//------------------------------// // Petty Ideas // Story: Equine Royale // by MemoryLane //------------------------------// Princess Celestia paced around her private quarters, a tired and exhausted look spread all over her face. Things have never gotten this bad before, and they only seemed to get worse. Her mind was plagued with ideas, thoughts, and many, many possibilities. Things only seemed to be corkscrewing in Equestria. No one has any sense, it seemed. Everypony was off, doing whatever they pleased, it just didn't make sense... Ponies where murdering others, taking their belongings in midnight raids, there has also been many cases of stallions verbally, mentally, and sexually abusing mares. All of which are strictly banned, and can be punishable by either jail or, depending on the severity of the crime, public execution, which they hadn't had to resort to since very long ago. It was a shame they had to resort to it again. What also bothered her was that no pony cared. But it was strange. Whenever there were executions, which at this time, there were an unusually large amount, no pony seemed fazed. They'd laugh and cheer for the soul who was captured and sentenced to death for his or her misdeeds. They would sneer, throw things, urging the executioner to commence the death itself. Celestia was more so sickened at the fact that others actually enjoyed the public executions other than felt sympathy, than the fact that Luna and her had to resort to such terrible methods. They would watch other ponies burn to death, or killed by the masked executioner, the blood splattering all over the floor as his axe came down on the convict's frail and scandalous necks as they lied in a guillotine like bed, and their heads fell into the bin below. They didn't feel intimidated for some reason. It only urged them even more to do such things. It's like they didn't care at all! They weren't threatened. It somewhat frightened Princess Celestia. If they weren't intimidated by royalty, then they definitely won't be afraid to overthrow monarchy. This could get ugly if something wasn't done. Celestia was still pacing the quarters as Princess Luna poked her head through the door, knocking ever so softly as to not disturb her sister incase she was busy. "Sister? Are thou alright?" Luna asked her, her head fully peeking through the door. Celestia stopped pacing and simply looked at her younger counterpart, sighing lightly. "Yes, I'm fine." She simply stated, not bothering to look at her family. Luna frowned, she did not like it when she was being lied to, and it wasn't difficult to figure out that she was. "No, thou are not." Luna asserted, opening up the door completely and walking into Celestia's chambers. "Tell me the truth." Celestia sighed, and shook her head at her naive sister. She's a princess as well and it should be obvious as to what is wrong. But Celestia didn't want to start an argument. Last thing she needed was more chaos. "Equestria." "What about Equestria?" Luna replied. Celestia still couldn't believe that Luna hadn't caught on. Luna is never this clueless. The sun princess was starting to get a little annoyed. "The state of it!" She grunted, but then soon hung her head. "Have you looked outside, Luna? With all this...mayhem going on. Equestria is falling apart. I'd have thought you'd known." She explained. It's true, Luna's always on duty during the night. She should have known what was going on since most of havoc occurs at night. Luna let out an exasperated sigh. "We're losing control of Equestria, my sister." Celestia finished. Luna stared at her, taking in and reading the emotions coming from her sister. Luna had never realized how big of a problem this was before, strangely. It was very unbecoming of her, and quite frankly it upset her. The dark blue alicorn princess walked over to her sorrowful sister, informally wrapping a single hoof around her shoulder, and giving a two-sided smile. "There is no need for thee to worry." Luna breathed. Celestia said nothing, nor implied any sign of her giving a response. Luna thought carefully as to what she was about to say. "There must be something we can do-" "Like what!?" Celestia shouted, unintentionally interrupting her and causing her sister to flinch. But Celestia was restless, and she had no other choices. "Execution is still being done! But it's still not doing much. Neither is jailing ponies! Our jails are literally running out of space!" Celestia calmed herself down, she was not one to usually get angry like that suddenly, but all of her bottled up worries came out at once. She looked back at the floor. "Thou might have an idea..." Luna said, pondering said idea in her head. Celestia looked at her sister with curious eyes. "What would that be..?" "Instead of thou trying to intimidate them, why not let them intimidate each other?" Luna replied. Celestia furrowed her brow, she had no idea what her sister was getting at. "What do you mean?" Luna grimly smiled as she finally realized that she may actually be onto something. "Let them kill each other. Broadcast it to every pony in the nation. Ponies killing others. If citizens like watching death and gore so much, then give them a bloodbath to watch." Celestia was attempting to take a hint, reaching to understand it, until an idea of her own ultimately clicked in her head. She figured out exactly what Luna was talking about and grinned. This...is perfect! A pony death match. Enough to make common citizens realize their errors, that killing is wrong. They'll realize it as they watch ponies they used to know die at the hands of a complete stranger. They'll be afraid that they will be next to be in the death match, as they will choose specific ponies. Maybe those in jail? Or who recently have a jail record, for that matter. The reason for said jail time won't even matter! That's what makes it interesting. Celestia could almost see the future: Equestria, how it used to be. Happy, tolerant, loving, it was all so clear what they needed to do. "That is brilliant!" Celestia stated, gazing off into the distance as she thought loudly to herself. Luna chuckled at her sisters prude compliment as she turned towards the door. "Thank thou, I will let thee tend to thy business." She retorted, as she walked out of Celestia's chambers, proud that she was successfully able to aid her sister. The sun alicorn stood there, a smile spreading across her lips. It's so perfect... "Guards!" Celestia shouted, almost instantaneously, a single solar guard appeared in her doorway, bowing down to her and showing her the proper respect she deserved. His armor rattled with every move he made. "Yes, my dear princess?" He said in a gruff voice, looking up at her with eyes full of wonder. "Listen carefully. I want you and a few other guards to go all around Equestria." She spoke. "Gather up 30 convicts. Their crime does not matter, their gender nor age or such does not matter either. Just bring me 30, sedate them, and put them on a private ship to the family's 'private' island." She stated. The solar guard stood up as a sign of obedience as he heard her finish naming her requests. "Yes ma'am!" He spoke. "I expect to have all of them on that ship by nightfall. I pray that you will not fail me, Serenity" Celestia replied, smiling down at the green pony in front of her. "Yes ma'am!" He repeated, before making his way down the hall, calling his fellow comrades to aid him from their quarters. Most where sleeping at this hour. Celestia closed her door and walked to the other side of the room to her window. Through her window she could see almost all of Canterlot, one of the cities not so much effected by the crime as others. She stared out as she saw the sun beginning to rise, ever so slowly making it's journey to the top of the sky. It was just another day, and it was only just beginning. ************ Author's Note I just want to thank you for taking the time to read the first chapter of this story. Indeed it is short, but most chapters to come will be longer. If you have any suggestions, or comments, or feedback or anything, please feel free to tell me. I'm very much open to things like that. ^_^ Thank you again, and have a wonderful day! -Cyneryk