"...As I'm sure you're well aware, Equestria has suffered under the rule of the Alicorns since time began. When the Pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony clans all banded together and founded our fair nation they didn't intend for it to be ruled by a breed of mutated cowards." Vilotyne knocked back the rest of his drink and his face curled up in a grimace. The townsfolk were terrified, but they listened on in cautious curiosity.
"Anyone able to transmit magic like this must be insanely gifted, and he isn't even a unicorn!" A vendor exclaimed as he gazed deeply into the giant energy cloud hanging over the marketplace like a UFO. A foal shot an ugly glare towards the vendor.
"Shut your mouth." He hissed before turning his head back to the earth pony in the air. Vilotyne set the glass back onto the rock and continued.
"Ahem... this isn't the first time Celestia has shown her weakness as i'm also sure that you know. However, this is the first time she has shown us her arrogance." His voice ended on a sad note. "Many families have been devastated by this attack and many more will in future aggression unless Celestia is dethroned." The impatient foal cried out in realization:
"That's the guy from yesterday! He stood up to mean ole' Cele-" A hoof muffled his voice and nervous laughter came from the body that was silencing him. A purple pegasus flew over to the pair angrily.
"Why don't you let your kid express his opinion?" she said throwing her hooves into the air and hovering right in front of his face.
The father growled. "Why don't you mind your own business, lady?" his eyes narrowing. "I'll raise my child how I see fit." He added with extra zeal. They continued to argue until the face in the energy cloud had collected his thoughts and began to speak once more.
"Canterlot, Equestria, residents of this great world; I am here to lift the yolk of oppression off of your neck. My name is Vilotyne, and I will be your Shepard of freedom." A small amount of cheering was heard and Vilotyne stood perfectly still, as if in wait. The colt broke free of his father's hooves and before he could be scooped back up again he cried at the top of his lungs:
"VILOTYNE!" His frail voice resonated through the air and seconds later other ponies replied with their own yell of the name. The vendor, swept up in the moment, took a hoof-full of produce and threw it as hard as he could at the palace. In moments the crowd had deposited all of the contents of the vendor's stall onto the palace walls, all the while shouting "VILOTYNE, VILOTYNE, VILOTYNE".
Nearby, the occupants of both the high court and the ministry of defense had spilled out into the streets to see what was happening. After hearing from the heads of their departments and now seeing this magical apparition appear from seemingly out of nowhere there was no doubt. They joined the mobs in droves, everyone chanting the exact same thing.
The pony of the hour waited patiently and chuckled with glee as he heard the roar of the peoples voices penetrating the very foundation of Canterlot castle. Luna's mouth was agape when she saw the mobs setting fire to guard outposts and chanting a familiar name.
"That clever stallion..."
"We have a very bright future ahead of us friends." Vilotyne cooed before breaking his glass on the floor and then prying the rune out of the machine with one of the glass shards. All of the unicorns in the city fell to the ground in exhaustion as their bodies were shut off from the conduit of magical energy.
The night was now just a backdrop on the scarlet flames licking the midnight sky and the columns of jet black smoke rising high above the rooftops. The great masses of pony rampaging down the street violently destroyed anything having to do with Celestia or her government. They set up massive bonfires in the cobblestone streets were banners and clothing bearing the insignia of Celestia were dumped into. At first the guards had been able to control the crowds, but as the night dragged on they soon overpowered them and the remaining guards retreated to the castle walls. At one point a large explosion rocked the entire city striking fear into the remaining guardsponies.
"By Celestia, those idiots are going to bring all of Canterlot to the ground!" A sergeant yelled as he looked down into the mob. He turned around to see his superior, Blueblood, waiting for him to acknowledge his presence. The sergeant merely scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"I don't suppose you have good news?" He asked curtly.
"Just some orders." The prince answered simply. The sergeant replied with a hearty laugh.
"Sir, I hardly have enough men to secure this palace let alone do whatever bidd-"
"You are to assemble an audience for Celestia..." Blueblood cut him off.
"Are you not listening to me sir!?" His nostrils flared and he stomped the ground "I'm not sending soldiers we can't afford to lose into that crowd. Do you see what they are doing to the banners? Just think what they-"
"When this Vilotyne character is king you can backtalk me, until then carry out your orders." The prince growled.
"Yes sir." The sergeant replied grudgingly. He walked to a group of conversing guards and started barking orders. In half an hour they were standing in the middle of a bloodthirsty crowd that wanted their heads on a stick. The air was choked by thick smoke and the sergeant had to force his voice to be heard over the incessant chanting.
"The sovereign monarch of Equest-" He began solemnly.
"Death to the tyrant!" An anonymous voice shot from the crowd. A tidal wave of cheers followed that and it took five more minutes for them to quiet. The sergeant made an effort to make himself sound formal again but instead let out a sigh, realizing that he really didn't care anymore.
"Just... come to the palace courtyard at 9..." and with that they filed back inside of the palace gates.
The white alicorn stood at the rim of her balcony looking down at her burning city. A servant had laid some tea out for her which Celestia sipped gingerly as she watched the destruction unfold before her eyes. She was utterly silent as a tear dropped out of the corner of her eye and down into the black abyss.
"I never thought it would lead to this." she thought grimly. She brought the teacup to her lips but she couldn't take another drink. It wouldn't matter, no pony on this plane of existence could dethrone her as far as she was concerned. She had always thought her subjects as loyal throughout and it was the only thing that made her feel even remotely hurt. Had the defeat changed her? She was still the same old Celestia as far as she could tell.
She knew that should get some sleep, she wasn't well off in terms of her physical condition. Adding exhaustion to that before the speech that would either smear or save her reputation wouldn't be a good idea. It was apparent that she had one chance to appease the people. If she didn't then there would be no consequence, but it was always easier to rule content subjects. With that thought she struggled back to her bed and fell asleep to the sound of fire, rage, and deception.