//------------------------------// // 2~Compare and Contrast // Story: What Could've Been // by Centurion Pike-Wall //------------------------------// The Praetor stood on the balcony, looking over Canterlot and the sprawling land beyond it. She leaned on the balcony, turning her dagger over in her talon. The polished blade reflected the light of the shining sun, shining patches of light into the shadow of the balcony. Sighing, she slid the blade back into the slot on her prosthetic, before spreading her wings. She took off, kicking her back hooves off of the railing to gain just that small amount of extra distance before she gave a mighty flap. She cleared the outer limits of Canterlot Castle in a matter of seconds, and sailed over the upper parts of the city. She scanned the rows of houses and shops as she flew along the edge of the city ringing the mountain, before finally coming to the pain road leading up from the valley. From an admittedly rusty mental map, the layout of the city was almost the same as during the Siege of Canterlot. She kicked off a rocky outcropping just past the gate, before sailing in a wide arc around the outside of the city. A few ponies turned to watch the spectral trail zoom by, however, most probably didn't know it was her. She had soon completely lapped the outside of the city, and had come back around to the Canterlot Castle. She scanned the rows of balconies, before coming to a realization. When she was in Canterlot, it had either been in ruins or she simply wasn't paying attention. As such, and without any distinctive markers, she simply didn't recall which room was hers. She sighed, before scanning the castle grounds. Finally, her eye drifted to the Statue Garden, near where she had arrived in this... timeline? Alternate Dimension? This world's Twilight still didn't really explain it that well. Shrugging, she sailed down, angling her wings at the last second to give her a smooth descent. Her landing was met by a loud yelp. Looking over, she spotted the same pink unicorn from the night before; Luster Dawn. She was sitting beneath one of the statues; a trio of figures in a variety of poses. "Salve, Mulier Dawn. Sorry, didn't see you." "No no", the mare said, standing up. "It's fine. I was just startled, is all. What are you doing up?" "I was going for my morning flight", Praetor Dash explained. "I didn't see a reason to stop doing it, even given the circumstances." "Really?", Luster asked. "If what the Princess said is accurate, Mrs. Dash isn't really a morning pony." "Kinda had to get used to waking up early during training", the Praetor explained. "My instructor was relentless, but I still thought of him as a friend. He was just helping me in a way that he could." "Oh, well how is he?", Luster asked. "I mean, I'm still getting used to this whole friendship thing, and was wondering exactly how you did it." Praetor Dash's slight smile faded, before she lowered her head slightly. "He fell in service of the Fatherland." It took a moment for Luster to fully register what she meant by that. "Oh", she said. "I'm sorry." "It's fine. He was a soldier like me. He knew the risks of the profession", the Praetor said. Deciding to change the subject, she turned her attention back to the statue that Luster had been leaning on. "So, what's with this? I've only been to Canterlot a few times, but I don't recognize it." "Oh yeah", Luster said, welcoming the chance to change the subject. "They're nicknamed the 'Terrible Trio'. They were villains who tried to take-over Equestria before Princess Twilight assumed the throne." She pointed to each of them, a small golden dot of magic appearing on them as she did so. "That's Tirek, that's Cozy Glow, and that's-" "Queen Chrysalis", the Praetor finished, glaring at the petrified changeling. Luster said, "Well, she wasn't really a queen anymore, but yeah." "What do you mean?', the Praetor asked. "Well, earlier, she had tried to take over Equestria another way. In this case, by foalnapping the Princess and Element Bearers to weaken Equestria. However, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, Discord, and a changeling named Thorax slipped under the radar, and-" Luster was cut off by a talon being pressed to her muzzle. "Short version please, kid", the Praetor said. "Right", Luster said. "Anyway, Thorax taught the other changelings to share their love, they reformed, and Chrysalis was deposed." "Huh", Praetor Dash said, turning back to the statue. Luster asked, "How do you know her?" "Chrysalis invaded Equestria", the Praetor said. "Princess Luna requested aid from several other countries, including Pryha. I was the one sent to whip her tail." "So, what happened to her?", Luster asked. The pegasus paused, shifting her weight slightly, before she decided to answer. "I'll be blunt. I snapped her neck, and turned her horn into a letter opener." She turned her head just in time to see Luster crumble to the ground, her eyes lolled back in her head. +++++~+++++ When Luster awoke, she was laying in a bed with the Princess standing over her. She said, "Ohhh... Hi, Princess. What happened?" "You passed out", the Praetor said, stepping up to her. "I told you what happened to my version of Chrysalis, and you passed out." "Right", Fluttershy said. "You... turned her into a Letter opener." The Praetor shrugged. "It's a Pryhan thing." "Ripping off limbs?", Applejack asked. The Praetor shook her head. "Not necessarily. Pryhans have a thing called Uno Proelio. Single Battle. A one-on-one duel between leaders of opposing armies. The winner is allowed to take a trophy. This is usually a weapon or a helmet or something. They were too broken to take, so... one of my officers sawed off her horn." Rainbow Dash blinked, before giving a nervous chuckle. "Cool. Weird... but I guess it's ok?" "I don't expect you to understand", the Praetor said. "We have ways we do things, and Equestria has its way of doing things." "Every creature has their own traditions", Twilight said. The Praetor nodded. "Exactly." "Anyway", Twilight said. "The train has been arranged, and we'll head down in roughly an hour. Luster, rest here a little bit longer." She turned to the Praetor, a somewhat quizzical look on her face. "And, for the sake of Luster and a few others, can you please tell us before you mention something... graphic?" "Affirm", the Praetor said. "So, what do we do until then." "I have to take care of a few things", Twilight said. "I'll meet you down at the train station later." Twilight left the room, with Discord and Fluttershy leaving via a portal shortly after. That left the two Rainbows, Applejack, and Luster Dawn. Applejack said, "Y'all wanna come wit' us? Git some grub?" "I could eat", the Praetor said, following the other two mares. "Probably not gonna be as good as my husbands, but I'll take it." "Your husband?", Rainbow Dash asked. "Huh, ain't that ironic, Jackie?" "Sure as sugar is, Sugarcube!", Applejack said, both mares devolving into chuckling. The Praetor ground to a halt, her eyes darting between the two mares. "I'm sorry. What?"