//------------------------------// // III. Here There Be Monsters // Story: Twilight of the Idols // by Ponisattva //------------------------------// Twilight of the Idols III. Here There Be Monsters “But even if the most laudatory of motivations be assumed, the fact remains that the coup d'etat is a deliberately illegal act of the gravest kind and strikes at the highest level of law and order in society...” ~John Newbold Harzard A silent stillness befell the room. Both Twilight and Rook had dropped everything for the moment. Rook waited patiently to give his junior counterpart time to process what was going on. Twilight, on the other hand, really couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It might as well have gone in one ear and out the other. Coups were just things that didn’t happen in Equestria, at least not since Nightmare Moon’s attempt over a thousand years ago. Sure they occasionally happened in some far away land not under Celestia’s direct control; but here in Canterlot? That was literally unthinkable. “Could you run that by me again?” was about all she could manage. “A coup d’état: French, meaning ‘strike of state’. The sudden, illegal deposition of a government. Also called a putsch or an overthrow—” “I know what a coup is, Rook. I’m not a filly. You mean to tell me that someponies have overthrown the government?” “I’m afraid I do, dear. They’ve been planning this a while now, at least since the crisis began, perhaps even longer. There’s always been a faction in parliament, particularly in the Commons, who have never been satisfied with the status quo. They’ve had allies in the military, the guard and the civil service. While I don’t know if they were actually plotting against Celestia herself, or if they were just preparing to take advantage of her eventual absence, I never imagined they’d be so bold.” It really hit Twilight now. She’d been just two preoccupied to see what was going on right in front of her nose. The ponies in the strange uniforms, the absence of the usual nightly hustle in the city: it was all staring her in the face and yet she didn’t even think much about it until Rook spelled it out to her. “Why would anypony do such a thing?” “They want things to be run their way. Why else? I don’t think even you appreciate just how important Princess Celestia was to the administration of the state. All the power we had was delegated to us directly from her office, and she could have taken it back at any moment. She let the nobles and the growing bourgeoisie play at governing, and occasionally gave them what they wanted. Who knows? She might have even been trying to slowly prepare for something like this happening. But the fact remains is that when she disappeared, there was a tremendous power vacuum. So they decided to fill it.” “What do we do about it?” she asked. Rook snorted a bit, as though he found the question humorous. “Absolutely nothing, my dear! Because they’re got the military thoroughly under their control, and given the events of late, they have the perfect opportunity to declare a state of emergency, and do whatever they want. What we are doing is packing our things, and quitting the capital lest Prince Blueblood decides he’s feeling less generous towards his political adversaries.” “What? You’re just going to let them win?” she shouted. Her anger was making her hair stand on end, and unconsciously stamp her hooves. “Letting does not have anything to do with it. I’m sorry Twilight Sparkle, but there isn’t really anything we can do. It’s the ‘Golden Rule’, my little pony: the pony that has the gold makes the rules. Right now, they’ve got the money and the soldiers to make sure everyone toes the line.” A sudden chill went down Twilight’s spine. She needed to find her friends now. “Omigosh…I’ve got to go, before they get hurt…or worse!” She charged out his door, into the sooty evening air. “Before who gets hurt?” he yelled after her. “My friends!” she shouted back before running off into the night. Tracking down her herd of friends was somewhat like the exercise of herding cats. But eventually, after considerable begging, pleading, cajoling and threatening, Twilight managed to get them all under the same roof for debriefing. Rook’s flat was a fairly spacious studio apartment in one of the newer quarters of the city. The multi-level building was rather sturdy, built out of burgundy-red brick that seemed to whether the soot and ash blowing around Canterlot quite well. The interior was decorated well, with modern plaster walls painted vibrant colors and adorned with an assortment of antique tapestries and landscape paintings. Rook’s flat was on the first floor, rather near the exit. While it was in a bit of a state from the earth quakes and other events, it had been a fairly orderly apartment. The living room was well furnished, with oversized felt chairs by the fireplace, and spacious bookshelves along the walls. The lacquered wood trim was balanced by the earthy tones of the plaster, which seemed to faintly glow under the light from the ornate brass oil lamps decked around the interior. Since the details of the recent events were still fuzzy to her, Twilight had Rook explain the situation. Twilight summed up telling the girls about the messages Celestia had left them, and how the princesses were counting on them to be leaders in these dark times. This not only meant hunting down some rare, presumably banned books, but also resisting the new regime. Applejack was the first to speak up. “So let me get this straight: you’re telling me that some fancy-schmancy ponies have taken over now that Princess Celestia is…gone. They sacked this here feller and now that they’re in charge, they aim to run things here in Canterlot the way they want. And Twilight here wants us to do something about it.” Twilight nodded, glad that someone seemed to understand how important this was. Or not. “Well, if that’s the case, then I really don’t see why it’s any of my business. Let ‘em do what they want. I didn’t sign up to be a rebel, Twilight. If you want to do something, I ain’t gonna stop y’all. But I have a life in Ponyville that I need to get back to. Sweet Apple Acres ain’t gonna run itself, sugarcube. We’re in bad enough straights as it is, and with this calamity I’m gonna need to be home to make sure it doesn’t run into the ground. My family’s livelihood is at stake here. I’m sorry Twi, I really am.” A uncomfortable silence filled the smoky air. Twilight fidgeted nervously, not sure if she’d been totally out of line for even asking. She felt a little stupid really, not even once thinking about the lives her friends would have to leave behind, or the duties that would be left undone. Rarity had been nodding in silent agreement while Applejack spoke. After a few uncomfortable glances, reading everyone else’s reactions, she spoke up too. “As much as it pains me, dear, I have to agree with Applejack. I would really like to help, but I am really not cut out to be an outlaw. I have a business that I need to run, and a little sister who’d be terribly lost without me. I have a livelihood to think about, and a future career. Plus, what is little old me going to do about this? You know how I hate politics, right dear?” So that was two gone. Twilight was starting to feel a little bit irritated. This was a big problem, and yet personal lives seemed to be more important to everyone. While she stewed, Rook decided to go about packing his things again. He’d seen this kind of audience many times before, and the looks on their faces and their body language said it all: “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.” Fluttershy was about to speak up, but Twilight cut her off. “It’s okay…okay. I’m sorry I asked. I can see you girls have more important things to worry about. I might have asked too much of you, but I can’t go back. This is too important. You’re going to have to go back to Ponyville without me.” Pinkie Pie seemed unusually level headed. “Twilight, you don’t needed to be judgmental about it. I really don’t think you realize the kind of danger you’re signing yourself up for. If you were to get hurt or jailed, I’d be really upset. I don’t want that to happen to you. Maybe you should reconsider. You’re like family to us, and you belong in Ponyville.” Twilight felt abandoned, almost betrayed. Everyone was against her, and now she was shivering with frustration as tears began to well up in her eyes. “Just forget I asked!” she cried, “Just, just go back to Ponyville. Go back where it’s safe! I’m not going back, I have a job I need to do…the princesses are counting on me.” Twilight bolted out of the living room, into the open door of the guest bedroom. She desperately fought back the tears and sobs as she slammed the door behind her. The rest of the ponies, feeling upset at Twilight’s display but still vindicated, began shuffling out of the house. Rook lingered a moment, telling Twilight she was welcome to stay here as long as she needed but that it would be safer to leave. He gathered his luggage, and left. Just like all of the other ponies…her friends…had. Well, all except one. There was a rapping at the guest room door, followed by a perky voice asking, “Hey, Twi, you alright? Can I come in?” Not waiting for her answer, Rainbow Dash walked in, stopping for a moment just beyond the threshold. Twilight was laying down on the guest bed, her face buried in her hooves while she silently wept. “Twi…it hurts just to look at you when you’re hurting like this,” said Rainbow Dash. Dash flopped down on the bed right beside Twilight, nestling up against her crying friend. She sat their silently for a few moments, just staring a head at the wall while she wrapped her wing around Twilight and gently hugged her with it. Dash’s blue feathers blended seamlessly with Twilight’s lavender coat in the shadows of the unlit room. “Hey, you gonna be okay, Twi?” Dash whispered. “Why?” Twilight asked. It was the first question on her mind. “Why did you stay, Dash? Don’t you have more important things to be doing?” “More important than a friend? Never. Especially when she’s been hurt. I know this is really important to you, and I think I understand a bit why you’re so concerned. That’s why I’m going with you.” Twilight unburied her tear-streaked face from her hooves, looking at into her friend’s cerise eyes. Dash only smiled back at her, and hugged her tighter. The hug from Dash’s wing was surprisingly firm, and she felt quite comforted as Dash stroked her shoulder with the smooth primary feathers. “Ar-are you sure? You heard what they said…it’s dangerous, and I don’t know how long it will take for us to find what we need. Doesn’t the Weather Patrol need you?” “Bah, the Weather Patrol can go hang. This is more important. This is where I need to be: at my friend’s side, saving the world! Besides, I’m not the Element of Loyalty for nothing, am I?” Twilight chuckled a bit, in spite of herself. Dash’s spirit was invigorating. “Dash, don’t you remember?” Twilight continued, trying not to make light of the situation, “The Elements of Harmony were destroyed. We’re just ordinary ponies now, you and I.” “So? I see no reason to stop being loyal to my friends just because some old piece of junk stopped working. I know you’re concerned for me, but you’re not gonna be rid of me that easily. Besides, we’re far from ordinary ponies. Twilight laughed again as the sadness started to melt away. “Well, I know you’re no ordinary Pegasus. You’re the fastest flier in Equestria, and the inventor of the modern Sonic Rainboom. But I’m just an ordinary unicorn. I don’t know what I can do at this point.” “Twi, please,” Rainbow said, her tone suddenly serious, “You shouldn’t sell yourself short. You’re an amazing and loyal friend, and you’re also the smartest, most talented unicorn I’ve ever known. If anyone is spectacular here, it’s you.” Twilight laughed a bit, feeling uneasy from the praise. Rainbow continued, undaunted. “Don’t laugh, girl, I’m being serious. You really are amazing, and it hurts when I see that you can’t realize that about yourself.” Rainbow nuzzled her affectionately. “I mean it Twi,” she whispered, “I love ya, girl. I’d trust you with my life. That’s why I’m going with you.” Twilight hugged the cyan mare back, “I love you too, Dash. I’m glad you’re coming with me.” The two curled up for the night, hoping to get an early start for tomorrow’s journey. They didn’t have a clue in the world where they needed to go, and all the leads they had were slim. But it was enough to start, as long as there was a friend along for the ride. Author’s Notes Shorter chapter this time. But this felt like a natural break, so it’s ended right here. Hopefully, I’ll get the next one finished quicker to compensate. A few signposts: the rest of the Mane Six are NOT disappearing from the fic. They still have their own journey ahead of them, and it will, at least for the near term, take many of them on wildly separate routes. Future chapters will focus on the POV of one group of ponies at a time. And pretty soon we’re going to start running into some of the listed characters who haven’t played a part in the story yet. I’m sure this chapter will provoke the question, so I’ll pre-empt it: I am undecided about any romance/shipping in the story, and I’d like your feedback on it. If I do decide to write it in where it feels appropriate, it won’t be the main focus of the plot. Political intrigue will start to play a role in the plot as well. Prepare for a deluge of historical in-jokes and parallels. :P