon it and began speaking with a deep bow. “What an honor it is to see you alive, my liege” “At ease, Admiral, the honor is mine knowing that you are the pony in charge of this operation. What is the latest?” He points out the location of where I delivered my speech. “Your highness, while you were delivering you address to the ponies of Canterlot, an audience member, thought to be here; given the trajectory” he said, pointing out another location, “lobbed a smoke based explosive onto the stage, which exploded upon its destination. The resulting blow left two guards out of commission permanently and one more in a serious condition. After barricading the audience in the courtyard, we were able to locate a sus...” “You barricaded the audience in the courtyard while an attacker was among them?!” This admiral is starting to show signs mental deterioration... “You must understand, your highness. We needed to find the culprit. And believe me, the way the crowd was pushing to get away from this terrorist, it took us mere moments.” “But... aside from that, how did that pony stick out so easily?” “Let’s just say, me liege, that it wasn’t exactly a pony who lobbed the grenade at you...” “What... could you possibly mean?” “I think you should take a look at this.” He walked away from the table and beckoned me over the the side of the room, and continued down a long, dark hallway with a very low ceiling and the back drafting wind that one could expect from a cave of this sort. Buzzcut rapped on a set of metal bars as I lit my horn to get a better view of what he was hitting. Do my eyes deceive me? A jail cell all the way down here, and the inmate... Why is there a gryffin in the cell? Luna flinched at the sight, the male gryffin has many misplaced white feathers over a black coat, and he would have looked even more intimidating had he not been chained to the wall. He had muscular legs, sharpened claws, and cracks and scratches criss-crossed the entire length of his beak. This wasn’t a normal gryffin... this is a war gryffin. “What say you in your defense, gryffin?” I say tentatively, not sure what to make of all of this. He raises his head slowly, and reveals an absolutely twisted look in his eyes. He is visibly exhausted, but still manages to twisted his mouth into a smirk, causing Luna to flinch and whimper in fear. I pick her up and hold her to my bosom in an attempt to calm her, but this psychopath is giving me a strange feeling as well. He started with a groan, “Ehhh... what say I? Death to Equestria...” “Do you mean to declare war?!” Buzzcut yells, causing me to jump. “Mark my words, horse, this day marks the beginning of the end of your precious empire. The day will come when the Gryffin Kingdoms will overtake this land, and the ponies in it.” He passed out, his head hanging limp between his shoulders. War... why now? Why ever? What have I done to offend the gryffins? “We are done here, Admiral.” I state. “At your command, your highness. What actions shall we take, given these circumstances?” Buzzcut replies as we start walking back down the long hallway. “Call a meeting with the Gryffin Kingdoms’ ambassador, this needs to be resolved by negotiation. Equestria is not ready for another war.” “It will be arranged by nightfall, your highness. What else shall be done?” “Put the guard on high alert in case of any other infiltrators. Furthermore, send a missive to Zebrica in case we need to raise an army on short notice. Oh, and one more thing...” “Anything, your highness.” I pause before my next words, a message to them will never reach its destination, and what if it gets intercepted... but still... “Send a message to mother and father...” “E- excuse me?” “Send a message to the King and Queen of Equestria. I’m aware that they are still on the front lines of the war against the dragons, but we need their guidance at this moment...” There is a noticeable silence from Buzzcut, contemplating the strange request. He knows as well as I do that communication with my parents hadn’t been established for many years. And as much as I hate to think about it, one or both of them may have been killed... How would I be able to break that to Luna? “As you wish, your highness.”