//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Framing Hawk. // Story: The Equestrian Civil War 2: The Battle For Silverstream // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// Princess Luna, High Chancellor of the United Lunar Republic, Princess of the Night, Guardian of the Moon, and Keeper of Dreams, stared out into the night sky from the castle balcony in Canterlot. As she slowly raised the Moon higher into the sky to mark midnight, she spotted a familiar group of creatures headed towards the train station down below. She smiled, watching them go. She headed back inside and hummed the National Anthem of the Republic to herself. It seemed like an eternity since the war had passed and now Equestria was in safe hooves under the Hawk administration. She lost count of how many times she watched Hawk’s speeches. He wasn’t her best general for nothing and since Silverstream had come into his life, all the bitterness and pent-up hate had almost vanished overnight. As she was the Princess of the Night, she was also the Princess of Gambles and her recent gamble during the war, betting on Hawk warming up to Silverstream, had actually worked. Now, she could finally relax and enjoy life, knowing that she wouldn’t have to run the country for another 4 years until the next Interim Period. As she headed towards the Lunar Court Senate to finish filling out the Transfer of Power forms, a batpony soldier came up to her from the next room. He looked frantic. “High Chancellor,” the guard addressed, “We found some spies at the gate. They claim to have a “political emergency.” My friends are detaining them as we speak.” Princess Luna sighed. An infiltration. Her night was officially ruined. She pushed aside her misgivings and replied, “No. Bring them over to my private quarters. It is unwise to detain somecreature without hearing them out. I will meet with them shortly.” “Yes, High Chancellor.” The guard replied, heading out of the assembly room. Luna continued on, only this time heading left instead of right, in the direction of her private chambers. ———————————————————————————————— “Any questions?” Cozy Glow asked her friends. They had been heading to the castle to execute their plan that they had spent the first half of the night planning out when they were caught by some Lunar Republican Army members. They were going to be detained, but another guard, apparently named Owl, had saved their lives. “Do these hoofcuffs make me look fat?” Svengallop asked, earning him a slap across the face from Suri Polomare, “Ow!!” “You idiot!” Suri yelled, “Can’t you tell we’re being arrested?!” “We’re being brought to the Princess, right?” Cozy Glow asked the female Kirin guard next to her. The guard only nodded in response, “Not much of a talker, are you?” This time, she got slapped by Suri Polomare, “AYAYYAEYAEYAEYAE!!!!” “Get moving!” Owl barked orders at them, pushing them along down the hallway and to the end of the hallway where a door was marked: THIS IS THE OFFICE OF PRINCESS LUNA. DO HOT ENTER UNLESS YOU ARE HER EVER!!!!!!! “Wow, rude.” Svengallop commented. Owl took out his badge and touched it to the door. The speaker answered: “A warm welcome to you, General Owl.” The door opened and the trio were pushed inside. The room was pitch black. Suddenly, the lights flickered on all by themselves. “Now then…” came Princess Luna’s voice. The three conspirators looked and saw the High Chancellor herself standing before them, “What is this ‘political emergency’ you were speaking of?” The tone was polite enough, but the navy blue alicorn had a suspicious look on her face. The guards exited at Luna’s waving of a hoof and the door closed behind them. “W-w-well, w-well, y-you see,” Svengallop stammered, “We’re...not planning treason! Definitely not treason!” “Uh yeah,” Cozy Glow added in a shaky voice, “Be-because yeah, we’re nice, dutiful citizens and...we’d never do something like that!” “I should hope not.” was all the Princess said in reply. Finally, Suri Polomare spoke up, “We’re...whistleblowers. Against the newly-elected President. We’ve recently discovered that he was not duly elected after all.” Princess Luna did a double take, but regained her impassive expression, “Do go on.” “Hawk is a traitor to this country,” Cozy Glow replied, “He sold out our country’s secrets to Russia in an attempt to get himself elected. He knew he was losing, so he tried to win the favor of the Communist Party!” Now Princess Luna couldn’t contain her surprise, “Hawk? Why would you think that Hawk would do such a thing?” “Because,” Suri answered, “We have proof!” She handed two documents over to Princess Luna, who took them via her magic and levitated them to her face. There was silence for four whole seconds before the documents were suddenly crumpled into a million pieces and a very, VERY angry Princess Luna emerged from the falling pieces. “What else have you lied to me about, Hawk?!” Princess Luna demanded under her breath. “Um, pardon, Princess?” Cozy Glow asked meekly. “YOU’VE BEEN PULLING A LONG CLAW ON ME, HUH?!” Princess Luna roared, “ALL OF OUR SECRETS YOU’VE GIVEN TO RUSSIA?!!” “I mean, it’s not too late,” Cozy Glow began, “You can still-“ “I TRUSTED YOU WITH OUR CONSTITUTION AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! I’VE CONFIDED IN YOU AND YOU TURN TO THE HUMAN TERRITORIES TO GET YOURSELF ELECTED?!” Princess Luna ranted. She faced the cowering trio, “Come with me. I’ll assemble the Army.” “Why?” Svengallop inquired. Princess Luna’s face was a mix of sadness, anger, hurt, and determination. “I’ve made mistakes once, trusted ponies I shouldn’t’ve. Not again. I have to end this thing before it begins...”