Lance of Love
A Winningverse Story
By Admiral Q
I woke with a groaned and felt very tired. I tried to remember. Ah yes, I am a pegasus of the Charger Clan....Lance Charger. Yes. I was the first born of the mafamilia Bright Charger who also had the honor of being part of the Ephorate, the ruling body of the Pegaspolis. Yes it was all starting to come back to me. Pegasoplis was part of Equestria, signed by Commander in Chief Hurricane after Hearth's Warming. Me and my fellow pegasi were to be the military arm of Equestria. They would protect their cousins as well as provide weather for them. I opened my eyes and looked around. The grassy plain around me was familiar yet different at the same time. I looked around and saw a city on a mountain. That...that was Canterlot. That city...it was my enemy and it looked wrong. Like there should be other things near it. Cloudsdale..yes Cloudsdale my home. It was supposed to be part of the siege. I lowered my head as I tried to remember and saw a lock of mane fall in front of me. My mane was not that long, nor was this the right color. I needed to look at myself. Remembering a river nearby. I flew over to it and looked at my reflection.
My fur was again pink instead of the gold it should be, my mane was cream, pink, and lavender then the just plain white...and I had a horn...............................I HAVE A HORN! The fact I flew here says I still have wings....I'm an alicorn!? How!? WHY!? I distinctly remember being a pegasus. I looked at my bodies reflection and even my cutie mark was not mine anymore. Instead of the lance with a banner it was a crystal cyan heart with gold leaflets surrounding it. What in Equestria happened to me. I was so busy trying to figure this out when she heard the flaps of wings. 'STUPID LANCE, you let your guard down.' I chastise myself and I took a defensive stance. I may not have a weapon or can use magic but I was not helpless. They were pegasi but they wore no clan colors on their armor. It was similar to Royal Guard Armor She had seen before but more simplified like clan armor. They looked at me in shock. Then one guard addressed one of the others. “Notify Princess Celestia that we have discovered an alicorn.” That was I needed to hear.
“So Celestia is behind this. Well she will find this mare not so easily beaten. Tis sorcery will not stop me.” They looked at me confused but that was all I needed. With a quick Flap of her wings I was in the air and decked one guard. With him out of the way I flew away but they caught up quickly and one body checked me. I twirled back to the ground. I had trouble getting back up. Couldn't worry about that now. I had to escape some how. Four Guards surrounded me and I was ready when they attacked. I ducked one lunge and uppercut him Then a twirled to dodge a kick by another only to be hit In the back and her head hit the ground hard and I was dazed till darkness claimed me.
* * * * *
When I started coming to again I did not feel grass beneath me, nor did it feel like a cot in a dungeon. I opened my eyes and saw.....A fancy room? I looked around and it looked like some of the rooms I saw in Manehatten but those still had some simplicity. This did not. I then spotted a tray with a bunch of apples and a pitcher of water with an empty glass. My stomach growled and decided to eat. If they wanted to kill her they had multiple opportunities before now. I ate it all in quick time and even after eating all the apples and half the pitcher I felt not hungry but far from full. I heard the door open and looked that way with a defensive stance.
It was Celestia.
She smiled at me. “Oh good, you are awake.” She then noticed my stance and frowned. “Please be at ease. You are safe here among new friends.” I snorted at that.
“Please, I am your prisoner despite this room. So what have you done to me?” She looked at me in confusion.
“Prisoner? You are not a prisoner but a guest and I have done nothing to you my little pony.”
“I'm not your pony. I am of Pegasoplis and we freed ourselves from you.” Celestia looked at her confused.
“Pegasoplis? That nation cease to exist centuries ago.”
“WHAT!?”
“Yes it cease to exist after the Lunar Rebellion. That's common knowledge. Please tell me your name.”
“I am Lance Charger, Daughter of Ephor Bright Charger, Captain of the Hetairoi as you well know now how and why did you do this to me!?” The large alicorn in front of me blinked twice.
“Lance Charger? Impossible, you died. I sensed it during the war. From what we heard from Dawn Charger and what Shadow reported the Tanglehoof covered your nose and mouth and she cut it off to prevent your death.” Celestia ears drooped. “Sadly she failed. The tanglehoof you accidentally swallowed killed you and peace was destroyed. Things went downhill for both sides that point on.” That got my interest.
“How? I admit things are a bit confusing right now. I know we are enemies but so much is clouded.” I stated and she looked at me before responding.
“We were at war. One I never wanted. I thought I was doing my best to rule all three tribes. Balancing all their needs and wants. I took the loyalty of Pegasi for granted and I paid for it. My mishandling of the Clipping case and even how I disapproved of their actions with the griffons. In hindsight they were more right then I was. How many more would have been lost before I acted. My grief affected my judgment. I respected their decision and asked Shadow Kicker to relay my desire to work with my successor. From what Shadow wrote after the war that a major rift happened between her and the Ephorate. Starting with the fact they excluded her from an earlier meeting to discuss the possibility of removing me from office. Then started making moves to support my opponent Apple Tree.”
I looked down as memories again filled my mind. “Yeah I remember mother being displeased with thee. Never heard about Ephor Kicker being excluded. That's disturbing. We liberated Manehattan And backed the Apple Tree supporters.”
“Well liberated could be debated. Half the Earth ponies still supported me. That could have still ended peacefully if given time. It be like if Unicornia decided to interfere with the selection of a new Ephor.”
“You have a point." I said to her and frown. “We were fighting for the right for mortal ponies to decide their fate.”
“Yet but moving in you forced your view on the Earth ponies rather then let them decide.” Celestia pointed out. I frowned at that. Then remembered.
“Yes a point that's why I offered the idea of new elections during the prisoner exchange to get Acting Commander Rightly back.”
“Yes you could have made peace soon afterwards. At least the best chance. Though I question if it would have succeeded in light of what happened afterwards. But maybe. Then that unicorn tried to kill you. Sunbeam swore up and down she didn't send anypony to do it. Say what you will about her, she was efficient at her job and wouldn't use anything but the best if she wanted you dead. My guess is a warlock.” I started to remember that part. “Yes. Ephor Swift Blade interacted with Warlocks to put an end to Polaris' army. The Commander wasn't too happy with that and assigned him to liaison with our Earth Pony allies in Manehattan.”
“That turned out to be a mistake. After Commander Rightly was captured and your siege engines and supplies were destroyed. He started on working to take out the allied Earth Pony Government for their management of the Earth pony side. Especially when they were thinking of peace with me for me recognizing their government.”
“Yes, without the supplies from the earth ponies our rebellion would collapse.” Celestia nodded.
“Yes you needed Earth Pony support to continue the fight So he got desperate. He even further got involved with the Warlocks and had them assist in his take over. They got Fair Deal and his top supports in a building and set fire to it killing all inside. They blamed Sunbeam off course for it.” I shook my head slowly. Swift wasn't a strong fighter but to go to these lengths, to further use the Warlocks against her uncle's wishes. He could be removed form the Ephorate with that kind of move. Surely her mother would have done so.
“My mother would have stopped that involvement and removed him form his position.”
“She very really got the chance. Your mother took your death hard. She met with Shadow Kicker under a white flag and after only a few words she impaled Shadow on her lance saying it was for daughter. She was also wounded, fatally and Swift used her to be an avatar for my corrupted sister. If you are truly Lance Charger then you have been graced with a second chance...” What ever she would have said beyond that was never known. All I felt was rage.
“LIAR!, MY MOTHER WOULD NEVER USE SUCH DISHONORABLE TACTICS!” I glared at her.
“Sad to say she did. And captured Shadow's daughter during it.”
“Get out.” I said to her coldly.
“Please just hear me out.” Celestia pleaded.
“GET OUT!” I screamed at her and she quickly left. I was so mad. And destroyed some of the items in my room. To claim that my mother would abandon honor so easily. The very sense of Honor she taught ME!
It took me an hour to calm down and to think. I needed more information on what happened. There is enough to believe that somehow I have traveled through time but how much? I needed to find Cloudsdale, find my clan and get their side of the story Celestia gave me. I can not trust her words after everything that has happened.
So I waited till night to come but as the sun began to set I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.” I said curious who would come. The door open to reveal a unicorn pushing in a tray.
“Your dinner Princess.” The mare said. I frowned at her.
“I'm no royalty, just a pony.” I replied.
“Forgive me princess but being an alicorn makes you one.” The mare replied with fear in her eyes. I sighed.
“I'm not going to hurt thee but how does having this,” I point to the horn. “Make me royalty? I know Celestia was Queen of Unicornia but I hold no title or allegiance to it.” She looked at me confused.
“Princess, Unicornia ceased to exist at the end of the Lunar Rebellion. Princess Celestia went with the title of Princess by terms of the peace treaty signed by all remaining leaders of the various factions. That's a common thing taught to every foal.” I looked at her.
“Till recently I was a pegasus and this whole transformation thing has got me all confused to what's going on.” The mare came up and ...hugged me.
“You poor dear, I had no idea becoming an alicorn would that way. I thought it be a joyous thing.”
“Well when this hits you out of the blue it can be quite surprising. And I have been out of touch for awhile so all of this is new to me.”
“Well I know the Princess is eager to teach you. She has been quite giddy since she heard of an alicorn appearing.” That confused me but I didn't say anything. Instead I lifted the cover on the meal and stared at it. This wasn't dinner this was a display. I couldn't even recognize most of the food before her.
“Is something wrong princess?” The mare asked.
“I don't recognize any of this food. I'm use to simple food, sort of like what you see in Cloudsdale.” I replied.
“Ah, well I'll take this and will be back then your highness.” She left and that title was really getting on my nerves. But I calmed myself by taking a breathe, holding it and letting it out while extending a forehoof. Having five younger siblings tests your patience at times so I made this technique to calm myself and it works pretty well. Minutes later the mare returned with a more recognizable meal.
“Thank you, tis a great meal.” I said and I began eating.
“You are welcome princess. Leave the cart outside your room when done.” She bowed and left. I hated that bowing. I am not her better, I am a pony just like her, just from a different tribe. I ate my meal in silence and pushed the cart out when done. Then she made a move to look like she was retiring for the night and she actually dozed a bit.
When I woke it was due to needing to get rid of waste. She found the latrine room and went. It was a different kind of relief that this was still a necessary function. I had heard rumors of what alicorns could do and of course stories of Commander Luna before her madness. Some saying they are goddesses, others the actual sun or moon in physical form with no need to eat, drink, breathe, or relieve themselves. I was so glad some of those are now not true. When done she checked the moon and it was well into the night. Perfect, I went to the window and opened it but saw a pair of guards across the way. “They would try to stop me. I need a distraction but what?” I tapped her head. “Wait the horn." I looked up at it. “Okay time to earn your keep.” She focused like her kind did to when controlling storm clouds. She heard a hum that she knew was unicorn style magic then she opened her eyes and focused on the guards. To my surprise I saw a ...pink heart floated over to them and hit them both. They looked at each other. Then started to make out. I looked in shock as the two hugged and disappeared as they fell onto the catwalk they were guarding. “Huh, wasn't expecting that but it works. Though surprise that guards are that easy. I thought unicorns were at least compentant.” She took to the air and went strait up into the cloud cover. “Now to find Cloudsdale and my clan to get some answers.” I said to my self as a flew on into the night.