//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: MLP A New Generation 2: The Last of The Alicorns // by TwiShine45 //------------------------------// Sunny was shocked at the story Crystal told. It was a gruesome tale, one that went beyond simple magical mischief or even criminality. No, this was a story of ponies turning on each other and viciously beating one another because of their differences. From intensive study of Twilight’s life and concepts about friendship, she knew full well that differences were meant to be celebrated. But one organization had preyed on a pony’s inherent want to see that those of their kind are placed in positions of power and authority. Scarlet Wing was truly the most evil collective in the history of Equestria, and definitely one that would be difficult to defeat. Dangerous, even. Horrible thoughts began running through Sunny’s mind. She saw her friends dying one by one in a heroic, yet vein, attempt at defeating Scarlet Wing. Bravery became each one of them beautifully. However, wounds and blood do not answer to fortitude. They answer to the harshness of reality, which slowly began settling on the young Alicorn. She turned and looked at her wings and then, with worry painting her face, brought a hoof up to her new horn. Realization struck that she was a combination of all three ponies, meant to lead, not to follow. But how could she? How could she lead her friends into the very jaws of death itself? For, if Scarlet Wing were as deadly as Crystal made them out to be, then there was no possible way that any of them would come out alive. “I…I…” She stammered, “…I…I don’t know what to say.” “I know it’s a lot to ask of one pony,” Crystal said, “let alone several, but I truly believe you and your friends can do this.” “But, how?” Sunny asked, “what in Equestria makes you believe this?” “The Cutie Map,” Crystal said, pointing back at the table in the center of the room. “The one thing I haven’t told you, Sunny, is that I followed your journey here. That’s how I knew you were in the outer castle. One day, the map activated and all of your cutie marks floated above it. Mesmerized by this, I kept tabs on it every day. I saw you when you entered the EPUP town at the edge of the forest. I saw you trotting through it, and I knew…I just knew that this was the answer to a wish I made a long time ago.” “But…I…I can’t lead them,” Sunny said, “I’m just one pony.” “A pony with wonderful friends and a spirit for Twilight’s passion that guides her to this day,” Crystal said. “To be truthful, I haven’t seen anypony as in touch with friendship since Equestria’s last princess. It is this quality that Equestria has been sorely missing for thousands of years. Please, Sunny…please say you’ll help in this cause. Scarlet Wing still exists, and until they are taken care of, Equestria shall never know true harmony. Please…” Meanwhile, as Sunny learned of Equestria’s true history, another story was being told outside. After returning from their exploration efforts, Sunny’s friends broke off into small groups to report their findings. Izzy and Hitch went off to discuss theirs, leaving Zipp and Pipp alone together. Zipp hated the idea of spending time with her sister, whom she considered an ex-family member. But, she saw she had no choice as Izzy and Hitch’s tails bounced away down another corridor. She turned to her sister, who was seated in front of the roaring fireplace. Accepting defeat, Zipp plopped down on her own rump, but made absolutely no effort to hide her displeasure. In fact, she sneered at her sibling. “Zipp…can’t we talk?” Pipp asked. “Why?” Zipp asked gruffly. “What’s there to talk about, except for the fact that you and Mom killed an innocent pony?” “He wasn’t innocent!” Pipp defended, “he was-“ “-selling knockoff merchandise, I know!” Zipp thundered. “But that should’ve been punishable by a couple months in jail and a fine, not death! Seriously, how in Equestria did you not think of this?! For that matter, why didn’t-“ “-BECAUSE IF HE WOULD HAVE REMAINED ALIVE, MOTHER WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN QUEEN ANYMORE!” Pipp shouted, then immediately held a hoof to her mouth. “…wait…what?” Zipp asked, mouth open. Pipp lowered her eyes and sought visual comfort from the ground. “It’s true,” she said in a shaky way. “But…how?” “You never knew this, but…Mother took some…not so nice paths to the throne of Zephyr Heights. She was a simple palace maid when you and I were born, but she saw that I was gifted musically. Our father saw the same thing, but wanted me to use my talents for good things. So, she left him and took us with her. As we grew, she kept sending you away to school and focused all her time on my image.” “But…wait a minute,” Zipp said, confused, “I…I don’t remember any of that! We were always royal, weren’t we?” Pipp shook her head as she prepared to confess one of her mother’s greatest sins. “Mother…manipulated things so that you thought we were always royal. But the truth is, we only became royal when I got so popular. There was a coup led by our mother, Zipp. She made soldiers out of my fans and, quite literally, took over Zephyr Heights. The crime of selling knockoff merchandise was punishable by death simply because it threatened her position.” Zipp looked on in shock. “…AND YOU NEVER THOUGHT TO TELL ANYPONY?!” She roared. “Zipp…my mind…I was…” “I don’t wanna hear it!” Zipp spat. “You lied to everypony, Pipp! You lied to our friends in Zephyr, you lied to your own public, you lied to ME!” “I know I did, darn it!” Pipp said. “Do you think this makes things any easier for me?! Do you think I ENJOY confessing to all this?!” “I should hope not!” Zipp responded, furrowing her eyebrows ever deeper. “In fact, I don’t know of two lower, more dishonest, worthless, evil, disgusting ponies in Equestria than the two of you! Not only do you have explaining to do when we get home, but I think that we should put in a call to the Pegasus leadership!” “But Zipp, we’ve changed!” Pipp said, desperate to avoid a punishment. “I don’t give a crap!” Zipp angrily announced, “because you certainly didn’t give one about me! Our sisterhood is done, Pipp, and when we get home, I could care less if I ever see you again!”