//------------------------------// // Part III // Story: Old Ideas and New Memories // by Dark Side of the Rainboom //------------------------------// Luna awoke to find she was lying on her back on the shore of the river, far away from the battle. She was alone on the cold ground. Surrounding her were houses of modest size. Obviously she floated all the way downriver until she ended up in the residential district. “And I still don’t have any milk!” She was on the brink of tears, when a familiar face appeared over her. “Maenon? What are you doing here?” Luna rolled over and jumped up to face him. “Consider if you will,” he started, “the events that transpired. What happened? Dear Tradere led the charge against tyranny, and to what end? What became of it? Even if she had lost, would she regret ever doing something? Perhaps the true revolution is not pastries, but something different.” “What happened to her?” Luna asked. “Does it matter? It is not conducive to the lesson at hoof. It is a mere variable in the equation. What’s truly interesting is the constant. The one thing that stays the same in every equation. Keep that in mind.” He started walking away. “Wait!” Luna yelled. Maenon ignored her and opened a door to one of the houses, closing it behind him. Luna ran after him, the curiosity too strong to overcome. “Wait!” she yelled again as she burst through the door. Maenon was nowhere to be found. Instead, three ponies sat at a table, though they were now thoroughly alarmed at Luna’s sudden intrusion. “Little lady,” one of them, a unicorn, said, “you simply cannot just barge in on someone’s home like this. It is an invasion of their privacy.” “I’m sorry,” she said, “I was… looking for someone.” “Well no one has come through that door at any other time this evening, so logic dictates that you must have been looking for one of us.” “I’m sorry, I’ll just be going…” “Now wait a moment,” another pony said, this time a Pegasus, “you can’t just leave now. You’re a mystery. And a mystery is interesting, unlike some ponies I know.” He looked at the third pony, an Earth Pony, who jumped up. “You told me you liked my stories!” he yelled. “I lied.” The Pegasus once again turned to Luna, “Tell me, would you like to stay for a cup of tea?” “I don’t know…,” Luna said, unsure of the offer. “It’s Earl Hay,” he said in a singsong voice. “Just for a few minutes I suppose- if that’s all right with you two,” she quickly added, seeing the looks on the faces of the unicorn and earth pony. “They’re fine,” the pegasus answered for them. “Come, come, have a seat.” “Okay,” Luna sat down at the table. “Frihet, be a dear and get Miss…?” “Oh, uh, Mu.” “Be a dear and get Miss Mu here some tea.” The unicorn, now called Frihet, grumbled and got some tea for Luna. Afterwards he sat back down at the table. “Can we get back to business?” he said. “I think it’s hardly appropriate with an outsider here,” said the earth pony. “Oh she seems a decent enough sort, Macht, leave her alone,” the pegasus said. “Very well, Rationis,” snorted Macht. “Good,” Rationis said, clapping his hooves together. “Excuse me,” Luna said, “but why does everypony in this town have such a strange name?” “Strange is relative,” explained Rationis, “what’s a curiosity in, say, Ponyville is no more than tradition here.” “I suppose…” conceded Luna. “Now, what were we talking about? Ah yes: the Equestrian Government.” Luna’s ears perked up. “That’s a… interesting topic,” she said. “Indeed it is,” said Frihet. “If I may, what is the reasoning behind that chosen conversation?” Luna wondered. “Well, it is impossible to please everypony…,” started Macht. “…but Celestia and Luna do a darn fine job of pleasing as many as possible…,” continued Rationis. “…so we like to discuss why those they can’t seem to please, aren’t happy,” finished Frihet. “Ah,” Luna said. She didn’t know how to feel about that. On one hoof, she was proud that so many were pleased with her and her sister; on the other, there were those who weren’t content and that bothered her. Macht cleared his throat. “So as I was saying before we were interrupted, I believe that Celestia has the responsibility to throw Luna out of the realm. Furt-“ “W-why?” Luna was appalled. Macht sighed. “Because, simply speaking, the ‘Nightmare Moon’ fiasco 1000 years ago, and again a few years back showed that Luna is simply too unstable to be trusted as co-ruler of an entire country. Especially one so large and powerful as Equestria.” “But that could never happen again!” cried Luna. “Are you one hundred percent positive about that?” His gaze bored into the mare, so much so that she was afraid he knew her true identity. “Well… no one knows the future for certain,” she muttered. “Exactly!” Macht slammed his hoof on the table for emphasis. “We cannot simply let her stroll back into the throne, else we risk a repeat of last time. And I for one like the daylight.” “Come now Macht,” Rationis said calmly, “think this through: the conditions that created Nightmare Moon simply do not exist anymore. Ponies back 1000 years ago did not have things like artificial lighting. At least not as much as we do now. When the sun set, they slept because they had nothing else to do. Now of course there are many, many ponies who sleep during the day and work at night. And need I remind you of the Elements of Harmony? Th-“ “-The Elements of Harmony are wielded by ponies fiercely loyal to the princesses. You cannot expect them to make the decision to banish Nightmare Moon should the occasion arrive,” stated Macht. “Was Celestia not loyal to Luna? Were she and Luna not best friends?” “No…,” Macht grumbled. “Fine, but what of outside threats to the nation?” “What of them?” “The Changelings for instance. It’s only a matter of time before they once again try to invade Equestria. We should strike at them now while we have a clear advantage.” “To what end?” chimed in Frihet, “They are of no threat to us.” “Not now, maybe,” said Macht, “but they might be one day.” “But they aren’t now. They only invaded Equestria because they needed food, lest they die. Would you condemn an entire species to Tartarus solely because of the way they live? Need I remind you of the Dragon Wars?” Luna gasped. Who could possibly know about the Dragon Wars? It was over 1100 years ago. Modern textbooks don’t even mention it. “Exactly. The dragons threatened to destroy Equestria and the pony way of life. It was for that reason Celestia and Luna destroyed them first. A sound decision if you ask me, which you did.” “Dragons are now a threatened species. We’ve also been breeding them for our own purposes since then. For what? They wanted a little breathing room. It’s the same exact reason why we took half of their land in the first place. They were merely retaliating. Hay, Canterlot sits on top of their gem mines!” “If your precious liberty is so perfect, then what about the Chaos Conflict 100 years prior?” Tensions were mounting. Luna was astonished that so much was known of such ancient history. Modern historical documentation didn’t exist until 750 years ago. “Discord is a unique exception to the rule! He wanted to take over all of Equestria and make everypony his slave! It is in this case that the freedom of one must be sacrificed for the freedom of the many!” Frihet shouted. “One, one thousand, what does it matter!?” The decibel level was rising dramatically. “GENTLECOLTS!” Luna, Macht, and Frihet looked at Rationis, who was currently standing looking back at them. “If we cannot have calm conversation, then what hope does the rest of the world have? To say nothing of our inability to be proper hosts. My apologies Mu.” He sat back down and breathed deeply. “Now look at what you made me do,” he said calmly, “I spilled my tea a little. Let us move away from military actions. What of your opinion on how our government is run? How about… Mu?” “What?” Luna asked, shocked at the sudden attention. “What do you think on our system of government?” Rationis repeated. “Uh… I… uh… I think it’s a fine system.” “Why?” “Well…,” Luna was unprepared to be on the spot like this, “I suppose since this government has remained unchanged for a few hundred years, then it’s doing something right. Especially since there’s been relative peace as well throughout the realm.” “You ‘suppose’?” “Macht,” Rationis warned, “be nice.” He turned once more to Luna. “Thank you, Mu. There was very sound reasoning behind your claim. It is true that the system of a constitutional monarchy is a stable one. Celestia and Luna wield absolute power, but because of their benevolent disposition they aren’t at risk to become corrupted. Lower ranks are given out by a mix of appointments by the sisters and direct elections, depending on the position. Anyone else?” “I think,” started Frihet, “that we should abolish the monarchy at the top. What purpose does it prove? It can easily be replaced with an elected government that could do the same job. In fact, studies have shown that, given enough magic, any group of unicorns could move both the sun and moon.” Luna was terrified at that aspect. The last thing she wanted to become was obsolete. She’d have to ask Celestia about that later. “I agree with Mu,” said Macht, surprisingly. “Oh?” Frihet voiced the surprise. “Yes. In fact, I think things could be taken a step further. Why have this pointless republic? Does anyone really think an entire population of ponies could possibly be as intelligent, or even more so than Celestia? There is a reason Equestria has remained a- no THE leading power, and it isn’t because of a bunch of bureaucrats who spend a couple decades in office then die.” “Yes,” rebutted Frihet, “but what of the fact that ponies like to feel like they made a difference? With no republic you have an immortal dictatorship, and no amount of policies would outweigh the fact that ponies would then be slaves: bound to do whatever they’re told without any say in the matter. Discontent would rise and revolutions would break out.” “Then let them, and we’ll crush the revolutionaries. All it takes is leaving the sun too close, or too far, or simply outliving them. As you said, Celestia is immortal.” “That’s horrible! It’s morally repugnant! It’s a crime against nature itself!” Frihet cried. “Is the cost of a couple smashed skulls so high that you would risk extinction? Better live under an iron hoof than not live at all.” “Living under an iron hoof is impossible. Under oppression you can do nothing but suffocate. It is only when a thousand ponies lift the iron hoof off of them that one can breathe.” “Seems to me that moderation in both is the only way to go then,” said Rationis. He looked at the clock. “Well, I am afraid I must be off. Mu, if you would be so kind as to accompany me?” He started toward the door. Luna hopped off her chair, turning back only to tell Frihet “Thank you for the tea.” She followed Rationis out the door. “Be a dear and shut the door behind you,” he said. Luna turned around to make sure the door wouldn’t hit anything as it closed, and when she turned back around she saw not the calm, collected pegasus, but a familiar pair of dark green eyes. “Maenon!” Luna jumped backwards. “Were you Rationis the whole time? How did you do that? Why do you keep disappearing?” She would be incredibly mad at him if she weren’t incredibly curious at how he manages such feats. “What did you learn there?” he asked. He started walking slowly, obviously meaning Luna to keep pace. “What was the point of the exercise those three had? It in no way changed any of their minds. Indeed, if anything it only made them more intent on their ideals and convinced that every other pony in that room was wrong. Notice how the two ponies, Frihet and Macht, were the main debaters. What does it all mean?” “Look,” Luna said pleadingly, “I just want some milk so my sister and I can have breakfast.” “Ah, but what good is a story if you only finish half of it?” Maenon smiled as they reached a house. Luna looked through the window in front of her. A mother was sitting at a table with what looked to be her child. They were sitting at a table, having just finished their meal. Maenon looked behind him. “The revolution is spreading.” A loud noise was heard and shortly after Luna felt an explosion of pain in her head and felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. Down… Down… Down…