//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: I Will Maintain // Story: Crusader Ponies (Romance of the Six Counties) // by swirlstar //------------------------------// I Will Maintain “…Princess Celestia!” Twilight scrambled off her seat and prostrated herself in front of the alicorn, spilling well-brewed tea onto the inestimably valuable rug. “Twilight Sparkle,” the royal voice commanded. “I have been receiving reports of the…trouble that you have been having in your Duchy. I have come in order to inspect the situation for myself.” “A-as you wish, my Princess.” Twilight dared not look up from the floor, fearing what she might see. “So speak. Tell me of the issues.” “W-well, Princess, it all began in Fluttershy’s County. I guess you know what Fluttershy is like -“ “Elaborate.” Twilight’s heart skipped a beat. “U-uh…Fluttershy’s a bit too kind, you could say; she isn’t the sort of person who would impose her views on others. Well, not all of the time, anyway.” “Noted.” “So, I guess it was…inevitable that she would…mismanage the county. Also, I guess she placed the interests of the local wildlife much further up than was…advisable.” “And did you not notify her of this problem? Did you take action?” Twilight closed her eyes in silent terror. “I advised her, but took no action.” “Explain your lack of action.” “I believed that Fluttershy was my friend, so it would have been rude to impose on her.” “Noted. What proceeded next.” “Bandits started appearing in Fluttershy’s county, and began spilling over into Applejack’s territory. She raised the issue in the Council.” “And what did you do, then.” “I…uh…um…” Twilight gulped. “I guess I…ignored her. It felt like she was…bullying Fluttershy. Fluttershy was crying everywhere, saying she didn’t want the land, things like that.” “So you did nothing again. Noted.” The coldness in the Princess’ voice was apparent. “Describe what happened next.” “Then Rainbow Dash sends this letter over, asking if it would be better for everyone if she and Applejack were to take over Fluttershy’s county. I denied this outright.” “Explain.” Twilight tried her best to make her explanation sound less fawning. “I believe that everything we have here is a gift from you; and therefore it isn’t in our power to make fundamental changes to the structure of the Duchy.” “I see. So what happened then.” Twilight choked as forced her body even lower onto the floor. “My Princess, Applejack and Rainbow Dash then decided to take over Fluttershy’s county themselves. They then asked for a new Council to be held this afternoon to discuss the new issue…oh, please forgive me, Princess Celestia!” The unicorn could feel her teacher’s silent rage. “Twilight Sparkle. During the war, Spike died because you couldn’t get the Elements of Harmony working in time. Then, your family betrayed me and almost brought an end to the war effort. And now, even in peacetime, you still seek to create problems by failing to resolve even the simplest of tasks. Twilight Sparkle, what can you actually do?” Twilight dared not cry aloud. “Y-you are right, Princess Celestia. I am a…failure. I deserve nothing more than your just punishment for my incompetence…” The Princess smirked. “Oh, Twilight, were it so that I could simply remove you for these transgressions. Yet your inexplicable position in the Elements of Harmony means that I cannot easily do so. No, you will have to remain here as a bulwark against the Changelings. Perhaps you will find a way to redeem yourself, Twilight. The royal patience is not yet exhausted…” “Oh, thank you, thank you so much, oh…Princess?” Twilight finally dared look up, only to be faced with a blank study room. What the hay? Was it all a dream? She looked around and saw her teacup, still slowly disgorging cold tea onto the rug. I…but… Whatever. What the Princess said remained true. She had failed again and again. But Twilight was still within reach of redemption. She just had to act. A near-smile crept across Twilight’s face as her eyes remained fixated on the split teacup. “I won’t fail,” she whispered. * “Oh, believe me, Twilight, I really didn’t appreciate ruling the land at all,” Fluttershy said. “It was all scary ponies asking me to do this and do that; I just couldn’t deal with all of it. And all of them seemed so angry about the critters, and wanted to do all sorts of nasty -” Twilight tried one last argument. “But Fluttershy, when you are in such a position you have the power - the ability - to do whatever you want! You’re the only person who can guarantee that the animals in your land can live in peace! How can you be so sure that Applejack and Rainbow Dash will keep their promises?” “Hay!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Applejack, next to the pegasus, shot her a dirty look. Fluttershy was unfazed by Twilight’s question. “Oh, I’m sure they will keep their promise, Twilight. We’re all friends, right? Rainbow Dash has promised to let the gophers go into her land, if they promise not to disturb Applejack’s farms any more. Applejack…” Twilight sighed in frustration. She had hoped to convince Fluttershy through words, but the pegasus was, predictably, stubborn as a mule on this issue. But I’m not giving up. By Celestia, this will not defeat me! The lavender unicorn stood up and interrupted Fluttershy’s ongoing list of promises. “Fluttershy, I’ve tried talking you into this, and I think I’ve given you more than enough reason for doing so. I’m not going to let you hand over your land to Applejack or Rainbow Dash. You’re going to stay as Countess, as Celestia has ordered.” Fluttershy’s shocked face quickly turned into disappointment. “But…Twilight…” “No buts, just do your duty.” Twilight sat back down and crossed her arms, in a display of finality. Fluttershy continued nonetheless. “Twilight…but…oh!” the yellow mare slumped back in her chair and burst into tears. The others rushed to her side. Rarity stared angrily at her nominal liege. “Twilight, wasn’t it you who accused Applejack of bullying last time?” Pinkie Pie chimed in. “Yeah, Twilight, that’s mean.” The purple mare closed her eyes and crushed her nascent feeling of guilt. “She doesn’t know what’s good for her.” The white unicorn was unconvinced. “So you know better, Twilight? Look at this poor darling -” she brushed tears off Fluttershy’s face, “- how could you possibly say that putting her back there is good for her?” “Eventually,” Twilight responded vaguely. “Come on, Twilight! If Fluttershy doesn’t like it then don’t make her do something that would make her so sad!” Pinkie Pie protested. “What’s so bad about Applejack and Rainbow Dash having the land?” “I agree,” Rarity said nonchalantly. “If Fluttershy doesn’t want the land, then let the other have it. What’s so bad about that anyway?” “I’m not -” Twilight began. For all this time Rainbow Dash had been restrained by increasingly desperate moves from Applejack. Now, with a gentle kick at Applejack’s face, the pegasus broke free of the farm pony’s iron grip. “Rainbow, no!” Applejack pleaded. But the cyan mare, hovering beyond the orange mare’s reach, was having none of it. “You see, Twilight? Everypony supports our position! I don’t see why I have to listen to a pony who -” she gestured to Fluttershy, “- bullies her friends for no reason! I’m not listening to a pony that only seems to “care” about Fluttershy and not for anybody else! So unless you can convince more of us, I’m not leaving!” A semi-silence followed, punctuated only by Fluttershy’s weeping. Applejack widened her eyes in terror and mouthed words to an unnoticing Rainbow Dash. Everypony else looked at Twilight, half-dreading what her reaction would be. Twilight resisted the urge to magically rip off Rainbow Dash’s wings. “Are you going to disobey my command?” she snarled through gritted teeth. “Yes!” Rainbow Dash said defiantly. Applejack opened her mouth, hoping to say something to the cyan pegasus, but no words came out. “You’re going to change your decision!” Twilight’s ear twitched as she glared at Rainbow Dash. She might be angry, but she wasn’t stupid. There was no use punishing the pegasus; everypony else would have turned against her even more than they already have done. That rebellious mare got something right, at least; Twilight did need the support of the others in order to carry out commands. I guess we’re playing a long game, then. Twilight stood up, still staring at her insolent vassal. “Fine,” she declared. “Give me a night to think about a possible solution. And to all of you,” The unicorn looked at every mare with a novel and undisguised contempt. “This is the second time that all of you have decided to betray me. Remember Cadence’s wedding. So let’s hope that your judgment has improved.” Having said this, the Duchess turned and left without another word, concealing her fast-moistening eyes. They've done it. They've finally done it. They've betrayed me. * As soon as Twilight slammed the doors shut, a less-than-amused Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash. “What the hay didya think you were doin’? So you think rebellin’ is gon’ solve all our problems?” Rainbow Dash landed, a smug grin on her face. “Puh-leese! Did you think Twilight was going to change her mind with anything else?” “I agree,” Rarity said. “It was, really, the only way,” “I…uh…” Applejack knew it was probably true. “Urgh! Rebellin’ is still rebellin’. We should never’ve gone that far. What if she calls in Celestia?” “Oh come on!” Pinkie Pie said, still concentrating on cheering Fluttershy up. “We’re her friends! She’s not going to do something like that!” “See?” Rainbow Dash said. “And you can thank me, Applejack, now that I’ve helped you solve all of your problems!” Applejack’s frown deepened. “Let me kindly remind you, RD, that you made this problem up yourself.” “Yeah, yeah, like you were soooo happy before all of this occurred.” “All I wanted was for them bandits and gophers to leave! I didn’t need no new land, I didn’t need no lyin’ to Twilight, and I certainly didn’t need no rebellion!” “Yeah, like this wasn’t the only way to solve these problems. I didn’t see you refusing to do anything like this - why don’t you move your troops back to your wasteland county, huh?” “…why, you -” Rarity sensed the unfriendly atmosphere. “Hey, now, all of you, calm down!” she said, separating the two ponies. “We’ve all accomplished what we came here for, right? Fluttershy’s now free, and surely that’s a good thing!” “Oh, yes,” Fluttershy, supported by Pinkie Pie, walked up towards them. “Thank you all so much for this; I feel so happy now. Thank you all so much…” “No problem,” Applejack and Rainbow Dash said simultaneously. They both looked at each other and shared a chuckle. “Come on darlings, let’s all bring Fluttershy back to her quarters…”