//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Party/Revelations // Story: The Equestrian Civil War 2: The Battle For Silverstream // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// Ocellus was shocked to hear that she and the whole school were invited to a so-called victory party, celebrating Hawk’s successful election as President of the Republic. She was very excited to hear that news. Her family, despite living in a monarchy, had personal ties to the Equestrian Republican Party and were extremely elated to hear the Republicans won the Equestrian government. Ocellus, despite going to school in Equestria, had not chosen her own political path yet. She aimed to become a doctor once she graduated college after high school, so she was in no way going to run for office as a politician. Political stuff just wasn’t her thing. But she believed that if she was to choose a political party to support at the moment, it would be the Republicans as their conservative methods so far brought good for the country as seen from policies passed by the Lunar Court Senate. So she asked her parents via email if she could go to the party and they agreed, as long as she didn’t drink any alcohol as she was underage. Ocellus couldn’t even fathom getting addicted to drugs and/or alcohol so she strongly agreed. What Ocellus heard turned out to be true. The whole school was invited, as well as some other random ponies. The party took place at 6:00 PM on Sunday and was hosted by Hawk and Silverstream. Silver looked much happier now and Ocellus was relieved and happy that her friend was feeling alright. “Hey, Ocellus!” Smolder said, coming towards her in the crowd, “You enjoying the festivities?” Ocellus nodded, “It’s really fun actually. I’m looking for Silverstream so I can ask her how she’s doing. Have you seen her?” “There she is right now.” Smolder pointed to a familiar light pink hippogriff coming their way. “Ocellus!” Silverstream exclaimed, “You’re here too? That’s good. I invited the whole school!” “Noticed,” Smolder replied, “Got everycreature onboard with this shindig. Never thought winning a political election warranted a victory party to this scale, but eh, I actually like the occasional fun from time to time.” “I knew he could do it,” Silverstream told them, “I always had faith.” “Hey guys!” Gallus called, “Minuette’s gonna do some ‘pin the tail on the pony’! Wanna come play?” Silverstream nodded and she and her friends headed over. The party lasted late into the night until about 10:45 PM where everyone crowded into the family room to watch the inauguration speech done by Hawk earlier on Friday. Hawk turned on the TV and Spike News came on. The reporter said, “This is breaking news! We come to you live with revelations about the 2020 election in which the Republican Party won a landslide victory over the Socialist Democratic Party and Hawk is now the new President of the United Lunar Republic!” “Cool stuff,” said Ocellus, “Once again, I’m very happy for you and Hawk.” The screen changed to Hawk standing on the podium in front of a crowd of ponies all cheering, “Ponies of Equestria, this has been a tough time. We have just emerged from half a decade’s worth of civil war. Though we ultimately emerged victorious against the evil Solar Empire, our economy had been shattered beyond repair. That is until the recent efforts of Princess Luna, your founder, who took control of the Senate to lift the economy off the ground in a presidential absence. Now, I plan to continue her work. This Republic, though now a unified state, is still a developing country. It has only been one year since its founding. But that does not matter. For today, upon my entrance into the Oval Office, I will make this economy prosperous and booming like it never was before. We shall make Equestria a formidable force. We shall make Equestria great again. Thank you.” Everyone applauded at the short speech and Silverstream turned towards Hawk, “That was an amazing speech, Mr. Hawk.” “Yeah. Who knew you were such a good speech giver?” Gallus asked. “I made that speech in only one night,” Hawk told him, putting a hoof on Silverstream’s shoulder, causing her to flinch momentarily, “As soon as I found out the verdict, I had to hastily prepare an inauguration speech for the big day. That is what I came up with. I’m glad you like it.” “Well, I say it’s time to head home,” said Soaring Virtue, one of the other students, “Great party though. Thanks for inviting us, Mr. President.” “Call me Hawk,” Hawk replied, smiling warmly, “I don’t really deal in formal address unless it’s at my work.” Soaring Virtue smiled back and the students and teachers began to leave the room. Ocellus was very fascinated by the speech Hawk gave. She believed he’d make a great president. Equestria’s future was in capable and great hooves. As she got her backpack on, Silverstream helped her. “Thanks, Silverstream,” Ocellus thanked her, “You’re a big help. Okay. I’ll see you on Monday at school, right?” Silverstream nodded, “I’ll see you soon, Ocellus. Bye.” “Bye, Silverstream,” Ocellus answered, walking towards the door. As she walked out of the house and into the beautiful night sky with the others, they soon dispersed at a cross section of the road, each going towards their separate houses or towards the train station, saying goodbye to each other and waving. Ocellus followed Gallus, Smolder, Sandbar, and Yona to the train station. They waited in line for the train and when it arrived, they got on, Ocellus taking the window seat. “Silverstream seemed to flinch when Hawk touched her,” Smolder said, “Is she still scared?” Ocellus sighed, “Smolder, if you were raised as a slave, always getting screamed at, whipped, punched, beaten, etc, wouldn’t you be like that? These days, she seems to be happy more often and engaging in conversation and stuff, but the trauma still remains. Remember back last year, a few days before the last day, I told you that Silverstream had a nightmare about being back in slavery? Well, those still haven’t gone away and I am extremely worried about her.” Ocellus couldn’t stop thinking about Silverstream. She remembered one night back at school before the summer. ———————————————————————————————————————— It was a Thursday, just after finals had ended. Ocellus and Silverstream were getting ready to go to their dorms. She and Silver shared a dorm room, which was good, but Ocellus could never get any sleep because Silver constantly whimpered at night, indicating she was having a nightmare or thinking of some bad memory. But to Ocellus, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that her friend was safe. As Ocellus climbed under the covers to sleep, Silverstream asked her from above: “Ocellus?” “Yeah?” Ocellus asked her. “Thanks for…not thinking me a burden on you…” Silverstream said softly. Ocellus smiled, “You’re welcome, Silverstream.” Using her changeling magic, she turned the lights out and they soon fell into a deep sleep. Ocellus began to dream about bringing the former queen of the changelings Queen Chrysalis back to the Changeling Kingdom and convincing her to reform. She was just getting to the part where she defended Chrysalis in front of a thousand other angry changelings and Thorax when she was awoken suddenly by a scream. Quickly, she got out of bed and turned on the lights only to see Silverstream looking down at her from the upper bunk bed, tears in her eyes. “Another nightmare?” Ocellus asked. This was getting to be quite common. She sighed, “Come down. Tell me what happened.” Silverstream flew down and faced her, “I-I d-dreamt I was back in m-mistress’s palace a-and she had you and the others h-h-hostage. I tried to call out for you, but you were bound and gagged…Mistress took out a sword and…” she trailed off. Ocellus knew where this was going. She braced for it. After a long pause, Silverstream finally finished, “and stabbed you and everyone else…to death while I was chained up and could do nothing…” “It was near the end of the war, wasn’t it?” Ocellus remembered, “We were all dragged into that throne room by Celestia, chained together. As she was taunting us and bullying you, that was when you found the courage within yourself and completely owned her with that heartfelt, empowering song. Then Hawk arrived and-“ “But what if that didn’t happen?” Silverstream asked Ocellus, then realizing she had interrupted her and immediately apologized profusely. “It’s fine,” Ocellus replied, “Continue.” “What if that didn’t happen?” Silverstream repeated, then saying, “What if I never stood up to her and she slaughtered you all? Even if I still did, we were very lucky that Mr. Hawk and the Night Guard arrived. If not, then…you would’ve died. It would be all my fault…” she began to cry. Ocellus beckoned her closer and let Silver cry into her hooves, “Shhhh. It’s okay. You’re alright. Just let it out.” As Silver continued to cry, Ocellus forgot all about sleep and her dream. All that mattered was being there for Silverstream. As she held the sobbing hippogriff filly in her hooves, a song came to her. It was a lullaby that her mother would always sing to her when she was little. She began to sing, “Where the northwind meets the sea…there’s a river full of memory…Sleep my darling, safe and sound. For in this river, all is found. In her waters, deep and true…lie the answers and a path for you. Dive down deep into her sound. But not too far or you’ll be drowned. Yes, she will sing to those who hear and in her song, all magic flows. But can you brave what you most 1fear? Can you face what the river knows? Where the northwind meets the sea, there’s a mother full of memory…Come my darling, homeward bound. Where all is lost, and all is found…” After that, Silverstream calmed down and both got back to bed. Both fell into a deep sleep eventually. ———————————————————————————————————————— “You’ll never know the extent of how much I care for her,” Ocellus told Smolder, “It’s more complicated than you’ll ever believe. And I’d do anything to protect her from harm.” “I’m sure you would,” Smolder replied. “Where were you the last seven years of her time in slavery then?” Gallus asked jokingly. “Gallus,” Ocellus shot him a concerned look, “That’s not funny.” “Dude,” Sandbar said, shaking his head. “Geez, you guys are in serious mode today.” Gallus remarked. He turned towards Smolder, “What do you say about pranking Miss. Sapphire first thing on Monday?” Smolder grinned devilishly, “Oh you’re on, Gallus!” Ocellus leaned back in her seat, sighing. Troublemakers, She thought.