//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Unfriendship: Pony Gods // by littleman001 //------------------------------// The former Empress of Magic, Regime Twilight Sparkle, the once most powerful pony in Equestria was now sitting in a small cell in Tartarus, bound in chains and without her horn, rendering her powerless. It was a pitiful sight to behold. 'How the mighty have fallen...' Insurgency Celestia thought as she stood outside her former student's cell, looking down at her with a pitiful look. 'In more ways than one...' “If somepony told me that you would ever end up in here, I would have downright accused them of high treason.” she told Regime Twilight. The defeated purple alicorn looked up at her with scorn. “Here to boast about your victory, Celestia?” she spat. “What am I saying, it wasn't even yours! You had to yank our counterparts over from a mirror universe to have a chance of defeating us! Pathetic. Once again, you had to use others to do your dirty work! Or are you just here to condescend and lecture me like you always did?!” Insurgency Celestia narrowed her eyes. “I believe I have already given you every lecture I possibly could. And none of them made you come to your senses. I don't think there's anything left for me to tell you.” her expression then softened and she closed her eyes lamentingly. “You were the best pupil I ever had, Twilight. I had every faith in you. You came close to live up to my highest expectations, but in the end, you have failed in the worst possible way. I realize that the blame is not entirely yours. I didn't teach you well enough to fully be prepared for the evils of the world. I couldn't stop Chrysalis from getting to you. I didn't realize your faith in friendship and harmony weren't strong enough to withstand such a blow. And for these, I'm truly sorry. But in the end, you have chosen this path. And now, you have to live with the consequences.” she then turned away to leave. “Goodbye, Twilight.” Regime Twilight screamed in rage and lunged forward as much as her chains allowed. “Yes, walk away, Celestia! That's what you do best! Just like you walked away from us when we needed you the most! Go ahead and liberate your ponies!” she spat the word 'liberate' like it was poison. “Give them back their petty squabbles over status, land and money! Make them comfortable once more so they can let changelings, dragons and all kinds of monsters walk all over them and their land! You are a failure! A failure of a teacher, a failure of a ruler and a failure of a friend! And your Equestria will crumble into the dust around you again, because in the end, you are just a sad, broken pony still grieving for the mistakes of your past!” “Ouch.” Rainbow Dash cringed as Insurgency Celestia and the main world ponies made their way out of Tartarus. “Talk about a sore loser.” she then turned to their Twilight. “Are you OK, Twi? Seeing yourself like this must have been quite a shock to you.” Twilight sighed. Shock was the least of it. “I don't know, Dash. For me, Celestia was like my second mother and the best teacher I could ask for. There are few things I wouldn't do for her. To turn against her like my counterpart did? Not even the concept of it has ever crossed my mind! And now I have seen it myself firsthoof!” “You cannot blame yourself for her actions.” Insurgency Celestia said. “She may be your counterpart from my world, but she isn't you.” “She's right, Twilight.” Cadence reassured. “You're still the same kind hearted, heroic, princess of friendship you have always been and we know it will never change.” “So was my counterpart.” Twilight lamented. ”If one Twilight can fall so low, why couldn't another?” her friends didn't seem to have an answer to that, so Insurgency Celestia answered instead. “There is no point in dwelling on that.” told her reassuringly. “That being said, if the worst comes to pass and you do lose it, I will come over.” she added jokingly in an attempt to lighten the mood. Twilight actually chuckled at this. “I think my friends will probably beat you to it.” she replied. Applejack and Rainbow Dash wrapped their forehooves around her from each side. “We sure as sugar will.” Applejack smiled brightly. “So you better not get any funny ideas, Twi. We're not like our counterparts from this world. We won't kneel for you.” Rainbow Dash added. “I know you won't.” Twilight replied before hugging them. “Not to mention this Twilight didn't have her Twilight Velvet to keep her in line.” Shining Armor said. “Could you imagine what she would do to either of us if we ever fell like that.” the siblings shuddered at the thought. “So what will happen now?” Cadance asked Insurgency Celestia once they were out of Tartarus. “Most of Twilight's forces have either been rounded up or turned themselves in.” Insurgency Celestia replied. “Our next task is restoring civil order.” “The transitional government you set up has it's hooves full.” Twilight said with concern. “Equestria is a big country. Transforming it's entire governmental and administrative structure won't happen overnight. You know, we can stay for a couple more days to help with the rebuilds.” Insurgency Celestia smiled warmly at the offer. “I appreciate the offer, but I will have to refuse. You have already done more for me than I ever could have hoped. Besides, the ponies need to know that this time, they're in control, not us.” Twilight looked up at her with worry. “So I take it that means you haven't changed your mind.” Insurgency Celestia nodded sadly. “I'm afraid the age of alicorn princesses in my Equestria has come to an end. My little ponies would probably never trust another one after everything my Twilight did. Even though they consider me a hero now more than ever, I believe my time has come to step aside and let Equestria shape it's own future.” “You don't have to retire completely.” Cadance suggested. “You could still be a part of the political sphere. Maybe if Equestria would reform into a democracy or constitutional monarchy, you could run for president. You would still be in the same position just with a different title and less freedom to make your decisions with a parlaiment around you.” Insurgency Celestia actually found this an interesting suggestion. Even if she herself had said so, she didn't think she could retire. She would miss the active life. And with how much ponies loved and supported her right now, it would be easy to win a possible election. “I will consider it, Cadance, thank you. In fact, I think I will do just that.” “Do you think you will ever take on another student?” Starlight asked. This was a question that Insurgency Celestia wasn't so confident to answer. “I don't know. I failed with Sunset Shimmer, I failed with my Twilight. Obviously I have overestimated my teaching skills.” “You never know, Celestia.” Cadance said comfortingly. “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. It might pay off greatly.” “I'm not sure how much faith I have left.” Insurgency Celestia replied glumly, making the main world ponies understand that this was not a topic she wished to discuss further. The group passed by a winged carriage surrounded by a group of pegasi guards. Inside the carriage were sitting Regime Rainbow Dash, Regime Spitfire, Regime Lightning Dust and Regime Cozy Glow with their wings and forehooves tied behind their backs. Another group of guards appeared escorting Insurgency Thunderlane and Insurgency Fluttershy, much to Rainbow's shock. “Hey, what are you guys doing? They were with the good guys!” she demanded from the guards before Insurgency Celestia pulled her back. “I told you before Rainbow, it wasn't always like that. Me and Fluttershy both served with the Regime for a long time.” Insurgency Thunderlane told her sadly. “And we both did many things in Twilight's name that we need to answer for.” Insurgency Fluttershy added. Rainbow stared in disbelief before turning to Insurgency Celestia. “Can't you do something? Grant them amnesty or something like that? They left the Regime and joined us! That has to apply for something!” the alicorn sadly shook her head. “I no longer hold my title Rainbow Dash, I have no authority to do that. But you are right. Given their genuine remorse and the fact that they aided us in the final battle, I am sure they will receive lighter sentences than the others.” “It's okay, Rainbow. We made peace with this decision.” Insurgency Fluttershy said with a reassuring smile. The guards led them away and locked the carriage which then took off towards Cloudsdale, where the prisoners inside will face the judgement of a united pegasus court. “And what will happen to the rest of our counterparts?” Starlight asked. “They will also stand trial. I have been asked to help a unicorn court pass judgement on Twilight, Luna, Flurry and Blueblood. As well as the more powerful unicorns who served with the Regime, like my Starlight and Trixie. As for my Applejack and Pinkie Pie, the surviving members of the Apple clan have approached us and requested that we release them into their custody. We granted their request. Big Macintosh rememers everything he did under Twilight's control so I wouldn't expect their punishment to be light.” “Good. Serves her right.” Applejack scoffed. “And my counterpart?” Cadance asked. “From what I gathered, my Cadance and her forces managed to retreat into the Crystal Empire and are now claiming diplomatic immunity.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Diplomatic immunity? She was leading armed forces against Canterlot. I'm pretty sure that passes as an act of war.” “Cadance defends with her country being coerced into the attack by the Regime. But quite frankly, everypony is more concerned with fixing our country first before we turn our attention elsewhere. However, the fact the we have her daughter will probably not improve our relations much.” With everything sorted and discussed, the only thing left to do for the main world ponies was to finally leave. They were all eager to return home. Their Celestia already returned to escort their Chrysalis back and to finally reassure their world's ponies that everything was alright. Applejack patted Twilight on the shoulder. “Come on, sugarcube! Let's go home. Ah reckon we have one heck of a story to tell the others.” “We sure do!” Rainbow exclaimed with glee. “Now I am the savior of not one, but two Equestrias! This just made me 20% cooler! Oh, and you guys as well, of course.” but Twilight wasn't ready to go just yet. There was still something bothering her. “Uh... you guys go ahead. I'll meet you back home.” the others looked at each other in concern, but eventually conceded and headed back towards the castle where the unicorn mages would send them home. Twilight remained alone with Insurgency Celestia. “What is it, Twilight. I don't mean to sound rude, but I wish to attend my husband's funeral.” Twilight's eyes widened. “Wait, that wasn't just Rainbow pulling my leg? You actually married Sombra in this world?!” Insurgency showed her the marriage necklace hanging around her neck. It had Sombra's name on it. “I will place it upon his grave where his with my name on it will also be put. It is my way of saying goodbye. I assure you, he was nothing like the Sombra you know. He gave his life so we can defeat my Twilight. A sacrafice that will be honored forever. I will make sure of it.” “Wow! It's like me and Sombra swapped roled in this world. With the exception of being married to you of course.” Twilight quickly clarified, making Insurgency Celestia chuckle. “I just wanted to talk about my counterpart. I know you tried to reassure me about it, but...” Insurgency Celestia raised an eyebrow. “But what?” “But... something she said just doesn't stop bothering me. If I was put in the same situation... would I act any different?” she asked in fear. The very thought of it made her tremble. Insurgency Celestia walked over to her and put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “I wouldn't know about it. But one thing I do know is that you have had a far better techer and better friends than my Twilight did. Even if you ever fell, they wouldn't follow suit like in my world.” she then narrowed her eyes warningly. “Besides... I may have shared a few countermeasures I developed for such an occasion with my counterpart, so you better watch out!” Twilight gulped and nodded. Despite her benevolence and motherly warmth, Celestia could be quite frightening when she wanted to be. In any world. “Now off you go!” Insurgency Celestia told her with her warm smile returning. “I'm sure they are missing you in your world.” Twilight just nodded and ran off after her friends. Insurgency Celestia chuckled as she watched her go. Some things never change. She then looked back at the distance. It was almost time to raise the sun and she had spent more than enough time worrying about the fate of another world, especially since hers still needed so much repairing. She let out a sigh and went to rectuit the unicorns who will help her raise the sun in her weakened state. What her Twilight said back in Tartarus was absolutely true. She was a broken pony with many mistakes to grieve. And she didn't know how much help would she be for her Equestria in her state. But if this whole ordeal taught her anything, it was that that maybe - just maybe, sometimes, a broken pony was all it took. The End