//------------------------------//
// Somepony's Ideology 
// Story: A War 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

Monday afternoon.
At Canterlot, inside a restaurant of high walls, short lines, many chefs, stocked food, loud sizzles, comfy chairs, and woven smells, Top Marks had a vegetable dish before him. The slices of tomatoes and lettuces were organized to form a pattern; these were drizzled by some dressing and topped with a green leaf.
Eff Stop sat across the linen-lined table, having the same dish. He eyed the utensils in front of him: knife and fork.
Top Marks levitated a fork and chewed on a thin tomato slice.
Eff Stop watched him chew.
He swallowed the slice, floated a handkerchief to his mouth, wiped it, and gently placed it back on his lap, still levitating his fork.
"You told me you had some story that would inspire the average pony," Eff Stop began. "Aren't you going to tell me?"
He laughed a little and placed the fork down. "I wouldn't want to tell you on a completely empty stomach. I have lots of things in my mind. My break ends tomorrow and I have several lessons to teach to multiple grades."
The reporter nodded. "I understand, sir."
The professor smirked. "I'm content with my bite, so I'll tell you what's going on."
Eff Stop brought out a notepad with his wing and a ballpen with his hoof.
Top Marks looked around him.
The tables nearby were empty. The farther tables did have diners but they were caught up in their conversations sometimes interrupted by a bout of laughter or two. A waiter passed by, levitating a tray of plates and glasses, and then he was out.
"Last night, I talked to Princess Celestia about something," he said, lowering his voice close to a whisper.
Eff Stop wrote down half a line.
"She told me that she ordered her best mages to find out how to disable Sombra's mind control over the Crystal ponies."
He wrote down a line.
"It began back on Friday. Everything about it is a secret and, well, I've done some snooping."
Eff Stop looked up.
"I won't tell you how exactly I was able to get a hold of this information but—there's a secret organization that only they and the Princesses know about."
"Uh, what are you doing?" the reporter asked with a shaky voice. "You're not going to get me into trouble, are you?"
The professor nodded. "That's alright. I do have a bit of leeway on that, however. Being a teacher in Princess Celestia's own school grants you a plethora of privileges. If she discovers that I know about it, she will just tell me to be quiet and to not talk about it at all with anyone else—and I've kept several promises to that."
"But, what about the mages and the mind control?" He prepared his pencil. "Like, how soon can we expect them to figure it out?"
Top Marks sighed. "It's only in its beginning stages. One of them said that it might take more than half a year. It's difficult to get a Crystal pony to remove his helmet."
"But you can, right?"
He made a smile—and then dropped it. "Nopony has. That's why some of the generals, including Spearhead, are already having hooves pointed at them for crazy assumptions. They thought that if you could just kick or punch the helmets out, then that's it. That's why several of our northern towns and cities fell so quickly—especially Vanhoover." He pushed his plate away. "I'm sure you know what started that catastrophe."
"Because some of the police tried removing their helmets..." Eff Stop muttered, looking down on his notes.
"Not even the strongest Earth pony there could do anything about it," he said, adopting a slower and sober voice. "Everything there was good as gone—all because we thought we could just pick up those helmets."
A pause. The two heard the clatter of utensils and the continuing conversations. "So, you're saying they're attached to their helmets?"
"Maybe," he said. "Or maybe not. We're not sure. We can't remove their armors so easily because it's not really a good idea at the moment."
"What can you do?" Eff Stop asked.
"I'm not one of those mages," he replied. "I'm a lecturer." He levitated a fork and took a bite of another tomato slice.
Eff Stop scribbled some more lines on his notepad.
"Are you gonna eat that?" the professor asked, pointing at the plate of untouched food.
"I will," he said before grabbing his fork and finishing his light lunch.



Eff Stop and Press Release walked on the sidewalk, passing by several two- to three- story houses. Even a four-story house was over there, with a mustached pony on the balcony as he waved his hat to all who passed by.
"Everyone's expecting that," Press Release said. "It's clear that the helmets are magical. All we need now is a counterspell."
"From how he said it," Eff Stop answered, "it's not as easy as it sounds."
"I know it's not that easy," she replied. "Nopony's seen Sombra before!"
He sighed. He stopped and pointed at a house. "Look."
She looked.
It was a tall enough house of purple bricks and hourglass-shaped windows and door. There was even a large hourglass right above the door; all the sand was at the bottom.
"It's a nice theme for a house," he said. "I would've liked clocks more, but an hourglass is uncommon in the big cities."
Press Release rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'll play along. Ask me what kind of pony this house's owner is."
Eff Stop smiled. "What kind of pony is this house's owner?"
"Not so literal!" she said, a bit whimsical. Then, facing the house: "She likes hourglasses a lot to the point of ordering a house with hourglasses as a focal design...thing. Why does she like hourglasses? Because she likes to be on time—never a minute late and never a minute early. A timely pony, a punctual pony."
"Anything else?" Eff Stop prodded, his smile growing.
She groaned, still looking at the house. "She keeps most of the curtains closed. Maybe she's a reclusive pony. Not outgoing. If she has friends, then they're few. Probably doesn't talk a lot; when she does, she's quiet because she's probably shy. Her hobby might not help so well. About her hobby, it's probably scheduling to an absurd degree. Also, she might like books a lot—a bookworm."
"I need a break," he said as he walked up the stairs.
Press Release growled. "Get down!"
"I've had a stressful day so far, OK?" He turned to face her as he stood in front of the door, hoof poised to knock. "If I could talk to somepony else and let her join us for some walking around in the museum—"
The door opened.
"Hi!" Minuette yelled from inside the house. "You look really familiar! Wait, don't tell me! You're those ponies we bumped into a while back! We haven't seen each other in a long time!" Then, she shook his hoof. "I overheard you about letting me join in! Don't leave the rest of my friends out! I can bring Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Moon Dancer—all of 'em!"
He took a step back from the happy pony.
And tripped down the stairs.
"Ouch," Press Release murmured as she levitated the hat off of his head. "That's not gonna hurt much."
"So, where are we going?" Minuette asked from the top of the stairs.



"Eee! I can't believe we're going to Rainbow Falls on a surprise trip!"
"You've said that a dozen times," Twinkleshine said as she pulled Minuette's face away from the train window.
The four unicorn friends plus the two reporters sat only two seats across each other. The train was mostly empty—there was a mailgriffon at the back, staring out another window while a bag was slung around her torso.
"I'll say it a dozen more if I have to!" Minuette shouted. "It's a shame that we're not going here when the Traders Exchange takes place. But, this makes it the second best time to visit Rainbow Falls!"
"I'm not following," Moon Dancer said, shaking her head. "What are you saying?"
"Everything's paid for by these guys!" she screamed while pointing at the two reporters.
"You've said that more than a dozen times," Lemon Hearts mentioned.
Then, the train slowed down.
Mineutte went back to the window, slamming her face there. "Can you believe it?! Look at all those waterfalls that aren't really waterfalls but more like rainbow falls—just like the name of this place! We're going to take pictures!" She looked at the reporters. "You brought cameras, right?!"



It was another lovely place to be and live in.
The train station sat on top of a plateau. Most of the buildings had a village style to it similar to those found in Ponyville although there was no hay to be found on the roofs and there were more balconies than usual. Modest houses were modest, too, in number—not too spaced out, not too crowded.  Some of those buildings had rainbow signs on them.
Indeed, there were many rainbow falls there, emanating from clouds high up. They fell down to the rainbow rivers and rainbow lakes—all ordinary-looking rivers and lakes if it weren't for the rainbow stream that replaced the water.
The grass was clean here, mowed properly. Trees dotted the place.
One could see, over there, more houses and other buildings on the cliffs. Some were even partially hanging over the air, with the ground so far down.
The surroundings of the place were mountainous; a large part of the sky was covered by these humongous hills. There, a valley was with flat green plains.
As the passengers got off the train, they looked around and beheld everything they could see. Minuette was jumping around, not stepping at all for the most part. Twinkleshine and Lmeon Hearts smiled at what they saw and Moon Dancer, though levitating a notebook and writing down some notes, smiled, too. Press Release and Eff Stop looked about them as well, her camera already glowing that gray blue.
"I can't believe it!"
"Now you've said it more than a dozen times!" Twinkleshine told, yanking an excited Minuette away from one of the rainbow lakes that flowed about thicker than water, as if it was sweet liquid sugar.
Press Release sighed and rolled her eyes, levitating her hat off of her head. "The only reason why I even considered letting you go with us here is that I'm kind." She motioned the hat towards her and Eff Stop. "We're here to see what's happening around here, write our articles, take some pictures, and get out of here. Do you even realize how dangerous it is?"
His smile went away. "She's right. The only thing keeping Rainbow Falls safe is the mountain range, and you know how they're good at utilizing mountains."
"It's not the closest, anyway!" Minuette said, waving it off.
Then, a poke. She turned around.
"We're still close to the Empire," Moon Dancer said. "It's no laughing matter."
Minuette grunted. "We've got ponies protecting us over there!" She pointed at the mountains. A closer look revealed a few soldiers climbing them.
It was now Lemon Hearts who yanked that excited mare. "Do you have any idea what you're kidding about?!"
"I wasn't the one who made a failed experiment and broke all my jars in the process!"
"How will I know if I don't try?"
Moon Dancer stepped in. "Girls, we're not going anywhere if we keep on arguing like this. It's good enough that these two reporters were nice enough to let us be here." She half-bowed to the two reporters who smiled back. "It would only be right to enjoy their gift." Then, with a hoof blocking Mineutte from moving about, she said to the reporters, "So, what can we do here? I'll be over at the biggest library here to search for any additional information about the Empire, but I don't think the rest of my friends would like to participate in that search."
The two reporters looked up, pondering. "Well," Press Release said, raising a hoof, "there is some kind of occasion happening at where the Traders Exchange usually takes place. A mayor—not of this town—is having free activities. I'm sure you can pass the time there."
"And you better get to it," Eff Stop continued. "Because I can feel her about to explode—"
"Sooner we get this over with, the better," she said, changing to an angry accent.
Eff Stop giggled. "Gotta go, bye!"
The two galloped away.



The four mares stood outside the tunnel, all with open mouths and low jaws. Moon Dancer adjusted her glasses with her magic, though kept her bewildered face.
"What is this?" Twinkleshine asked.
Before them was a large group of chairs in front of a short wooden platform, most of them occupied. On and above the platform were banners and signs—white and black. On the sides were huge speakers, their wires leading up to the microphone in its stand on the stage.
The pony on stage tapped the microphone.
Loud feedback rang; ponies covered their ears and gritted their teeth.
"Sorry about that," Starlight Glimmer said, her voice resonating clear through the speakers. She gave a sheepish smile. "Just making sure nothing's wrong."
"Who's that?" Minuette asked, pointing at the mare.
Moon Dancer gasped. "She's Starlight Glimmer!"
The audience looked at her.
Their eyes were bearing down.
"Oh, I'm sorry again!" Starlight said as she hopped off of the platform and walked through the grassy aisle, past many rows, and finally right there with the mares. She extended a hoof. "You know who I am, but I don't know who you are." She looked at the four of them. "What are your names?"
Moon Dancer smiled. "She's Twinkleshine—" pointed at her smiling "—she's Lemon Hearts—" pointed at her wearing a neutral expression "—she's Minuette—" pointed at her shaking Starlight's hoof, surprising her "—and I'm Moon Dancer."
Starlight pulled her hoof out of the hoofshake.
"You're really the pony who built up that town in the middle of nowhere?" Moon Dancer asked.
"I wouldn't say 'nowhere' in particular, but it's close." She laughed a little. "I mean, it is not the best of land to some, but it is to us—and we could make it better together."
Moon Dancer nodded.
And was yanked by Minuette.
She brought her mouth close to Moon Dancer's ear. "I don't like how this feels," she whispered.
"I know," Moon Dancer whispered back. "But, let's be polite."
The two looked back at Starlight.
"Admission is free!" Starlight said, motioning a hoof toward the remaining empty chairs.
The four looked amongst themselves.



"This thing's working right?" her voice resounded. "Alright. Let's get this started!"
The audience became silent.
Starlight cleared her throat.
The tracts of green land extended a good while, suddenly cut. Beyond was a beautiful view of the valley to the left. To the left, also, was a rainbow fall from the plateau above, flowing into a rainbow river that winded to yet another drop at the cliff, at the end.
"I would like to begin with a question: Are you disappointed with how you've been treated by the government, by the Princesses?"
And many raised their hooves, some even speaking their Yes's.
"Why?" she asked.
Scanning the room; then, pointing.
"M-Me?" a stallion sputtered.
"You raised your hoof, didn't you?" Starlight said, focused on him. "What specifically did the Princesses do that made you so upset? Or, if not the Princesses, at least somepony with fame and fortune in some lavish estate?"
He looked left and right, his neighbors eyeing him. Then, gulped. "They're sitting on wealth that we deserve for our hard work while they just talk about their insignificant arguments!"
"Exactly," Starlight said, smiling. "Instead of learning the good virtue of hard work, these snobby ponies fund everything so that they'll do nothing. And, if anypony complains, they also have the power to take you out, bring you out of the game so that you don't even matter to them. Or worse, put you in jail. These ponies have the ability to forge documents, if you didn't know."
A few gasps let out from the audience.
She paced, levitating the microphone with her. "It's not a good thing to uphold, is it? Yet, we always give them some respect because they're the ones with the money and the influence. Well, what if I told you that they're hoarding it all up and that they don't deserve any of the respect we're giving to them?"
A pony raised her hoof and stood up. "Starlight Glimmer?"
"Oh, Moon Dancer!" she said, walking to the edge of the platform. "You've got a question this early on? You must be very curious and thoughtful."
"Thank you. But, I do have a question."
Starlight nodded. "Go on. I'm listening."
All eyes were on her. Minuette shivered in her seat.
"I know where this is going," Moon Dancer spoke. "I've read your manifesto. I don't want to make myself your enemy, but I hope that you'll understand where I'm coming from."
"That is more than good," Starlight said. "An ideology must have solid principles to stand on, after all...tried and tested by time and practice and experiment."
Moon Dancer nodded. "Have you been in Equestria?"
Many gasped at that.
Starlight placed a hoof to her mouth. "What kind of a question is that? I've never been outside of Equestria in my whole life!"
"I didn't mean it literally," she clarified. "But, I hope that was enough to raise the attention of everypony here."
"Huh?" She tilted her head a bit. "That was useless, anyway. Everypony was already listening to you."
Moon Dancer walked to the aisle separating the two halves of the audience.
Murmurs arose, whispers about the brave unicorn standing up to the mare on the stage.
"I don't see what you're trying to prove here," Starlight said, her voice still booming through the speakers. "It's unwise, but I'm still listening. Maybe you have something perfectly reasonable for your, hm, actions."
"It may not be perfect," Moon Dancer said, "but it's reason enough."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Come on. I'm waiting."
She drew in a deep breath. Then, facing Starlight straight up: "You said it yourself that you've lived in Equestria your whole life. You've never went outside. Have you ever seen what goes on in the kingdoms and empires outside of Equestria?"
"I've paid attention in my classes, if that's what you were thinking," Starlight replied dryly.
"You know the histories of these places," Moon Dancer continued, "and, I think, you know how their inhabitants live life, too. Yes, they are more than just surviving, but, compared to us, they are miserable. The griffons live in shambles, the dragons sleep on stones, the yaks have little more than huts. They only know how to exist and survive. Not much else."
Starlight raised an eyebrow, watching her stand there on that path.
"What about us?" She placed a hoof on her chest. "We don't just exist and survive. We truly live. Everypony is free to do whatever they want and, as long as you put in enough work and effort, you can achieve your goals here in Equestria. Who allowed this to happen to us? Who brought this upon our land?"
A pause, all eyes on her, Starlight looking down on her.
"The Princesses!"
Starlight took a step back.
Gasps abounded.
Minuette trotted over to her friend. "Moon Dancer? Are you crazy?!"
Moon Dancer smiled. "A little."
Murmurs, whispers around.
"Well, that was an interesting speech," Starlight spoke.
Everyone fell silent. All eyes were on her.
"I admit that Equestria under the rule of the Princesses is a wonderful Equestria. I'm not denying that they've brought about lots of benefits that do need to be spread and shared. But, no matter which way you tell it, the system is flawed, and I won't give you the chance to interrupt me because I would like to spell the essentials out to you before you make an opinion about it." A smile. "Do you understand?"
Moon Dancer gulped.
Minuette slipped away.
"I've already said it before," Starlight went on, "that you have these ponies who are very rich. They could be using their riches for something that can actually help Equestria even further. But, what do they spend it on? Fancy clothes that don't do anything to keep the streets clean, embellished plates that could easily be replaced with an ordinary paper one, to name only two. They also spend it on bodyguards; if you cannot fight, you can at least run, especially if you're a pegasus—or, would that be flight?" She brushed it off. "Anyway, that's not the point. The point is: the Princesses are good, but there is a better way. They have ties to those rich ponies who don't want to help us even a little bit.
"And, since you've read my manifesto—" pointing at Moon Dancer who took a step back "—you know how we live in our little town: nopony actually leads. Everypony is a friend to everypony else. We seek equal labor for all who live, no matter who you are, and you will receive your due pay, too, along with more than enough free time to dedicate to whatever hobby you choose to pursue besides that shown by your cutie mark. Since nopony leads, everypony gets a voice in how things are to be done—and, no, I am not the mayor of our town. I've only chosen to dedicate some of my free time to represent it and to defend it. I, too, work on the fields and harvest food for everypony to eat and enjoy. So, you cannot blame me for being a hypocrite."
The murmurs grew, narrowing down on Moon Dancer standing out.
She gulped.



Outside the train windows, one could see the enormous Celestial Sea. The waves moved back and forth at their sluggish speed, though their height made them formidable as they crashed against the steep cliffs.
Press Release and Eff Stop sat together in the train's carriage, the four mares a few seats ahead as they talked though quieter.
"I didn't know they were hosting Starlight Glimmer of all ponies," Eff Stop said. "To get lashed out by her. That's certainly not something nice."
"Downright terrible," Press Release said. "What makes it even worse is that she often sounds right. Remember when I went to that town? They were able to build it up faster than usual, and there wasn't much squabbling, if there was any! Plus, she doesn't seem to have a personal reason for doing this—not a hint of it at all."
Eff Stop scratched his chin, putting on his thinking face. "You did say 'seem', right?"
Press Release shook her head. "No. We are not investigating her."
Eff Stop sighed.
"Some other time, but not now," Press Release said. "We've gotta return."