//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Long Live the Queen // Story: Little Ponies Lost // by Al-1701 //------------------------------//           One of the benefits of replacing all the solei quartz of the castle was finding the last of the out of the way chambers.  While they had come across the vault in their earlier searches, it took this one to find the armory.           Sparkler was beyond elated at hearing that word.  An armory meant weapons and other tools of combat.  While she loved gems and always her one eye looking for them, her true passion was explosives and related fields.  From fireworks to industrial explosives meant to implode skyscrapers, she had an unquenchable love for things that went boom.           Though, it was not just the desire to watch something explode that had her going through the tight halls of the castle’s underbelly.  Hearing of the harpies was enough to give her nightmares, and she wondered if she would be able to sleep that night—or ever again—after meeting them in the flesh.           They needed something other than the smattering of unicorn magic and less than a dozen pegasi to protect them from these monsters.  This castle having weapons meant they could bring firepower to the mix.           “So, what kinds of instruments of delicious destruction do we have?” Sparkler asked, hardly holding back her gleeful anticipation.  “Rockets?  Cannons?  Bombs?  Anything that makes a really big boom and will reduce those harpies to a rain of singed feathers?”           They came to a door and Wind Whistler pulled it open.  “This is what we have at our disposal.”           Sparkler looked in and her heart dropped like a stone.  Their arsenal consisted of dozens of crossbows accompanied by quivers of short bolts, axes, hammers, swords ranging in size from short scabbards to long swords, and an assortment of daggers.  For defense, they had round shields made of wood with colorful patterns painted on them, shirts of mail, grieves, chest plates, gauntlets, and helmets with bars coming down between the holes for the eyes.           Surprise leapt out with as much of the armor on her body as she could manage, but only showed how none of it was suited for ponies as it all fit wrong.  The helmet was also clearly meant for ceremony rather than battle with massive horns of a cow sticking out the sides.  If anything, this collection of archaic weaponry and armor was more likely to get her killed in any kind of fight than protect her.  Her clumsy swings of a scabbard in her pastern and inability to hold on to a shield were humiliating to watch.           “Isn’t this the coolest stuff ever?”  Surprise lost her grip of the scabbard and it went flying into a wooden post.  “Well, we can’t really use it but it looks cool.”           Sparkler just stood there in shock.  There was not one explosive device here.  Had these people even heard of gunpowder?  Sulfate, potassium phosphate, and charcoal: the simplest chemical formula ever, but you would think it was asking for cold fusion.  Actually, with Wind Whistler and her crazy level of intellect there, they were probably closer to cold fusion.           Worst of all, the weapons did have—and calling many of these primitive instruments ‘weapons’ was being generous—seemed to be more for fighting an enemy on the ground rather than one that was airborne.  The crossbows might have been of some use if they were almost impossible for ponies to use the harpies carried longbows with better range and shot rate.           “We’re all going to die,” was all Sparkler to get out at seeing just how unequipped they were. * * *           Blueflower inhaled deeply through her nostrils to take in the air.  She had been to the seaside many times in her long life, and she had always found the smell sea salt reinvigorating.  The smell of salt was almost too faint to notice at the head of the inlet where freshwater sat on top of the sea water, but the salt water was undeniably the surface as they approached the mouth and main trunk of the system.           Firefly and Lofty tugged the wooden chariot along, kicking their hooves as if they were galloping—a compulsive behavior pegasi had when pulling something despite their wings doing the work.  She thanked the stars or whatever had providence here that their little trick of keeping vehicles airborne worked in this world.  Her old bones complained at the thought of walking all this way.           “Why didn’t we just use the Bifröst?” Firefly asked, huffing for air a bit.           Lofty seemed to be pulling her along with little trouble, but Firefly was sweating.  These two were not the hulks of royal guard pegasi that usually pulled chariots.  Unfortunately, they were all they had.  “We’re traveling to speak with whoever rules this fjord system,” Blueflower answered.  “It might raise suspicions if we simply popped into their capital and left just as suddenly.”           “Don’t tell me you’re getting tired,” Lofty teased.  “I don’t feel like I’m really flying this low unless I have a harness across my barrel.”           “I’m getting use to it,” Firefly replied.           They came where their fjord opened into the main one which was so wide the opposite shore was almost to the horizon.  Blueflower had spent all her time in or near the castle—Dream Castle, she needed to remember it had a name—and this was her first time venturing far from it.  Seeing the breath of this one fjord, which was a narrow line on a map of this one landmass, made her feel truly small.           “This is just one fjord,” Blueflower gasped.           “I know,” Firefly said.  “It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?”           “That is the understatement of the century, Firefly,” Blueflower responded.           She looked down at the pin cushion of rocky spires reaching towards the surface from the sill marking the boundary between their fjord and the main one.  Some of the jagged rocks managed to poke up, but many where just below as Firefly and her team described.  No one with any sense would try to get a boat through it.           Blueflower returned her attention to the main fjord.  “Where is the largest city?”           “It’s a dozen or so kilometers north of here,” Firefly answered.           “Then we should waste no time,” Blueflower said. * * *           The fjords had mostly steep walls, occasionally becoming sheer cliffs.  However, there were places where the walls descended more gently to the water.  It was these places that had been the most developed as farms, pastures, or communities.           “There it is.”  Firefly pointed forward to a large collection of buildings on a peninsula formed by the main fjord and the mouth of another much larger than the ponies’ tiny branch.  The buildings were mostly tidy houses and stores arranged in blocks with streets in a radiating pattern towards the coast where each ended in a dock with larger warehouses and open markets.  Boats were docked, many slender longboats for transporting people and their wider and shorter cousins meant for cargo.  The roads joined at a large castle overlooking the city with its many stone towers.           “Land us close to the castle,” Blueflower said.  She looked to the sun which was more than halfway between its noon height and the western horizon.  “Hopefully the fjord earl is seeing visitors.”           As they flew over the dockside markets, Majesty noticed a heavy presence of large men in armor and holding long spears.  Judging by the wide berth everyone gave them, she suspected they were there to watch the markets—likely to ensure the taxes paid were in line with the business done.  Though, what taxes were collected seemed to be put to good use.  The streets were clean and the citizens appeared to be well groomed.  Most were humans, but there was an assortment of other species seeming to have roots in the rodent and carnivore orders.  Despite the heavy guard presence, the people also seemed free mingle and go about their business.           “Kind of reminds me of Canterlot,” Bleuflower mused aloud.  “Well, if Canterlot wasn’t perched on a mountain removed from the rest of the country.”           “Do you ever not bag on Canterlot?” Firefly asked.           “When I’m sleeping I think,” Blueflower answered with a smirk.  “I’ve been banging my head against Canterlot society since before your parents were tinkles in their parents’ eyes.  A little depreciating humor is a healthy survival tool.”           They gained attention as their shadows passed over the street.  Some, especially children, stopped and watched them go by.  However, most ducked into the nearest building.  They were scared of them—or anything airborne at least.  It made Blueflower wonder if news of the harpies had reached this fjord or if it was just a long instilled fear brought to the forefront.           They landed on the street at the perimeter wall of the castle.  The gate was up, but there were guards at the outer wall as well as the inner wall.  Lofty and Firefly worked themselves out of their harnesses as Blueflower leapt from the chariot.           The cobblestone was uncomfortable under her hooves, much too hard compared to the soapstone Canterlot used.  No wonder everyone wore shoes on their planted feet.  Actually, all the species had feet that made contact with the ground from toes to heel, even those resembling species that stood on their toes.  Their hands also all had an opposable thumb set aside from the cluster of four fingers—though Majesty remembered Wind Whistler described the avian harpies having only three fingers and a thumb.  Standing on all four of what would be the middle finger nail on these people, Blueflower realized even in this hodgepodge of sentient creatures they were truly alien.           Alien or not, they were here and had business with the fjord earl.  Blueflower strolled up to the guards—a pair of humans clad in metallic armor and holding spears longer than they were tall.  If they were anything like the royal guards of Canterlot, a title was enough to impress them to allow entry.  “Excuse me, gentlemen.”           The two guards took their spears in both hands and squatted into a more defensive stance.  At least, Blueflower figured it was a more defensive stance for these bipeds.  They looked round at the eye level of humans before looking down at her.           They looked to each other and spread their mouths into grins.  “This is a new one.  Where do you think the ventriloquist is hiding?”           Blueflower’s mouth dropped out of impulse.  “I’m the one talking, you mountains of muscle.”           The two guards stared at her in what could only be described as shock.  She should probably get use to it in this world.           “I am Lady Blueflower from Equestria,” Blueflower said, regaining a refined tone.  “I was hoping to have a brief audience with your fjord earl to announce the presence of myself and my fellow ponies and negotiate some economic matters.”           “What’s with the tiny horse?” a nasally voice asked.           A man in his late teens or early twenties stomped through the tunnel made in the wall.  He had sticks for limbs and a pudgy gut.  His eyes were beady behind a massive nose coming to a sharp point.  The gold and jeweled crown on his head suggested royalty.           “I am a pony,” Blueflower replied, bowing.  “Are you the fjord earl?”           “He is Prince Lawzer,” one of the guards answered, “heir to Fjord Earl Stonebrook.”           “Thank Celestia,” Lofty said just loud enough for Blueflower to pick up.           “What for?” North Star asked.  “He’ll be in charge someday.”           Prince Lawzer stopped.  “You talk?!”           “If only I got a bit for every time I’m going to hear that,” Blueflower mumbled under her breath.  “Yes, we can talk.  We come from a far away land, and found ourselves in a small fjord not too far from here with rock formations at its mouth.”           “Ah, yes,” Prince Lawzer mused, “the Appendix Fjord.  It’s of little use, so if you want it you can have it.”           “Can I get that from your father?” Bueflower asked.  “I also want to discuss trade and other matters.”           Prince Lawzer planted his bony hands on his flabby hips and looked down on her.  “My father has far too busy to talk to a freak.”           “Freak?!” Blueflower exclaimed before she could think better of it.  “I’ll have you know I was a lady of the royal court in my home country.”            “What is going on here?” a voice boomed.           A large man strolled down the tunnel, his metal greaves clacking against the stone.  A white curtain of hair fell from his face with several braids decorated with beads.  His mouth was bent into a frown that seemed to be its natural position.           “Father!” Prince Lawzer squeaked.  “I was just talking with this…”           “Pony,” Blueflower reminded him.           “Pony,” Prince Lawzer said.  “She and her kind have apparently taken up residence in the Appendix Fjord.”           The man’s mouth bent upwards somewhat and he bobbed his head.  “In the old castle, I assume.”           “Yes,” Blueflower answered.  “You know of it?”           “I played in it when I was a lad,” the man answered.  “But, I should introduce myself.  I’m Stonebrook, Fjord Earl of the Grand Trunk Fjord.”           “Lady Blueflower of Equestria.”  Blueflower bowed.  “I wanted to speak with you about economic arrangements.  We have orchards of Baldwin apples and Ulster cherries, the latter of which will be ripe soon.  We were hoping to sell some of our harvest here.”           “Which would require my warrant,” Earl Stonebrook finished her thought for her.  “Well, we can discuss that when you have product and we can see its quality.” He is a shrewd businessman, Blueflower thought.  She certainly would want to see a communities’ harvest before discussing a price.  She might actually come to like him.  “Then we we’ll bring our first harvest for your personal inspection.”           Stonebrook licked his lips, apparently looking forward to cherries for ‘inspection’.  “Is there anything else, Lady Blueflower?  As you know, the hour is growing late.”           Blueflower decided against bringing up the slur his son used.  The harpies might also be a matter better not mentioned.  Who knows how they would react?  “I have nothing else that could be resolved today.  I just wanted to meet the new neighbors.”           Stonebrook’s mouth returned to its natural frown.  “Then perhaps we will meet later, Lady Blueflower.”           Blueflower bowed her head and turned to Lofty and North Star.  “Well, this was great use of our time,” Lofty grumbled.           “One step at a time,” Blueflower replied.  “We’ve announced our presence and when we have cherries to sell, we’ll bring them here.  We have some money, so let’s see what there is for sale here.  We can then head back and plan our next move.”           “Lady Blueflower,” Stonebrook called from behind them.  Blueflower turned to him.  “Is it merely ‘Lady’?” he asked.           “Yes,” Blueflower answered.  “My land gives no ruling authority to the nobility, but I am the highest ranking of our group.”           “It’s just kind of odd to hear,” Stonebrook said.  “The heads of the different branches have titles of authority.”  He chuckled.  “A couple even call themselves kings, even though they serve under me.  If you want to be treated with some respect here, I suggest you think of a title with some more heft.”           Bleuflower smirked.  “Perhaps, but would you say the same thing if I was Lord Blueflower?”           Stonebrook grinned and exhaled a chuckle.  “I see your concern, but I can tell you my advice would be the same.”           “We’ll take it under advisement then,” Blueflower replied.  In fact, that sent some thoughts through her mind. * * *           Wind Whistler walked up the stairs to the top floor of the keep.  There were pairs of tall doors to the sides and the broadest doors were at the opposite end, leading to the chambers Blueflower had claimed.           “I wonder why Lady Blueflower wants to meet us in private,” Galaxy mused aloud.           “She just said she wanted to see the three of us before she had even left the chariot,” Magic Star answered.           Magic Star pushed down on the handle and pulled the door open.  They stepped in and the first thing that caught Wind Whistler’s eye was Blueflower looking into the mirror with the gold tiara they had found resting in her mane.  She was not admiring herself—if she was taking any satisfaction, Wind Whistler could not tell.  She seemed to be examining her and the tiara more critically.           Blueflower turned to them.  “Ah.  What do you think, ladies?”           After a pause to let it sink in, Magic Star answered, “I think it suits you.”           Blueflower returned her gaze to her reflection.  “I have to commend the craftsmanship.”  She turned from side to side to take in the whole tiara.  “The Princess’s crowns and other regalia have no sense of artistic style—just jagged chunks of precious metal with jewels jammed in them.  From the gold leaf flower to the delicate setting of the diamond, this was a labor of love.”           She levitated the tiara from her head and set it down gently on the vanity.  She turned the three.  “I managed to speak briefly with the fjord earl.  He is a sharp ruler—someone who could invaluable as an ally or terrible as an enemy.”           “Will we be able to sell our cherries?” Wind Whistler asked.  Even with the stores and the treasure they sat on, she wanted to know they had income in this place.           “If they hold up to the earl’s inspection,” Blueflower answered.  “However, he had me thinking about something more long-term.  I wanted to speak with you three before the others.”           “About what?” Galaxy asked.           “As you know, I am—or was—a lady of Princess Celestia’s court for more than a century,” Blueflower said.  “My family is in fact descended from the old unicorn kings from before the Equestrian Unification.  However, I held no true political power in Equestria.  I’m wondering if that is something that needs to change here.”           “We already elected you our leader,” Magic Star said.           Blueflower pointed her.  “That you did.  However, my title is still that of lady, and that title apparently holds little weight here.  I was thinking of taking on a more formal one.”           “Such as?” Wind Whistler asked.           “Why not swing for the fences and go with queen?” Blueflower asked rhetorically.  She levitated the tiara and slipped it onto her head again.           Magic Star broke the ensuing silence with a poorly stifled chuckle.  “You’re joking, right?”           Blueflower took the crown from her head.  “I don’t see why not.  I’m the highest ranking pony on…” she trailed off.           “Tellus,” Wind Whistler reminded her of the given name for this world.           “Thank you,” Blueflower said.  She set the tiara on the vanity again.  “Outside of the initial shock, what do you think?”           “I think it’s a perfect idea,” Galaxy said without the slightest hint of sarcasm of in her voice.  Though, Wind Whistler did not know why she was looking for any.           Wind Whistler had not logical reason to object.  It was unorthodox, but orthodox had been left an entire world behind them.  “I concur with Galaxy.”           “What about you, Magic Star?” Blueflower asked.           “Thanks for putting me on the spot, ladies,” Magic Star murmured.  There was some sarcasm to her response.  She drew in a breath and sighed.  “What’s in a name?  And I’m actually asking.  What does you becoming queen mean for us?”           “In terms of how we run ourselves, nothing,” Blueflower answered.  “We will continue to govern ourselves as we agree on that first evening.  However, with a queen at our head, we will be more respected in this world.  Also, there is something else we need to consider.”           “What’s that?” Magic Star asked.           Blueflower grinned.  “Call a meeting in that two story room below us, and ask the other ponies what they think.  I’ll explain myself more in depth to all of you.”           “Of, course, Queen Blueflower,” Galaxy said, the title and name together flowing from her tongue as easily as water flowed over a cliff.  “Come along, you two.”           Wind Whistler and Magic Star followed the Crystal Empire unicorn out of the room.  Queen Blueflower, she repeated in her mind.  It would take some getting use to, but she could manage it.  Though, she wondered what her other reason was. * * *           Everyone gathered in that room with the sloped floor and blackboards.  It was the best choice for a meeting room, designed for it with a large number able to observe instructions voiced or written from the stage.  Wind Whistler took a seat in the back row, giving her a full view of the room.  Fizzy sat next to her, and Shady next to Fizzy.           Blueflower stepped up onto the platform and placed the tiara on the podium off to the side.  She stamped her hoof, sending a hollow knocking sound throughout the room and bringing the attention of everyone to her.  “Let’s start with a sitrep on the solei quartz.  Is every crystal replaced?”           “Right down to the last sconce,” Sparkler said.  “And as our guest said, there are three sets total.”           “Good,” Blueflower replied.  “We’ll put the old set out to charge tomorrow morning, weather permitting.  In the meantime, we have other business.           “That business falls on me.  You made me the leader of this little group,” Blueflower said, levitating the tiara next to her.  “The question is if I should walk around wearing a tiara and be called ‘Queen’ for it.”           Some hushed murmurs go through the crowd.           “I said this to Magic Star already, but not even Equestria has a queen,” Applejack pointed out.  “That’s what Chrysalis of the old Changeling Hive called herself.”           “The Crystal Empire also had a queen before Sombra conquered it,” Galaxy replied.  “Princess Cadance was installed as ruler by Princess Celestia upon its return.”           “The old changelings also called this a head.”  Blueflower pointed to her head.  “Should we call it something different simply because they used the term?”           Applejack sank back to some quiet giggles.           “Equestria had queens early in its history as well, though briefly,” Blueflower said.  “Let me tell you a little more about our history than probably most of you know.           “Before the Long Winter, the three tribes had different forms of government.  The earth ponies would elect one of their burgermiesters to the position of chancellor who served as their supreme leader.  The pegasi had a senate of elected representatives as their governing until Commander Hurricane used the crisis of the Long Winter to institute martial law and military rule.  Only the unicorns were ruled by a hereditary monarchy.           “When Equestria was formed, each tribe wanted to make their form of government the one for their new, united nation.  The earth ponies and especially pegasi did not want leadership to be inherited, but the unicorns insisted on a royal position.  A compromise was made, creating the position of queen as the supreme ruler of the land.  It was a lifetime position, but it would not necessarily pass on to her eldest daughter.  Instead, a new queen would be elected upon the death or, as it turned out to be the tradition, retirement of the previous ruler.           Blueflower paused and her glance slid to the side.  “I suppose I would have to think of a new name as well since a new queen would choose a new, more regal-sounding name upon being crowned,” she mused.           She returned her attention to the crowd.  “There were at least three before Discord came, and after they overthrew him, Celestia and Luna were named rulers.  Celestia preferred to be called princess, so she made that the ruling title.           “Also, I’m not an alacorn with apparently eternal youth.  I’m a—admittedly powerful—unicorn in the…let’s just say late afternoon of her life.  ‘Queen’ would actually be a more appropriate title for my position as the leader of our little enclave.”           “So, you’re saying you should go all the way back to that?” Paradise asked.  “I can already see my old history teachers retch at the notion.”           “I don’t doubt that,” Blueflower replied.  “I’m not going to mince words here.  I have little stomach for how Equestria conducts itself and observes its history.  Scholars, for whatever agenda it serves, have been quite thorough in casting what came before the alacorns and their harmony in a dim light.  We teach our fillies and colts to put on plays of half truths and stereotypes about the founding of our nation portraying the three tribes are ignorant savages before the enlightenment of friendship allowed them to create Equestria.  We ignore the virtues of those imperfect but once proud and accomplished civilizations and the vices of our own more advanced but still very flawed culture.  That might work in Equestria with its population of a hundred million ponies, shining cities, well developed infrastructure, demigod rulers, and few enemies outside of the laundry list of abominations from Princess Celestia’s past; but we’re not in Equestria anymore.”           Another wave of murmurs washed through the crowd.  Wind Whistler had to agree based on the general trend in her compulsory absorption of knowledge.  She knew how the media and most mainstream teaching broke down into the basic argument of ‘Past bad: present good’.  It never made her comfortable as she remembered the adage, ‘those who do not learn from their history are doomed to repeat it’.           Blueflower stamped her hoof to get everyone’s attention again.  “My point is we need to be more open-minded here.  This world is more like ours was in those supposedly dark days.  Its peoples are broken up into factions by geography and probably biology.  We’ve already made an enemy with physical power, technology, and quite probably numbers on their side—one that can’t simply be swept away with a friendship-powered death ray, and I doubt have any desire to listen to our preachy arguments for friendship.  We need to draw from our history—all of our history from when the three tribes lived separately to the moment we left—if we are to survive, let alone flourish here.”           She drew in a breath and slowly exhaled it.  “We also need to discuss this because of the reality before us.  When we first awoke in this castle, we could have just been an unlucky bunch of strangers caught up in some strange spell or other magic phenomenon.  If that was the case, then all this would be a mute point.  We just being a group trying to get home or at least survive this strange new world.           “However, when we found Galaxy and the others in the desert, we have to assume there are other ponies out there—ripped from Equestria like us and cast upon this world.  It very well could just be the ponies in this room; but it could be dozens, scores, hundreds, thousands, who knows how many are out there in scattered groups.  If there are hundreds or thousands of ponies in this world, then we need to build a nation in which we can come together and present a united identity.”           “A nation with you as ruler,” Lickety-Split said.           “Unless there are any objections,” Blueflower replied.           She set down the tiara.  “However, it is really just for semantics to us.  It would make little difference regarding how we live our lives here.  I am already the leader, and we agreed to run this as a direct democracy.  Call me queen, princess, duchess, baroness, simply lady; and none of that will change.  I had little taste for absolute rule in Equestria, and my tastes have not changed here.  I will not exert my will for the sole purpose of exerting it, since someone else could be right.           “The possible benefit pointed out to me is if we are here for the duration and need to build a nation for all ponies whisked to this place, having our leader called a queen would make our presence appear more legitimate to other governments who we might trade or ally ourselves with.”           “I have no problem with calling you queen,” Wind Whistler said.           “I thank you for the vote of confidence, but you were a part of our original conversation,” Blueflower said.           “I don’t either,” Fizzy added.  “Will you wear that crown?”           Blueflower chuckled and glanced to the headdress.  “Only on special occasions, and it’s actually more of a tiara.”           “I agree with Fizzy,” Shady said.  “We can’t do this by ourselves, and if other countries would be more willing to help a queen, then we should have one.”           “It’s been moved and seconded,” Magic Star said.  “Everyone in favor of granting Blueflower the title of queen signify by raising your hoof and saying yea.”           “Yea,” echoed through the room, and all in attendance raised their hooves.   Though, a few were more tepid.           “Against?” Magic Star asked.           There was silence and all hooves lowered.           Blueflower picked up the tiara with her magic.  “I didn’t think it would be unanimous, but thank you.”           “WAIT!” Heart Throb shouted.           Blueflower stopped and all eyes turned to the pink pegasus.           “You can’t just put the crown on,” Heart Throb declared.  “We must have a coronation ceremony.  Even if it’s just a simple one.”           Blueflower set the tiara down.  “All right.  I suppose we might as well do this by the book.”           “If you’re going to be our queen, what’s the name of our land?” Galaxy asked.           “We know everyone calls this the Appendix Fjord,” Firefly said, “but I really hate that name.”           “It does sound rather distasteful coming off the tongue,” Blueflower said.  “This castle’s previous owner referred to it as Dream Valley.  It’s a bit whimsical, but works.”           “We should still have a name that is more related to us,” Posey said.  “What about Pony Land, it literally means ‘Country of Ponies’ by the way earth ponies use to name things.”           “Sounds a too bit obvious,” Cherries Jubilee pointed out.           Posey shrugged.  “The old earth pony language was not much for subtly when it came to naming things.”           “How about we call the geologic formation Dream Valley and our nation Pony Land?” Blueflower asked.  “Are there any objections to that?”           All were quiet.           “Then I suppose we might as well put this tiara on my head the right way and do what you do with a newly crowned queen,” Blueflower said. * * *           The coronation ceremony was barely a ceremony.  They just gathered in the ballroom, and Galaxy wrote up a quick oath based on the one for crowning the leader of the Crystal Empire.  Buttons had also disappeared with Blueflower, Bow-Tie, and Ribbon into a room with some fabric for maybe a half hour.           Wind Whistler took her place along the edge of the carpet with Fizzy and Shady on either side of her.  Some ponies were excited by the prospect, discussing amongst themselves in whispers with broad grins.  Wind Whistler just saw it as the formality it was.  Blueflower could just put the crown on her head and call herself queen as far as she was concerned.  The pageantry was just for show, but it apparently meant something to others.           Though, living under a ruler who had a reign approaching twelve centuries, she had never seen a coronation before.  It being a new experience caught her attention somewhat.           They stood in line on both edges of the carpet to bracket the path to the throne.  Galaxy stood next to the thrown with a sheet of paper suspended in her magic.  Ribbon and Bow-Tie were the last to join, having gotten Blueflower ready, and took their position at the ends.           Blueflower walked down the grand staircase wearing a red cloak trimmed with white fur and tied around her neck with a white ribbon.  The golden shoes gleamed on her hooves.  Buttons followed behind her.  Blueflower’s mane had been styled with the white streak braided, something that could be done quickly but looked elegant.  The cloak also had a large ‘M’ under a crown in gold leaf sewn to the sides.  Apparently, she had decided to go with a new name and it started with ‘M’.  She stepped up onto the platform and sat on the throne.           Wind Whistler and the others stepped out of their lines into rows so they could see.           “Oh, darlings, this is so exhilarating,” Heart Throb swooned.  “We’re witnessing a real coronation.”           “The absolute bare bones version,” Paradise whispered to Cherries Jubilee, but Wind Whistler managed to hear.           Galaxy cleared her throat.  “Blueflower, the ponies of Pony Land have bestowed their blessing onto you to be named their queen.  As queen, do you swear on your very life and soul that you will give all that you have to defend and represent the ponies of this land and all that they stand for?  Will you protect their peace and prosperity?  Will you lend aid to those they call friends and ward off any who threaten them?  Will you not squander their abilities or lead them in foolhardy jeopardy?  Will you preside over a country that encourages the flourishing of culture and discovery?  Since we have chosen democracy as our form of government; will you serve as its leader, advisor, and advocate; but not interfere with its process and defer to its rulings short of impending disaster?  Will you carry out these aforementioned duties to the best of your abilities?”           “I swear on my very life and soul that I will,” Blueflower said.           Galaxy turned to the crowd.  “Do you, those who would be this queen’s subjects, pledge your loyalty to her?  This is not simply following her commands blindly; but seeing to the welfare of her, her country, and her subjects to the best of your abilities.  Do you pledge?”           “We do pledge!” everyone announced.           “As do I,” Galaxy said.           She turned to Blueflower.  “You have sworn to your duties as queen, and your subjects have sworn loyalty to you.  Now, may I ask, by how you will be referred to as queen?”           “Once I am crowned, I will no longer be Blueflower,” Blueflower said.  “I will henceforth be called Majesty.”           “Then, I hereby crown you Queen Majesty the First.”  Galaxy placed the tiara on Blueflower—no, Majesty’s head.  “Queen and sovereign of Pony Land and all who reside within its borders, as well as lady and mistress of Dream Castle.  All the powers, privileges, and responsibilities of those titles are now yours.”           The ponies stamped their hooves and cheered, “Long live Queen Majesty.”           Majesty held up their hoof and everyone quieted down.  “Thank you for this honor.  Though, again, it really doesn’t change anything.  I could make a big long speech, but I don’t feel like waxing on about being queen of thirty-seven ponies.  However, I do want to point out the irony that we’ve gathered where most of us awakened just two days ago.  We were completely lost, and while we are still in the darkness, we have each other.  Never forget that even in your darkest moments.           “Anyway, let’s go grab dinner.  I’m hungry.”           Wind Whistler could not help but grin at the end of Majesty’s ‘speech.’           “And dinner tonight is going to feature cookies for desert,” Cupcake declared.           Whoops and cheers came from the crowd as it dispersed.           “Are we kind of surrendering to staying here?” Shady asked.  “We just formed a government.”           “We do not have a feasible means to return to Equestria at present,” Wind Whistler answered as they joined the crowd leaving.  “I wouldn’t call it surrendering, but planning for a very real possibility.”           Fizzy skipped along.  “Besides, a castle needs queen.  It just makes sense.” * * *           Blueflower—or rather Majesty, she was going to have to get use to thinking of herself by that name and answering to it—watched Wind Whistler walk up the stairs with Fizzy and Shady.  She had just been named queen of all of these ponies, and that one still grabbed her attention.  Perhaps it was because the young pegasus pony reminded her of herself at that young age.  She was intelligent but extremely shy and reserved, even more so than Majesty had been.  Even in a crowd, she was in a lonely ivory tower all to herself.  That was where she kept her emotions and true self while most ponies wore them on their sleeve.  She could see it in Wind Whistler’s eyes, how that mind was always going even on things impossibly far away.  Majesty had lived in such a tower of the mind, and it made it very hard to really appreciate what was in front of your muzzle.  So, seeing Wind Whistler with even just two friends filled her with joy like watching a daughter—or more like a grandchild given the difference in age.           After they disappeared from view along with the others so she was alone, Majesty let it sink in that she was queen of this tiny country they had formed.  Granted, it was a country headed for extinction unless they found stallions here or some way to create the next generation without them.  That was even assuming they did not find a way home.  Still, everything in this valley and those living there were her responsibility.  It was a nebulous concept when they called her leader, but having a tiara on her head made it seem more real.           Tomorrow morning was going to be a simple task, setting out their spare solei quartz to charge.  They needed to take it one step at a time as she had told her chariot pullers that afternoon.           She left the throne and walked towards a mirror between two of the columns, likely there for the ladies to check themselves in case they need to reapply makeup and adjust their clothing.  The reflection was of her covered by a red cloak and wearing that gold tiara.           “Something we’re going to do is bring back the real magic of friendship,” she said to her reflection.  “Equestria has allowed friendship to be hollowed out by Twilight Sparkle and her little clique, robbed of all its true meaning.  Here, we have a chance to start fresh and embrace its more subtle but far more substantial powers.”           She then remembered the task looming ahead of them.  The harpies were out there with that girl as their captor and coveting the locket they had.  Whether she was queen, lady, or a pony with no title at all; facing them was daunting.  Yet it was coming sooner or later, and they were going to need that true power of friendship when that day came. * * *           Wantall drummed his fingers on the wooden table, contemplating the issue in front of him.  He had been waiting for that old coot to kick the bucket so he could claim the castle.  It would be a perfect addition to his collection and a more luxurious home than his mountainside fortress.  He finally does, and suddenly there is a whole passel of pastel ponies in it.  They needed to be evicted.  It was as simple as that.  Direct force was out of the question with that old pony—a unicorn is what she called herself—and her magic, so he was going to have to get smart.           “Here’s your sugar ale, sir.”  The waitress placed a large mug with a foaming, white head spilling over the top down in front of him.           “Thank you, my dear.”  Wantall put the needed silver coins plus the minimum tip down on the table, and the waitress slipped them into the pocket of her skirt.           Board beavers made up the entirety of the staff and majority of the clientele of this foothills tavern.  The buck-toothed, flat-tailed, water rodents had pelts ranging from pale beige to brown to reddish-brown, to black.  Most of the customers—board beaver and human—were lumberjacks wearing plaid shirts with the sleeves rolled up past their elbows in this hot weather and stocker caps.  He definitely stuck out in this crowd, but they seemed to not care.           The tavern had a constant smell of wood both from the debarked logs it was built from and the dinners of branches of leaves the board beavers were having.  The few human customers were served lake trout, but Wantall was not in the mood for fish.  He just wanted something sweet going down his gullet before going back to his mountain home and his collection.           A collection that did not include that castle.  He fumed for a second and grabbed the mug.  He just got a mouthful of the sweet liquid when the door opened loudly.           Wantall put his mug down and turned to the door.  Two creatures so tall they had to stoop to avoid the beams walked in.  The board beavers dove for cover, and even the human customers backed away in their seats.  The two bird women sat at a table.           The one with the vibrant blue hair held up her finger that ended in a sharp claw.  “Two sugar ales, please.”           Wantall went back to his drink.  They were just two more customers for the evening.           “Sugar ales?” the other asked.  “I need something stronger than that.”           Wantall chugged a couple gulps of his sugar ale.  He never understood the desire to consume a known toxin.  Something sweet in his mouth was all he needed to take the edge off.           “Do you really want to go back to Alecta empty-taloned and—” the first started to say.           “Okay, okay,” the second responded, cutting the first off.  “The last thing we need is another reason for Alecta’s wrath to come down on us.”           “Besides, if you bothered to read the sign on the wall,” the first fumed, “you would have seen this is a dry establishment anyway.”           “I get the point!” the second snapped.           “We shouldn’t be going into each other,” the first said, trying to make herself calm down and massaging her temple.  “It’s just been a frustrating day.  We’ve been on the wing all afternoon up and down this maze of valleys and we haven’t seen hide or hair of those blasted, rainbow-colored ponies.”           Wantall was halfway through swallowing when he heard the p-word come up in their conversation.  He instinctively tried to take in a breath but inhaled the fizzy beverage instead.  He slammed down his mug and coughed as his airway cleared itself of the liquid.  He quickly looked around to see of others had taken notice, but they seemed mostly oblivious.           He turned to the two creatures.  They carried longbows and large quivers stuffed with arrows.  Their hands and feet also ended in long, sharp claws.  An idea popped into his head seeing these beautiful examples of predatory biology.  The best part was he could get exactly what he wanted without lifting a finger.           Wantall stood up and strolled casually towards the two creatures.           “Can we get some service here, you bark-munching rodents?”  The bird creature with blue hair slammed her fist on the table so hard it caused the salt and pepper shakers to jump clear into the air and clatter on the table.           The other picked up a pinch of the spilled salt and tossed it over her shoulder.           Wantall cleared his throat which was still being tickled by a bit of his ale.  “Excuse me—my fine, lovely ladies.  Forgive my eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation especially with regards to a population of colorful ponies.”           The two looked at him with glowers of irritation.  Understandable since he was intruding.  “And what would a tub of lard like you know about ponies?” the one with the blue hair asked with a sneer, looking him up and down.           Wantall allowed himself a cruel chuckle.  What did he know about ponies indeed?