//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A New Dynasty // by Matthais Unidostres //------------------------------// Guard Captain Gallus took a deep breath as he stood before the door. "Gosh, facing that rhino monster wasn’t as scary as this," he thought. But the blue griffon steeled himself. He needed to get out here and say what he needed to say. If he didn't satisfy those ponies. . . Gallus tried not to think about would happen if he failed. Gallus boldly stepped out on the balcony of New Canterlot Castle, the shining jewel of Canterlot that had been rebuilt after its destruction. Before him stood a sea of ponies, are eagerly awaiting words from the decorated Captain. Gallus cleared his throat, and he spoke, "Citizens of Equestria! Once again, the forces of Harmony have prevailed and kept you safe from those who would seek to divide and conquer you. Just like Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis; Opaline Arcana spread disharmony amongst the three pony races in an attempt to steal Equestria's magic. But also like them, Opaline was defeated by the combined forces of Equestria and our allies! With a bit of reminding from those who kept the magic of friendship in their hearts, Opaline's lies and attenpts at manipulation were washed away. Just as the students if the School of Friendship had done years ago. By the power of Harmony, the races of this world protected both dragon and pony magic, and soundly defeated Opaline's evil. And for that, citizens of Equestria, I thank you!" The crowd cheered and stomped joyfully, appreciative of Gallus' words. Once the cheering died down, Gallus continued, "However, our victory came at a terrible cost. . . Our ruler. . . Princess Twilight Sparkle. . .somehow, Opaline's machinations caused a sickness to corrupt Twilight's brain. Equestria's protector became determined to steal away this land's magic. She sought to lock your magic within three crystals, holding it hostage to demand perfect harmony from you all. An overreaction to Opaline's plans, but still a terrible betrayal of her people. She wanted to steal your magic away, just as Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Opaline herself had done!" The ponies below reacted with shock, horror, and dismay. Gallus nodded gravely and said, "Yes. Twilight wished to force harmony upon you. But forced harmony is not really harmony. You cannot blackmail others to get along. Creatures must be shown why they should get along. They must how friendship benefits everyone. And so, the forces of Harmony had no choice. Like Nightmare Moon of old, Twilight Sparkle has been banished to the heavens." Ponies gasped in shock. "But fear not!" Gallus called out urgently, "Like Princess Luna, Twilight will return having learned the error of her ways. That is the way of alicorns. In the future, she will return, and regain her honor and glory." Gallus gained a solemn expression, and he said, "It is clear, that the age of alicorns must end. Their power and majesty combined with the stress and magnitude of ruling a nation is far too much. That is why Celestia and Luna retired. But it would be foolish and disrespectful to Twilight's legacy to abandon all of her plans due to her unfortunate fall from grace. That is why, I now present to you, Twilight's heir. A mortal pony who learned the lessons of friendship and harmony. I present to you, Princess Luster Dawn!" Stomps and cheers shook Canterlot as a unicorn well beloved across all of Equestria stepped out onto the balcony. Gallus stood aside as Luster Dawn walked forward dressed in golden regalia with adorned amber stones. The new ruler of Equestria looked out into the crowd and said with heartfelt sincerity "Like the rest of you, I was shocked and dismayed when I learned that Twilight Sparkle had let her paranoia control her and twist her mind to the point of wanting to lock away everypony's magic." Luster Dawn shut her eyes as tears leaked out. "She was more than just my princess. She was my mentor." Luster Dawn's eyes opened wide, wet and shimmering but determined. "That is why, in her absence, I will embody every good thing she taught me. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic. She may have lost the way, but so have us all from time to time. No creature is flawless, which is why we must learn from our own flaws, and the flaws of others. Me and those who follow after me will make sure that the Equestria Princess Twilght returns to is an Equestria of harmony, friendship, and unity with all races of this world. And I humbly ask that you and your descendants will do the same." The devoted cheers of her subjects was all the answer that Princess Luster Dawn needed. The room Gallus was sitting in was one of the most comfortable rooms in the castle, and yet he felt far from comfortable. It wasn't the chair he was sitting in, it was the other six ponies in the room with him. It was so hard, looking between each of Twilight's closest friends as he told them the story of her banishment. The room was silent for a moment after he had finished, and then a long drawn out sigh came from the stetson wearing mare. "Well, he ain't telling no lies, that's for sure," Applejack said wearily, "And here's something else that's a true fact: Twilight's plan to lock up everypony's magic never did figure in mah mind. Sure, Ah went along with it cuz it was Twilight saying it, but still. . ." Starlight put a hoof to her forehead and said, "Ugh, it sounds like the kind of thing I would've done back when I was a crazy pony. I tried to tell Twilight not to do it, but she wouldn't listen." Rarity nodded, "Indeed. Slapping terms and conditions on a pony's natural abilities . . ." She blushed and said, "I mean, my thoughts at the time were that desperate times called for desperate measures, but perhaps we all overestimated Opaline." Pinkie nodded, a bittersweet smile on her face, "Yeah, Opaline was a total meanie, but she wasn't nearly as big a meanie as those other three jerks. And that Invisibubble idea was kinda crazy too. How would I be able to visit Prince Rutherford in Yakyakistan or Princess Skystar on Mount Aris? How would Rarity be able to visit Capper in Abyssinia? How would Dashie be able to visit Gilda in Griffonstone? And making all those dragons take a long long long nap is no fun either. So I guess you kinda had to give Twilight a time out. But let's look at the bright side: now my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandkids can give Twilight a Welcome Back to Equestria After Being Banished party." Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably in her chair and said, "Well, Discord will be there to help Twilight adjust when she gets back. And we can all record a message for her-." A loud huff came from Rainbow Dash, who folded her forelegs and turned away. "Rainbow?" Fluttershy said timidly. Rainbow seemed to ignore her at first, but then she sighed and said without looking at anyone, "Twilight's our friend, no matter how crazy her plan was. I mean, we all agreed with it at the time, didn't we? And now it turns out we never even needed to do it to beat Opaline, and the Tree of Harmony banished her because of it!" Rainbow shot out of the chair she had been sitting in and flew right into Gallus' face. He glared at the griffon and said, "I would never turn my back on Twilight!" Gallus clenched his beak and stared Rainbow right in the eye. The pegasus glared right back for a while, and the glare changed into a look of stern acknowledgment. "But doing what you did. . . takes guts," Rainbow admitted, and she landed back onto the floor and hung her head in shame, "Maybe if we tried to talk Twilight out of it. . . she'd still be here." Fluttershy let out a sad whimper, and Pinkie Pie was immediately at her side with a hug. Rainbow Dash glared so hard at the floor that it looked as though she was trying to burn a hole through it with heat vision. "Standing up to your friend when they're about to do something stupid. . . . That's real loyalty." Rainbow looked Gallus dead in the eye once again, and she said with begrudging acceptance, "You. . . did the right thing." Gallus let out the breath he was holding and nodded to the mares in the room, "Thank you all. . . for understanding." Commander Berrytwist stepped into the throne room of the Crystal Empire palace. Seated on the throne was Princess Flurry Heart. To her right sat her mother, Princess Cadence. To her left sat her father, Prince and Captain of the Crystal Guard Shining Armor. The young ruler smiled and said, "Oh, Fizzy! It's wonderful to see you here! What brings the greatest commander in the Equestrian Royal Guard to the Crystal Empire on such short notice?" The battle hardened mare scowled, and she said bitterly, "I quit Gallus' Royal Guard." Flurry Heart stared at the scarred mare in confusion, while her parents exchanged glances. Shining Armor had a foreboding look on his face to match the feeling in his chest, while Cadence looked very much concerned for the mare standing before them. Flurry Heart looked thoughtfully at the Commander and said, "Um. . . Did you have a fight with Gallus? Does Auntie Twilight know you quit?" The mare's scowl changed into more of a pensive look, and she said, "So. . . I arrived here faster than the news." Shining Armor's sense that something was amiss was buzzing at this point, and he leaned forward and asked, "What news?" Fizzlepop Berrytwist reply was straight and to the point, "She's gone".