//------------------------------// // Q. E. D. // Story: Unkind Kindness // by jnzsblzs //------------------------------// An unnamed pony stood in an unnamed room, of an unnamed building in an unnamed city. Soon enough the door opened and Princess Celestia entered. “I assume the mission was a success?” The agent asked. “Complete success, agent. With the combined might of the elements of harmony, my own power, and the new Thalpferd escalator we were able to level 1000 of their biggest cities across the globe. With every city over million population in ruins, and early military intelligence suggesting over 97% death toll, the only reason they haven’t officially surrendered yet, is because we’ve annihilated every governing body that was capable of making such a decision.” The Princess looked out of the window, silently watching the sun descending behind the horizon. The victorious smile was still on her face, but the agent had worked with her long enough to notice when her smile was held up by routine rather than joy. This all but confirmed the rumours circling among the higher circles of the intelligence community, which theorised that the Princess was not going to come out unharmed by this mission even if it succeeded. It looked almost poetic, the Princess watching the sun set over the horizon. The agent couldn’t help but wonder if renouncing her power also meant giving up her immortality? Would she even want to live in this world she created, or she’d rather reunite with her sister in death? Regardless with the Princess’ magic and the elements of Harmony being gone, meant that Equestria’s magical capabilities were permanently maimed. Then again, if Magic is Friendship, this was a fitting way to end both. “What about the rest of humanity?” The agent finally asked. “Complete conversion or eradication. Their choice, of course.” “Have there been any breakthroughs with the serum?” “Let’s just say we all hope there’s soon going to be one.” she said without any conviction. “I don’t suppose the target is going to survive.” “She is already dead. Rainbow Dash has always been an eager pony. And lightning fast. I was looking at them the whole time and I still couldn’t see when she snapped her neck. She never learnt what she’d actually done. Such is my mercy for her service.” “Anything need covering up?” “All being taken care of, agent. I hope you know what your next assignment is.” “Of course, your majesty.” The universal assignment of every agent not on active mission: ‘Just step back into the crowd and Smile.’ The agent expected to be dismissed at this point but without a direct order he couldn’t leave the room. As the seconds went by, it became obvious, she wanted to tell him something. So far, this conversation was well within the confines of his expectations. However, wherever Celestia meant to go from here was completely uncharted area. As she turned away from the window to face him, the agent couldn’t help but wonder, was she about to give him the most coveted of treasures a ruler could bestow upon any subject: an ounce of true honesty? “You see, agent, I can still hardly believe the accuracy of your estimate about the target’s knowledge about magic. Granted she was a school dropout, and a Pegasus, but basing a plan on her mistaking a shield spell with… what we did… if we said it was foolhardy we wouldn’t even come close to approximate it’s riskiness. I reckon my failure to educate my little ponies proved useful this once.” She closed her eyes and let two fat teardrops roll off of her face. “The second idea however, deserves every bit of praise. I could laud its genius for the rest of my life and I wouldn’t do it justice. You saved everypony from the nuclear holocaust that was to come when our shields had given out.” Even now when this eventuality is merely a bygone hypothetical, the fiery resolve lighting up in the Princess’ eyes reminded the agent of his undying loyalty. Was the Princess without sins? The only way one could argue for that, if they claimed her transgressions went beyond mere sins. A plausible accusation by any metric. Notwithstanding, her willingness to do anything to ensure the safety and happiness of her little ponies, made it baffling how could anypony do anything less, and still look in the mirror. “There should be statues raised in your honour in every city and yet nopony will ever hear about it outside of this room.” As if he needed them. Service members who were looking for adulation rather than results, were divas not soldiers. His payments were peace, prosperity, and the hope that his foals would never have to see the horrors of war. “When you first pitched this idea to me it sounded completely asinine. Had I not been as desperate as I was, I would have probably cashiered you for it on the spot. But now in retrospect it looks so obvious. We had to appeal to her kindness to defeat the element of kindness.” The agent who displayed absolutely no emotions throughout the debriefing now broke into a warm wide smile. “Quod Erat Demonstrandum.”