3
Celestia waved to her subjects from her chariot only two hours later. It seemed like all of Canterlot was there to see her off, kept a respective distance back by only a handful of Royal Guard. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride at how well-behaved they were; she only ever needed a few guards posted at large distances, confident her subjects would never attempt to harm her. It had always been to avoid seeming a dictator, to avoid giving the impression that she kept them in check with military force. She didn’t want her subjects to fear her.
She continued to smile and wave outwardly, but it fell from her lips as the pegasi guards drawing her vessel took off. The idea had occurred to her that her subjects might fear her directly and that was why she required so few guards to hold them back. She had such a reputation for omnipotence, of being a goddess, that it was very likely even the most atheistic subject would – on some subconscious level – be convinced of that divinity. Who would, they likely thought, ever make an attempt on her life when she could harness powerful magic to destroy them?
The only individuals to ever raise a hand against her were no ordinary foes, but ones with almost equal power – sometimes even more powerful. Discord, the God of Chaos. Chrysalis, former Queen of the changelings, who while lacking her power had been able to use guile and cunning to usurp her position. Her own sister, corrupted by jealousy into Nightmare Moon… A hundred others besides, all defeated in her youth and many imprisoned in Tartarus.
Celestia cringed at the idea she had a secret prison housing enemies for eons.
She would have to attempt at reviewing her policies, and try to get back in touch with her subjects when she returned from the Summit.
…
Luna tapped her hooves together as she waited for a response. She hadn’t made any serious inquiries yet, but had explained in her letter that she wished to discuss the concerns presented to her and Celestia. The initial letter was a formality, asking if the two hours after moonrise were open for the fellow Princess. As the seconds passed on, Luna wondered if she could even receive letters from Spike, and worry got the best of her.
What if they didn’t respond until traditional mail could reach her? What if they accidentally sent the letter to Celestia? Either way, her older sister might think she was going behind her back!
Fretting, suddenly, she tried to think up a solution. She needed to communicate instantaneously with Twilight and the concerned parties to get more information, but she lacked the magic to do so. She needed her own magical messenger. Who was qualified? Who could she even get there instantly? It was early in the night, but she’d need someone from outside Canterlot, and that would take too long!
She grimaced as she realized her only alternative.
“Discord, Discord, Discord!” she chanted in rapid succession, evoking the deity of anarchy.
She felt a pressure in her head for an instant – a dizziness that, for the blink of an eye, allowed her to experience untold realities. Then it was gone and a serpentine abomination she had come to call an acquaintance had manifested before her. Even after more than a year of association, Luna still found herself tense in Discord’s presence. He was chaos incarnate, after all. As an agent of order and harmony, Luna naturally distrusted that which was unpredictable.
“You rang, my dear?” the deity smirked with a flirtatious air, though she knew he only did that to antagonize her.
“Hello,” Luna said through gritted teeth, having to breathe a little to calm herself, “I summoned you because I need your help.”
“What?” Discord sneered, “Tia can’t be bothered to help pick up your slack? Really, Luna, can you do nothing without her?”
“Discord, I didn’t bring you here to insult me…” the Princess of the Night seethed.
“Oh, relax, Princess!” Discord guffawed, clearly amused at her repressed anger, “I’m only trying to get a little revenge.”
“Revenge?” Luna asked.
“Evocation is a very annoying thing, you know,” Discord’s smile faded, “I was in the middle of a cross-dimensional reunion with my sibling Gods of Chaos, and I know four brothers in particular who will be violently angry that I left during a poker game.”
“I didn’t know you had siblings…” Luna tried to hide her horror.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Discord laughed at her discomfort, “They cannot exist in my dimension any more than I can theirs; we just meet up at the convergence point of all possible realities every few millennia to trade notes.”
“I honestly cannot tell if you’re joking or not.”
“Why don’t you tell me why I’m here, Princess?” Discord asked instead of elaborating.
“Right,” Luna nodded, “I am trying to establish a dialogue between myself and Princess Twilight, but I do not know if she can reach me through letter or not. I need to talk with her as soon as possible, and you are the only one I know of who can put us in immediate contact.”
“Oh, is that all?” Discord chuckled before snapping his fingers. Immediately they were atop the Map in Twilight’s castle, startling the gathering of the Princess of Friendship and her friends. “There you are, M’lady!”
“Discord!” Luna snapped, “You can’t just send me halfway across Equestria without notifying the Royal Guard! I have duties to attend to!”
“Oh, relax, Princess!” Discord rolled his eyes, “Tell you what; I’ll put a return spell on you so you automatically return back to Canterlot in, oh… let’s say the stroke of midnight?”
“That seems a long time…” Luna said, looking at the stunned faces of her subjects and fellow Princess, “but this matter does need much discussing, so I shall allow it.”
“Allow it, right…” Discord muttered under his breath as he snapped his fingers again, “Alright, now if you don’t mind, there’s a family reunion I need to return to before things get messy.”
“Oh, you’re not staying, Discord?” Fluttershy asked from her throne, looking crestfallen.
“I would love nothing better than to spend time with you, Fluttershy,” after a moment, the deity added, “and to pester Lulu and Twily while they try and play politician, of course. Sadly, I should return to my reunion at the convergence point of all possible realities, or… well, I’m not really sure what will happen, since it’s a gathering of chaos spirits.”
“I thought there was no concept of time at the convergence point of all possible realities,” Fluttershy noted, “or in any chaotic dimension, for that matter.”
“Why, my dear, wherever did you learn that?” Discord gasped.
“I’ve been studying chaos magic theory and interdimensional physics from Twilight’s library,” Fluttershy held her head up high as Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight gaped at her, “Oh, sorry Twilight. I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed some books…”
“No, no!” the Princess said quickly, grinning, “That’s great! Better than great, actually! I finally have someone to talk to on the subject! Plus, what good is a library if you can’t check out books?”
“What in Equestria possessed you to start studying such…” Rarity rolled her hoof, trying to be tact, “…difficult subject matter?”
“A simple desire to understand one of my closest and dearest friends,” Fluttershy said. Discord approached her, and they embraced hands to hooves, smiling warmly.
“They seem about as friendly as Lyra and Bon-Bon, don’t they?” Applejack whispered to Rainbow Dash, who nodded agreement.
“Before things get even more derailed,” Twilight said, standing from her throne, “what was the reason you came to see me, Princess Luna?”
“I have come on behalf of my sister to gather more information regarding the issues of your earlier letter.”
The others in the room all shifted their gaze to Twilight who had quit smiling. She had managed to push the issue from her mind for a day, spending time with her friends in order to alleviate the anxiety. Now she realized that, aside from Spike delivering Luna’s earlier letter and the two of them having no idea how to send a response, Twilight had not seen Spike or Starlight Glimmer in that time.
“I believe we should discuss this in private,” Twilight said, “You girls continue without me, but if you can find Starlight or Spike, please send them to my study. They should be there with us.”
“I did find it odd he wasn’t with us at all in the last twenty-four hours…” Rarity tapped her chin, thoughtfully.
“Starlight has been busy helping Trixie with a magic performance,” Pinkie Pie said, “but it is super weird she wouldn’t spend at least a little time with us.”
“I’ll explain their absences later,” Twilight sighed, “Right now I’m trying to resolve a political issue.”
“Anything we can help with?” Applejack asked.
“I’m not…” Twilight looked hesitantly at each of her friends, including Discord. They all came from different backgrounds, social statuses, careers… She could use their input on this, and she was never one to shut them out before. “Alright. We should get as many opinions as we can, but we need Spike and Starlight as well. Discord…?”
“Hm?” the spirit of chaos looked up from braiding Fluttershy’s hair, “Oh! No problem.”
With a snap of his fingers he brought Spike – in a pink apron and clutching a broom – and Starlight – wearing a strange assistant’s outfit with fishnet stockings – from wherever they had been hiding. All gathered blinked at Starlight, who blushed vividly. Discord let out a whistle, earning a quiet, displeased “Humph” from Fluttershy.
“Discord!” Starlight groaned. With a snap of eagle talons, Starlight was out of her costume. Visibly calmer, she sighed. “Thank you.”
“What, uh… what sort of trick are you and Trixie working on?” Applejack asked.
“It’s just an assistant’s outfit!” Starlight assured them, “It’s taken Trixie months to convince me to wear it, and on the one day I do, I have to get teleported into the middle of… Oh no, Trixie’s going to kill me for disappearing!”
“Relax, I’ll take the heat,” Discord chuckled, “What can she do to me, anyway? She’s still upset that I had to leave for my family reunion.”
“Believe me, I know,” Starlight muttered.
“I guess cleaning the castle can wait until tomorrow…” Spike muttered, removing his apron and placing it on the nearest surface, neatly folded, “Princess Luna? This wasn’t exactly the response I imagined when we sent the letter…”
“I wanted to discuss the matter further, to gather more information, before my sister and I addressed the problem,” Luna explained, “Consider this an investigation.”
“A royal investigation?!” Pinkie blurted, “Discord, hide my stash!”
“Stash of what?!” the immortal asked, wide-eyed.
“I’m going to assume Pinkie is just being… Pinkie,” Twilight giggled, “Now, let’s get down to business.”
“One of your major concerns was the lack of attention given to other species in Celestia’s teachings,” Luna said, drawing curious expressions from most of the mares gathered, “I would like to say, on behalf of my sister, that this is admittedly an oversight on our part. It was never her – our – intention to ignore non-ponies, and we wish to amend this. That said, we would like more information on the subject.”
Spike blinked as the Princess of the Night turned her starry gaze upon him. Only after everyone else did, too, did he realize they were waiting on him.
“Oh!” he gasped, “Um, let’s see… what did I say earlier? Well, I wanna start by saying much of Celestia’s teachings are useful to everyone, regardless of race. I mean, I full heartedly agree with them, but… there’s no laws protecting non-ponies, and none of her teachings specifically say they should be treated equally.”
“Alright,” Luna nodded, scribbling notes with levitation, rubbing her chin with her hoof, “I shall propose amendments to the laws that guarantee equality for non-pony immigrants and lessons in welcoming neighbors.”
“Well, while we’re on the subject,” Spike coughed, “I feel a little… patronized.”
“Patronized?” the Princess’ eyes widened and Spike blushed as the mares around him moved closer in concern, “What do you mean?”
“As I told Twilight earlier,” Spike steadied himself, “I’m considered a good dragon because I follow pony customs and culture. Most of my kind are seen as bullies.”
“Aren’t they?” Luna asked without thinking, only seeing Starlight and Twilight’s cringing after the words had left her lips. To his credit, Spike only grimaced.
“Dragons have been around about as long as ponies,” Spike said after smoothing his features, “They have their own language, customs, and culture. Their history is more violent, and their laws are less forgiving, but they have survived as a powerful race for thousands of years. I’m not saying I agree with their raids and bullying, but I don’t think we should think of them any less just because of it. Were ponies any different, so long ago?”
“Spike, where have you been learning this stuff?” Twilight asked, wide-eyed.
“Your library?” the dragon arched an eyebrow at the obvious, “I’ve been studying dragons a little, lately.”
“Any particular reason…?” Starlight ventured.
“Does it matter?” Spike bristled, causing an exchange of worried expressions among his friends, bar Discord.
“I suppose not…” Starlight conceded.
“Spike, you do understand that we can’t support the dragons – or any species – if they engage in unnecessary violence,” Twilight warned.
“I’m not saying you should,” Spike explained, “but other parts of our… their culture are being eroded by pony influences. Their art is changing, their language is changing, their laws are changing…”
“It’s all part of the cultural exchange, darling,” Rarity gave a ladylike laugh of amusement, “Trading in the arts only enhances culture for both parties.”
“I agree,” Spike nodded, “but… I’m not seeing any dragon influence on pony art, language, or anything. I don’t see a griffon impact, or a changeling impact, or any impact on pony culture, but I see pony culture impacting everything it touches.”
“Well, maybe it’s just ‘cause they like our stuff better,” Rainbow Dash suggested, eliciting winces from her more tactful friends, “What? I mean, our culture is the best – it produced me, right?”
“Not a very solid argument,” Applejack chuckled.
“Shush!” Rainbow snapped, “Anyway, I think the dragons have a lot of cool stuff. Spiked armor, fiery infernos, lots of dragon artwork – it’s all awesome! But ponies like to wear the winning colors, if you know what I’m saying.”
“Rainbow!” the cow-filly spoke up again, “That’s taking it too far!”
“That was pretty mean,” Fluttershy agreed.
“Very tactless, even for you,” Rarity murmured.
“No, she’s right,” Spike nodded, grimly, regaining all their attention, “Equestria has won. It’s moved in and outright defeated all of these races, forcing them to submit to their ways and teachings.”
“That’s not true!” Twilight snapped, startling her friends even more than Spike had.
“Oh really?” her assistant bared his fangs, “Germane, Saddle Arabia, Equestria, and a dozen city-states besides are all city-states of ponies, spread across the world! You’ve spread everywhere! The Appleloosian colony moved right into the middle of the buffalo tribe’s ancestral lands!”
“Now, hold on a minute!” Applejack tried to defend her cousin, but Spike ignored her.
“I know Chrysalis was a threat, but did we have a right to completely destroy their society?” the dragon asked, “Thorax and the others are happier now, yes, but their culture is completely different, and they made no lasting impact on ours! I feel awful for my part in changing the dragon and the changelings without making any alterations to Equestria. There should have been an exchange!”
“Well, maybe they’ll adapt,” Fluttershy suggested, “As you’ve said, the changelings already like their new culture, and the dragons and griffons seem to like theirs, as well. It also makes them more compatible with ours.”
“They shouldn’t have to make all the changes!” Spike growled in frustration, “We should be making an effort, too! Instead we’re shaping the entire world to our standards, with no regard for theirs!”
“You’re very florid today, Spike,” Twilight noted.
“I’m impassioned!” the dragon snapped back, then deflated, “Do any of you understand? Even if they did willingly convert to pony culture, there are no laws or teachings protecting them. Individuals like me will only ever be seen as pretenders.”
“That’s not true, Spike,” Twilight said, sympathy evident in her voice, “You’re family to us.”
“Is that so?” Spike stood taller, looking around at them, “Alright, so if I wanted to, you’d release me from my oath of service to you? You’d let me strike out on my own for work or study?”
Everyone went wide-eyed and Twilight felt her heart clench. It was exactly what she had feared, but she steeled herself. She needed to show Spike he wasn’t a prisoner, but an equal. Well, maybe not exactly equal to a Princess, but still. She couldn’t bring herself to speak, but she nodded. Spike seemed to unwind a little, his choler dying down.
“Alright,” he nodded, “But I have another question. If I’m an equal citizen, if I’m considered family to you… why am I ‘Spike the Dragon’ instead of ‘Spike Sparkle’?”
Twilight nearly fell backward at the question, for which she had no answer. Her mind was already unbalanced by everything that had happened so far, and that question was simply one too many. Spike, taking her silence as confirmation of his status, scowled and marched out, leaving his stunned friends behind.
“S-Spike…” Twilight almost fell to her knees, but Starlight caught her and kept her standing. It took a moment for the Princess to recover, and she stood tall and imperious, hiding her emotions, “I’ll have to deal with that later. Princess Luna, what was your next question?”
“What?” Luna snapped out of her own shock, having long been silent as the spat unfolded, “Twilight, are you sure you want to continue?”
“We gathered to address these issues,” Twilight said, “so let us address them.”
“Very well…” Luna exchanged worried looks with Twilight’s friends over the younger Princess’ head, “Another major issue was that of Cutie Marks. It gives some ponies an unfair edge in-”
“I’ve determined that’s not the case,” Twilight interrupted, “Next!”
“Hey, wait a minute!” Starlight stepped up, “That was my concern and I have a right to discuss it!”
“Well, my friends and I all earned our Cutie Marks at the same time, and as you’ve seen, it was the pivotal moment in the fate of Equestria! Without our Cutie Marks, the world ended!”
“I’m not saying they don’t serve a purpose,” Starlight said, trying and failing to keep her own temper in check, “but they do give an unfair edge to certain ponies! Besides, my issues have grown a little since then. There’s also the matter on the unfairness of the caste system and the lack of democratic institutions.”
“Democratic what-now?” Applejack asked at the same time Rainbow Dash asked “Caste system?”, the vast majority of the friends in attendance falling out of the loop.
“I agree there should be some level of democratization,” Luna said before Twilight could retort, earning surprised stares from the Princess of Friendship and her former student, “Our subjects should have more say in government. What do the rest of you think?”
“Ponies having a say in how the government’s run?” Applejack rubbed her chin, “I thought we already had that.”
“Oh no,” Fluttershy smiled, “most ponies don’t. The only reason we have a voice in how things are run is because Ponyville is so small, and Mayor Mare really likes her citizens’ input. Oh, and we’re friends with the Princesses. Personally, I think it’s a lovely idea.”
“I don’t,” Rarity shuddered, “Why should any old pony on the street have a say in politics? They don’t understand the intricacies of how Equestria is run, the nobility, or global issues! Letting the rabble have a say will lead to disaster, darling!”
“Rabble, huh?” Applejack glared at Rarity, “What do you mean by that, exactly?”
“Oh, well not you,” the Mage giggled, chidingly, “I mean… well, ponies without a vested interest in politics, I suppose. Ponies without land, for instance.”
“Wait, so I shouldn’t have a voice in government because I don’t own land?” Pinkie Pie demanded, “So my opinion doesn’t matter, huh?”
“Relax, Pinkie, that’s not what she meant,” Rainbow chuckled, “Obviously you’d have a voice in government. You do so much for every pony around town, after all.”
“Well, it shouldn’t matter how much ponies contribute or whether or not they own property,” Starlight said, “Laws and politics in Equestria affect every pony in the country! Every pony should have a say.”
“Oh boy,” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, “the ‘every pony has to be equal’ thing again.”
“Being equal isn’t a bad thing,” Fluttershy argued.
“She stole every pony’s Cutie Marks and abilities, remember?!” Rainbow got in Fluttershy’s face, “That’s what forcing equality on ponies will get you!”
“No, that’s what stealing everyone’s Cutie Marks and abilities will get you,” Fluttershy met Rainbow Dash’s aggression with her own, quieter resolve, the two of them face-to-face, “You can grant equality without taking ponies’ rights away, Rainbow.”
“Hear! Hear!” Discord chanted, earning a withering glare from Rainbow Dash, which he returned with a smirk.
“We can’t introduce democratic institutions or equality laws, anyway,” Twilight huffed, “It has to be left to the respective governments to decide. It would be unfair to force such measures on all of Equestria when they might work best in some regions and not others.”
“Oh, so which would work best here, Princess?” Starlight seethed, “Equality or tyranny?”
“From what you’ve shown me,” the Princess responded, icily, “those two go hand-in-hand.”
Starlight felt herself ready to explode and instead stomped out of the room much as Spike had, muttering the blackest of curses while her magic burst around her in a tempest of rage-fueled, yet ultimately harmless clouds. This time only Luna seemed to notice, as Twilight pointedly ignored the problem and her friends broke into arguments over the previous two issues. The two Princesses eyed each other, and for a moment Luna could see the pain in Twilight’s eyes, but she buried it under pragmatism and Princess-like discipline.
“Was there anything further to discuss, Princess Luna?” she asked, voice all cold steel.
“No,” Luna lied, turning her attention to the spirit of chaos, “Discord, if you would kindly return me to Canterlot? I believe I have what I came for.”
“Hm?” Discord hummed, watching the arguments with some amusement, “Already? It’s not even ten, yet!”
“Now, Discord,” Luna commanded.
“Oh, alright!” Discord sighed, “Fluttershy, I’m afraid I must depart for her Royal Crankiness.”
Fluttershy ignored him, too engrossed in her argument with Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Discord knitted his brow in confusion; she never ignored him for something as petty as an argument. Suddenly, the severity of the dispute was obvious and he contemplated binding their mouths in muzzles until their heads cooled down, but Luna was glaring at him insistently.
Discord summoned a portal with a snap of his talons and let Luna walk through it first. He spared a glance back at Fluttershy, still distracted by the argument, then at Twilight’s stony façade. He was an expert in disharmony, but even a year of living Celestia’s proscribed lifestyle and getting closer to Fluttershy had changed his outlook immensely. Suddenly, disharmony such as this seemed…
…unpalatable.