A hush fell over the gathered ponies as an electric hum rose with the moon over the city square. Resonance, Sonority, and Covenant Truth had returned to little fanfare thanks to some governmental fudging of flight records and the couple took their place as citizens of Hearth once again.
“Fillies and gentlecolts, attention will be had! ”The call that roared from the surrounding speakers was completely unnecessary. The crowd had long since silenced, but every public address in Hearth’s storied career had begun the same way as long as anypony could remember. “I appreciate you all coming out at such a late hour. The events I am about to address are quite recent, and it seemed more appropriate to hold this conference now, under the guiding stars.” Very few ponies in the crowd could actually see the speaker, leaving most to watch the speakers set along the edges of the crowd. Sonority stood opposed, his military training teaching him to show respect by facing the distant dot of a pony even if he was listening to something on the side. Resonance stood next to him, careful that she could not be heard by anypony around.
“Sonority… you’ve got to know what this is about already, right? What’ve they called us all out so late for?” Resonance asked quietly. She was already tired and did not want to spend time trying to understand the speaker as the crowd cheered or booed – whatever was appropriate. Sonority sighed.
“Well…” He started quietly, careful to not be overheard. “Since we couldn’t get Luna to come with us, the old plans for the nation must move forward.” A muted murmur flowed through the crowd, hushed by the voice on the speakers. “Right now, he’s explaining that the president has taken up a new understudy. The colt will be appointed to a high position in the government, and act as our version of Princess Luna. He’s even got a cosmic cutie mark. I think it-” Sonority’s voice was drowned out in a cheer of the crowd, which quickly subsided. “The government’s been at a bit of a standstill lately. Not really, but that’s what’s been out there. In reality, the solutions we have to the nation’s current problems have been being saved. He will use his position of power and these plans to gain favor in the public eye. The president is the warm hearth, but he is the cool night sky. Oh, here he is now.” The crowd again erupted in a roar of hoof beats, quieted by a voice coming over the speakers.
“Thank you, thank you all. I am Falling Comet, and as you’ve just heard, I am the latest advisor to the madam President. She has appointed me after some moderate success in West Paddock over the last year.” A small selection of ponies began to cheer near Resonance. She could see the seal of the city of Paddock on one of their saddlebags. It was clear that the government had been grooming this colt to take power for some time.
“I don’t feel right about this.” Resonance barely spoke, not sure she even wanted to tell Sonority what she thought.
“Now’s not the best time to have doubts, Resonance.” Sonority responded harshly enough that a pair of ponies next to them sent concerned glares their way. “Let’s go. We can talk about this somewhere a bit more private, hon.” With that he made his way out of the crowd. They parted for him in recognition either of his military status or simply his glare, but quickly returned to where they were. It took Resonance a minute longer to escape.
The speaker’s voice was muffled in the alleyway where Resonance found her husband. He stood with his back to the wall, fiddling with the military charm around his neck. His expression was troubled, and he seemed deep in thought when Resonance finally wandered near him.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Sonority said calmly, without opening his eyes. “Your sister doesn’t believe in what we’re doing here.” He opened his eyes, instantly finding Resonance and locking her down with a cold stare. “You were close to her. I have to think you knew or at least suspected she wasn’t interested in men. What you have to understand is that those thoughts corrupted her. She isn’t interested in what’s good for this nation – only what’s good for herself. She stayed behind, hon. You’ve been the best of friends and the closest of allies since you were born and she stayed behind. She abandoned this nation and she abandoned you and you can’t let her thoughts influence…”
“She did not abandon me.” A misleading quiet fell. Sonority was surprised by Resonance’s volume and anger, and so was Resonance. A thousand torrid thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to remember the last time she stood up to her husband. Never that’s when. But she had started now, and she couldn’t back down. Evanescence wouldn’t.
“I told her to stay. We were in that land because of her. We were leaving because of your commander. She was afraid because of you. She stayed because of me.” With every emphasis she took another step closer to Sonority, ever narrowing her gaze. “My sister is perfect the way she is. The best thing I ever did for her was telling her to stay there and be happy.” Resonance could feel tears begin to well up, but she fought them back. “She only ever wanted me to be happy too. But here I am, back in our dying land. Back without my best friend. Back with you.” Her hot breath broke against Sonority’s dirty cream colored coat by the time she stopped long enough for him to respond.
“You…” Sonority took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “You’re angry. But you can’t let her twisted world view become your own. What she is made her”
“It made her alive!”
“It made her a monster!” Sonority yelled as loud as he could, rearing up on his hind legs. Resonance shrunk back, trying to hide her face behind her forehooves but it was too late. Two cracks rang out into the lonely alleyway. The first when Sonority’s hoof met Resonance’s skull, and the second when her skull hit the pavement.
The overwhelming taste of cupric and bile woke the azure mare. She saw a murky figure standing beside her, immobile. The ringing in her ears was deafening and every muscle ached but the injured mare pulled herself to her hooves. She stumbled along a wall as the world around her swayed wildly, but the lone figure did not move. Every step took all her concentration and sent shuts of pain from her hooves to her ears, but she had to get away. As she approached the road her vision began to clear and the sounds of the world began to punch through the ringing in her head – and Resonance was able to think.
I can’t stay with him, but where can I go?