A New Equestria

by Lil Penpusher


A Flame Rekindled

The war had turned Celestia's daily routine into an unending nightmare. At any given time during the day, there was somepony in the Equestrian nobility or military that urgently needed to speak with her. She heard news of Changeling atrocities and raids. The life of ponies — her beloved subjects — became but a number on a clipboard as casualties increased.

Today was but an ordinary day, as such. Besides raising the sun, she needed to deal with Prince Blueblood, who had been made responsible for a large amount of the frontline with the changelings. He was reckless and merciless, feared by his own soldiers, but Celestia had understood that in tough times like these, order and discipline might be more beneficial than tolerance and friendship.

Just as she stood outside on the balcony to raise the sun, however, a servant interrupted the brief moment of peace and quiet that she had left.

"Princess, pardon me for disturbing you but..." The servant stuttered nervously.

"But?"

"But Prince Blueblood has called, once again. Here." The Princess turned around and spotted the silver telephone which her servant was holding. "He wishes to talk to you. It appears to be... quite urgent."

The Princess eyed the apparatus. She could feel a stinging headache, losing focus for a moment.

"Princess? Is everything-"

"I'm fine!" The Alicorn shouted back.

The small pony in front of her recoiled, her limbs shivering. The Princess shook her head as the headache suddenly subsided once again.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scream," Celestia said quietly, holding a hoof over her mouth. "I don't know what's wrong with me today..."

The timid mare remained silent, standing still as the Princess came closer.

"Thank you for informing me, my little pony. You may go." Celestia encased the silver machine in her magical aura and levitated it into the air. The frightened mare bowed before her before leaving once again.


"Princess?" the voice of the Prince sounded over the receiver.

"You wished to talk to me, Prince? I hope it's urgent."

"Quite. As you may recall, my soldiers tend to be a little undisciplined when it comes to following my orders."

"Yes?"

"You will surely also remember that I have made quite an effort to teach these scoundrels basic military order and discipline, since you refused to send me troops of... better quality than these ones," the Prince said with a low, awkward cough.

"Get to the point, Blueblood. I don't have allday to chat with you."

"Yes, well. The ponies living in a nearby village have told me that my soldiers are now resorting to robbing the populace, stealing both food and riches from them."

The Princess listened carefully.

"Today I had to deal with a crying mother who came rushing into our camp." The Prince paused for a moment. Celestia could hear him breathing over the phone. "Her... she says her daughter has been killed."

Celestia's jaw dropped in horror.

"She cried on and on, running around wildly and punching at my troops as she cursed us."

The Princess suddenly felt dizzy and... she could feel that odd headache return once again.

"The killing will never stop..."

She began hearing that ghost, that voice again.

"You must protect... you must lead..."

Celestia dropped the phone as pain from the headache suddenly intensified.

"You... must grow beyond yourself..."

"No..." Celestia gave out quietly, the pain growing stronger and stronger.

"Your destiny awaits... your people must have a leader!"

"My..." Celestia mumbled, collapsing from the pain. "My... destiny..."

As if she had cast a spell, the headache and ghastly voice, both, disappeared as soon as she gave out those words. After taking a few deep breaths and recollecting her strength, she took hold of the phone receiver once again. Prince Blueblood was still on the line.

"Princess? Hello? What happened?"

"Prince, listen up," Celestia commanded. "I want you to find all those responsible for stealing from my ponies. I want you to find them, and when you did, you shall send them off into the dirtiest, most miserable prison in Equestria!" the Princess shouted angrily.

"But.. Princess, I-"

"And if you find whoever is responsible for murdering that small, innocent filly, you are to personally execute him in front of the entire battalion, so they can finally see what happens to ponies like him!"

The Prince remained silent.

"Are we clear, Prince?"

"Yes. Of course."

"And if you dare disobey these direct orders, Blueblood, you may rest assured that I will come for you, and that I will end your life myself."

Both of them remained silent. Only their breathing could be heard.

"Is that understood, General Blueblood?"

"Y-yes, Princess. Of course, Princess."

"Very well, then. Goodbye, and good luck."

The Princess hung up and made the telephone disappear. Only now did she feel that something was... off. She could feel something was different, almost as if... as if someone dictated those words to her. Such brutal, such reckless orders... that wasn't her, was it?

"No matter," she thought to herself. Her patience with Prince Blueblood and his devilish barbarian 'soldiers' had finally run its course. Ponies like those, who turn against those who they are supposed to protect and fight for, deserve no less.

The white-coated Alicorn took a deep breath before galloping back inside the castle. Despite her lack of sleep that early morning, she could feel her energy return to her. She could feel her strength and power increase. Her inner flame, formerly extinguished by the tragedies and losses of the war, had finally been rekindled.