Culture Shock

by Moonatik

Culture Shock

"Chiropterra doesn't exist. It couldn’t exist. Nightmare Moon’s Legions couldn’t have survived the journey across the ocean to Zebrica, let alone find enough success to build a state that remained stable for a thousand years. 'Chiropterra' literally means 'bat land', for goodness sake. Don’t be silly, it's completely fictional, there's no use in talking about it," said everyone in Equestria. Selenite herself must've said it once or twice, with the information she had available it was by far the most logical conclusion.

But it’s hard to call something a fantasy when it just about wins you a war.

First came the cargo vessels stocked with enough munitions and rations to last a multi-year campaign, then the passenger ships brimming with battle-ready soldiers announcing undying loyalty to Empress Nightmare Moon. Selenite was sceptical at first, the whole Lunar army was, but Her Highness reassured them that the strangers from across the sea could be trusted as loyal warriors. Then they went into combat and were by far the best soldiers any of them had ever seen, like they were all hardened veterans of a years-long conflict. The often-underequipped and demoralised Celestial Royal Guard typically struggled against motivated Lunar militias, but against the Legions of Chiropterra, they shattered like glass. Glass that had been shot with a cannonball.

Somehow, the descendants of Nightmare Moon's most loyal and dedicated warriors had survived and thrived. When the call of duty came, they not only answered but answered with a fury, passion, and ferocity that matched their thousand years of preparation. It was only logical for Nightmare Moon to make a personal trip to Chiropterra along with a hoofpicked selection of lucky ponies. General Selenite was one such pony.

Stepping off the ship in Firstport after the long trip, shadowing Empress Nightmare Moon, Selenite’s breath was immediately taken away by the assembled crowd of a hundred thousand or more worshipping Chiropterrans. She was supposed to keep her eyes forward and focused, but she couldn’t help but gaze in amazement at the oceanic reception. How could anyone? She’d never seen that many ponies gathered together in one place before, screaming praises to their Empress, waving countless Imperial banners, showering them with flowers and ribbons, all as the very best of the Imperial Musical Corps had been assembled to perform a grandiose, powerful rendition of the Imperial anthem that somehow rose above the cries of the crowd.

Once they made their way across the catwalk, they were presented with the six members of the Legionary Council lined up in a perfect row. They stood tall, their uniforms were spotless; stoic pride and reverence displayed across their faces. They deeply and gracefully bowed in sync, like they had rehearsed it a hundred times, once the Empress stood before them. No matter the age or physical fitness of a given commander, they all made an effort to look their best.

Then, as Nightmare Moon turned to the crowd and raised a hoof, the sea of ponies suddenly fell silent. Selenite shuddered, jarred by the switch from deafening cries of adoration to attentive silence. Having their attention, Nightmare Moon made a grand speech, projecting her regal voice so even ponies on the other side of the wide harbour could hear her words. She levied endless praise and gratitude at the discipline, determination, and heroism of her legions to the jubilant onlookers. Only when she signalled that she was finished speaking did the crowdsponies continue their euphoric ovations.

Even now, nights later, as Selenite gazed through a window marvelling at the vibrant moonlit city of New Ayacachtli, she struggled to believe it. The city was almost an exact mirror of Canterlot stripped of excess opulence, being built into the mountains themselves with countless utilitarian tower blocks at varying elevations, with the gigantic Moonspeakers’ temple dominating the skyline. Hanging above it all was a clear and magnificent starry sky, the Moon as its centrepiece.

Where Selenite stood, in one of the palace's many hallways, she could just make out the indistinct hum and buzz of the urban jungle. It was a quiet part of the palace with little purpose beyond connecting rooms together, with meagre decorations aside from tapestries depicting past glories draped on the pale-purple walls. Filling the hallway with the pleasant glow of candlelight, plain chandeliers built by welding metal rods together dangled from the high ceiling. No doubt, it was a fine place to recuperate in anticipation for the meeting a mere hour and a half away. 

A door opened behind her. “Selenite!” a friendly voice called.

Selenite turned to the source of the voice. “Lucent!” she called back.

Trotting towards her was Lucent Eclipse, a pale-brown bat stallion with a neat, combed vanilla-coloured mane. He wore a Chiropterran officers’ uniform, a faded-jade jacket and trousers with silver piping and epaulettes. It fit loosely on his small body, sagging a little around his chest, but the collar was firm and high around his neck. The black rubber boots on his hind legs were dirtied with a little sand and dust, as were the black gloves on his forehooves. Shorter than the average stallion and almost always carrying a cheery attitude, one would be forgiven for underestimating Lucent, yet it was his plan that won them the battle of Baltimare.

Despite his shorter-than-average stature, he stood tall over Selenite. Selenite had to peek upwards to maintain eye contact, as the top of Selenite’s head was normally eye level with Lucent. At just a glance, one could tell the two ponies came from different backgrounds, owing to Selenite’s purply-blue, Equestrian uniform that fit tight and snug around her body, complimenting her misty-blue coat and her bunned long silvery mane and tail.

“Haven’t seen you since you arrived in New Ayacachtli,” Lucent said. “Oh yeah, what do you think of it?”

Selenite turned back towards the window, she smiled with a slight squint in her eyes. “Having been to Ayacachtli itself before, and now being here,” she turned to Lucent, “it really is worthy of the name.”

Lucent laughed. “That’s great! I don’t know if I told you, I spent a few nights on leave in Manehattan, it’s,” Lucent’s eyes wandered around the room for a moment as he lightly waved a hoof absentmindedly, “aah, there’s no other city in the world like it, is there?”

Letting out a light giggle Selenite smiled and nodded at Lucent, then she looked up at the stars with eyes wide with wonder. "How do you get the night sky so clear? We're in the middle of a huge city, yet the stars are there in all their beauty."

"I know!" a voice from behind answered. Selenite and Lucent whirled around, and their smiles widened. Walking towards them, a tall blue bat mare with a curly cloudy-blue mane. She wore an immaculate, well-fitting Chiropterran officers’ uniform on her body and a warm smile on her face. Neither of them heard Auburn Leaf enter, but they were more than pleased to see her.

"Auburn!" Lucent said with a grin. As Auburn reached Lucent, the pair embraced each other in a brief hug. This close, Selenite felt puny compared to the two Chiropterrans, as not only was Auburn a good few inches taller than Lucent, Auburn had nearly a whole head’s worth of height over Selenite.

"Evening, Lucent," Auburn said, releasing her friend and turning towards Selenite. “Our mages put a spell over the city that blocks out all the light pollution, so no matter how bright the city’s lights may be, Her Highness’s sky is as clear as it would be if you were out in the desert. We call it Star Blanket.”

Selenite laughed, “Back home we usually just kept the lights down, but this,” she gazed up at the sky again, “this is incredible.”

Auburn giggled, then her ears perked up, “By the way, when we first met in Equestria, I thought I recognised your name from somewhere.”

“You did?” Selenite turned towards Auburn.

“Indeed I did, when I looked through my library I found something Grandfather gave me after one of his intel-gathering trips to Equestria,” Auburn reached into her uniform, “he picked up a book on the thestral condition titled…” then she pulled out a book, which had signs of wear around the cover and pages. The front cover read The Other Equestria: Thestrals in Equestria by Selenite Berzel, it depicted the silhouette of a bat pony’s head with the mare-in-the-moon behind it.

Selenite’s mouth shot open into a wide smile. “No way!”

“I was amazed,” Auburn flipped the book open to a random page, her eyes scanning the words, “it said the authors were some seventeen-year-old schoolfilly and a librarian, but the range of depth and meticulousness of the research, I wonder if they’d misprinted the age and it was actually written by a seventy-year-old scholar.”

Selenite chuckled through her gritted grin, her eyebrows pulling together slightly, unsure whether she should take that as a compliment or not.

“Now, you’re the Selenite Berzel who wrote this, aren’t you?” Auburn closed the book and stowed it in her jacket. “It was useful to us in the final stages of Operation Moonshine, helped identify isolated and pauperised thestral communities we could galvanise and recruit from. No wonder you made General at nineteen-years-old.”

“Well, you two are basically the heir-apparents to lead your respective legions, and you’re both the same age as me,” Selenite rubbed her shoulder, “guess we’re uh, all overachievers in a way.

“To overachieving!” Lucent cried with a hoof in the air.

The three shared a quick laugh.

“Oh, Selenite,” Auburn slightly craned her neck towards the shorter mare, “have you had anything to eat since you arrived?”

Selenite opened her mouth to speak but stopped for a moment as her lips pouted. “No, I don’t think I’ve had a proper meal since I got to the city.”

With a quiet giggle, Auburn raised her head and lifted a hoof. “Well, we’ve still got time before the meeting, I’ll have the labourers prepare you a dish worthy of somepony of your status.”

Then, as Auburn uttered the word ‘labourer’, Selenite’s smile faded. Lucent tensed up as he felt his jaw clench, and his eyes snapped to Selenite. “You mean slaves,” Selenite remarked bluntly.

Indeed, this was the ‘secret’ to Chiropterra’s success, how they were able to take an untamed foreign land and turn it into the state it was. Discipline and unity could’ve only taken them so far, and those thousand years ago the first legionary council decided there was only one way they could survive or thrive: through the mass enslavement of the native population.

“Call them whatever you want. Native workers, labourers, the unproven,” Auburn disdainfully flicked a wing and rolled her eyes, “I assure you that they’re capable of completing any task we set before them. They’d be second-generation labourers, at that, ones we can trust. We wouldn’t let them into the palace otherwise.”

Selenite felt her eyes narrow as her snout wrinkled, her fangs flashing slightly past her pulled upper lip. She looked at Lucent, he was clearly cringing, as if he were pretending not to be paying attention. Selenite looked back at Auburn, resetting her expression to present stoicism. “That’s not what I’m worried about, Auburn. There’s no room for slavery in the new millennium. I’m not comfortable living off of slave labour.”

Auburn sighed, tilting her head back. “Oh, alright. I understand that you might find the Chiropterran way of life,” she paused for a moment, “unappealing, but second to our faith and our battlefield prowess, assuring dominance over native savages allowed us to survive on this hostile continent. This very building was built by labourers.”

“I know, but,” Selenite bit her tongue. Yes, she knew. She knew that Chiropterra would not have grown into the state it did without the brutal methods employed in the past, and without Chiropterran support their victory in the civil war would’ve been far from assured. Plus, if the ends didn’t justify the means, she wouldn’t have just fought a brutal war. Even still, beyond just basic considerations of morality, she knew there was something deeply wrong with the ‘Chiropterran way of life’, and searched for the words to express it.

Selenite sucked in a quick breath. “Chiropterra’s existence is secure as it ever has been, Her Highness has been restored to her Imperium and Solarist resistance is being snuffed out by the night. We’ve won the hardest, most crucial battle. Even here, the cities are built, the armies are equipped, the faithful population is living comfortably. Imposing such a cruel regime on Her Highness’s subjects now just isn’t necessary.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Auburn remarked, straightening her posture slightly. “You Equestrians weren't locked in a never-ending struggle for survival, isolated on a hostile continent thousands of miles from home, where every night the very existence of your nation was in question for hundreds of years. It was true a thousand years ago and it’s true now, making labourers out of natives is necessary for the survival of the state-”

“Survival of the state?” Selenite scoffed as she took a step towards Auburn. “How is forcing slaves to make us lunch necessary for the survival of the state?”

“To show them who their superiors are,” Auburn’s voice had raised as she leaned over Selenite. “To demonstrate what awaits the faithful and what befalls the faithless.”

“Treating them like dirt won’t convince them of Her Highness’s benevolence,” Selenite countered in a near-shout, closing the distance between them. “Your ‘methods’ are besmirching her name!” 

Auburn’s eyebrows shot up, her wings flaring slightly as her teeth clenched. “Are you calling me a heretic, Selenite?” she hissed.

“Alright, alright!” Lucent stepped in between the two mares with a light laugh, slightly nudging them away. “Let’s ah, let’s not get into politics now. It’s fine. I’m pretty hungry too. I know my way around the kitchen, I can make something.”

“I thought Auburn was offering,” Selenite sneered.

“Well,” Lucent bit his lip. He turned towards a tense Auburn, then back at Selenite. “Auburn can’t cook.”

Auburn released her pent-up tension with a quick chortle. “Lucent!”

Selenite’s eyebrows pulled towards each other, a smile grew on her lips. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah, all the housework at the Clan Reed plantation is handled by maids and servants,” Lucent said, “so she never saw the need to learn.” All the while Auburn was practically blushing, and Selenite snickered.

“Guess that’s one thing I have over you,” Selenite playfully pointed at Auburn.

Auburn nodded, her lower lip raised and brow furrowed.

“Come on Selenite,” Lucent said, starting to trot away as he gave Auburn a wave, “See you at the council meeting, Auburn!”

“See you then,” Auburn said through an anxious chuckle.

Lucent and Selenite took off at a brisk pace, making their way out of the hallway and into the depths of the palace. But once Auburn was out of sight, Selenite’s expression fell to a tight frown. Lucent peeked over at Selenite, noticing her mood. He leaned in, putting his mouth to her ear.

“For what it’s worth, Selenite,” Lucent murmured, “I agree with you.”

Selenite’s ears perked up. “You do?”

“Yeah, it’s,” Lucent‘s mouth hung open for a moment, “horrible. We’re supposed to be showing them the benevolence of the Nightmare, but look at what the council’s been doing. Kidnapping natives, working them twelve hours a night, keeping them and their children in dirty cages, sleeping on soiled mattresses if they were lucky? I can’t stomach it.”

“Really?” Selenite’s mouth curled as she felt a little contempt rise, but she suppressed it for the moment.

“I’m reminded of what Talonitus said regarding the Ancient Karthinian Empire’s campaigns in Blackhollow,” Lucent said, his voice shuddering and his eyes looking to the floor, “They plundered, they slaughtered, and they stole: this they falsely name Empire, and where they make a wasteland, they call it peace.”

Hearing Lucent’s words made Selenite gasp and falter in her steps, if only briefly as she quickly returned to her previous pace. “What do you hope to do about it, then?” Selenite asked politely.

“I don’t know. I hoped that when my Grandfather retired I’d be able to take over the Native Affairs Commission and gradually abolish the whole thing,” Lucent pondered, his eyes drawing down and pace slowing, “but ask the Hardliners, they’ll say it’s these methods that kept Chiropterra alive and, well, won us the war. They’re emboldened as ever, And the ones who do want reform want to make the system harsher. I don’t know if they’d let my plan through anymore.”

“Right, so they’re just going to have to live as they are?” Selenite raised an eyebrow. “How many creatures must be condemned to squalor and slavery? How long must progress must be delayed? How long must Her Highness’s name be tainted?”

Lucent frowned with a sigh, his head hanging low. “I wish it weren’t so.”

Selenite’s gaze turned to the ground, sharing his frown, only for her to then look back at Lucent displaying a warm smile. “Have faith, Lucent. I’m sure Her Highness will guide us well.”

“Heh,” Lucent brought his head up with a slight smile, “I hope you’re right.”

The two thestrals remained silent as they made their way to the kitchen.

"Come on, Lucent, I've never been this late to anything in my life!" Selenite gasped through heavy breaths as she galloped down the hallway.

Lucent knew he’d never been a fast cook, nor a fast eater. Not that he minded, he was proud of his cooking skills, but perhaps a shakshouka was not the best thing to make when they were on the clock, especially when Selenite said she would’ve been satisfied with a sandwich. Matters were made worse as the pair couldn’t stop talking about all the new Equestrian books that could now be easily exported to Chiropterra as their millennia-long isolation came to an end. Those books had to be vetted by the local censors, but hey, new stuff to read was always a joy.

Lucent trotted by her side and struggled to keep pace, “It’s fine, Selenite, the chamber is literally right around the corner.”

“I’ve always told myself,” panted Selenite as she rounded the aforementioned corner, “if I’m early, I’m on time. If I’m on time, I’m late. If I’m late, unacceptable!”

“Wow, you’d love Lady Lightning Charm,” Lucent chuckled.

Two guards, clad in polished, purple armour, stood by the entrance to the council chamber. Once Lucent and Selenite approached the door, the guards moved in a practised, synchronised manner, opening the doors and allowing them inside.

The room was packed with countless ponies in suits and uniforms. A dozen voices came from a dozen directions engaged in a dozen conversations, creating a discordant din that was difficult to adjust to. Four walls enclosed the chamber, built of faded-purple bricks with regular sets of faux-pearl pillars decorating the room’s edge. On a wall to their right, a painted portrait of Nightmare Moon hung above an unlit fireplace, right by the council's meeting table. The set of doors Selenite and Lucent had entered the room through was just one of three; opposite them was a set of doors similar to the ones they had used, and opposite the fireplace was a much larger, much more ornate set of doors with a large clock above them.

Immediately, there were a good few Equestrians Lucent recognised owing to their Empire-wide fame, those of the delegation Selenite was party to. Warmaster Saturn Hawkrich, with a hoof to his chest and smug look on his face, was speaking to an audience of six or so Chiropterran officers, doubtlessly telling them tales of glorious battlefield victories that embellished and exaggerated his involvement. Foreign Minister Speck was speaking calmly and politely with some Chiropterran politicians, as General Bipen stood by her side.

Lucent looked to the council table, a gull-grey wooden roundtable with six identical chairs evenly spaced around it. Typically, when he’d been invited in, it was strewn with maps, documents, notes, and plans, but for this crucial occasion, the table had been totally wiped clean. All that lay in front of each seat was a simple notebook, pen, and glass of water each.

Each commander had their own quirks, but Lucent found her gaze turning towards Lady Commander Emerald Light, Commander of the Silver Moon Legion and Head of Medical Research. A greenish-cyan unicorn with glasses resting on her snout, she wore her uniform loose with the collar open and her long dusty-teal mane flowing down her body. She held a hoof to her chin, and her face displayed no discernable emotions beyond a hint of heedful intrigue. Next to Emerald Light, a male mid-grey bat pony with thinning pearl-aqua hair was whispering something into her ear, mischievously rubbing his hooves together. Lucent recognised the stallion by appearance but not by name, and whatever the stallion was saying, Emerald Light was nodding along.

Yet, the loudest voice in the room came from Lady Commander Lightning Charm, a clearly aged grey thestral with a long, neat white mane tied into a tight ponytail. She was the only member of the council standing up, barking something at her four-pony entourage who were attentively lined up in front of her. Compared to Lightning Charm and her lot, every uniform and every display of discipline Lucent had seen or partaken in thus far looked amateurish. Lightning Charm stomped a hoof to the ground as she finished speaking, and the four ponies cried "Ma’am, yes, Ma’am!" It momentarily caught the attention of everyone else in the chamber, who quickly returned to their business once Lightning Charm had sat down.

Just next to her, by the fireplace, sat Lord Commander Autumn Breeze, with his granddaughter Auburn Leaf standing next to him. Despite Autumn Breeze's age, his impressive handlebar moustache, and the scary scar that ran down the left side of his face, the resemblance he shared with his granddaughter was immediately evident as both their coats and manes shared similar colours.

Autumn Breeze was engaged in conversation with Lord Commander Eternal Eclipse, Lucent’s grandfather, both of them smiling. He too shared a resemblance with Lucent in the mane colour and coat colour department, but beyond that his appearance was markedly different from Lucent, owing to Eternal’s larger build and slicked-back mane.

Lucent trotted up to Eternal Eclipse. “Grandfather!” he called, catching Eternal’s attention whose smile widened upon seeing his descendent.

“Ah, Lucent,” he said in a hoarse voice, “I’m glad you could make it.” He then glanced over at Selenite and held a hoof out in greeting. “You brought the young General Selenite with you too.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Commander,” Selenite walked up to Eternal and shook his hoof. She drew her lips in tightly and forced a smile. Right away Lucent could tell, Selenite was biting her tongue. Eternal Eclipse was at the helm of the Native Affairs Commission, and thus the brutal system of slavery in Chiropterra was his direct responsibility.

“I trust my grandson has treated you well, General?” Eternal asked with a tilt of his head and a raise of an eyebrow.

“Of course,” Selenite said with a smirk, “he makes a delicious shakshouka, and so far we’ve found ourselves aligned on certain political matters pertaining to Chiropterra.”

“Is, that so?” Eternal mammered, his ears drooping as he blinked a few times in rapid succession. “Well, we’re pleased to have you, General.”

Selenite then looked over at Auburn, and Auburn quickly made eye contact. They shared a brief smile, then returned to their immediate business.

Eternal Eclipse looked around the chamber. “Hmph,” he muttered as his brow furrowed. “Have either of you seen the Chief Moonspeaker?”

Selenite and Lucent then looked at each other, then briefly scanned the council chamber with their eyes. Lucent turned to his grandfather, “No, why?”

“Well, I can’t imagine she’d miss this,” he said, glancing up at the clock. It had just struck midnight. “Of all ponies, she-”

The largest set of doors crashed open, and everyone either jumped or stood to attention. A dusty-lavender bat pony in a Chiropterran uniform leapt into the chamber, wings spread wide and a hoof held high. A silver necklace was around her neck, the ceremonial necklace of the Chief Moonspeaker.

“Presenting!” screamed Chief Moonspeaker Lunar Hail. “Empress and Autocrat of all the Empire! Princess of Equestria! Tsaritsa of Severyana! Grand Chieftess of the Everfree Thestrals! Grand Duchess of New Mareland! First Moonspeaker of the Southeastern Thestrals! Sovereign of Chiropterra! Queen of Darkness! Divine ruler-”

“That will be enough, Chief Moonspeaker,” an assertive voice filled the chamber. It was loud, loud enough to drown out any other sound in the room, but the tone was precise, calculated, and clear. All in the room had their eyes locked on the doors.

Enter, Nightmare Moon. A magnificent alicorn coated in smooth light-eating black fur, tall enough to dwarf everyone else in the room, especially the two stocky stallion guards that flanked her. An elaborate yet smooth silver helmet sat atop her head, with a matching peytral hanging off her neck and elegant shoes on her hooves. Each piece of her legendary armour glistened in the chamber’s light, as did the midnight purple eyeshadow that amplified the elegant beauty of her piercing turquoise eyes. Even folded, her vast wings looked to intimidate, as did the sharp and sturdy horn that reached from her forehead.

Immediately, as if on instinct, Lucent fell to a deep bow along with everyone else in the room. All except the Empress’s guard escort and Lunar Hail, who was doing all in her power to stand tall and stay still, hardly managing to stop herself from shaking.

Nightmare Moon's eyes scanned the room. Every one of her subjects before her was still, calm, and obedient. "You may rise," she commanded, "Lord and Lady Commanders, you may take your seats.

The assembled ponies did as ordered.

"First, I must reiterate what I have already said but cannot repeat enough.” Nightmare Moon took a deep breath. “Thank you, thank you for all you have done to right the wrongs of a thousand years past. Your courage, your determination, and your resilience are admirable to an extent words cannot describe. For that, you have my eternal gratitude.“

Everyone in the chamber tried to remain stoic and still, but a few ponies couldn’t prevent smiles from creeping onto their lips. One pony, amongst the Starborn Legion’s entourage, had a single tear fall down their cheek. Lucent himself swelled with pride and noticed his Grandfather just managed to hold back a smirk.

“Yet, the war for Equestria is over. We face new battles in the new millennium, Chiropterra is no longer an isolated remnant, but a part of a greater Imperium. As such, I will be presenting a series of directives to reflect this new reality.”

All of the Legion Commanders leaned forwards ever so slightly. All aside from Lightning Charm, who remained still as a statue.

“In the coming decade, I hope to see Chiropterra expand across the whole territory of North Zebrica. To this end, you are to improve the offensive capabilities of your forces and retool them to better suit the environment of North Zebrica. While you will no doubt be needed on the continent of Equus, your focus shall remain in Zebrica.”

The Commanders nodded, still silent.

“However, I do not want my soldiers to be distracted with matters unrelated to the conduct of war. Thus, you are to reform your government to be less reliant on the Legions by devolving matters of administration to civilian institutions, elected or otherwise. Your council shall keep its authority and you are trusted to craft a reform programme how you see fit, but do not expect to be managing waste collection from this chamber.”

A few ponies giggled under their breaths, unsure whether or not that last sentence was a joke or not. Mean glares from Nightmare Moon corrected their error.

“Furthermore, and primarily to avoid confusion,” Nightmare Moon continued, “there shall only be a single post titled ‘Warmaster’ in my Empire. The Warmaster of the Lunar Empire shall have supreme authority over all Lunar military forces. Currently, the post is held by Saturn Hawkrich. You are to follow Warmaster Hawkrich’s orders, treat them as if they are my own.”

Eyes in the room fell on Saturn Hawkrich, a smug grin plastered across his face and a hoof raised like he was posing for the camera. Everyone’s attention fell back on Nightmare Moon seconds later.

“Hence, the head of the council is to find a new name for their position. You are free to decide a new name yourselves, just as long as there is unanimous agreement.”

Autumn Breeze, who until just then was the Warmaster of Chiropterra, hesitantly raised a hoof.

“Yes, Lord Commander Autumn Breeze?”

He cleared his throat, “I would like to propose the title of Premier,” he said in a gravelly, yet refined, voice. “Premier of Chiropterra. It has a certain degree of centrality and authority to it, fitting of a pony trusted to carry out your will.”

“If there are no objections?” Nightmare Moon’s eyes scanned the room, nopony as much raised an eyelid. “Then you shall be henceforth known as the Premier of Chiropterra,” she confirmed with a grin.

Autumn Breeze nodded.

“Moreover, I am ordering a general separation of faith and state for the prevention of heresy and overzealous dogma. The Moonspeakers Temples will be decoupled from government and military institutions,” Nightmare Moon gazed down at Lunar Hail. “With this, the position of Chief Moonspeaker shall be made a civilian position accountable only to me.”

The council members merely nodded, but Lunar Hail was shaking. Lucent thought he heard her squeak. Nightmare Moon averted her gaze from the Chief Moonspeaker.

“For the sake of Imperial prosperity, you are to accelerate the pace at which you integrate the indigenous populations of Zebrica,” Nightmare Moon paused and glanced around the room, noticing worry on many of the Chiropterran’s faces. “Consequently, the Native Affairs Commission shall be dismantled and the labourer system is to be abolished with immediate effect.”

“What?” cried two voices, one youthful and one gruff. Everyone turned to look at Lucent and Eternal Eclipse. Lucent hadn’t even noticed that a wide beaming smile splashed across his face, though he quickly snapped to a stoic expression once he became the centre of attention.

However, Eternal Eclipse’s jaw had gone slack and his eyebrows launched high above his eyes. He stammered for a moment, “I’m- I’m sorry, Your Highness, this seems rather, abrupt-”

“Did I say you could speak?” Nightmare Moon bellowed.

Eternal Eclipse clamped his mouth shut.

“As I was saying,” Nightmare Moon continued, fiercely glaring at Eternal Eclipse, “The methods of the Native Affairs Commission are no longer necessary. While the task of integration shall be filled in some other way, it is not to be done by use of the labourer system or any such system that features lifelong, multigenerational forced labour. There is no room for slavery in the new millennium.”

Again, Lucent couldn’t stop a smile from growing on his face. He struggled to stay quiet, his breath becoming heavier. He looked at Selenite, her mouth slightly open and eyebrows raised a little. He looked at Auburn, eyes wide as dish plates and jaw on the floor. Auburn was making short, intermittent glances at Selenite.

Eyes around the room wandered, looking at the other ponies in the room. Focus drifted away from Nightmare Moon. Someone whispered something. Another whisper, more of a murmur. Nightmare Moon’s eyebrows lowered, her nostrils flared and her grated teeth were showing past curled lips. “I see how it is,” Nightmare Moon growled.

Nightmare Moon stomped a forehoof, making a mightful noise that filled the room like the crack of thunder. It forced everyone’s attention back onto their Empress.

“I will not tolerate dissent against my will, you are to follow my orders to the letter!” roared Nightmare Moon. “Lord and Lady Commanders, is that clear?”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Lightning Charm barked immediately.

“Yes, Your Highness!” each of the commanders yelped following half a second of silence.

Nightmare Moon scowled at the commanders, then she took a deep breath. Her gaze focused on Lady Commander Emerald Light as she spoke again. “In addition, the Legionary Medical Research Department is to moderate the methods by which it acquires test subjects, and I expect it to improve internal safety standards. That said, it is to continue in its fruitful research, I trust you will deliver helpful innovations in a safe and controlled manner.”

A small smirk grew on Emerald Light’s lips.

“Lastly, over the coming nights, I would like you all to familiarise yourself with Viceroy Stars Whirl.” On cue, a purply-grey unicorn with a flowing white mane wearing a sharp midnight-purple suit stepped into the chamber. Not saying a word, she stoically stood next to Nightmare Moon with her head held high.

Nightmare Moon extended a wing above Stars Whirl. “Viceroy Stars Whirl is to be my representative in Chiropterra while I am elsewhere in the Empire. Should any of my orders be unclear you are to speak to the Viceroy, and she will gladly clarify. Any other such matters that require royal consultation whilst I am unavailable shall fall to the Viceroy, and they shall have the authority to make orders in my name.”

Momentarily, the gathered ponies' eyes wandered, but they quickly snapped their attention back to Nightmare Moon and Stars Whirl.

Then, a suited black unicorn holding six large envelopes in her magic walked into the chamber, levitating an envelope for each of the commanders onto the table. “A printed copy of my orders has been made for each Legion Commander,” Nightmare Moon explained, “you are to refer to these documents should you need reminding of what I have willed. Now, have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, Your Highness!” each of the commanders cried at once.

“Good. Equestrians!” Nightmare Moon called, alerting Selenite as well as the rest of the Equestrian delegation. “You will follow me out of the chamber, we have business to attend to.”

Nightmare Moon turned to exit, giving a flick of her wings as she did. The assembled Equestrians did as ordered, following her out. Selenite turned to Lucent, they shared a nod and a smile, and then Selenite looked forward as she walked out.

The Equestrians exited and the great doors slammed shut. By then, Lunar Hail was practically panting like a frantic dog. “The Empress has spoken!” she stammered loudly, “Praise be! Let us not waste a second in realising her will!” Lunar Hail literally flew out of the chamber, and the chamber fell deadly silent.

Had Lucent listened closely, he might’ve been able to hear Eternal Eclipse’s heavy, shuddering breathing through the hoof he held to his mouth, or the quiet creak of Emerald Light leaning back in her seat. Yet Lucent’s eyes were wide and his jaw was hanging low, overwhelmed with a sense of awe and disbelief. Auburn and Autumn stared at the document shaking. Some ponies exchanged glances at one another. Yet, nopony said a word, they were all too lost in their thoughts regarding the implications of such sudden, drastic changes to their society.

CLAP CLAP!

The silence was broken as Lightning Charm clapped her forehooves together and shot out of her seat. Many ponies jumped, and every set of eyes in the chamber snapped to the Lady Commander. "You heard the Empress!" Lightning Charm bellowed with a quick beat of her wings. "Get to work!"

Nobody so much as raised a hoof in reply or objection, as Lightning Charm hastily marched out of the council chamber with her entourage following close behind.

An indistinct murmuring fell over the chamber, with a hint of confused grumbling. Some ponies shuffled out of the chamber. Emerald Light’s companion once again whispered something into her ear, afterwards they got up to leave with the rest of their entourage.

“I,” Eternal Eclipse gasped, “I think I need a drink.”

Autumn Breeze pushed himself to his hooves, stashing his envelope into his jacket, “I second that, old friend. Granddaughter?”

“Hm?” Auburn’s ears perked up. “Oh! Yes, let's. Before any of the unproven hear the news.”

“Oough, this is going to be a sunstroke,” Eternal Eclipse climbed out of his seat, turning to Lucent. “Lucent, are you coming?”

“Guh?” Lucent, his mouth still hanging open with his lips curling into a smile, faced Eternal Eclipse. “Yeah, yeah! I’ll, I’ll be right behind you. Think I just need a sec.”

Eternal Eclipse nodded. “You know where to find us, Lucent,” and the trio made their way out.

Other ponies followed. After them, the commanders of the Moon Legion and the Starborn Legion made their way out, their entourages following close behind. A few stragglers remained, conversing in hushed tones, soon taking their conversations outside the walls of the council chamber.

Before long, Lucent was alone, still stunned into stationary silence. He swallowed, regathering his strength as he took a step towards the table and noticed his grandfather had left his copy of Nightmare Moon’s orders. He picked it up, intending to carry it out of the chamber, but he stopped. He opened the envelope and took out the enclosed documents.

As he read over the orders again, just to make sure he hasn't missed anything or misheard anything important, he felt his eyes widen and his jaw fall. Yes, his eyes and ears weren't playing tricks on him. Nightmare Moon had just abolished Chiropterran slavery. Ten years of progress, accomplished in less than ten minutes. He threw the documents onto the table.

“H-holy shit.” Stepping back, he felt his breath get heavier. His lips curled into a smile. He held back a laugh and shook to recompose himself. A moment passed, the beginnings of a laugh crept through his teeth, and he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"YES!" he yelled, leaping up, wings spread, punching the air, "HELL YEAH!"

Despite Chiropterra’s isolation, the Palace Library had amassed an impressive collection of books. Most of them had been written by Chiropterrans of the past and present, presenting military theories, how they expressed their Lunarist faith, and their interpretations of Equestrian and North Zebrican history. Great rows of bookcases, some fifteen to twenty shelves tall, stretched from one end of the expansive room to the other. Much like the rest of the palace, decorations were sparse, consisting of plain chandeliers and tapestries hanging from exposed-brick walls and ceilings, but the wooden floorboards added a well-needed degree of friendly atmosphere. It was the perfect environment for Selenite to unwind.

The meeting, the second meeting between Nightmare Moon and her Equestrian entourage, was brief. However, it reached a swift consensus: Chiropterra and its leadership needed to be closely supervised, their influence was to be contained to North Zebrica, Equestrian orders superseded Chiropterran orders, and Chiropterra was to become a mirror of Equestria in matters of law and politics. No doubt an astronomical task for whoever was responsible for it.

For now though, Selenite could rest. With a hefty-hardback book in hoof, a history of the science on Chiropterran weather manipulation, Selenite sat back on a cosy cushioned chair in a quiet corner of the library under a tall clear window with a view of New Ayacachtli and the valley beneath. On the table beside her sat a lavender-scented candle, its calming aroma soothing Selenite’s nostrils. She hadn't bothered to take off her uniform, or even let her mane down, making her slumped-back posture debatably unbecoming, but a smile sat on her face nonetheless.

Only for the tranquillity to be invaded by the regular, steady sound of rubber boots stepping on wood.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

Selenite peeked up from the book, Auburn Leaf was cantering towards her. On Auburn’s lips, there was a smile, though her eyes were unengaged.

“Oh, hey,” Selenite said. She paused for a moment. “You alright?”

Running a hoof through her mane, Auburn blew out a heavy breath. “I’m- Fine. Been better. Saw Lucent after the meeting, he’s ecstatic like you wouldn’t believe, never seen him that happy.”

Selenite chuckled with a smirk. “Glad to hear it,” she said.

“I’m a little shaken,” Auburn said, her gaze aloof and unfocused. “It happened so quickly, so suddenly. At the moment it seemed so very surreal. Though,” Auburn froze, and looked Selenite in the eye, “where have I heard the phrase ‘there is no room for slavery in the new millennium’ before?”

“Well, I was confident that Her Highness would make the right choice, as I’m sure we all were,” Selenite broke eye contact with Auburn and her eyes were wandering around the library. “I was a little surprised that she repeated my own words, and did it in front of the council, like-” Selenite paused when she noticed the look on Auburn’s face. Auburn’s eyes narrowed, staring at Selenite with crossed eyebrows and a tense jaw.

“I knew it,” Auburn grunted.

Her jaw sinking and eyes shrinking to pinpoints, Selenite realised she might’ve said a little too much. “I,” Selenite started, then pausing to find the right words, “expressed my preference to her regarding Chiropterra. As did the other Equestrians. But, her choice is her choice.”

"No, I get it." Auburn’s cold eyes drifted away from Selenite, her breathing became slow as her teeth clenched. Then, Auburn took a step forwards, holding her head high as she stared down on Selenite. “I know how you feel about our preferred methods, but instead of arguing for your way before the council you Equestrians have used the Empress’s own word to force your will on us.”

Bringing her head back, Selenite snorted under her breath. “Are you accusing me of manipulating the Empress?”

“I would never be so crass, but don’t play dumb,” Auburn took another step closer. “When she only hears the Equestrian perspective, your perspective, a perspective insisting that Chiropterra is run by radicals who need to be controlled, of course she’d come to the conclusion she did. She can only make the best choice she can with the information she has. I dare not dissent against her will, I trust her judgement, but I know now to make my case to her before she lays down any one-sided orders. Surely, if you share my faith and trust, you won’t object to this, would you?”

As Auburn spoke, Selenite was silent. Thoughts flashed through her mind, was she really that transparent? Blinking her nerves away, Selenite sat up. “The Empress is quite capable of making these decisions herself. Say what you want to her, I have faith that she’ll make the right choice. Her Highness values progress, and she understands that absconding ancient dogma delivers progress.”

Auburn scoffed. “You want to see progress? Look out the window, Selenite.” Auburn raised a leg, pointing outside. Selenite’s gaze couldn't help but follow where Auburn guided. "Before we arrived this was a land of savages, we turned what was practically nothing into a citadel of order. Of service to the Nightmare! Of progress!"

Still looking out the window, Selenite’s eyes darted around the landscape, up and down the expansive rail lines connecting brightly lit towns to the majestic palace that they sat within. Towns and tracks that were certainly built by slaves, and wouldn't exist otherwise. It took a good few moments before Selenite turned back to Auburn.

"It's more than that, what next? What comes when we expand, when our territory grows? What do you know about North Zebrica, General? What do you know about the Imazeeb, let alone the other Zarantian tribes? Will you continue to give ‘advice’ when we occupy lands of which you know nothing?" Auburn asked.

Selenite raised a hoof in response, but no words came out.

Auburn continued, “Would you risk our security and waste precious resources integrating the current generation to the Nightmare's faith? If they run loose in our towns and cities, they threaten the faithful, they threaten everything we’ve built." 

Selenite’s eyelids tensed, and she straightened her seating position. "That's a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you treat them like dirt, they'll fight back. If you treat them well, they'll have no reason to revolt."

"You don't know what we’re up against," Auburn sneered, "the Imazeeb alone would trouble us for decades if we do not act decisively."

"You say that like not enslaving a whole nation is indecisive," Selenite sat forward slightly. “No, I think it shows boldness, initiative, and decisiveness to break with static dogma and embrace new methods. The Empress understands this. Do you?” she finished, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s not about ‘dogma’ or ‘tradition’, it’s about using what works to defeat our enemies,” Auburn further closed the distance between her and Selenite. “I don’t care if it’s old or new, I care if it works. Breaking them works. Coddling them does not.”

Selenite leaned back in her chair. “It’s a new millennium, you should act like it.”

Glaring at Selenite, Auburn’s mouth hung open. “You really don't understand, do you?” Auburn added.

Selenite glanced to one side, then back at Auburn. "Understand what?"

Taking a deep breath, Auburn took a final step forward. "A dog that has bitten every owner it has had can only be disciplined with a firm hoof," Auburn leaned closer, her eyes narrowing and voice lowering, "or put down."

Selenite flinched. She held her book close to her chest, breathing heavily through clenched teeth.

Silence momentarily hung over the two mares. Then Auburn brought her head up, and stepped away from Selenite while releasing a heavy exhale. “We have plenty of books on Zarantian history here, I’m sure you can borrow some for your journey home, it might prompt you to reconsider your position,” Auburn said, gesturing at the bookshelves.

Auburn spun around and made to depart, but mid-canter she stopped, nearly skidding. She glanced back at Selenite, pulling the corners of her eyebrows up, her lips trembling. “I- I hope we can remain friends despite this,” she said. “Until next time, Selenite.”

Auburn rushed out of the library.

Once again, Selenite sat alone. Perhaps, she thought, more alone than before. Carefully, she closed her book and set it on the table, making sure to insert a bookmark on the page she was reading. She quietly stared up at the ceiling, after a few moments she felt a sniff escape her nose, eyelids shakily squinting. Before anything came out, she took a deep breath and ran a hoof over her eyes and nose.

What was the word Lucent used? Hardliner? She hadn't spoken with Lucent since the meeting, but that specific term, 'Hardliner', it carried an implication of stubborn, rigid, zealous adherence to ideology that another term wouldn’t. A conservative could steadily embrace progress, a traditionalist may cautiously adopt pragmatism, but a Hardliner? That presented a challenge.

No, Selenite told herself, Auburn would learn, they all would. It’s not like they had a choice when it came to the Empress’s word. She insisted that they’d see the new way was better, even if it took some time. Yet even with that at the forefront of her mind, Selenite couldn't banish the thought that something had been lost, an opportunity slipped through her hooves and things between her and Auburn would never be the same.

Then, the silence was again intruded and Selenite’s train of thought was interrupted, this time by the approach of unsteady bare hooves. Selenite sat up, her ears picking up and twirling towards the sound.

Out between the bookcases walking in a stiff trot came a skinny zebra stallion. He wore a tuxedo, clean and well-pressed, but it was definitely a size too small for him. His mane was shaven, there were wrinkles and scars over his face, bags under his eyes, and his pupils were darting around the room. He momentarily made eye contact with Selenite, glanced away, then looked again at Selenite.

“Am,” the zebra started, his heavily accented voice quivering, “am I really free?”

“Of course!” Selenite confirmed, hopping out the seat. “Just one thing. Do you know where I can find the alcohol?”