“King Phasma, what happened when you confronted Chrysalis the first time?”
“There’s quite a bit of leadup to that,” I said derisively.
Vigilance nodded, “Of course. Would you mind starting where appropriate?”
I sat back in my chair, scratching my chin, “... Canterlot was ours. We had taken down– I had taken down Luna and Cadance. Chrysalis was fighting Celestia still, but that was more or less a bygone conclusion. Even if Celestia won, she would have to deal with me and every other changelings in the city first. So, with victory all but secured, I gave the order to begin the coup against Chrysalis. My forces gathered together in the front foyer of the castle for the push against Chrysalis, while I went to find Chamberlain Eucharis. The second in command of the Hive– outside of myself, of course– could not be allowed to roam free while we were fighting. I wanted all of Chrysalis’s higher echelon pinned in place before I felt I could safely take her on. Didn’t want any reinforcements helping her out, you see.”
“We’ve heard mention of this before,” Cadance interrupted. “This is where your forces were ambushed, correct?”
Cadance knew all of this, but as with many questions before, this was for the posterity of those watching the court proceedings.
“Yeah,” Coxa said quietly. He quickly shook his head, “Tell them, Phasma.”
I stared at the wall behind the three judges, “It was a bloodbath. Chrysalis’s personal guards weren’t taking prisoners, so neither could we. I wasn’t there when it started, but I was there long enough to never forget how quickly someone can die. That was my first taste of… of war. Real war.”
“So Chrysalis learned of your coup and struck first?” Vigilance asked, leaning forward in her chair.
“Yes. And… no,” I sighed.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s…” I started, then stopped. “She did strike first, but so did I. I can’t lie about that, only that our actions were magnitudes apart. She ordered a massacre at the same time I committed a single act of murder.”
“How did your duel with Chamberlain Eucharis go?” Vigilance asked.
“It wasn’t a duel. I found him in Celestia’s personal office, going through her books. I was alone with him. I… tried to talk to him. I tried to convince him that the revolution needed to happen. I tried to convince him that Chrysalis had to go.”
“But he did not listen?”
I shook my head slowly, “I… You have to understand where I was at the time. This was a hoofful of months after discovering what happened to my siblings. I was certain that I was going to be next. When Eucharis started to walk away from me– when he said he was going to Chrysalis directly and tell her everything I was going to do… I panicked. I didn’t think about what I could do to resolve the situation in the best way, no, all I thought about was how Eucharis was going to get me lobotomized. So I murdered him. I cut him down.”
“Then what happened?”
I stared at Vigilance, caught off guard by her immediate transition and lack of reaction.
‘Perhaps Trotsylvania’s history is painted with much more violence than Equestria’s…’
“... Right before I killed him, he had briefly explained why he was going to Chrysalis. It wasn’t out of blind loyalty, a promise of a reward, or fear for his own life. He was going to tell her everything because of me. He wanted to save me. Apparently he had worked out a deal with Chrysalis; he would report everything I did to her, and in return she wouldn’t… kill me.”
Coxa asked the next question, “Do you think she would honor that deal?”
I twisted in my seat to stare at Chrysalis. She was holding her usual plain expression, doing nothing more than watching me.
“Not at the time. Of course I wouldn’t have. But… I think so now.”
“Was this kind of deal common?” Cadance asked.
I frowned, turning back to the judges, “No. It was only Eucharis who could have made such a deal. Noling else mattered. Not to Chrysalis. Eucharis had more than just his position, he had her ear and her heart.”
“Her heart?” Cadance echoed.
“Chamberlain Eucharis was Chrysalis’s lover. He was… my father. He revealed this to me in his final seconds as he bled out in my hooves.”
Though I spoke my words calmly, internally I was a mess. Eucharis’s death was the first person I ever killed– and not only that, it was the one kill I regretted the most. It would have been so easy to just stun him. A single zap and he’d be down for the count, easy to rope up and put in a corner to deal with later. He was never really cruel to me– callous at times, obviously, but never cruel. He was trying to save my life in his own twisted way.
Cadance banging her hoof on her armrest snagged my attention in the same way it put an end to the wave of whispering and gossiping from the pony peanut gallery. From my spot on the witness stand, I was subjected to the crowd’s flurry of emotions, and few of them were pleasant to experience. They were not taking my overall story well.
As if I needed to be a mind-reader to figure that out.
‘But the question is, are they going to be made at me? At changelings? Or just Chrysalis?’
Cadance, Coxa, and Vigilance were staying at me expectantly.
“... I’m sorry?” I grunted.
“What happened next?” Cadance repeated.
I shook my head slowly, “Uh. Right. After that, I went and took out Captain Scorpion, the leader of the Praetorians. With the head bodyguard out of the way, I felt that I had a good chance of taking Chrysalis down. That was when I found out what Chrysalis had ordered and what her Praetorians had carried out.”
‘But in the end, it was always going to be a leap of faith. I just had no idea how far I would fall short.’
“Which was?” Coxa prompted, as if he wasn’t there that day.
“War,” I answered, looking past him.
What came next was not easy. Cadance, Coxa, and Vigilance had me describe the horrors of the ambush at the foyer. They had me describe the death, the chaos, the uncertainty, the fear. I had to describe my loyal soldiers being cut down by my side. I had to describe my wings being torn to shreds.
I had to describe ordering Oestridae and the other Will Of The Nine legionaries to die for me.
By that point, I had stopped paying attention to the pony peanut gallery, to Chrysalis, and even to the judges themselves. They asked questions, I gave them answers. I went over the fight with Chrysalis– how absolutely one sided and brutal it was. After giving them the rundown of my sorry state when I got away, they had me flash forward and describe what happened during the second invasion of Canterlot. Those questions were almost easy to answer. The Canterlot Massacre, the battle where I cut through my own drones like a scythe, was the one caveat. But I had been talking for hours by then, and falling into a routine was simple enough.
Each death I described just made the minutes tick by even faster.
There were plenty of other testimonies for the second invasion as a whole, though, and so the line of questioning directed towards me was more so for the final confrontation with Chrysalis. It was awkward to try to convey the fact that Panarthropo, the Great Weaver, spared Chrysalis through divine intervention. Something like that shouldn’t have been admissible in court, yet the ponies seemed to accept it with minimal questions.
‘I’m so very far from Kansas right now.’
I don’t remember being dismissed from the witness stand– and I most certainly don’t remember Chrysalis asking me any more questions– but it must have happened shortly after all that, as I was sitting back in the throne between Luna and Thorax.
I found it almost amusing how the part of my testimony that likely mattered most was pretty much blanked from my mind. However, instead of finding it humorous, I just kept thinking about Eucharis, Oest, and everyling else who died.
Then it was over for the day. My part was over, the trial was adjourned for the evening, and everyone was filing out of the throne room. Luna led me out by the hoof– which was exactly when I realized I had been holding her hoof ever since I sat back down after my testimony– and we retired to what was quickly becoming our usual sitting room. After a minute, Celestia and, to my surprise, Cadance joined us. Normally, she and the other two judges would keep their distance from us while all the trial was going on. Finally, Shining Armor showed up, trailing behind his paramour with a small smile across his face.
Celestia daintily sat down on a couch by the warm fireplace before us, while Cadance opted to stand in front of me, stealing away the heat of the fire from my chitin. Shining stood to the side, careful not to crowd me– an act I spotted right away.
“Phasma,” she greeted me, “you did well today. We’re all proud, and thankful for everything you’ve done to get our kingdoms to this point today. You did well.” When she got nothing in return but a stare from me, Cadance continued, “It is unusual that Chrysalis declined to cross examine you again, so you should expect to be called up to the stand at least once more. But the hard part is behind you, Phasma.”
“I just spoke some words, nothing more,” I said quietly. “It’s not like I fought her again.”
“It’s more than that.” Cadance pointed towards me, “You’ve been through a lot in the past year . We all have, but your path has had the most twists. I feel like it’s important to remind you that this is how justice is supposed to be dished out, not like how Double Dealings or Tarsus was dealt with.” Before I could so much as raise my metaphorical hackles, Cadance raised a hoof, “Now, I’m not chastising you, just saying you’re doing good. I’m still in charge of your ‘reformation,’ remember? This was a huge day for dealing with Chrysalis in a modern, ethical way.”
“Hardly modern,” Celestia mumbled. “I could fill a book with all the legal inconsistencies that I’ve seen with this trial.”
“Then start writing,” Luna rolled her eyes. “Twas a fine trial. These minor incursions against bureaucracy are well welcomed!”
“It’s still going on,” Cadance reminded them. “We’ve got… a lot more evidence and testimonies to go through.”
Shining stepped closer, “At any rate, congratulations on standing up to your mother, Phasma. Outside of the battlefield, that is. I think it's safe to say that barring any future issues with the tyrant, her reign is officially at an end. You've finished what you started a year ago. How do you feel?”
I glanced at Luna. She was sitting by my side, still holding my hoof. More than that, my favorite pony had rested her chin on my shoulder, leaning into me.
“Tired,” I answered honestly. “Doesn't feel like victory at all. I'm just… tired.”
Shining winced, and the emotions I sensed from him indicated that he was struggling with guilt. “I think we all are. Look, Phasma, I… about Lantern Night. I'm sorry for what happened. As the pony in charge of security, that failure is on me. It'll never happen again- Katydid and I are making sure of that.”
“Thank you, Shining,” I replied quietly. “I'm sure you and Katydid will work well together.”
Though he nodded and started walking away, I could tell Shining was feeling the exact same emotions he was feeling before my acceptance of his apology. I knew I should care. I should say something to him, that I should tell him he couldn't have stopped the ambush, tell him he's done an outstanding job, and tell him that I trusted him with my life. I almost let the moment slip away, but Luna's hoof suddenly squeezed mine. I found the strength to fight against the tide of apathy that felt like it was washing me away.
“... Shining,” I force out, causing the stallion to turn back to me. “There is no pony I trust more with the duty of our safety than you. Thank you for watching out for all of us.”
Shining grimaced, “Nopony you trust more than me? What about your Captains, Phamsa?”
“No pony, not nopony,” I stressed the difference.
“Ah,” Shining grunts, chuckling once. “Right. I won't let you down.”
“You don't trust me the most?” Luna asked, curiosity piqued.
Now it was my turn to chuckle. I press my muzzle against Luna's, nuzzling her.
“No. If you had your way, you'd be carrying me around in an oversized harness on your chest, or something else equally embarrassing.”
Luna chuckled, bumping her shoulder against mine. Then she paused, as if remembering something. Her expression turned neutral as she faced Cadance.
“May I have a word with you in private, niece?”
“Of course, auntie Luna,” Cadance nodded.
My mobile space heater rose and left the room with Cadance a pace behind her. Rather than letting the silence settle, Celestia stood from her chair and sauntered over to a table on the other side of the room. She grabbed a pair of drinking glasses and a filled glass decanter, bringing them back over to me.
“I have received notice from the Royal Bursary that you were in pursuit of a loan, Phasma?”
“That’s right.”
Celestia smiled, “Then let’s talk business. I hope you don’t mind, of course, there is no way I could delegate such an important task to anypony else. Drink?”
I shrugged, “Whatever floats your boat. Your money, your business. And… sure, I’ll take a drink.”
Celestia split the glasses between us and started filling them, “Sorry for not offering you one, Shining, but you are on duty.”
“As you say, Princess,” Shining nodded.
We raised our glasses and knocked them together, each taking a sip. The strong whisky that I found myself choking down nearly made me cough it all up and drop the glass, but I held on.
“Damn it, Celestia, what kind of proof is this?”
She smiled and rolled her eyes dramatically, “You should know, you sold me the bottle. Now, how much do you want, and for what purpose? And yes, this was already passed on to me, but I want to hear it all from you. Straight from the pony’s mouth.”
“Five hundred million bits, as soon as you can deliver it. I want to expand the Hive’s supply chain and cement it before the market opens up again.”
Shining’s ears flicked upwards and towards me, and the faint taste of surprise followed suit shortly after.
Celestia knocked her glass back and poured herself another, “... That can’t happen. What would ponies say if they learn that the crown is profiting from a ban it put in place? I would be stealing the livelihood of so many ponies.”
“And you don’t consider our deal already ‘stealing’ this livelihood?”
“The difference is that you aren’t the one who started the Prohibition, and you aren’t the one who can end it. Not that I… You get the point.”
I stared into the glass, watching the brown liquid swirl around as I gently shook it, “So that’s it, then? Just a simple no?”
“Well, I never said that,” Celestia chuckled, setting the decanter down.
‘Finally, I was half expecting her to chug the damn thing.’
“Last I checked, Celestia, there isn’t exactly a bank in Equestria with the capital around to transfer that kind of money at the drop of a… bit. Only the crown has access to that kind of funds.”
Celestia raised her glass towards me, “You can have your loan…”
“But?” I prompted.
“But the deal will have to be on my terms,” she announced, finishing her second glass before I was a quarter through my first.
I shook my head, “It’s a lot, but if you’re planning on gouging us on interest–”
“Not the loan itself,” Celestia interrupted. “I don’t actually care about making money, Phasma. My goals and aspirations are far more… meaningful.”
“What’s your ask?” I said, taking a sip and managing to not embarrass myself this time.
Celestia poured herself a third fill, “The Diamonds’ labs that you sponsor. I want exclusivity for their products, and more. I want no exporting them outside of Equestria, I want research programs with the crown-sponsored schools– and I want changelings involved in these programs, too– and I want guarantees that any inventions your partnership cooks up will be civilian in nature. No weapons, Phasma. None.”
I snorted and gently set my glass down on a nearby table, “... That’s a lot to ask for.”
“For five hundred million bits?” She asked incredulously.
“The devil’s in the details, and you’re being quite vague with the term ‘programs,’” I said, steepling my hooves. “For all I know, these programs will have costs adding up to far more than five hundred million bits.”
“In time,” Celestia shrugged. “In decades, perhaps. But you will have made your money back by then, and the fruits of our shared labor will be more than enough to meet the costs. I want research grants, joint teams, internships available to universities across the Principality, and the gap between our kingdoms’ pools of knowledge to be officially bridged. We will start with combining our efforts into exploring this new avenue of science you are opening up.”
I realized what she was getting at, “Wait, you want to use the Diamonds’ lab to get all of Equestria in on mechanical and electrical engineering?”
“Yes!” Celestia said, her smile widening.
“... How long have you been hoping to get something like this going?”
Celestia giggled, “Since you announced your support of a research laboratory. I have been a teacher for a very long time, Phasma. I know a promising candidate when I see one, and the knowledge and wisdom that comes with your influence with the Diamonds could propel Equestria forwards decades ahead of its time!”
“I suppose that was always the plan for me. So… essentially, you are saying that the Diamonds will get a government contract with Equestria, only it’s the Diamonds footing the bill?”
“And their inventions cannot leave Equestria,” Celestia repeated. “And no weapons.”
“Oh noooo,” I fake-whined, “I won’t be able to export to… Griffonia! Is there even a viable market for high quality mechanical or magical goods there?”
“More than you’d think. The griffons are nothing if not quick on the up-take.”
“... How long will the Diamond lab– or, let’s be frank, the changelings– foot the bill for these cooperative research programs?”
Celestia glanced up at the ceiling, “Good question. It will take some time to get rolling, so let’s say… fifty years.”
“If I could whistle, I would,” I chuckled. “Fifty years… to effectively pay off five hundred million bits. Yeah, we can do that. It’s not my call to make, though. This is ultimately the Diamonds’ decision.”
She leveled a stare at me, “Do you believe they would refuse?”
“... Not if it’s the Hive footing the bill in the end,” I acknowledged. “I can’t think of a reason why they would say no.”
“I would be happy to make a presentation to them directly, if that would help,” Celestia offered.
“I’ll speak to them immediately,” I waved her off. “The sooner we get those bits, the more return on investment we can get. Okay… jumpstart Equestria’s industrial revolution– only this time, I get complete control over it, and will have the knowledge of its consequences and how to best mitigate them…”
Celestia just nodded, smiled, and took another sip of her whisky.
“... I want Trotsylvania to be excluded from the no-export ban.”
Celestia pointed to me and exclaimed, “Brilliant idea! All three members of the Canterlot Confederacy, working together! This will bring them closer to both of us, too! Done!”
I sat back in my chair, “... Fifty years. I don’t have a concept of time that long, Celestia. How… do I know that this is a fair deal in that regard?” I asked openly.
She tapped her glass in thought, “Would you like me to lay out my reasoning and planning?”
“Please do.”
“I would be more than happy to foot the bill myself– this opportunity is well worth the cost– but the loan will help your Kingdom grow quite a bit. I will be honest, you will need the extra leg up when it comes to… ingratiating yourself with Equestrians. Outreach programs, charity, job opportunities, investment, sponsorships… it’s going to cost a lot of bits to claw back the good will deficit that was incurred with the two invasions. This will push your metaphorical train along the right tracks to get that done in a single generation. And this is all before considering the benefits of having the technological and magical marvels the Diamonds are producing! A whole new generation of sorcerers and scientists, working together across two species and three different kingdoms! A paradigm shift in the making, if I may be so bold!”
I chuckled– her enthusiasm was infectious, “And it’s worth it to the Fifth Hive?”
“Of course!” Celestia insisted, setting her glass down and scooting closer to me. “Think of it; you will have your opportunity to make your money back quite quickly with this loan. The cost of getting the whole thing moving will scale with time. How many years will it take to expand it to the point where it starts comparing to the loan’s value, Phasma? How much opportunity for profit will you have had by then? How much more will be unlocked by the inventions of our shared program?” I nodded along, in agreement. Celestia continued, “Now, I want to also include the lives that will be changed. Saved, even! Imagine what we could do with the changelings’ healing pods! Or the communication portals you have! Imagine what the changelings could do with pony science– hay, you’re already dipping your hoof into the water with that. Think of the marvels that could be commonplace in just a generation. Now, what about four generations from now? Together, we can be more than the sum of our parts, Phasma!”
“Alright, alright!” I laughed. “I know! Okay, I’ll talk to the Diamonds as soon as possible. If they say yes… I will agree to the deal.”
I stood and stuck out my hoof. Celestia rose to eye level and shook my hoof.
“You won’t regret this, Phasma. That, I swear.”
“... Even if the only thing to come out of this is finding out how to get healing pods to work for ponies, it would be worth the cost alone, bits or no bits” I said. “People are people, no matter what species they are.”
Shining Armor grunted, sharing our happiness, “Glad to hear that you’re not in it just for the bits, Phasma.”
It was at this moment that Luna and Cadance stepped back into the room, looking decidedly more grim than when they left.
“Phasma,” Cadance began, “what’s this I hear about you no longer talking with your therapist?”
“Aaaand like that, the moment’s gone,” I said quietly, my hoof dropping to the floor as quickly as the smile dropped from my face. “I suppose I deserve this for accidentally ruining your moment last night, Luna.”
“Your apology was already accepted for that,” Luna said. “Now explain to the nice mare about your fears, and we will help come up with a solution and advice with you.”
“... I gotta go back to work,” Shining said, making for the exit. “Have fun with your chat!”
There was no such excuse to get me out of this.
‘Lucky bastard.’