//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: The Proposal 
// Story: Spero 
// by Piemaster128 
//------------------------------//

Ok, Twilight. 
You’re calm. 
You’re in control. 
You’re not currently pacing outside the main gate just before the magic shield Celestia made to make sure Canterlot isn't invaded and your mane isn't sticking out in all directions because you’re stressed and Ponyville is conquered and your friends are captured and you don’t know what to do or how to save them and OH MY LUNA, I AM NOT CALM!  
Focus, Twilight.
DON’T TELL ME TO FOCUS, BRAIN! THIS IS A DISASTER AND I CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PANIC!
And pacing while waiting for Celestia and Luna is going to help?
Well, no, but it helps distract me and—
No, it makes you focus on it MORE! Now calm down, and think through what happened one more time. There must be a solution, and if you analyze your facts, you can find it. Just THINK.
Ok, ok, right. Just think about what happened, and try to think of a solution. No problem.
It started five days ago. I was going to Canterlot for the week to assist the princesses with the yearly budget calculations. Primarily because we are using a new organizational system this year to keep track of everything and because Celestia wanted me to get experience in managing a budget, but that’s not important. My friends couldn’t come because they were all busy in Ponyville, and Spike and Starlight were off visiting the Crystal Empire to help prepare for their annual festival next week. 
The first day was fine, if rather boring. The second day was also fine, though I had quite a headache after we suddenly had to move the funding of a few programs around and I am still not sure why. Celestia took care of that though so it was all still good. Day three? Oh, you know, just receiving word that EVERY TOWN IN CITY IN EQUESTRIA WAS NOW CONQUERED! 
Focus, Twilight. WHAT. DO. YOU. KNOW?
STOP TELLING ME THAT! I KNOW I NEED TO FOCUS BUT I REALLY JUST CAN’T RIGHT NOW OK!?
Breathing technique, then back to thinking.
Deep breath in, Depp breath out. Move in sync with hoof…ok, that’s better…marginally. 
The invading force came out of nowhere, sometime literally appearing in the city or town’s guard or police stations before quickly subduing all resistance. They attacked at night, and by morning had captured everywhere. The only place NOT captured is the Crystal Empire, but the invaders currently have them trapped inside their shield regardless. They’re not attacking though, strangely enough.
Actually, that’s probably the strangest thing about this army. They aren't ACTING like conquerors. They let the messengers come back and report to Celestia. They let her scouts go into occupied cities and see what was going on. They keep trains and weather schedules consistent, except they only permit supply trains and keep an eye on all of them and all weather patrols.
And they have done almost…nothing. No enslaving the population. No ripping up all the resources to ship back home. No cruel punishments for disobedience. Everything, at least as far as the scouts can tell, is just…carrying on like normal. Well, except for the no-pony-can-leave-the-town-you-are-currently-in-unless-it-is-a-real-emergency thing, but that’s really it. Why conquer all these places just to leave them practically the same as you found them? It just doesn't make any sense!
Heck, even one of the messengers, who was there when they invaded, said they managed to take over without ANY CASUALTIES! One of the enemies apparently even saved an Equestrian soldier from the falling part of a statue that had been knocked loose by a rogue spell. Were they just lucky that no one was killed, or did they somehow PLAN it that way? It’s just…so unusual. 
And you know how invaders normally act?
Equestria’s been invaded by Changelings at least twice, and I think some of the other villains could count as their own army based on how strong they are. Now where was I? Oh, yes, the WORRISOME BIT! The fact that the army CAPTURED MY FRIENDS! 
All right, all right, just stay calm. The girls are still ok, seeing as their leader let one of our scouts check up on the girls while they were under guard, so don’t panic…YET! And stay focused.
I AM FOCUSED! Which is why I know that apparently their leader, who we still don’t know anything about, is coming to Canterlot TODAY to negotiate a deal, and is apparently bringing the girls with him. Or at least, they SAY negotiate, but considering that he’s bringing the girls with him…or her, I don’t know how much will be negotiations and how much will just be demands. Ohhh, why can’t I have just been a librarian? That would have been so much SIMPLER!
But then you wouldn't have met the girls, or learned all the magic spells you know, or have been taught by Celestia, or—
Ok, ok, I get it, brain. Ugh, still wish thing were at least a LITTLE bit less complicated. Or that this didn’t happen so gosh darn FREQUENTLY! The only reason I don’t ever go on vacation to the tropics is because I just KNOW that’s when the villains will choose to randomly attack and concur Equestria. Ugh…how I wish I could have a vacation…
“Twilight?”
“GAH!” Twilight screamed, jumping five feet in the air. Her wings sprung out and flapped hard enough to keep her airborne. Looking back, she could see that Celestia and Luna had arrived, along with a large amount of the Canterlot Royal Guard and the Night Guard backing each princess respectively. 
Wait, how long had she been out here? 
Glancing ever so slightly to the left, she saw that it was now nine in the morning according to the clock tower. She had no idea what time it had been when she first stepped outside, but the sun had been on the horizon, so it must have been at least three hours, maybe more. She also noticed, rather embarrassingly, that she had actually worn a groove in the ground with her constant pacing. 
Oops.
“Eheheheh,” Twilight said sheepishly, blushing brightly. “Sorry, Princess. I guess I was a little…distracted.”
“It’s all right, Twilight,” Celestia said, embracing the purple alicorn after she descended back to earth. “We all have a lot on our minds right now.” 
Yes, yes we do. At least Celestia’s warm fur help to calm her down, as usual. Or maybe she was just cold from the cool morning air.
“Indeed,” Luna said, nodding. “This entire situation is very troubling.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Twilight said, looking back at the grove she had worn before her ears perked up. She could hear hooves marching. She turned to look beyond Celestia’s barrier and could just barely see the invaders coming up the road…and coming…and COMING…
They moved with purpose and unity, marching in perfect rows up the road while being led by a huge figure under a cloak with a hood. It made her gulp. There were fewer of them than she thought there would be, but there were still A LOT.
Why were there so many?
“Let’s hope we can find a solution once we see what their leader wants. I just pray whoever they are is willing to see reason.” Celestia said with a sigh, pulling Twilight under her wing. It was so warm, and for a moment Twilight just wanted to bury her head in Celestia’s side. Celestia’s hold always offered her comfort, always let her know that things would be ok, even if it was only for a moment. But the sound of marching solders quickly brought her back to reality, and Twilight knew it would only be a matter of minutes until they arrived.
They lapsed into silence afterwards, listening to the steady sounds of hooves approaching the gates. Even though Celestia’s shield was the strongest in Equestria, Twilight still felt nervous. 
This army had concurred the entire country in one night, yet hadn’t even TRIED to get to Canterlot since they took over two days ago. Did that mean that they KNEW they could get in? That they could smash Celestia’s shield and march over her as the magical feedback disabled her? Did they not see her, the strongest alicorn in Equestria who RAISED THE FREAKING SUN, as a threat? And if they DID break the shield, how many innocent ponies would be hurt in the ensuing battle as the royal guard tried to fight a battle they couldn’t win? And what would they do to her and Luna if they defeated Celestia!?
No, no. She had to stay calm. If the invaders were bringing her friends, and had gone through all this trouble to prevent casualties to Equestrian ponies, then maybe they were really here to negotiate. Twilight wasn't sure WHY they would even NEED to negotiate when they were clearly strong enough to just TAKE what they probably wanted, but she was sure she would find out soon enough. 
After what seemed like forever and yet not long enough, the soldiers came into clearer view. They wore orange armor with light blue accents, the symbol of a bright star adorning the center of their chest plates. What’s more, she could now accurately judge just how huge their leader was.
And by huge, she meant TALLER THAN CELESTIA! 
Oh dear. This could NOT be good. 
All the soldiers were ponies, their races varying equally between earth ponies, pegesi, and unicorns, yet it surprised her how…ordinary they all looked. No super-imposing armor, no massive hulking ponies. They looked like regular solders, just in different armor. The only outlier was their leader, a unicorn who stood taller than any other unicorn she had ever seen. As they approached, Twilight felt her breath catch in her throat. 
Her friends, they were all there too. 
She couldn’t help but sigh in relief when she saw them. Rather than being chained up and forced to walk with the soldiers, they all looked perfectly free, save for red metal bands with blue gems attached to their right forelegs. They were riding in a wagon being pulled by two of the enemy soldiers as the advancing army stopped a fair distance from Celestia’s shield.
Granted, none of them looked very pleased to be where they were, especially Rainbow Dash, who looked like she wanted to punch the cloaked figure, but Twilight was just glad to see them all unharmed. Hopefully they wouldn't do anything ras—
Rainbow leapt up and charged the cloaked figure, only for her leg band’s gem to start glowing, freezing her in midair a foot from her target. None of the soldiers even reacted to her move, and Rarity facehooved at the display. This must have happened before.
“I don’t think trying that the twenty-third time is going to change the outcome, my dear,” the cloaked figure said with a chuckle. The voice was deep and smooth, implying that he was a stallion, and yet something about it just made Twilight shiver slightly. There was something…familiar about his voice, something that made her feel vaguely warm. Something that made her feel…connected? Why? She didn’t have time to think before he spoke again. “Now I must speak with the princesses, so if you could please not interrupt, I would be very grateful.” 
His horn lit with a bright orange light and he levitated the still-immobilized Dash back the the wagon. Once he let go, the magic band stopped glowing, yet the rest of the gang moved to hold Rainbow back before she could charge again.
Please let them keep Rainbow calm, Twilight thought. This was already stressful enough as it was. 
“Now then,” the leader said, turning back towards the shield. His force had stopped about fifty feet away from it, but this did not seem to deter him. He stepped away his soldiers and approached the shield with a complete lack of concern for its power. “Allow me to introduce myself,” he said when he came to a stop twenty feet away.
There was a small flash as the figure teleported his cloak away and revealed…
T-That’s…He’s a…
Twilight’s jaw fell open in shock, and she could just barely feel Celestia’s wing tightening around her in protection. But Twilight was far too distracted by what she saw to care. 
The leader wasn’t a unicorn. 
He was an ALICORN!
The pony in front of them was the first male alicorn in, as far as Twilight knew, ALL OF HISTORY! He was a good head taller than Celestia, with an bright orange and red mane, a black coat, bright orange eyes, and a cutie mark of two hooves holding one another with the sun and moon shining above them. His horn was longer than Celestia’s and Luna’s, his wings were MASSIVE and looked incredibly strong, and his body looked very well toned. Everything you might expect from a BUCKING MALE ALICORN!
THUMP!
A loud noise from her friends’ cart caught Twilight’s attention and she turned to look at them, still keeping one eye on the male alicorn. Rarity had disappeared from view, and from Fluttershy’s worried expression, she knew that her friend had fainted. Not that Twilight blamed her. In reality, she was slightly relieved to see that she wasn’t the only one freaking out right now. Applejack and Pinkie shared a surprised and uncertain glance while Rainbow quickly got over her shock and glared even more intensely at the stallion as she reached over and grabbed Fluttershy protectively. Fluttershy looked torn between huddling under Rainbow’s wing or going down to check on Rarity.
“My name is Credence Sparrow, although I prefer Sparrow,” the alicorn said, his voice pulling Twilight’s attention away from her friends. “And I am the king of the island nation Delubrum. I have come to speak with you so that we may make a bargain.” His voice was clear and full of authority. And yet…there was something else in his voice. Something…uncertain? Twilight didn’t know. 
“What is it that you want?” Luna said, stepping forward. The stallion looked at her for a moment before turning back to Celestia. 
But he didn’t look at Twilight. 
At all.
In fact, it almost looked as if he was avoiding eye contact with her. 
“Before we speak, I must ask that you lower this barrier, or at least create a hole through we can speak unimpeded,” Sparrow said, his wings shifting slightly as he stared intently at Celestia. Twilight saw that though most of her feathers were black, the outermost ones were bright orange, giving his wing a defined, almost wicked-looking edge. “You have my word that my ponies will not enter the city or make any move towards you or yours.”
Celestia frowned as she stepped forward, nudging Twilight in a way that told her she should stay back. “And how can I trust anything you say?” she asked, her voice firm despite the fact that she actually had to look UP to meet Sparrow’s eyes. “You invade our land, conquer our ponies, and bring innocent mares into this conflict.” She nodded towards Twilight’s friends. “All of which occurred without the slightest provocation from us. Furthermore, seeing as we are talking just fine as it is, I see no logic behind lowering the shield.”
The alicorn…sighed? It wasn't an annoyed sighed, or even a tired sigh, but more of a…sad sigh? 
But why would he be sad? 
“You’re right, you can’t trust me yet, but I swear on my life that my ponies will not act unless yours do,” Sparrow said, “but I must insist that you lower this shield. Please, I want to have a civil discussion with the two of you, and while we can do that when separated as we are, it is not ideal.”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “No.”
“Then I am apologize for what must be done,” Sparrow said, and he lit his horn again. Celestia braced herself, while Luna lit her own horn in preparation. Twilight gulped. She waited, waited for the shield to begin shuddering, for the blast of magic to emanate from his horn. 
One second…two seconds…thr—
“GAH!” 
There was no flash of magic, not outpouring of force from the glowing horn of Sparrow’s, no indication that he had made any kind of move at all. But just like that, both Luna and Celestia fell to their knees as their magic gave out, their heads drooping and their manes flowing much more slowly as they gasped for air. The shield around the city disappearing quietly into nothing.
“Princess!” Twilight called out in shock, and she heard her friends and the many guards yell the same thing. She rushed forward as the royal soldiers all pulled out their weapons, pointing them at Sparrow. The male alicorn made no move, but his own guards drew their weapons as well and stepped closer to their king. Twilight’s friends looked ready to jump up, but their bands were glowing, keeping them all in place. 
“What have you done!?” the captain of the Night Guard shouted, lifting his weapon higher so it pointed at the male alicorn’s horn. But Twilight moved before he could do anything, rushing to place herself between Sparrow and the princesses. She didn’t think there was much she could do — heck, maybe she couldn’t do ANYTHING — but she wasn’t about to let them be hurt any more without a fight. 
“You need not worry for their safety,” Sparrow said, looking at the panting princesses and their young protector. “The spell simply drains them of their magic for a few minutes. They will be fine in a short while, I promise you that on my life.” 
As his eyes met Twilight’s, she felt her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were hard, yet…incredibly sad. Twilight didn’t know how, or even why, but she knew, just KNEW, he had wanted to avoid this. That this was tearing him up on the inside. Her breathing sped up as she continued to look into his orange eyes. 
Why? Why was she breathing so fast? Why did she know how he felt just by looking? 
Why did this seem so familiar? Why did his sadness make her sad?
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed overhead right at Sparrow’s horn, but he plucked it from midair with his magic with barely a glance. The soldiers behind him tensed, their own weapons starting to glow with an orange light. Movement swam in the corners of Twilight’s eyes, causing Twilight to turn away from the opposing army. The royal guards were quickly moving to surround her and the other princesses, weapons high. Ready to fight. Ready to die to protect them. 
Her breathing grew shallower and faster. The guards were going to fight, to fight a fight they couldn't win, a fight she KNEW they couldn’t win. 
She couldn’t let them do it. She COULDN’T.
What do I do? 
There was only one answer.
She had to stop this.
“WAIT!” she yelled, halting all the ponies in their tracks. “Please. Just…Just stand down.”
The words tasted bitter. Her head fell in defeat.
“Princess?” the Night Guard captain asked in shock.
	
“Stand down,” she repeated. “We…We can’t beat him. No pony needs to get hurt in a pointless fight. Just…Just stand down.” She was crying, but she didn’t care who saw. She didn’t know if it was because of looking into his sad, sad eyes or the fact that she knew she couldn’t do any more than her mentors could. She didn’t care. If they were going to lose anyway, at least she would be able to protect her ponies.
“T-Twilight,” Luna muttered between gasps for breath. She still couldn’t stand, but she wasn’t letting it stop her from trying. The guards all looked at one another before lowering their weapons. They didn’t like it, and Twilight didn’t either, but she knew there was no other way. Behind Sparrow, the opposing army lowered their own weapons. The orange glow surrounding them vanished.
“Thank you,” Sparrow said, a small genuine smile crossing his lips for the first time. 
“What do you want?” Twilight asked grimly, keeping her wet eyes locked on the male alicorn. “You said you came to bargain, and that you wouldn't invade, so what are your demands?” 
Why would he even bother to make demands at all when he could just take what he wanted? It’s not like they could stop him now.
“Right to the point, I see,” Sparrow said with a nod as he looked almost proud of her. “Very well, though I prefer to use the term ‘requirements’. The truth of the matter is that I have no interest in the cities and towns I now control. In truth, should you grant me what I desire, I will free all of them and return to my island with my army, no questions asked.”
“HUH!?” Twilight exclaimed, looking at Sparrow in shock. He had conquered pretty much all of Equestria in a single day, and now he was willing to give it all BACK!? For the second time that day, she was so surprised that she felt her jaw open in pure bafflement. 
But wait, what if the thing he wanted was something horrible? What if he wanted the Elements of Harmony? Or the Crystal Heart? Or—
“Why?” Celestia asked, pulling Twilight from her spiraling thoughts. Turning around, Twilight saw that Celestia was still panting slightly, but had managed to sit up. “Why not take what you want? If you can disable me and my sister so easily, why did you not just take whatever it is you want? Why all this display?”
“You’re correct,” Sparrow said. “I could take what I want, true, but I would rather not do that. Despite what you may think, I am not a tyrant, and I would much rather give Twilight a choice, rather than just take from her.”
“Huh? Me!?” Twilight said, taking a step back in surprise, a step back away from him. 
She didn’t like the sound of this…
“Yes, my dear,” Sparrow said, smiling sadly at her. “The thing I want is something only you can provide. And should you agree, I will release all of Equestria, your friends included, and leave Equestria in peace.” 
Twilight’s breathing was picking up again. What could she POSSIBLY have that he could want!? Her castle? The elements? A rare book? 
Please let it be a book. She could always get another one.
“W-What do you want f-from me?” she managed to stutter out, wishing she could look away from him.
“What I want,” Sparrow said, raising his foreleg, “is your hoof—” There was a flash, and a small black box appeared on his hood as he knelt down— “in marriage.” 
The box opened, revealing a solid diamond ring.
It was the most unique ring Twilight had ever seen. It was made of a pure, flawless diamond and had a large variety of rare gems of all colors and shapes embedded in the outside edges, making it look as though a rainbow had settled inside the diamond itself.
Twilight couldn’t stop staring. She saw nothing, nothing but the ring and the stallion holding it. Her eyes shot from one to the other at blinding speeds, her breath catching in her throat as her mind tried to make sense of what he had just said. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t speak, she couldn’t act…
She…
She…



At some point, Twilight’s mind decided for itself that she needed a hard reset, and the world truly began to fade into oblivion. However, before she fell into unconsciousness completely, a single word escaped her, backed by the full force of the Royal Canterlot Voice…


347 miles away…


Discord was angry. 
Not a playful, prank-inspiring angry, but well and truly pissed off. 
Normally, this would be the grounds for evacuation of the nearest mile of land as Discord let his anger off, but he COULDN’T! All because of the source of his anger! 
Why was he angry? 
Well, let’s see…
It had been a perfectly calm day on the deserted island where he had chosen to take the week off. No chaos, no teasing poor Sparkle Butt, no bugging old Sun Butt, just him and the relaxing day on the island. He needed a vacation, especially after the Changeling incident. But then it had been spoiled by these STUPID PONIES in orange armor! They had appeared, and before Discord could react, he had found himself now floating an a magic bubble. One that rendered him completely HELPLESS! He couldn’t even make comics appear out of thin air to entertain himself! And the worst part was…
“Hey, Grind Stone?”
“Yeah, Simmer?”
“You ever wonder why we’re here?” 
Oh dear COTTON CANDY were his two guards (if they could even be called that) ANNOYING! The random banter, the pointless complaining, the conversations that accomplished nothing productive, it was TORTURE! 
And he couldn’t even poof his ears away so he could stop listening! 
Someone PLEASE end him! Or at least TURN HIM BACK TO STONE!
ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS!
“Please don’t tell me you’re getting all metaphorical on me again. You know I don’t do well with metaphors.”
“I think you mean ‘philosophical,’ and, no, I'm not. I mean, why are we still RIGHT HERE! The sergeant and Donut were supposed to be here to relieve us of guard duty almost an hour ago. What the heck are they doing?”
“Maybe enjoying this nice tropical island? Seriously, the first thing I do then they get here is going to be to take a nap under one of those palm trees.”
“I’m actually surprised you haven’t already. You never take things seriously.”
“Yeah, but the king said that under no circumstances were we allowed to let Discord out until he was done, and I don’t think the excuse ‘Buck it, I’m lazy’ is going to work this time.”
“When has that EVER worked?” 
“More often than you would think…”
“Would you two just SHUT UP!” Discord yelled in frustration. “This is embarrassing enough with out you reminding me that I’m being held captive by a couple of morons!”
“How rude. Can’t you see that we’re trying to have a meaningful discussion over here?” Grind Stone said.
Discord’s eye began to twitch and he banged his head into the magic bubble, hoping that by some miracle he would either be let out, or that he would hit it so hard that he would fall unconscious. Either option seemed appealing right n—

“WHAT!?!?!?!?”

Discord and the annoying guards jumped as the loud exclamation of confusion echoed across the island. However, to Discord, that voice sounded very VERY familiar. 
“Was that Twilight Sparkle?” he asked in confusion, his anger at the morons in front of him forgotten.
“My guess is yes,” Grind Stone smirked. Simmer groaned and pulled out a few gems and dropped them onto his partner’s outstretched hoof. 
Apparently, they had made a bet. 
Yet Discord couldn’t care less about that. Right now, he was far more concerned about what could have possibly caused Twilight Sparkle to shout so loudly. 
Was there some new disaster going on? Was Fluttershy ok? Were the girls in trouble again?
And what did it have to do with dumb and dumber who were still guarding him?