//------------------------------// // 27 - Aftermath, Part 5 of 5 // Story: The Last Cutie Mark Crusader // by Jatheus //------------------------------// Scootaloo was surprised at the lack of pomp and circumstance for what was about to happen. She stood at the top of the stairs in Shining Armor’s war room in Cloudsdale, several of her friends alongside. The room was amazingly clean considering what had taken place there only hours before. "Thank you all for coming," Shining Armor said as he entered the room, flanked by six guards and his daughter, Princess Flurry Heart, the last alicorn. Scootaloo thought the prince looked as dashing in his red ceremonial uniform he now wore as he had when she’d been the flower-filly at his wedding all those years ago. Standing next to her were Sparklefly, Lightning Dasher, LD, Clyde, Digger, Brax, and Applejack. She had taken the longest to arrive, being pregnant had rendered her unable to fly by pegasus harness. They had used a hot air balloon instead. Princess Flurry Heart, barely ten years of age, seemed happy. Her youthful innocence seemed to not care for or understand the events that had unfolded in the night. Scootaloo wondered whether she were even fully aware of how close she and her father had come to being murdered. The prince spoke, “The seven of you played a pivotal role in what happened last night. You showed extreme loyalty in the most dangerous situation. For that, you have my thanks. As recognition for your bravery, you will each be advanced in rank and awarded the Canterlot Shield." Princess Flurry Heart opened the small box she had been holding and distributed the medals to each of them. The guards had severe expressions on their faces, almost as if daring anypony to make a move that was out of line. They weren’t carrying spears just for show. “To answer one question that is no doubt on your minds, I was able to outmaneuver the rebels due to a special Taskforce that Rainbow Dash leads here in Cloudsdale. They analyze information and make recommendations to me. In fact,” he looked at Scootaloo, “after you warned me of Mane Crusher’s treachery, I asked my Taskforce to analyze any data they could get their hooves on and tell me how likely it was for what you’d said to be accurate. They rarely come back with a consensus of over ninety-percent, but in this case the did within two hours of looking at troop reassignments.” A swell of pride aside, Scootaloo didn't feel nearly so heroic as she had when Princess Celestia had given them awards after the evacuation of Canterlot. Perhaps it was the lack of ceremony this time; the room was empty but for the seven, Shining Armor and his daughter, the guards, and one aide. Or maybe it was her aching left shoulder; during the struggle, Mane Crusher had nearly pulled it out of the socket. She'd had to keep it in a sling and put ice on it. "Moreover," Shining Armor continued, “You didn’t just support Equestria in her hour of need, nor me. Your actions were also instrumental in saving my daughter,” he paused a moment as a flash of pain crossed his visage. “Inasmuch as I feel that talk and promotions are too small a reward for your actions... ask whatever you will; if it is within my power, I will grant it." Scootaloo gasped along with everypony else, not really certain what to respond. She had never before been offered anything she wanted by the most powerful authority in Equestria. After a long moment, Sparklefly stepped forward. "Yes, Lieutenant?" Shining Armor smiled, "Or should I say Captain?" "Thank you, your majesty," Sparklefly said with a bow. "Did I hear correctly that the officers who organized the attempted coup are to be executed?" Shining Armor's eyes glinted a moment in thought before he said, "Yes. You heard correctly." Sparklefly took a deep breath, "Your majesty, with your permission, I would ask for the lives of the traitors. I mean to spare them." The room was now dead quiet; all eyes were on Sparklefly. Shining Armor regarded her before replying, "Do you have friends among them?" "No, your majesty.” "Do you not agree that they should be held accountable for their actions?” "They must be punished for what they've done, your majesty.” Scootaloo could tell that Sparklefly was choosing her words carefully. She continued, “Their betrayal, attacking EUP forces, and the murder of Captain Swiftlight, it is unforgivable." "Then why spare them when resources grow so thin?” Shining Armor asked. Sparklefly took another breath, “I have never met a tactician like General Mane Crusher, your majesty. I feel that he may be of further use to us before the war is over." Silence followed for nearly a minute. Scootaloo felt extremely uncomfortable as Shining Armor paced around his large table-map of Equestria as he thought. The only sound was his hooves against the tile floor. "Very well," Shining Armor said to Sparklefly. "Their lives are in your hooves. What would you have us do with them?" "I would strip them of all rank and honor, disbursing them into separate units throughout the EUP. The senior officers, I would send somewhere to keep them safe until they are needed; the Crystal Empire, perhaps." "Then that shall be their fate," the prince replied. “The senior officers will be imprisoned in the Crystal Empire.” Scootaloo was a bit dumbfounded now. She could ask for anything, but what to request? She’d been so distracted by what Sparklefly had said that she’d not made a decision. At this point, what she wanted most was for the war to end so her friends could be out of danger. "With your permission, your majesty," Brax bowed his head. "Speak," Shining Armor replied. "I would ask only to serve you further." The prince smiled, "Very well, I will make you my general in Mane Crusher's place. You will command his corps in Ponyville until further notice." "Thank you.” The prince moved down the line, coming to Clyde next. "I feel I have only done my duty; there is nothing that I would ask of you, your majesty.” "Nothing?" Shining Armor probed. "Nothing that is within your power to give, your majesty," Clyde replied with a solemnity in his voice. Shining Armor nodded; Scootaloo could tell from their expressions that they understood each other. Shining Armor turned to Lightning Dasher. "We have only one request," LD said. "And that is that you send me home," Lightning Dasher finished. "Go on," the prince said. "I'm sure you're aware, we came from the same place," LD began. "We were both once Lightning Dasher, and when we were duplicated, there were hundreds of us, but now there are only two." "I bet you can imagine how we feel, having with our own eyes witnessed so many of us fall," Lightning Dasher continued. "For the sake of my, of our family; we ask that I am released from further service to the EUP so I can be sent back to them. LD would like to stay and continue fighting.“ Prince Shining Armor smiled, "In all fairness, we have already received more of you than we are able to ask of most soldiers. This I will grant for you, Lightning Dasher." "Thank you, your majesty," LD and Lightning Dasher said in unison. "Applejack, congratulations on being elected mayor. I know you are one of my sister's closest friends; your integrity was never in question." With a smile the prince added, "Rainbow Dash made sure I didn't forget it. She would have been here today, but she is in the Crystal Empire until the shock from the rebellion cools down. What would you ask of me?" "Well, I've come into some hard times at Sweet Apple Acres. Princess Twilight signed an order allowing the mayor of Ponyville special power to seize land and use it for whatever farming purposes they had in mind. The previous mayor tried to turn the orchard into a grain field. Getting elected fixed that problem for me, but now I'm too busy with those duties to replant the orchard. I could use more hooves to work the farm." Glancing at Sparklefly, Applejack continued, "I know there are heavy restrictions on travel right now, but I know a farming family that can help us out. Sparklefly here has kinfolk from Apple Loosa that are living in Baltimare. I sure would appreciate it if you could get them moved to Ponyville to help out on the farm." "Of course, provided this is what you and your family want," Shining Armor said to Sparklefly, who nodded her reply. “Then it is done.” "Your majesty," Digger began. "I grew up living in Canterlot. I worked on the irrigation team that maintained the sewers until the city fell. I would ask only that we reclaim our capital city so I'll have a home to return to when the war ends." "That is not something I can grant at this time, but I am able to make sure there is always a place for you until you can return home. If you wish it, I will appoint you to my royal guard." “Thank you, your majesty," Digger said, a large smile forming as he bowed his head. "You will, of course, have to pass muster," the prince said, gesturing at the other guards in the room. "Of course, your majesty, thank you!” The prince came to Scootaloo last, and her mouth felt dry. Her legs were shaking slightly, and she still had no idea what to say. "All I want is to win the war," she said; a fleeting thought of her as yet undiscovered cutie mark went through her mind. "I know this is not within your power, and you are working to do that already." Another thought struck her and she blurted out, "But there is one thing," she hesitated, afraid she had spoken out of turn. "Go on," he encouraged. "I have a dear friend," Scootaloo began, "his name is Cloud Blazer, and I would ask for recognition of his deeds. When we went into the Everfree Forest, our squad was ambushed, and we were nearly all killed and captured. Cloud Blazer brought up the rear to cover our retreat all the way out to make sure the rest of us were safe. This is when Princess Twilight Sparkle was captured. Who knows what would have happened if we hadn't made it out of there. When we jumped off the cliff, he was hit by a timberwolf and fell to the bottom of Ghastly Gorge. He survived the fall, but had several broken bones, and his wings were amputated. He'll never fight or fly again. So far, there has been no recognition or reward for anything he did that day.“ "He shall be known as the Hero of Everfree," Shining Amor began thoughtfully. "We didn't know how the timberwolves were raising such numbers until you all went with my sister into the forest that day. I believe your deeds on that mission marked a turning point in the war. For that reason, I'll award him the Shining Star." Scootaloo smiled at Shining Armor as he continued, "As for the other matter, I do have the power to put you into a position to be part of bringing the war to a swift conclusion." He must have read the expression on her face; elation and excitement weren't things Scootaloo was adept at hiding. He continued, "Do not answer quickly. You might be volunteering for the most dangerous position in the entire EUP Guard. The Taskforce I mentioned earlier, their primary purpose is the location and capture of Queen Chrysalis. Their efforts on that front have garnered mixed results, and I would be willing to assign you, and anypony else of your choosing to serve on that detachment. Take a day to think it over." Scootaloo could feel Sparklefly looking at her; neither of them needed a day to think about this. The prospect of capturing Queen Chrysalis was more than enough motivation to jump head-first into whatever Shining Armor had in mind. If they could just catch her, the changelings would be finished. If they caught her, the war would be over.