So, let's make a mental list:
-Breakfast, done
-Bath, done
-Goodbye, done
-On their way to their lessons, done.
I really am their parent, aren't I?
I chuckle at that.
I always wanted a family of my own, though I did not expect to get it like that. But still, they are my family, and I will take care of them. Especially Mac, if I can't save his family.
Knock-knock
"Prince Solus?", a muffled voice asks.
"Enter!"
The door open and a guard step in.
"Sire, your mother would like to see you."
Really? Why? Maybe...
There's only one way to know.
"Lead the way."
"Ah, Solus, good morning!"
"Good morning to you too, Mother. Why did you want to see me?"
"Straight to the point, hmm? Good. I have enough veiled words with the nobles. Anyway, I asked you here because I have found a suitable candidate to become your majordomo."
"Really? So soon?"
"Your birthday offered the perfect opportunity to select one, since all the nobles are gathered here."
Fair enough.
"Who is it?"
She smiles, turning to the guards.
"Let him in."
They open the door and in step a sharply dressed stallion, white with a blue mane. He seems familiar...
"Solus, meet Count Fancy Pants of Suedia."
He bows, placing a hoof on his chest.
"An honour to meet you, Your Serene Highness."
"Lord Fancy is known far and wide for his impeccable taste and manners. He'll make a perfect majordomo."
Hmm, canon!Fancy Pants was at the top of the Canterlot elite while being completely different from typical aristocrats like...uh...those two arses who insulted Rarity. I guess I can't really expect to remember that kind of detail after so long. At any rate, if this Fancy is anything like in the show...
"If you are recommended by my mother, I will be glad to have you, Lord Fancy!"
He bows his head.
"Many thanks, Your Highness."
"Perfect!", Celestia says. "Well then, why do you not go ahead, Lord Fancy? I would like to talk a little longer with my son."
"Of course. With your leave."
He bows again and leaves.
"I am sure you will appreciate him. He is a bit of pariah due to his positions."
"Positions?"
"Yes. He seeks to improve the lot of the lower classes and generally make the law fairer."
Really? And you chose him? Why...
"Why choose him then?"
"Because I support his ambitions."
What.
"You do?"
"Is it so surprising? I want the best for all my subjects."
Why slavery then? Maybe a milder question...
"Why not just change it yourself?"
"Because I cannot acknowledge the fact that I let it come to this in the first place."
Ah. All-knowing goddess can't make mistakes.
I repress the desire to facehoof.
"Mother, I'd like to ask a more...sensitive...question."
She raise an immaculate eyebrow.
"Go ahead."
"Why slavery?"
"Why? Because it is what is right. This is necessary for the Imperial Order to function."
"Would freeponies not be more productive?"
"Mayhaps, but then they would get dangerous ideas and desire, the ambition to elevate themselves beyond their station. The earth ponies work, the pegasi protect and the unicorns think. This is how it is."
Did she just pull a 'Brave New World'? Alpha, Gamma and Epsilon. The pegasi and unicorns won't rebel because they are glad not to be the earth ponies.
I'd point out that two of the Founders were earth ponies, but considering that I only know that because of the show, I doubt it will be well received.
"Does it have to be that way?"
She smiles sadly, looking at me like I'm a foal. Well, I am, but I mean, the condescending kind of look.
"Yes, it does. I tried a fairer way, and it only led to Chaos and betrayal. The Imperial Order might be harsh, but it is for the Greater Good."
Luna. She's talking about Luna. What else could she be talking about? I think I just found the point of divergence for this timeline.
"The Imperial Order is for all Equestrians, not just the earth ponies. While they have to work, it does not mean the others can abuse of their servitude."
Fuck you. I know for a fact that concubinage is a thing. If sexual exploitation is a-okay, what else is?
"For a thousand years the Empire has grown and prospered, proof that the Order is working as intended."
So did the fucking Roman Empire. I guarantee you a lot of people would have preferred if they didn't.
"I understand, Mother."
"Good. And who knows? Maybe you will be able to intervene where I cannot. After all, I cannot be everywhere at once."
"If you say so, Mother."
"Is there anything else you would like to talk about?"
"N-no."
"Then you should go join Lord Fancy. It would not do for you to have a frosty relationship with your majordomo."
Oh, really? I wouldn't have guessed.
"...get along splendidly!", Fancy says.
Seems he's introducing himself to my household.
"Now, go do your duties and when you have the time, compile a list of whom do what so I can orchestrate this whole thing! Have a good day and do your best!"
He's way more cheerful than Proper, at least.
"Ah, Prince Solus! I was just taking stock of the situation. Is there anything you need?"
Hmm...
"Lord Fancy, do you know what happened to my last majordomo?"
His smile fades somewhat. I wonder why.
"Ahh, yes, yes I do, Your Highness."
"Then you will understand if I desire to get to know you better?"
"Oh! Of course, Prince!"
"Good, then let's go to my room."
He seems rather dumbfounded by my actions. Meh, whatever. I'm hardly finished. We proceed to my room and I cast a privacy spell.
"Is that really necessary, Prince?"
"Rather, yes. My mother tells me you are sympathetic to the plight of lower born ponies?"
"Ah, well, yes, I am, Prince."
"Would you agree that trust between us is very important?"
"I...I would, Your Highness."
"Then, will you let me cast Heart Lock's Memory Modifying Spell?"
"Wha-what!? That's-"
"Do you really think an alicorn would betray your trust?"
"Well-"
"Also, I will let you cast it on me."
He looks completely flabbergasted at that.
"Prince Solus?"
"You heard me. So, will you let me?"
"I...very well. Why, if I may ask?"
"So we can be honest with each other without fearing the consequences."
"Is that really necessary?"
"I would think so, considering I wish to abolish slavery."
He stares and blinks at me.
"Pardon?"
"I wish to abolish slavery."
"You do?"
"Indeed. Do you?"
"Ah, well..."
"Memory spell."
"I-I do, Prince."
Jackpot.
"Very well. Then to ensure you are saying the truth, I would like you to swear an oath."
"An oath? Well, in for a copper, in for a star. What is the oath?"
"One of loyalty to me and my cause. Would you prefer if I went first?"
"Go first? Ah, well, yes, it would ease my mind."
"On the Earth, Moon, Sun and Firmament, on Harmony and Friendship, I, Solus of Equestria, solemnly pledge to fight on behalf of the slaves and others that are oppressed."
Oooh, there's the weird feeling again. He seems surprised, maybe by my choice of words?
"D-did you feel that?", he asks.
"You felt that? Uh. That's convenient. That way I'll know if your oath is sincere. Your turn."
"Ah, um, very well. On the Earth, Moon, Sun and Firmament, on Harmony and Friendship, I, Fancy Pants of Suedia, solemnly pledge exclusive loyalty to Solus of Equestria, to support him and his cause."
Hmm, the feeling is the same from when Shiny pledged himself to me. Perfect! No Proper 2.0!
"Thank you, Fancy."
"The pleasure is mine, Prince. You really desire to bring an end to slavery?"
"I do."
"And where did you get that idea?"
Shit. What do I answer? Let's go for cheesy.
"I saw the suffering of the slaves, two of them are now my friends and companion. I simply want them to be free."
"Friends? An alicorn friend with slaves! Ah, if only the public knew! And what does your mother think of that?"
"She doesn't know."
"She does not? Are you doing this behind her back then?"
"Quite."
"And what will you do when she learns of it?"
"Hopefully I'll have the means to dispose of her then."
He looks horrified at that.
"Dis-dispose? You intend to kill your mother?"
"Not necessarily, if I can just banish or purify her."
"Purify?"
"She used to hold Harmony close to her heart, something obviously happened to her."
"Harmony? What's the difference with Order?"
He didn't know the difference? And the oath is still valid? That has got to be illegal...
"Harmony is...understanding, the will to understand and befriend others, to work with them for a better tomorrow. Order is oppressive, static. It's the opposite of Chaos, while Harmony is about Balance between all things, including Order and Chaos."
"Ah...quite the difference indeed. Why would she advocate Order then..."
That seemed to be aimed at himself. He did not seem ready to hear talk of high treason.
"I can free you of your oath if you want. You did not give your consent with all the necessary information."
"No...no, that won't be necessary. I stand by you, Prince Solus. Your ambition might go much further than I expected, but it is necessary to ensure a better future for Equestria."
I hope you are right to place your trust in me.
"Thank you. Now, I'd imagine you are well versed in the Game?"
"I am."
"Then I would have you teach me and one of my companion how to play it."
"One of your...ah! The one who I am supposed to train, yes?"
"The very same. She is called Cadance."
"Cadance...to train a slave to play the Game, how delightfully scandalous!"
"Now, is there anything else we need to keep private?"
"I do not think so, my Prince."
"Perfect! Then I shall leave you to organize the household. I have somepony to meet."
"And who would that be?"
"Sunset Shimmer."
And his face scrunch up. What's wrong with her?
"Sunset Shimmer? Do be most careful with her. Even at her tender age she is quite the player, and a rather ruthless one at that."
Ain't that reassuring.
"I will be. I think I can get her on our side."
He looks doubtful.
"If you say so, my Prince."
"I'll be back soon. See you later, Fancy."
"Be safe, my liege."
I leave at a quick pace. I'm rather nervous now. But she's just a kid. A kid who manage to rule her school even with the human counterparts of Celestia and Luna watching.
I'm screwed.
24 hours remaining
Dawn of the final day? But
LinkSolus didn't manage to get the4 giantselements of harmony to stopMajoraLuna crashing the moon intoTerminaEquestria!So much plotting going around!
CELESTIA DID NOTHING WRONG!
I think Celestia is tricking poor Solus. Her change of attitude was way too sudden if you ask me.
Why would she do so? Answer is simple: she needs an alicorn on her side, in this case she needs to be on good enough terms with Solus. She cannot risk alienating him because giving birth to another alicorn is probably way to random and she doesn't have much time before return of Nightmare Moon.
8324645
Oohhh, I didn't realise there was a difference! I thought one was a misspelling of the other haha
I really reaaally encourage world building here. This is like a beautiful building without walls and furniture. But the floor is there.
Can you hear? There is a bell tolling... For whom, we know not. And yet, there is an ominous feel in the air, as though the world itself were holding it's breath...
And the bell tolls once...
Celestia behave oddly...
She show inklings of unhappyness about reality, that she carefully created for 1000 years. Or she have somehow bipolar mind, or she is manipulating Solus.
And Solus is reckless. He want to change and gather too fast, what is stupid in any good ploting. Telling your treasonous masterplan to stranger (yes, Fancy Pants is stranger, Solus known only about his good attitude toward commoners, but what if he is deeply loyal to Celestia, that need to be disposed?) is just stupid.
8326693
8326696
I sometimes really wonder what kind of people use such a thick sarcasm that it almost seems as it's not one at all?
8326817
Quite the conundrum you seem to find yourself in. You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?
8326832
Ain't I? It's truly a great hardship to ponder if you should laugh at human stupidity or aplauz their cleverness.
8326860
Please stop, they were only referencing to LOZ: Majora's Mask, a reference I deliberately made in the title.
Hmmm... What if all alicorns are secretely humans that died and then were reborn in their world, wouldn't that be brilliant.
This was an interesting chapter, especially in seeing Celestia acknowledges that she made mistakes in the past to anyone. And it was pretty much expected that she wouldn't 'ever' admit to have done any mistakes, short of gun point, if she think she her rule would collapses at the merest sign of weakness of descent, and not completely willfully blind to what happened to her empire. Still, I am surprised that she admitted (to a point) any it to Solus in the first and she 'apparently' she has hopes that her son can help subtlety abolish slavery or marginalize it; I am not sure that she has the same scale in mind as Solus has. Still, I think Celestia is pretty much set in her ways, I don't think she would really want abolish slavery if she thinks it's a crustal part of the functioning of the Empire and she doesn't really know any better in dealing with a situation anything less then with a heavy hoof, like having a hammer and see every problem like a nail. Still I am surprised that she talked to Solus as if he was older then the six year old pampered brat that everyone would expect him to be, I wonder why she is supposedly opening to a kid like that.
It was nice to see a good pony Fancy Pants in the middle of all this self entitled pricks of the court, I wonder what make s him different from all the others and what go him to think otherwise from his contemporaries, I know not all people are cut from the same social cloth but their is a difference between sympathizing in the plight of other and acting on it. I wonder if he will be one of the six bearers that Solus will need later on in life.
I like the idea that Sunset Shimmer is going to be a wild card for the story and that her ambitions and drive is what I like about her and could also be a liability for Solus if she is as envious as she sounds like. Still, I think she could use that for the greater good she sets herself a goal for the Empire in its infrastructure to leave he mark it then I think she could be a great boon for Losus. Maybe if she hears of his dreams for the Empire it could become a driving force for her.
Still if there is going to be any hope of change, short of an uprising, then there would need to be a change in the way the elites of the Empire think and that would start with the way they are thought that is different from the forebears of their family and induce trust on others that they won't automatically screw you over anyone outside of their household and don't need to desperately try to get Celesita's favor at all coust either.
I just realized, what exactly is Solus endgame here? I mean, purify Celestia and Luna and end slavery, yeah, that's great. But we're talking about a fixture of the empire suddenly taking a 180 in terms of personality and a whole new alicorn popping up out of nowhere and the last figure of authority presumably seizes total power after destroying his opposition - or at least seems to to anyone looking in on the situation. A coup, in other words, against his own mother. And while I think most would ultimately come to appreciate the changes he seeks to make, I can't imagine that Celestia’s empire came about without a whole lotta ponies wanting it to. Why would that change in a hurry?
8326869
You do understand that we are joking around and I actually know the reference, right?
8326876
Fancy Pants is a count. He isn't a major player of the Game, which is one of the big reasons why Celestia chose him, on top of not being a racist prick. Essentially, the ranking system goes Knight, Lord, Count, Duke, Grand Duke and Archduke. The latter two are not usually announced as such, on top of the Archduke being a double-edged sword: You are one of the top nobles, but you have so much responsibilities that you hardly have the time for the Game. Twilight Velvet and Sunset Satin are both Grand Duchesses. The Archdukes are essentially Viceroys, with their lands being either on the borders of the Empire or in sensitive areas. Their vassals are titled as Marquis and Grand Marquis. An example of a Archduchy would be the Archduchy of Monsoriens (a.k.a Griffonstone).
As the Celebration is ending, Solus will soon be resuming his lessons and those that asked for world building will be happy. I will probably include the above information eventually.
> Did she just pull a 'Brave New World'? Alpha, Gamma and Epsilon. The pegasi and unicorns won't rebel because they are glad not to be the earth ponies.
Not exactly, in brave new world each class would not rebel because they believed that their position in society was the one that would make them the most happy. This included the lower classes.
ehhhh, what's wrong with a little xenophobia?
8326909
Thanks for the info, I didn't really asked for that, but all in the same, it is always great to learn new things, and going with a story that explain more over the structure of how this Empire work in interesting and I always love more world building as you say. I hope you will get around to explain it all in the story itself. I will be very much looking forward to the next chapter.
comment
lol, Fancy thought he found just a like minded compatriot, he got more than he expected.
And Sunset better watch herself, there's no rainbow skittle beam of justice waiting for her but a solar beam/judgement combo if she screws up. We've already got one dead character, another can join that list.
this is the best episode of game of throwns ever
"Lord Fancy."
"Hail Serene-"
"Be seated." Looking at a glass window depicting Celestia rising above supposed chaos. "Do you know how this Empire will end Lord Fancy?"
"The window will be smashed, and with it the mare.
I am beginning the means of high treason and usurping the throne from my mother to reinstate harmony as the law of the land. Can I count on your support?"
"....for anything Prince Solus."
Valkyrie!
8326875
Then true Twilight had really bad luck, when she "ascended".
And once I have read fanfic with such theme, but I don't remember title, but it included all immortal beings as such humans.
Is it me or has Celestia lost some of her intimidation.
Make no mistake. I like seeing her side of things, hearing her thoughts, but it seems like the Celestia here and the one in the beginning are two separate entities.
game of pones
8327850
lol Fancy pants is Little Finger. Hah ha ha ha.
Heh, this is betrer than what airs on HBO.
I still wonder about Sunset. She has quite a few directions to go in.
8327850
A Song of Sun and Moon?
I hope he knows what he's doing. If even Fancy Pants warns him from her, because she's "quite the player" -and at this age already non less- there is the dangerous possibility that Sunset may betray him behind his back when it suits her goals of becoming great. Like pre Fall Formal Sunset would do it. Or she could endanger his "resistance" with blackmailing him into submission with "telling his mom" when he doesn't support her.
Or maaaaybe he succeeds with bringing her on his side.
Well, we will see.
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I'd watch it.
I'll agree with some of the others in the comments, it seems like Celestia's personality is jumping around... bipolarism perhaps? Or, *le gasp!*, is she an actual character with depth and not a cardboard cutout? The scandal!
I am curious to see how Sunset turns out, a traitor or a friend. She really does have several paths she can choose from.
*Edit, I got curious about some of the comments talking about how Solus would maintain power after the coupe/purification and I came across this video Rules for Rulers and thought it might help with your world/politics building.
8329227
says the "ALL-KNOWING ALL-POWERFUL GODDESS"!!!!
I'm very unhappy with Solus repeatedly referencing the show. It breaks immersion, and my hatred towards EqG makes it hard to enjoy the story after Sunset's appearance. Why people treat a spinoff as cacon, I can't fathom. Now let's see if I can power through your story... Because it's great! Or would be without any EqG reference, I mean. :P
8371379
I dislike it that he seems to repeat the show too, wants to bring Shining and Cadance together it seems and whatever else. I mean he could do so much different and kind of uniwue maybe in this situation, at lest it would be something that is not often there.
8371379
Ever stop and think about how your "immersion" is skewed due to your hatred of EQg?
8507438
8507438
Just because he references the show doesnt mean he's going to recreate it.
For fucks sale, applejack is a broodmare. You cant just write that off if he manages to usurp 'Tia.
And as for being unique? Wouldnt you say this story ALREADY is? This goes far beyond Xenolestia and her twisted sense of self righteousness. Its beyond the standard self insert, because this isnt a clop fic. And even if it was, imagine the incest. *shudders*
And him trying to recreate the show, would make it even better! Just imagine the main 6! Dash would be selfish, only concerned in keeping the status quo. Rarity wouldn't be generous to anyone. Onpy comcerned with keeping up appearances. Flutters would be a pushover and abused. Pinkie is a slave. And applejack already got the short stick.
8371379
I also hate EQG, but I like sunset... (Does that make me a hypocrite?) it adds a uniqe twist to the story, because we don't know if there is a portal to EQG world.
So far, I am loving this story. I like the dark turns to the equestrian universe. It makes it feel more realistic.
When Solus first found Cadence, I thought she was gonna be his future wife, (still hopin) but I'm ok with shinyxcadence.
But what is the Game? And did I lose?
10740836
Its literally Game of Thrones. Dont know why but it is