//------------------------------// // Returns and Revelations // Story: Armor's Game // by OTCPony //------------------------------// They’d left the Castle early so the streets wouldn’t be crowded, and so Twilight and her friends had made it to Canterlot Station without anyone mobbing them for royal favours. Now, two days into the New Year, they sat in the back coach of the train as it chugged its way down the Canterhorn. They’d be back in Ponyville by tomorrow evening. Twilight leaned back on her bench. A single Guard in plainclothes sat by the door in the other carriage, inconspicuously making sure that they would not be disturbed. She turned to Applejack. “How’s Apple Bloom doing?” “Ah, she’s all right, Twi. She calmed down a bit after ah told her everyone loved it.” “Did they?” “Well, uh, ah heard it got a good review for being ‘alternative’ or sommin’.” “Oh,” groaned Rarity. “I told Sweetie Belle that a comedic interpretation of the Hearth’s Warming Play was a bad idea.” Twilight looked over her shoulder. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, plus Babs Seed, Featherweight, and Dinky Hooves sat dejectedly near the back of the coach with Miss Cheerilee. The Ponyville Schoolhouse had been asked to perform the Hearth’s Warming Play this year, and Scootaloo had apparently decided that this was a good opportunity to pursue their true talent of comedy. Rainbow Dash leaned over. “Twilight, did Shining Armor tell you anymore about his army idea?” “No, actually, he didn’t mention it anytime after he did his lecture.” “Shame. I thought it was a good idea.” Twilight said nothing. “What?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Didn’t you think it was good?” “I don’t know, Dashie. I know it’s a bad idea just to let the Changelings sit down there, but I’ve read enough history to know that wars are not nice.” “Well, I guess it ain’t happening if Princess Celestia doesn’t want it. Shame, really. I wouldn’t mind having another go at those Changelings.” Twilight stared at her. “Rainbow, do you know what the last war Equestria fought was?” “Nah, whenever I had a history lesson in school it was just a chance for a nap.” “It was the Discordian War. After the Royal Pony Sisters descended and banished Discord a thousand years ago, Equestria was still torn by divisions. Maybe everyone was still half-mad from Discord’s reign, because about twenty different factions were fighting for control of Equestria. King Sombra and the Crystal Empire was one of them. For thirty years army after army marched all over Equestria, devastating entire regions through foraging. There was famine, plague, and about eight million ponies died. For the last ten years of it, they just kept fighting because they couldn’t afford to pay their armies to stop.” “Whoa...” whispered Rainbow Dash. “Exactly. Celestia and Luna pleaded that they stop, until the end they actively intervened and formed the diarchy we have today. I think seeing the war was one of the things that drove Luna into becoming Nightmare Moon. “That, Rainbow, is what Celestia knows of war, and she’s terrified of a repeat of that. If you’re going to support Shining Armor, fine, but do it for sensible strategic reasons, not because you want another go at the Changelings.” They avoided speaking about armies or politics for the rest of the journey. Rarity told them about her upcoming projects for the New Year; Rainbow discussed her training routine with Applejack; Fluttershy and Spike discussed Dragon rearing methods; Pinkie complained about the poor selection of sweets on the snack trolley; and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, undaunted by their failure at acting, told them of their new plans to earn their cutie marks, which included snowboarding, bog snorkelling, and extreme ironing. The train pulled into Ponyville Station the next evening. They could afford to be more relaxed here. Twilight had made it clear after her coronation that she wanted no bowing or scraping from the citizens of Ponyville, and Mayor Mare had gone out of her way to make sure that that was followed. A few ponies were still awake as they trotted through the snow-filled streets. Lyra and Bon Bon trotted over to say hello, and Carrot Top waved from her front door. The ponies bade each other goodnight outside the Golden Oaks Library and parted ways. With a sleeping Spike draped over her back, Twilight trotted through her front door. Welcoming the warmth of the library after the cold of the street outside, Twilight aimed her horn and lit the lanterns with a jet of magic. Then she gently lifted Spike off her back and lowered him into his basket. “Goodnight, Spike.” “Good evening, Your Highness.” Twilight spun around. A pony stood in the shadows next to one of the bookshelves. “Who are you?! What do you want?!” “I apologise for startling you, but it was not safe to talk anywhere else.” The pony stepped forward. “Amber Spyglass?” Twilight gasped. The Chief of Intelligence nodded. “That I had to break into your home was an unfortunate necessity, but we must speak privately.” His voice had none of its usual levity. “Will your Dragon wake up?” “He’s not my Dragon, he’s Spike,” said Twilight angrily. “But for now, he’ll stay asleep.” “Good. I’m here to discuss your brother’s militarisation plans with you.” “How did you...?” “Did I not tell you I would find out? I am rather perturbed that the Chief of Intelligence would not be involved in the discussion of such high matters of state.” “Well in that case, you’ll know it’s not happening. Celestia doesn’t want anything to do with it.” “Then Celestia is a fool.” Twilight stepped forward, furious. “You are talking about the immortal god princess of Equestria! Celestia is not a fool!” “Twilight,” said Amber Spyglass gravely. “Celestia is a great mare, it is undeniable, yet her obsession with maintaining love and tolerance makes her painfully short-sighted in this matter. Shining Armor is right: The Changelings and worse are out there, and they must be dealt with. Equestria’s position must be strengthened. Equus must know we are prepared to defend our way of life.” “What makes you say this?” “A disturbing report from the south. The Changelings are becoming hungry again. The emotions they took from the Felinia are almost drained. They need prey, and Equestria will no doubt be the first place they will look.” “Well what do you want me to do about it?” demanded Twilight. “Twilight, you are Celestia’s most faithful student and closest confidante. There are things she would tell you that she would never confide in others, not even Luna. If anyone can convince her, you can. We cannot afford to just bottle up the Changelings. We need to advance on to their territory and destroy them.” “Genocide,” hissed Twilight. Amber Spyglass shrugged. “You know how the Changelings feed, what it does to ponies. For one to live the other must die. Who speaks negatively of the destruction of the Windigos by the Founders on Hearth’s Warming? No one. We tell our foals it was a great victory for ponykind.” Twilight spun away from him. Amber Spyglass’ logic was impeccable, yet she could never be an accessory to the destruction if an entire race, but if she did not, what happen five or ten years down the line? She felt as though an immense weight had settled on her shoulders. “Is this what ruling is, Amber?” “Yes, Your Highness. It is a terrible thing we must consider, a vile thing, yet we who presume to rule must sometimes do vile things for the good of the realm. If we delay, if we do nothing, Equestria will bleed. At the very minimum we must have an army.” Twilight slowly turned back to him. “For the good of the realm?” “For the good of the realm.” “Then I’ll tell Celestia what you told me, and hope I sleep easy.”