Horse of Cards

by Midnight Ice Cream

Twentieth Chapter

Celestia is sprawled out all over her bed, she is asleep. Her chambers are covered in empty wine bottles and plates that used to carry cake, or other kinds of comfort food. There is a smell of tobacco in the air. While not normally a smoker, Celestia was inhaling as many cigars as she could tonight. She is happy, she invited me over to have a few drinks, I accepted. I have spent the evening watching her get progressively more ridiculous. Needless to say the Princesses accepted the deal. “Thank you Earthheart.” She mumbles to me as I open the door to leave. “You’re probably my only friend.”

“My dear Celestia, I’m sure you are loved.”

“Bah, of course I am loved. But you are my only friend. Other ponies just want someone to solve their problems.” Isn’t that just what she wants out of me? “But I, urgh, you’re great.”

“I must thank you.” She’s already asleep. Very well, I shall return to my quarters.

I am less drunk, naturally I indulged myself slightly if only for the sake of appearances. I do confess I feel far too excited to celebrate. Equestria is changing at my will! Things are going to improve a lot from now on.

I walk briskly through the labyrinthine castle of Canterlot, barely containing my joy. The guards I pass look bewildered. One of them whispers something about changelings. “What’s that?” I ask him.

“Sorry Sir.”

“For what private?”

“I was being impertinent Sir.”

“How?” He looks to his comrade for help.

“Well Sir, I don’t know why you let the changelings in. They’re bloody monsters Sir, and you want to befriend them?”

“Do you remember Discord?”

“With all due respect Sir.”

“Private, I appreciate your input, however I respectfully outrank you. You will learn to tolerate the changelings in time.”

“Yes Sir.”

I must sleep, there is a meeting tomorrow on changelings and the army. It’s rather important. I open my door, the lights are on. I never leave the lights on. “Hello?” I call out gently. I hear a squirm.

“You’re back early!” It’s Sparkling, she seems terrified.

“What are you doing in my quarters Sparkling?”

“Nothing!”

“What were you doing in my quarters?” I ask sternly.

“Urm.” She’s shivering nervously.

“Again. What were you doing in my quarters?” I ask slowly.

“I’m sorry. I had to know why! I had to know why!” She almost begins sobbing. “So I came in to read your diary. I thought you’d be with Celestia longer.”

For a split second he looks absolutely terrified, but only for a split second. The moment I blink my eyes he is composed again. “You should never have done that.” He’s calm, but I can feel his anger.

“You made me talk to a changeling to give him love! Oh that’s not even the start. You fucking encouraged two changeling invasions! You didn’t just allow it to happen! You weren’t like Shining Armor! You made them happen!” I stand up, I can feel myself trembling. He’s just sitting there calmly looking into the distance.

“Was it not justified?” It’s a sincere question, worded incredibly calmly. He’s not trying to argue, he’s just asking.

“How can that ever be justified!?”

“I believed at the time, and I still do that Equestria is under constant threat of destruction.” He explains simply. “You remember Flash Sentry, he was a terrible officer.” He shakes his head in moderate disgust. “Allowing Equestria to further decay was never a priority. I needed a promotion so I could stop this. If I ever believed that the invasion would have won, I’d have made it impossible. It was a means to an end. The same can be said of the Crystal Empire.”

“Why?”

“Firstly, sit down, get yourself a drink. Poor child, you’re trembling. My dear Sparking I’m under a lot more risk than you here. You have a perfect opportunity to destroy my career, and undo everything I’ve done.” He states matter of factly.

“You could just stop me, overpower me! Even kill me!”

He walks to the desk, I take a few steps away from him. He merely makes a drink for himself and for me. He takes a sip from both drinks. “I’d never harm you Sparkling.” He admits. “If you truly believe that I am evil, that none of this has been worth it. Then there’s nothing I’ll do. As a matter of fact I encourage you to destroy my career an undo everything that I have done. You are an excellent pony Sparkling, I know you to be a clever pony, a moral pony, and one who is willing to see things how they are. If I am evil, then destroy me. I implore you! It is your duty to destroy me!

However, let me make my case.” He sits down. “Because of my actions, there will be laws across all of Equestria made in Canterlot, for once we won’t live in total chaos. There is a functional army and not just a royal guard. There will never be a changeling invasion again. Any love theft or crimes committed by changelings will be dealt with properly.” He gets up again, and walks over to me, making sure to look me in the eyes. “And that’s just the start! Think of all the things I can achieve, no, we can achieve if we continue.” Once again he asks. “Am I evil?”