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// 4 Celestia's Dilemma 
// Story: Hot Chocolate Comes to Town 
// by Bronyxy 
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The diverse appearance of the hoofpicked unicorns from Celestia’s School clashed in stark contrast to the polished metal and blue uniforms that dominated the courtyard as the ramshackle looking bunch of misfits was escorted into the waiting chariots.

Luna and Celestia shared a last few words with their generals and then Luna came down to conduct a brief inspection of the guards, exchanging the odd words of banter and adding to the esprit de corps, while Celestia checked on the personally appointed unicorns, some of whom looked a little unsteady at the prospect of flying to Ponyville when they would clearly have much preferred to take a train.

From across the courtyard, the two Royal sisters exchanged a look and nodded to each other, then issued the command that everypony, except possibly for a few of the unicorns, wanted to hear and sprang into the air, displaying to everypony present the sun glinting majestically off their battle armour as they led their armies to their destiny.

Citizens of Canterlot looked up in awe as wave after wave of Royal Guards and Bat Ponies appeared over the city, all following their steadfast aim towards some point in the distance. The sheer might of the display sent shivers of both pride and fear through those who saw it and sparked many a speculation as to what was happening, but most believed it to be just an exercise. Meanwhile, back in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, a number of substitute teachers had been drafted in to give lessons that afternoon without being given a reason as to why.

Whilst the aerial armada looked impressive from the ground, it was even more awesome to be part of. The guards very rarely conducted exercises on this scale and being part of such a massed force brought a glow of pride to everypony involved. At the front, the two sisters were pleased that morale was so high; it would mean that they would be all the more effective when they faced what was waiting for them. Both knew to treat their adversary with the greatest of respect; the changelings had captured both of them and subdued the Royal Guard last time they met, and although it had turned out alright, there was no room for complacency.

They made good time considering that they were encumbered with armour and weapons, but although none would dare to admit it openly, they were all looking forward to a rest by the time they approached their destination. The sisters had routed their flight path around all major towns on their route, and as such approached Sweet Apple Acres from an unfamiliar bearing over the orchards rather than from over Ponyville.

The Royal sisters made their approach side by side and flared by the end of the path that led to the front door of the Apple family’s farmhouse. Next to come in were the chariots that needed a longer runway than the guards who circled protectively overhead while the precious cargo beneath them could line up for their approach. With the unicorns safely down, the guards descended in a seamless and perfectly synchronised procession with the ground attack companies and platoons landing first, leaving the combat air wings and squadrons in the air until last just in case of surprise attack while they were particularly exposed during landing.

Granny Smith’s interest had been aroused when she had first seen the silhouettes of pegasi flying low overhead and come out to greet her guests, although she had been taken aback by the numbers arriving which was so much more than had attended even the biggest ever Apple family reunion.
A little behind her followed Big Mac, who was also amazed by the army that had descended into their farm.
“Granny Smith” said Celestia walking up the path with her sister behind “It’s been a long time.”
“Well Howdy Princess, you don’t look a day older than when we first met.”
“The farm has flourished under your husbandry” the immortal Sun Princess complimented.
“I’m guessin’ it’s those two bugs you’ll want to see” she replied, getting straight down to business “You’d best follow me then.”

Granny Smith showed the two Princesses in to the parlour where the hogtied changelings were under the closest scrutiny of three young mares. At the arrival of her mentor, the lilac pony gave one final check of the prisoners, then bounded over to give her a nuzzle, but was thwarted by the battle armour and just rubbed muzzles instead.
“Hi Princess” she greeted casually “I guess you haven’t come alone?”
“Hello Twilight. No, Luna and I have brought some friends along with us, some of whom you may remember as teachers from your school days.”
Twilight’s eyes grew wide with anticipation.
“Not only are they the best teachers, but they are also conveniently on hand should I require magical support at any time too. It’s an intrinsic side of their tenure that we don’t discuss openly.”
“Oh, I can’t wait!” bubbled Twilight, before changing the subject “Do you want to come and see what bundles of joy we’ve been looking after this afternoon?”
Celestia nodded and walked closer, Luna now pulling forward by her side. Her face rapidly lost the happy expression she had worn meeting Twilight and developed into a frown.

Just then, the door opened again and four unicorns walked in, all of whom Twilight knew from her school days, but now rather than wearing the persona of friendly teachers, their demeanour was more business-like. Twilight’s initial wide smile sagged as she realised that out of the closeted context she had known them in the past, they were here now in a fundamentally different role, that of protectors of Equestria. She still received smiles of recognition, but the cheery words of greeting she had intended died in her throat.

“Can you wake them?” asked Luna.
“No problem Princess” said Twilight, her voice taking on an air of authority, subconsciously trying to show her former teachers how her worth had increased since she had last known them. Her pink aura reached out from her horn, removing the enchantment that had kept the prisoners inert for hours and as she turned back, her eyes ran quickly over the unicorns, seeing a proud smile on one. She couldn’t help but smile back and for some reason began to blush a bright red colour.

The changelings’ big blue eyes flicked open and their first vision was of the Royal Princesses just a few feet away in full battle armour and recoiled immediately. They instinctively reached out for love to feed off, but there was none in the room to be had and they both hissed in a mixture of frustration and fright.
“Let me make it clear” said Celestia, authority dripping off every syllable “We want information from you; we can tell if you are dishonest and we can tell if you withhold anything. Would you like me to clarify what will happen to you if you do not comply?”
Both changelings shook their heads quickly as best they could, given their predicament.
“Good” said Celestia levitating the two prisoners, magically unwrapping them in her yellow aura and retying each separately.
“Nice knots, by the way” she added as an afterthought.
“Aw shucks Princess” came a country drawl from an orange pony nearby.

“Luna, please take the one of your choosing into another room and seal yourself in so that neither sound nor psychic communication can transfer between them. Then do as you will to find out what it knows.”
Celestia looked at Granny Smith who gestured to the scullery, and next thing, a hogtied changeling was being levitated in a blue aura into the adjoining room, followed by a very focused Princess and two unicorns.

Celestia cast a quick sideways glance towards the two unicorns who had stayed in the kitchen with her and confirmed that they were both prepared with scrolls and quills at the ready; nothing that came out of this interview was going to be missed. Then she cast a similar spell the one Luna had just done in the next room and sealed off the kitchen.

“Well then” said Celestia with an overt hint of menace in her voice “To start with; tell me about the location of your hive, where its entrances are, how many of you there are, what tactics are employed to defend against attack, who your queen is and why you are here.”

The changeling, now utterly isolated from its companion knew what happened to those that failed to perform as required in the hive and had to assume that ponies kept order in their communities in much the same brutal way, and that their leaders probably meted out even harsher punishments to their enemies. It could only guess what fate awaited it here at the mercy of Equestria’s rulers and concluded that it was right now facing a life changing or life ending experience, and so began reluctantly to tell what it knew.

When Celestia had learned all there was to know and scroll upon scroll had been filled with writing and diagrams, she returned the changeling to the same enchanted state that she had received it and pushed against the spells that isolated the scullery, just enough to let her sister know that they had finished. Shortly, the spell dissipated and the door opened, a grim-faced Luna leading the unicorns through with the changeling floating along behind.

“Sister” she said darkly “It is indeed fortunate that our young friends have been able to secure us such willing informers.”
“Yes Luna, if left undetected this could have been disastrous. Summon the generals and let us plan our response.”
One of the unicorns excused herself while her fellows from the school unfurled their scrolls and compared maps, pointing excitedly at specific details of interest. Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna looked on in grim silence.

Within only a few minutes, the unicorn returned with four senior looking military types; two resplendent in their shining Royal Guard uniforms and two similarly distinguished looking Bat Ponies.
“Thank you for attending so promptly” began Celestia “Our two guests have independently volunteered a great deal of information which we will now draw together and share with you as we go to save time, for time is undoubtedly of the essence. Luna, would you like to start?”

“Thank you, Sister. Following the defeat of Queen Chrysalis in her attempt to invade during the wedding of Princess Cadence to Shining Armor, she retired to regroup. Apparently, she has released more queens to set up their own hives and thereby create a number of independent changeling armies, any or all of which could rise up once their numbers are strong enough.”

“Our two friends are members of a hive that lies underground to the west of this farm; land that is sparsely populated and has allowed them relatively free access without being seen until now. The well where they were found on the boundary of the farm is in fact one of the entrances to the hive; they are that close to us!”

“Apparently, when they were spotted, they were returning from a reconnaissance mission, but the hive entrance was blocked and they were caught in the open, so while one tried to clear the blockage, the other pretended to be a filly in distress, and who among us would not want to help in such a situation? Their plan had been to lure the unsuspecting ponies close to the well and while they were looking over the edge, tip them in, but they were thwarted by a third pony turning up after the others and raising the alarm.”

“The queen of this hive does not yet have a name and she is referred to only by a number. Apparently, names are issued as recognition once the hive has established itself, in this case through earning victory against us. They are still building strength and are not yet ready to mount an attack, but it is clear that this is their eventual aim. Does this accord with your information, Sister?”

“Yes Luna, all too clearly. We are facing an unknown number of hives in locations known only to Chrysalis and if we can act decisively against this hive, then we may be able to deter and dissuade her from her plans.”
“Whilst there are a number of entrances to this hive, the main one appears to be over a line of hills hidden by trees to the west of the farm. Oh, and one last detail; I also have to inform that even with the reinforcements currently on their way here by train, our forces will be outnumbered by a ratio of about 3 to 1.”

“As a matter of top priority, I request the Royal Guard mount a reconnaissance of the hive entrances to determine what threats and opportunities each affords us as we build up a common operational picture. We will need to know how close we can get without being seen and the rate at which we can mount an incursion through each of the entrances.”

At this, one of the Royal Guards rose and accompanied by a pair of scholarly unicorns, each carrying a cluster of rolled up scrolls with rough maps of the changeling hive in their magic, headed out the door for the ad hoc briefing room that had been set up in the barn.

Still holding the attention of the remaining military officers and scholars alike, Celestia looked each in the eye as she gave them one further point to dwell, upon:
“One question for you all to consider before the reconnaissance pegasi return is how we should attack and whether our aim is to kill or simply rout the changelings. I will expect your opinions when we reconvene.”

With this ethical dilemma forefront in their minds, the meeting dismissed and everypony departed leaving the two sisters alone. Shortly, orders could be heard being barked outside.In the artificial calm of the farm kitchen, Luna turned to her elder sister:
“Sister, if their intent is to invade” she said in an objective voice free from any trace of malice “Then we must kill them.”
“It’s not that straightforward Luna. When they invaded last time, they never sought to kill. I cannot in all conscience demand pre-emptive wholescale slaughter.”
“But what of the threat to Equestria if we allow them to live; and what also of any future hives we may discover? If we spare them all, soon we will be outnumbered and unable to defend ourselves.”

“I know Luna, I know” sighed the Sun Princess massaging the space between her eyes “But at what point do we cross the line and become the monsters?”