//------------------------------// // The Counterattack // Story: The Untold Story of Mystic Sparkle // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// Amadeus is who you need to focus on. He is the mastermind of Twilight's death and the eventual coup by the bulk of the nobility. The prince is nothing more then a sacrificial pawn of his plans. His alicorn daughter is the heir he wants and the one he wants to replace the Royal Sisters with. She will be poisoned by his unicorn supremacist and arrogance of the nobility. You must stop this. Excerpt from the journal of Mystic Sparkle. Twilight finished copying the latest entry from her sister's journal. “Spike!” the pattering of feet sounded his arrival. “Send this to Princess Celestia.” Her magic gave the scroll to him. “Right away Twilight!” He saluted and blew on the scroll. It was soon smoke and flying to Celestia. Twilight sighed and looked at the journal. The only connection to a sister that had yet to be born and might never be born. Time travel is a complex thing. She wished she could have known her. From what she read and the small bit she saw she thought they would have gotten along. “Twily, what's wrong?” She looked over and saw Cadance approaching. Shining had left for Canterlot days ago to assist in ending this coup attempt. Twilight sighed. “Just thinking of Mystic.” Cadance held her close. She could do this for Twilight. In this now crazy world. She had thought everything was fine in Equestria. It was clear it was a lie. And now poor Bluey. His father lead him to this. “Come Twilight, you need a break and your parents just arrived.” Twilight perked up and the three of them headed for the dining room. The castle staff was sworn to secrecy that Twilight was there and since all of the staff were crystal ponies their loyalty was assured. In the room Twilight saw her parents and when they saw her they tackled hugged her. Kissing and crying as they held their little filly. Cadance sat nearby by smiling at the sight of love in front of her. After a few minutes the hug ended and they all took seats. “We've been told everything honey. The shock that ponies would go so far. I have half a mind to move here. I don't feel comfortable there anymore.” Velvet said. “Mom, you need to stay for a little bit. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Shining will bring these ponies to justice.” Twilight pleaded. "I know honey. It's just hard. I spent my life in Canterlot. Thinking it the beacon of friendship and harmony only to find out that it is dark and corrupted and now a threat to my daughter.” “And after everything you have done fir Equestria. You are a hero my little star. And this is how you are treated.” Night Light commented. "It's the nobility dad. Ever since the Royal Sisters took the throne they thought to take back power. They got some back after Luna's banishment and seek more. With my ascension and Princess Luna's return that power is threaten. Even more with my reforms for the government.” “Fools.” Night Light said. And all nodded as their meal arrived and they ate. ********************** Meanwhile in Canterlot, Luna and Shining approached an interrogation room. Used rarely in the past but will see more use in the future. Luna slammed the door open and they walked in to see a unicorn stallion with gold fur and a brown mane and tail. I ring was on his horn. “I am very disappointed in you Gallant Heart. I charged you with finding threats inside our government and now I find you trying to kill a princess you SWORE to protect. What excuse do you possibly have for your actions?” “Amadeus threaten my brother's life. He somehow knew I was a spy and with his lackey guards he was in my apartment and would kill my brother if it tried to stop him.” “You should have come to me Gallant. I gave you the means to do so in dream realm. We would have protected your brother. Instead you committed treason and if it wasn't for a mare from the future you would have killed her and set up the beginnings of a war.” “War?” Gallant asked. “You think the murder of Twilight would be the end of it? She is just the beginning. Now you will tell us everything you haven't told me. You do so you will be sentenced to petrification rather then death.” “How is that different?” “You will be released in one thousand years. A chance to start again.” “But never with the guard. You gave up the right to ever be one of us with your betrayal. I get trying to protect your younger brother but there were better options. You were my best stallion. I called you brother. Now I can barely look at you. And it takes all my control to not kill you now. You will share what you know or you will join your fellow traitors. “ Shining stated. “And my sister plans to make it quite an event. If you have any shred of loyalty left you will help us.” “What of my brother?” “He is now part of Celestia's personal guard. That unit is still loyal to the princesses.” Shining stated. Gallant sighed and lowered his head. “Alright.” He began to spill what he knew. It was an hour later as Luna and Shining left the room and entered Luna's quarters. With wards up Luna grabbed a bottle and a couple of glasses. “Well he provided more detail on somethings Mystic told us.” Luna commented as she poured the drinks. “Yes, still ticked off that Gallant would try to kill Twily, even under duress. I thought he was smarter than that?” “All ponies make mistakes Prince Armor. Some are very costly.” She took a drink and Shining followed. “How is your sister?” “She is affected by this, even more then myself. Her mane and tail are pure flame now and I could have swore her eyes went dragonic like mine did as Nightmare Moon. I have never seen her this angry.” “Well Twily is like a daughter to her. I saw it plenty of times over the years.” “Yes, and she is a close friend to me. Well soon we can end this threat and can rebuild the government as it should be.” She took another drink. "Yes, the Equestria my little sis dreams of.” Luna lifted her cup. “To Twilight's vision.” Shining smiled and lifted his. “To Twilight's vision.” The cups chime together as they are tapped to each other. ****************************** Amadeus was concerned. He hadn't seen the reaction he hoped for with Twilight Sparkle's death. His failure of a son and his pawns haven't been seen since the night of the mission. Likely caught after doing the deed. Not unplanned for. Celestia has not attended court since the day of the mission and barely seen in the hallways. Too many unknowns. Perhaps he needed to leave for New Unicornia earlier then planned. He gathered his documents when his door opened. “You need to knock before entering.” He said dismissively not looking at the doorway as he continue to gather his papers. “I do not when dealing with ponies like you.” His eyes widened and looked over and saw Celestia there. But not the Celestia he knew. The calm, regal and motherly face was replaced by a stern and angry one. Her mane was like flames instead of the aurora it usually was. “Princess Celestia, to what do I owe for this visit?” He asked her. Her smile was not a friendly one. “Simple, you are under arrest for treason against the crown.” He was starting to sweat. “Such a bold claim princess. What proof you have?” "Oh I have plenty. The simple fact his Amadeus your plan FAILED. Twilight is alive and well. You and your allies will die for your crimes. Even now my loyal guards are taking your daughter who will learn how to be a proper princess. I am done with your games Amadeus. You try to kill my daughter and now you will pay.” Her eyes went gold and pupils went dragonic. He charge his horn for a teleport but Celestia hit his horn with her wing canceling the teleport and put a ring on it. “Guards. Take him away.” The guards dragged him from the room. Agents of her intelligence service gathered the papers for evidence. Celestia left the room and headed down the stairs. She heard the crying of Amadeus' wife and a guard carrying a filly in a bundle crying as well. “Please give me back my foal!” Celestia took the foal and nuzzled her before looking at the mare. “You are going to let your husband use her as a pawn for his ambitions. You lost the right to be her mother. She will be cared for, lived, and will become a proper princess.” The mother wailed but Celestia ignored her and left the mansion. She nuzzled and cooed the filly alicorn. She eventually succeeded in calming her. She was going to enjoy being a mother again. ****************************** A couple months later Celestia was in a plaza rather than with her new daughter New Dawn. But she needed to do this. Twilight Velvet was looking over the foal as Celestia took care of her gruesome duty. She readied the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Ponies of Equestria! I come before you not as the benevolent princess I prefer but as your ruler needing to dispense justice! Before you are ponies that tried to murdered my former student and now fellow princess Twilight Sparkle!” There was gasps among the crowd. “Not only that, but they planned the overthrow of our government and to establish a unicorn dominant Equestria where pegasi and earth ponies are second class citizens!” The crowd roared in anger. Maybe not as loud as it would outside Canterlot but there was pegasi and earth ponies in the crowd. “For treason against the crown and attempted murder they are condemned to death!” Celestia turned to the dozens of ponies tied to poles. With her power over the sun she burned them to a crisp in seconds. All there was left was piles of ash on the sun scorched plaza. There was silence over the area. Celestia hated she had to make a scene but the protection of her family meant more to her. She headed in and saw Gallant's statue being moved to a secure place. Phase one was done. The direct threat to their rule was gone. Twilight could return to her life now. But sadly there was still more to do but with her families help they will succeed. They had to.