//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Empire // by Mediocre Morsov //------------------------------// Fluttershy was concerned for her friend. He never seemed to take so much delight in tea parties before, but now it seemed like all he wanted to do was have tea parties with her. Whenever she brought up returning to Ponyville to check on her friends, Discord quickly changed the subject, laughing as if half-mad. She was growing concerned for her friend, but more than that, she was becoming worried with the state of Ponyville. It must be bad if Discord avoided even discussing it. Zecora, of course, had been largely silent about her own trips to Ponyville. Everytime Fluttershy asked about the town, Zecora would dodge the question with some confusing riddle that got the pegasus thinking about something else entirely. A tricky mare, that zebra... Finally, Fluttershy had had enough and decided to put her hoof down. She was going to confront Discord and Zecora and get the answers she wanted, so help her Celestia. And Luna. She couldn't, very well, forget about Luna, being the premier of the Lunar Republic and everything. That was another thing she would have to ask those two; how was the Lunar Republic faring? Well, she hoped. Done with her distractions, she marched herself into the hut and politely knocked on the door to Discord's guest room. "Um, if you're not too busy, there's something I need to discuss with you." Fluttershy said, so softly it was almost a whisper. At once the god of chaos appeared before the door and beamed at his favorite pony. "Whatever is it you need, my dear, don't hesitate to ask!" Discord said sweetly. "It's funny that you should say that, actually." the pegasus smiled meekly, "I really need you to tell me what's happened in Ponyville. Are my friends still alright?" "Never better, everything's fine!" Discord said briskly, "Want some tea?" "Discord!" Fluttershy snapped, startling the draconequess, "I really need to know what's going on back home, and I'm tired of you dodging my questions." she looked at him with pleading eyes that made his heart twist, "Please." With a heavy sigh, Discord began to tell her the events unfolding in Ponyville, starting with the visions he had right before Luna and Celestia's split. He told her about the riots, the killing and the raid of Canterlot to free Applejack - which he had seen by magical means, of course. By the time he was finished, Fluttershy looked ready to faint. She stumbled backwards and nearly collapsed on the ground if not for the couch Discord had summoned for her to fall into. "That's horrible." the pegasus said, tears springing from her eyes, "All those ponies suffering, and my friends fighting each other. Discord, we have to do something!" "I would if I could, but Celestia and Luna won't listen to me." Discord explained, "I could turn Equestria into a land of chaos to try and distract them from fighting each other, but I don't think that would solve anything in the long run." "Surely there's something you can do?" Fluttershy begged. "Well, I could..." Discord began, but trailed off, face distorting in distaste. "What?" Fluttershy asked, "Anything is better than this!" "I could pick a side." the draconequess said at last, "I could help one side win over the other as quickly and bloodlessly as possible, then maybe we could get the sisters to talk again." "Oh my." the pegasus was just as disturbed by this idea as Discord himself, "Is there no other way?" "There is no other way," a familiar voice came from the doorway, "a price must be paid." "Zecora, how can you be so sure?" Fluttershy asked. "Discord has shown me the future grim." the zebra frowned, "The chance of peace is mighty slim. He must join forces with Luna or Celestia, or else forever doom the land of Equestria." "No pressure or anything." Discord muttered. "If you're going to choose one, who will you pick?" Fluttershy asked. "I don't really care for politics, and since Luna banished me from her regime, I have little choice but to side with Celestia." Discord ran fingers through his goatee. "Oh." Fluttershy said, obviously disappointed, "I really like the Lunar Republic, though." "Fluttershy, this war needs to stop before it starts." Discord said, "Just forget about this silly republic thing and wait in Canterlot. We'll have Luna defeated in no time and bring her to the peace table, then everything will go back to normal." "Maybe, and I'm sorry if this isn't alright with you, but maybe Luna should win." Fluttershy said, some authority in her tone, "Maybe she's right about ponies and other creatures having a say in how Equestria's run. Maybe all of us should get a voice in government." "Fluttershy, what was wrong with Equestria before?" Discord asked, "Why can't you be happy about things going back to the way they were before?" "Because things weren't good the way before." Fluttershy snapped in her own, reserved way, "Applejack was right about ponies falling apart without the princesses. I know better than anypony else that we need to stand up for ourselves." "I didn't realize you felt so strongly about this." Discord frowned, "You know I can't go back to the Lunar Republic." "Can't, or won't?" Fluttershy challenged. "Both." the draconequess scowled. "Then we're done here." Fluttershy produced a packed bag from her guest room and headed towards the door. "You're leaving?" Discord asked, "You can't leave!" "I can and I will." the pegasus said, "And unless you use your magic, you can't stop me." "Don't test me, Fluttershy." Discord warned, "I can have you locked in chains." "If you were my friend, you'd never do such a thing." the mare opened the door and walked through it. "You're right. I'd never do that." "I'm sorry Discord, but I believe in the Lunar Republic." Fluttershy said, "We all must do what we think is right." The door closed and the hut was filled with silence. *-* Celestia certainly hadn't wasted any time in getting Rainbow Dash into the Royal Guard Military Academy. Rainbow still wasn't sure if it was simply luck or some design that she had signed up just in time for next course. She shuddered at the thought of a whole year of training and studying; more at the studying than the training, of course. She had a hard enough time studying for the Wonderbolts, and that was something she wanted to know. With a groan that she stifled after a glare from her superior, she marched behind the other officer candidates into the classroom. Everything was so routine there, and she could never find enough sleep between workouts, classes and precious time for hygiene. As she sat at her desk, she wondered how in Equestria she was going to get through a year of this; she should have just enlisted. The enlisted Royal Guard only had to deal with two and a half months of training. "Welcome maggots." the officer greeted the recruits, "Today we will be discussing basic military strategy. This course will be broken down into segments over the course of this year. This month's classes shall be a general overview of overall military etiquette, ranks, equipment..." Rainbow wanted to slam her head into her desk as the officer droned on. To think, even after the year was over she'd have to go to another class to specialize in aerial tactics and the intricacies of the Royal Air Guard. At least that one was only a few weeks. "Am I boring you, Recruit Dash?" the officer snapped and Rainbow realized she had been lulling off. "Since you're in need of some excitement, how about a demonstration on how to defend yourself against enemies?" "Sure, that sounds pretty cool." Rainbow offered a smile. "Then, come at me." the officer set his stance, "Go on, come at me." "Uh..." Rainbow saw that her fellow recruits were all watching her now. "If you really want me to." She wasn't sure what had happened. One second she was throwing a pulled punch at the officer, the next she was on her back watching the ceiling come into focus. "What just happened?" she asked, hoarsely. "That recruits, was a simple counter maneuver, more than enough for such a sloppy punch." the class laughed, "I'll never understand why they let mares into the Royal Guard. Why don't you go join the Wonderbolts or something?" "Excuse me?" Rainbow got to her hooves, unsteadily, but glared at the officer for all she was worth. Only now did she realize she was the sole female out of all the recruits. "Any mare could be part of the Royal Guard." "Really?" the officer sneered, "You're the only one stupid enough to try and enter the officer program in the last fifty years." "Alright bub, you need a lesson!" Rainbow growled. "You think you have what it takes to be an officer int he Royal Guard?" the officer paced the room, "Mares aren't cut out for war. They get over-emotional about these kinds of things - killing and what not." Rainbow Dash didn't hold this punch back and the officer narrowly countered it, trying to throw Rainbow off of her footing. Rainbow switched her stance and threw in a low jab that winded the officer before nearly landing a blow to the side of his head. Then, all at once, the officer caught each hit and spun Rainbow around, sending her onto the nearest desk. He grinned at her, almost admiringly. Rainbow Dash groaned, suddenly sore all over. "Your first lesson, Recruit Dash," the officer chuckled, "is learning to control your temper." He walked over to her and helped her up. "Second lesson is never to punch a superior officer. That's a court martial offense." "Why are you being so friendly all of a sudden?" the pegasus asked as she stretched her back. "Because I see a lot of potential in you, Dash." the officer explained, "All that stuff I said about mares was a test, and I have to say, I admire your spirit." Rainbow smiled, "But you really need to get that temper under control." "Heh heh... Will do, Sir." Rainbow saluted meekly. "Good." the officer returned to his stony-faced lecture, and this time Rainbow Dash paid attention to every word. *-* "The soldiers have their orders?" Celestia asked the officer nearest her. "Yes, Your Highness." the officer replied, "Over three thousand Royal Guard are ready to deploy and crush this rebellion." "Excellent." the princess smiled, "Once my sister is safely back in Canterlot, maybe she'll listen to reason." "You could always banish her to the moon again." Filthy Rich's voice brought a frown to Celestia's face. "If it isn't my favorite war profiteer." she said, dryly, "Come to sell your daughter to me?" "If your military was as effective as your insults, you'd have no need of me, Princess." Filthy chuckled. "Let's just get this over with, Mr. Rich." Celestia sighed, "What do you have for me?" "A little bit of bad news, I'm afraid." Filthy tsked, "One of my factories has gone rogue and are producing these weapons for the Lunar Republic." "What?!" Celestia's brow twitched in agitation. "I have no idea why they'd do it, but you know how appealing their silly ideology is." Filthy waved a hoof dismissively, "Besides, one factory can't possibly produce enough hardware fast enough to make any difference in this little... spat." "This little spat could very well escalate if any of those "idealists" make proper use of any of the new hardware." Celestia seethed, "What exactly did this factory produce?" "A little of this, a little of that." Filthy shrugged, "Armor, guns, tanks, etc." "Guards!" the princess bellowed and at once the room was filled with Royal Guard in the sleek gold-and-crimson armor Filthy Rich's factories produced, "Throw Mr. Rich into the dungeons, and prepare a platoon to seize his assets." "What are you doing?!" Filthy paled. "You have proven to be utterly incompetent at anything but wasting my time, Mr. Rich." Celestia said in a deceptively calm voice, "And now one of your factories has suddenly switched sides. I'll launch an investigation into your business dealings and see exactly how "unfortunate" your loss is; I imagine, with how clever you are, that you'll turn a profit from it. You're playing both sides of the war, and you expected me to not see it." "That is a bold accusation." Mr. Rich said, forcing heat into his words, "You can't do this! It goes against my rights as a citizen-" "I can do whatever I deem necessary to defend the Empire!" Celestia snapped, then blinked. "Equestria. To defend Equestria and its citizens, of which you are no longer one. You have betrayed me, and all the ponies of Equestria, Lunar Republic and loyalist alike. You are a greedy coward, and I will see you punished accordingly." "Are you going to hang me, then?" Filthy sneered, "That'll go over great with the ponies who fear you." "I will not." Celestia said with genuine regret, "Never again." "Then the worst you can do is throw me in prison." Filthy laughed. "Oh, I can do so much worse than that, Mr. Rich." Celestia smiled, though it didn't touch her dark, glittering eyes. "Nopony will ever find out what I can do to you." Filthy Rich gulped as the Royal Guard closed in around him. *-* "I'm actually kind of excited to see my sister again." Sweetie Belle said as she watched the landscape slide by. The three youths had been riding the train out of Appleoosa and back to Ponyville for a few hours. Spike was beginning to wonder when the last time he slept was, but wasn't overly tired. He was content to sit back and watch the landscape change from the brush and desert of the frontier back to the lush fields closer to Ponyville. Still hours left on their jounrey, of course, but anything at all to keep from thinking of how angry Twilight would be. Sweetie Belle sat down on the seat next to him and gingerly put a hoof over his hand. Startled, he nearly pulled it back. "Uh... Sweetie Belle?" he asked, quietly. "You know, Spike, I found myself missing you a lot, too." the filly put her head on his shoulder, "Weird, right?" Scootaloo's mouth went slack at the sight. Was Sweetie Belle putting "the moves" on Spike? That was so uncool. The pegasus filly wondered why she was getting so mad about it. After all, what did she care if Sweetie Belle put the moves on Spike. Grinding her teeth, Scootaloo sat down on the other side of the dragon and put her own hoof on Spike's clawed hand. "Sc-Scootaloo?" Spike's head turned to face her. The two fillies were shooting each other heated glares over Spike's head and the dragon merely slumped between them. 'Ok,' he thought, 'this is happening.' as he tried to disappear into the seat. "And when did you get so comfortable with Spikey-Wikey?" Sweetie Belle asked, her voice softening to a coo when she said Spike's name. "I could ask you the same thing." Scootaloo growled. "Ever since the wedding, naturally." Sweetie said, "We danced the night away. He also said I have a wonderful reading voice." "Yeah, well, while you were away in Appleoosa, we've been getting pretty close, you know." the pegasus retorted, "I'd say that Spike and I are pretty close friends. Real close." "Girls, if I could just get a word in-" Spike tried. "Shut up." both fillies said at once. "Why would Spike want to hang out with you?" Sweetie sniffed, "He's always been attracted to more stylish mares." "Spike's a cool guy who deserves a cool filly by his side. Somepony that understands him, and accepts him." Scootaloo said, "Not tries to change him into something he's not." "I think that's for Spike to decide." Sweetie snapped and the drake felt both fillies' eyes on him. "Uh..." Spike avoided both of their eyes, "I actually still like Rarity..." He wanted to disappear with the cold glares they shot at him before ignoring him entirely. The rest of the train ride was in awkward silence.