//------------------------------// // Let's Not Do That // Story: The Thousand Year Change // by Darthvalgaav //------------------------------// “Twilight, can I ask you something?” asked Scootaloo. Twilight looked down at the young filly. Since they had started the walk home she had been very quiet. At first Twilight had worried that they were moving a bit too fast for her. After all, Scootaloo had just moved to a whole other world, cured of her crossbreed syndrome, found out that everything she had been told about lunar ponies was a lie, and might soon be enrolled in one of the best schools in the Republic. That was a lot to happen to a filly in just a day. “Sure,” said Twilight as she hoped she could answer whatever question the filly had. “Do you think you could teach me about Light Dueling?” asked Scootaloo. Twilight stared at the filly for a moment with a curious expression. “How do you know about Light Dueling?” she asked. Scootaloo shrugged. “While we were exploring the school me and Vinyl saw a match going on in the gym,” she said simply. “Vinyl also told me that you used to be a champ.” “In the team matches,” said Twilight humbly. “Shadow was the muscle while I analyzed our opponents. By myself I’m just ok. But maybe later, after we get done studying, I can show you the basics. How does that sound?” “Ok, I guess,” said Scootaloo. She was worried that she was going to let Twilight down. She wasn’t that good in school, having an average of seventy. From what she could tell, this place would be a lot harder that Ponyville Elementary. If she failed this test, or perhaps the more correct thing to say would be when she failed, she would let down one of the two ponies that had taken any real interest in her. Sports she could do, no problem. Get a seventy-five or above on a test, she might as well try to fly in quicksand. “Come on,” said Vinyl as she jumped in front of the two. She then pointed a hoof at Scootaloo. “You need to cheer up before Twilight starts one of her mega long study sessions. So how about we see a movie before we head home?” “What’s a movie?” asked Scootaloo. Once again Scootaloo found herself in the forelegs of the crying DJ. “You poor, poor thing,” cried Vinyl. “Does Equestria have no rocking arts?” She then looked at Twilight as she used her magic to take off her glasses so the other mare could see her teary eyes expression better. “Now we have to take her to see a movie. It just wouldn’t be right!” “Ok Vinyl,” snapped Twilight as she pried her neighbor off her new daughter. “I guess taking a moment to relax and enjoy ourselves wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Do you know what’s playing?” Vinyl grinned as she put her glasses back on. “Yeah, the new one by Michael Hay. It’s a romantic tragedy based around the Deep Tunnel Tragedy.” Twilight frowned at this. As a survivor of that incident, she really had no desire to see anypony try and make a movie about it. Especially so soon after it happened. Yet, at the same time, she was curious as how the director would present it. Perhaps it would honor the brave ponies who died that day. It would also be a good learning experience for Scootaloo. And if they did get anything wrong, Twilight would be there to correct it. Finally, Twilight let out a sigh and nodded her head. They were going to the movies. -x- Once again, before Princess Luna sat the thirteen senators of the Lunar Republic. After she had talked to Shining Armor she had sent word out to each one of the remaining senators. Luna wanted to inform them personally about the events in Equestria; both her own experiences as well as Twilight’s findings. Behind her were not only her guards but also a large pile of scrolls. Celestia was apparently not taking the hint. “As you can see,” said Gigawatt after Luna was done speaking, “The ponies in Equestria have not changed a bit these last thousand years.” “Barbarians,” growled Senator Scorpio. He was not only the senator from Dome One, but also the only bat pony currently on the Lunar Senate. He was an elderly stallion with a black coat and a grey mane. His tail had been tied up to look like a scorpion he had seen in one of the ancient books in the Palace Library. Even his cutie mark was the constellation Scorpio. “I fully agree with your decision to abandon the merger. Clearly it would not have been in the best interests of the Republic as a whole.” “Perhaps we were moving too fast,” suggested Peaceful Meadows. “Maybe we should try to contact them again, but move a bit more slowly. Let them get to know us.” “I’m sorry to say this but Gigawatt is correct,” said Land Share with a sigh. “If we had tried to continue it would have caused us more problems. But we are right now back to where we started!” “Perhaps we could try one of the other counties on the planet,” suggested Stock Market. “We could try to contact the griffons or the minotaur. We wouldn’t even have to merge with them, just have a trading alliance.” “But they would be just as technologically inferior as Equestria,” snapped Scorpio. “Whatever we give them would give them an advantage against the other races.” “We could try to find another source,” suggested April Showers. “Maybe find some frozen wasteland or isolated lake and just take that water. The planets poles are covered in ice for miles without anypony around.” “I say we just take Equestria’s water,” said Gigawatt. Every head at the table turned to look at the senator, have expecting it to be a joke. After a moment of silence he continued. “As it stands now, we hold not only the high ground but also technological superiority. I doubt that any battle that occurs would last more than a week.” “You’re kidding,” said Luna. “You’re kidding, right?” “The Republic has never gone to war in its history,” said April as she slammed her hoof on the table. “We may not like what they are saying about us or how they run their country, but that is no reason for us to attack them just to get what we want! There are ways of doing this without bloodshed.” “I have to agree with Senator April,” said Scorpio. “We should not bother with Equestria ever again. There is no need to waste our resources fighting those fools when we could just take the water from a safer location. As Senator Gigawatt pointed out, we have the high ground. On the moon we are safe and secure from them. They are no threat.” “They may not be a threat right now, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t be in the future,” said Gigawatt as he stood up. “They had held on to the idea that we are monsters for a thousand years. Sooner or later they will try to attack us again just like they did when our ancestors lived on the planet. They could start working on advanced teleportation magic or something in the future so that they can come up here to wipe us out!” “They could,” said Land Share as he nodded his head. “Just as they could have during these thousand years we have lived on the moon. If they really desired our deaths they would have at least tried to make more of an attempt.” Various senators nodded their head. “Fine then,” said Gigawatt. “Then how about we make sure that they never become a threat to us in a different way. I suggest we begin Operation Umbrella!” As soon as he finished saying this the entire room burst into an uproar. Senators began to shout at each other making it impossible for anypony to understand them. Finally, Luna had enough. “SILENCE!” she roared in a voice so loud it knocked them all down. “What you are suggesting was never meant for oppression. Operation Umbrella is only to be used as a last ditch effort against Discord.” “If we do as you suggest then it will effect more than Equestria,” said Land Share as he looked at Gigawatt. “If we weren’t hated by the other counties on the planet we will be!” “Think of all the lives we will put in danger,” said Peaceful Meadows. “Hundreds might die, maybe thousands. Do we really have the right to do that just because of Equestria?” “But this will ensure that they will never be a threat to us,” argued Gigawatt. He then looked at Luna with pleading eyes. “I implore you Princess. We must strike them down now while they are a low threat!” “Enough,” said Luna. “Senator Gigawatt, I know you want only what is best for the Republic. I agree that using Operation Umbrella will cripple Equestria in a way that it would take hundreds of years for them just to recover. However, if we do that then we will become the very monsters they claim us to be. We will also be affecting other innocent nations.” She then closed her eyes for a moment and let out a sigh before opening them again. “I will talk to the Assistant Director of the Department of Research and Development and as her if it is possible to focus the effects of Operation Umbrella on just Equestria. If so then we will have an ace in our hooves no matter what happens. But for the time being we shall focus our efforts on the planet’s ice caps.” -x- “That was the worst movie ever,” grumbled Vinyl as the group left the theater. Scootaloo walked in the back while quietly munching on some popcorn. The movie experience had been, like many things in the Republic, amazing. Seeing a story with pictures and sounds was something that she thought only happened in plays. Only with a movie there were a lot more effects and no waiting for the cast to change their outfits or change of scenery. The movie itself however was a bit annoying. Most of the ponies watching it left angrily halfway through. Vinyl would have joined them if Twilight hadn’t stopped her. “I can’t believe it,” growled Twilight. “How could any pony twist the events of what happened that day into something like that? Does Michael Hay have any shame at all?” “So did that really happen?” asked Scootaloo. Twilight snorted. “Not that way,” she said. “The cave in was caused by a meteor, not an attack from Equestria! My father was not a greedy slimeball who cut corners to save a few bits. Nor was my mother sleeping around with every stallion she could find. And afterwards we did not attack Equestria!” “It’s an insult to every pony that lost family that day,” said Vinyl with a frown. “Princess Luna will be extra pissed when she see’s how she is portrayed. Mr. Hay might be the first pony ever to be sentenced to a prison pod for making a bad movie.” “That or some angry mob will kill him,” said Twilight. -x- “OK everypony, listen up!” said Shadow Blade to a large group of Royal Guard ponies. Each one was fully dressed in their armor while standing at attention. Shadow stood next to a large screen which was displaying several of the vehicles that the Royal Guard utilized in their training. One was a hover tank, a large metallic vehicle that hovered above the ground and shot a powerful energy blast at its target. There were also hover cycles with mounted weapons and hover boards. “Ok, now that I have your attention,” began Shadow, “I would to remind all of you that the Silver vs. Black War Games are going to be starting soon.” This got their attention. The Silver vs. Black War Games occurred every four months. The Royal Guard would then be split down the middle so they could be divided into two teams. The computer would then randomly select equipment for both teams as well as a random location away from the Domes. Last time it was held on an asteroid that the lunar ponies had collected and kept in orbit around the moon. The game was usually something like capture the flag or something of that nature. “I have a question,” said Lightning Dust as she raised a hoof. As she did all the ponies around her groaned, knowing what she was about to ask. “Go ahead,” said Shadow with a nod. “Well, this year could we make it a bit more of a challenge?” she asked. “Maybe give one team a disadvantage? You know, really push ourselves a bit more.” “You mean like we did last year and your team lost in less than five hours,” said Shadow as he did his best to keep his eyes from rolling. That had been a disaster. Lightning had suggested that they fight with no weapons at all. “Well, maybe something else,” said Lightning as everypony who had been on her team that time began to glare at her. “We talked about this Lightning,” said Shadow calmly. “It’s good to push yourself, but not at the expense of your team. Remember, as always, the losing team will polish the Domes both inside and out while the winners receive some well deserved rest.” He looked around to see if anypony else wanted to say anything. Seeing that no other hooves were raised he gave a short nod before dismissing them. A short while later Shadow was in the locker room as he began to remove his armor. Once he was halfway done the doors to the locker room burst open as Shining Armor charged in. The white stallion began to charge at Shadow as the magic from his horn held the bat pony in place. As soon a he was close enough Shining slammed Shadow against the locked door. “You fiend!” roared Shining Armor. “How dare you defile my sister!” “What are you talking about?” asked Shadow as he kicked Shining off of him. The white unicorn back away a bit, slightly injured from the kick. “You slept with her,” said Shining as he pointed an accusing hoof at Shadow. “Don’t deny it. Scootaloo said she saw you two doing…that in the doctor’s office.” “Is that what’s this is all about,” growled Shadow. “We took a nap. Nothing bad happened!” Shining took a step back. “But when I asked Scootaloo-” “She probably didn’t understand what you were implying,” said Shadow flatly. “Now this overly protective big brother thing you have going on has got to stop. Look at you! You’re freaking out over nothing.” “NO!” yelled Shining Armor as he raced over to Shadow’s locker and began to search it. “I know you have something in mind for Twilight. Something evil like… like this!” Shining had pulled out a small black box causing Shadow’s eyes to go wide. “I bet you have some pills in here to mess up Twilight’s judgment! Admit it!” Holding the box up with his magic Shining open the box to reveal a silver engagement ring. It was beautifully crafted with a nicely sized purple gemstone in the middle. Shocked, Shining looked into Shadow’s eyes to see pure anger in them. Smiling nervously, Twilight’s older brother placed the black box in Shadow’s outstretched hoof. As soon as he did the door opened and a cadet saw Shadow holding a box with an engagement ring in it to another stallion. “NO!” screamed the cadet. “I lost my entire life savings!” -x- Meanwhile, back in Equestria, six mares were standing in front of Rarity’s shop. “Thanks again for spottin’ us the money Rarity,” said Applejack. “It was mighty kind of ya.” “Think nothing of it,” said Rarity. “I have been meaning to visit Canterlot for awhile now. Besides, I want to find out the truth as much as you do.” “And don’t worry if you forgot your spy pajama’s,” said Pinkie who was dressed all in black. “Because I got enough for all of you!” “That’s, ah, nice Pinkie,” said Fluttershy. “Tell me again why the Great and Powerful Trixie has to show you where the Royal Achieve is?” demanded Trixie. “Because that’s the price you have to pay if you want to get back to Canterlot,” said Rarity. Rainbow let out a grunt as she took to the skies. “I’m tired of all this waiting,” she said. “I’ll see you all there.” And with that, she took off towards the capital.