//------------------------------// // Pt. 8: Cause // Story: Exiled Magic // by Lawpony //------------------------------// Cherry Bomb sat alone in the planning room just outside of Twilight's quarters. Twilight had arranged for the two to meet in private here, and so Cherry Bomb waited. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Twilight opened the door and walked in. "Oh, I'm glad you could make it Cherry. How have you been doing?", she sat across from her. "Good I guess, though knowing what we came here for I'm not quite sure...", she looked tired. "I apologize about not being able to talk the other day like I had said. Stuff happened that needed my immediate attention." "No I understand. Dealing with changeling mercenaries isn't exactly what any of us wants to do," she giggled to herself. "Agreed," Twilight looked over at the wall, and then back at Cherry Bomb. "So what's been keeping you down? And don't worry, this will be kept between us." "My brother joined Rainbow's legion. I mean, it wouldn't be as hard if it were a cousin or uncle. I could probably get over it since I don't really know them that well. But my brother? We were best buds growing up. I would call every girl he talked to his marefriend and he would kick any colt's flank who looked at me just slightly endearingly. Ya know, the usual sibling stuff." "Sounds like you guys were pretty close." "We were, until he sent me a letter telling me he had joined the imperial legion. Now he gets to go and kill my friends while I kill his. The thing is, I've been keeping it a secret, like I was commanded to, and now he expects me to be happy for him, like I should be happy he chose to ultimately try and end you. I can't love him now. My life goal became to aid you and follow you to glory as the new and rightful queen of Equestria. How can I be happy for him? This means he hates you, and if he knew who I really was, he'd hate me too," she leaned over and began sobbing into her hooves. Twilight walked over and sat next to her, wrapping her hooves around her neck. "There there. It'll be alright. I bet if he knew you for who you are, he'd still love you, rebel and all," Twilight rubbed Cherry's back as the distraught mare sobbed into her shoulder. "No, you don't understand. When we were foals, he made me promise to join the empire, that we were both going to become great warriors and be shield-siblings. When he turned eighteen, he ran off to go join the empire, and I stayed home for as long as I could. Then that thing came on tv about, well, the 'incident'. With a sudden vigor of hatred for Rainbow Dash, and the rest of the empire, I dropped my classes and joined the rebellion. Now, three years later, I'm here. And let me tell you, I have felt far safer in these walls, than I have ever felt surrounded by Equestrian soldiers." Twilight smiled. "How old are you?" "Twenty one. Why?" "Pretty young to be fighting another pony's war." "It became my war when the empire abandoned my family." "What?!" "After a battle near Las Pegasus, Equestria, in an effort to keep the Singulars out, kept everypony out, even our own supply ships. They neglected us for a week, and when my family began to starve, my motand snuck me out on a mission to find the highest ranking officer I could, and tell him about what's been happening. I flew until I couldn't fly anymore, then I walked. After a ay of walking, I ended up in Ponyville. Since Equestria had full control over it, I was able to travel freely by train to Canterlot. When I finally found the general. They wouldn't let me talk to Celestia. But when I walked into his office to tell him about the plight of Las Pegasus, he looked down his snout at me, and I knew he wasn't going to help me. I apologized for wasting his time, and I went back to Ponyville and sought out the Singulars." "I remember that. That was you? Who knew a kid would be able to get our attention. Well, an older teen." "Yeah. I figure if I started acting like the Empire was mistreating me, they'd try and help. You know, gotta keep that image right? Well, when I returned to Ponyville to take the train back toward Las Pegasus, I saw it. They found out I had sought you guys out, and put up wanted posters everywhere." "They made it your fight." "Exactly. I went for help and they ignored me. A helpless mare, trying to help her starving family. And they were surprised I turned to the next largest capable group of ponies? Pathetic." "So it's become a personal vendetta." "I swear, every single Imperial will know of our cause," she turned to Twilight and smiled. "And the ones I encounter will know about mine." "It seems you have the fire. I would like to train you personally. You should be my apprentice. Your battle skills will be unmatched." "But what if I meet my brother on the battle field," Cherry looked up worriedly, her hair partially covering her eyes. Twilight looked down directly into her eyes. "He made his choice." "Then...I," Cherry looked down, tears trailing down her muzzle and landing on Twilight's shoulder. Cherry suddenly looked off into space, as if something inside of her broke. "Are you o-", Twilight began but was cut off. "I'll do it. The cause is more important than blood. To me his blood is no different than any other Imperials and will mean no more when I spill it." Twilight looked down at her, worried about what she may have done. "You don't have t-", she was cut off again. "I want this. This will be the ultimate test of my loyalty. I will not fail you my queen," she said, staring at the wall. Twilight took her hooves off of her and began to get up. "Good...good. I think this will work." At that moment the doors burst open and Storm Glider skidded to a stop. "Your highness!" Twilight fully stood up and looked at her. "What is it Glider?" "It's Rainbow Dash. She's-" At that moment, Slip Stream came into the doorway full tilt and ran right into Storm Glider. She got up and whopped Slip Stream on the back of the head. "She sent Thilken." "Well I assumed that," Twilight huffed. "It's far worse than that. They are planning an invasion..." Twilight waited for the part Storm Glider wasn't adding. "But we know where she lives." There it was.