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// The Means Justify the Ends (GMBlackjack) 
// Story: Enchorus 
// by GMBlackjack 
//------------------------------//

"Do ze ends justify ze means?"

Eve looked up from the interface of the Shaping Mechanism, taking in the appearance of Curaçao: a blue earth pony with a soft expression and a stylish headband, known to her as the leader of the Mean Six, one of Renee's Expedition Teams. "Ex...cuse me?"

"Do ze ends justify ze means?" Curaçao sat down next to Eve, staring into the shaping mechanism. "I 'ave asked myself zat question zousands of times in my life."

"You would be better suited to answering it than me."

"Ah, but you are ze one who needs to answer it now, non?"

Eve frowned, but nodded. 

"You 'ave started a war and led your people to mass death, suffering, and torment. You 'ave lost friends. And you 'ave lost part of yourself." 

Eve shuddered.

"But, you 'ave also killed a terrible man, strengzened your nation considerably, and proven zat Merodi Universalis can do what it needs to. The lives of billions owe gratitude to you."

"But at what cost?"

"At what cost indeed?" Curaçao smiled sadly. "Do ze ends justify ze means?"

"I don't know. I know I wasn't ready to pay the cost. I don't know if it was worth it. I can't. I'm too close to it." Twilight turned to her. "What do you think?"

"I zink zat ze saying is wrong, but zere is a kernel of truth within."

"So what justifies the means?"

"Ze means zemselves." Curaçao chuckled. "I live my live by zis: ze means justify ze ends." 

"...I don't think that works."

"Non, not really," Curaçao admitted. "It is more of a play on ze previous phrase zan anyzing... but it carries wiz it ze idea. Ze ends, zey do not matter. A pony can be ze best person in existence and still make a mistake that kills millions. What matters is ze means - what and why a pony does what she does."

"It's all in the motives."

"Naturally. Zis does not clear zings up much, sadly. Do I lie to my sisters to better them? Do I kill to protect those I care about?" Curaçao shrugged. "Ze answers... zey change with ze situation and ze pony. But ze results, zey do not matter for 'right' or 'wrong'. All zings work together for good anyway, zey say."

Eve chuckled. "I bet I know where you got that."

"Safe bet."

"What if you don't know? Motives can be pure... but actions can still be wrong."

"Zat I cannot 'elp wiz. I 'ave not found the answer."

Eve smirked. "You seem to be doing just fine."

"I accept myself. I am wrong, I am right, like all ponies. Like you. You do not need to analyze everyzing."

Eve nodded slowly. "I think I get it. For now, anyway, I'll probably Twilight the entire thing into a whirlpool of neurosis later."

Curaçao stood up and shrugged. "It is ze plight of ze messenger to be ignored. C'est la vie."

"Thanks, though. For talking."

"I 'ave been in your 'orseshoes before. I could not sit by and say nozing."

"Yes... the Silvertongue incident." Eve smiled. "You're a good mare, Curaçao, no matter what anypony else says."

"If I 'ung my 'at on what ozer ponies said... I would not be here." 

Eve nodded. "See you around."

"Likewise, Eve." She left, smiling.