A Vivid Dreamer – Ch20
The Chilling effect
Luna snickered at Dust Cover. “You really do have a talent for saying the wrong things, don't you? You really should think before you speak.”
Celestia cleared her throat. “If I recall, Luna, the only reason you barely get away with your own social awkwardness is because you are a princess. I hardly think any advice you could give Dust would be applicable to her station.” After she ended her snide remark she turned to Dust Cover. “So you're here to petition for Lodestone's release because he is your... muse?”
Dust Cover was still cowering on the floor. Her reply was barely audible. “Y-yes, your highness...”
“And that is all? You have nothing more to say on his behalf?”
“I-is there anything e-else you want to know?”
Celestia sighed. “I'd like to know everything about Lodestone, but I hardly think a librarian's literary pursuits are a compelling reason to let him go.”
When it started it was a subtle thing. Only someone, who had a natural sensitivity to the atmosphere of a situation, would have detected it. As the moments passed, however, it became clear the dynamic of the conversation had changed. The first inkling was Dust no longer shook in front of her diarchs.
She slowly stood and for the first time she looked Celestia in the eye. “You missed the point.”
“Excuse me?”
Dust stepped forward and her posture became solid. “You missed the point!”
Celestia could feel her anger spike and although her stoic mask faltered, she was able to maintain her outward appearance; preventing her frustrations from showing. Very few of her subjects ever stood up to her, she had grown use to their compliance. “I'm sorry, but I don't think I did.”
“He's kind, considerate, tolerant!”
Celestia stood and spread her wings to appear intimidating, the cracks in her façade growing larger. “Pfeh, you saw that? I saw manipulation, treachery, and subversion!”
Dust stepped up to the Dais. “Really? You think he came to a public library just so he could manipulate the most awkward, socially inept, and bookish librarian in all of Equestria?”
The guards began advancing on Dust, but Luna stopped them with a motion of her wing. This was exactly what she wanted, an outsider's perspective of Celestia's actions.
“It seems to have worked! He preyed on your weakness, my little pony! I don't claim to understand the machinations of tricksters, but I can see his paw prints everywhere!”
Magic sparked from Dust's horn as she screamed. “You haven't charged him with anything! You don't even know if he's possibly done something! You're paranoid!”
Celestia folded her wings to her side and sat while she wore a smug expression on her face. “Am I? Am I? You openly disrespect the highest power of the land. I can see no better evidence of his foul influence than that.”
Dust, realizing how badly she messed up, stepped back from Celestia. She lowered her head as she spoke. “You haven't charged him with anything. You don't know if he's done anything wrong. He's my friend, and I'm scared. I don't want him to go away!”
“Your dedication to you friend is admirable, bu-”
“But nothing, sister! I've been telling you you've been overreacting from the very start of this. Even our subjects can see it.” Luna made a wide arc with her hoof in Dust Cover's general direction.
Celestia's eyes widened as her sister Spoke. “Luna!”
“Don't tell me I've embarrassed you in front of our subject, Celestia. You've already done that yourself.”
Celestia’s patience was thin and her temper was raw. She turned to Dust Cover and spoke in a chilling tone. “leave, Dust Cover.”
/*\
Luna sat upon the throne next to her sister. There was a tea tray between them and each held a teacup in their respective magics. Luna had called a recess to let Celestia calm and collect herself.
"Dust was right, though, you did miss the point."
"Pfeh. Must I endure this hassle?" Celestia grumbled into her tea.
"I'm not talking about that. This is something different." Luna smirked, but was careful to not show it to Celestia. “We have discovered Lodestone's weakness.”
Celestia turned and gazed uncomprehendingly at Luna. “I'm afraid I don't follow.”
"We no longer have to fear the inability to incapacitate the pup, who is barely taller than one of our little ponies."
"Luna..."
"We shall have the guards outfitted with paper based weaponry!" Luna announced as she rose to a standing position and pumped her hoof.
Celestia kneaded her temples with her hooves as she floated her tea back to the tray. "Luna, please, this is serious. I expect you to act accordingly."
Luna began to tap her chin with a hoof and appeared to be deep in thought. "You are right, Tia, this is serious indeed. I shall learn from your brilliant example and have the guards outfitted with the latest in overreacting paper armour!"
"Luna! This is important! That 'pup' has already incapacitated four guards and yourself!"
Luna put on a somber face. “You are correct Tia..."
Celestia gave a small smile as she hoped her sister's antics were over.
"We will need to modify the paper armour to allow for tin foil helmets!"
"LUNA!" Celestia's shout of frustration was short lived. When the echo finally died she let out a sigh of exasperation. For that moment the radiant ruler of Equestria was gone. In her place was a tired, dull, and unhappy alicorn. Her multicoloured mane no longer billowed, it lay limp at her side with most of the colours dimmed to a pink gloss. Her majestic coat no longer seemed to radiate with the glow of her sun, it appeared as pale and sickly. However, as soon as Luna comprehended the sight it was gone. Luna was once again looking at the co-ruler of her nation and raiser of the sun.
"Tia?" Concern etched across Luna's features. She had not seen this side of Celestia for over a thousand years.
"Lulu, I am fine." Celestia said with a gentle smile.
"If you are as you say, why do you maintain an illusory spell?"
With a sigh Celestia looked down and retrieved her teacup with her magic. She took a sip, but the liquid had cooled past her taste. She turned her gaze to her sister. "I was rushed this morning after last night. I could not find the time to make myself presentable."
Luna tried to reason with what her sister said, but she was unable to justify her sister's true appearance as a result of a single night of interrupted sleep. This must have been going on for some time. "Tia, that was no bed mane. When was the last time you have had a restful sleep?"
"Lulu, you must understand I am concerned for the safety of our subjects. We have an alien. We do not understand its intentions or how it arrived. I can't allow it to be free."
Fury started to build within Luna, and she could barely prevent it from turning her mane into a violent maelstrom. "Why do you show such hostility to a creature, which cannot even be in your presence without being visibly ill?”
“I do not care for his appearance or his personality. He has already proven himself to be a threat to our ponies after last night. He incapacitated four of our guards and you.”
“Is that all? I seem to remember you told me Twilight did far worse when she first used her magic! She destroyed part of the castle! Should I call the guard to arrest her, too?”
“Don't be ridiculous. Twilight isn't a threat.”
“She's a threat as Ryan is! I've seen his form and his people in his dreams. They're more like us than you know.”
“Showing you that may have been part of an elaborate plot. You saw in Dust Cover's memory how eager he was to learn. Not only of our technology, but of our geography. He may be a forward scout sent to retrieve vital information for a later invasion. He may only be playing weak and sickly to gain compassion.”
Luna let out a calming breath as she facehooved. “Tia, you are paranoid. You are drowning in your worries. I have seen the same memory. I did not see the gathering of strategic information, only simple curiosity. Furthermore, he seems to have a strong sense of ethics. We hadn't even considered the Come-To-Life spell might have ethical ramifications, even though by its name it should be obvious.”
Luna looked up to see a pained expression of shock on her sister's face.
“Did Dust not say she was writing a story based on one of Lodestone's ideas? He has corrupted her with his ideals! How many of our subjects has he tainted with the concepts and ideology of his home?”
“Tia, this is a perfect example of my point! Because he raised an ethical concern you're branding anyone, who's talked to him, as corrupted!” Luna stomped her hoof to emphasize her point.
Celestia sat quietly and chewed her cheek.
“Sister, he worries me, too, but you are taking this too far. If he's not an enemy yet, and I sincerely doubt he is an enemy, then you're going to turn him into an enemy by this abuse.”
Celestia hung her head. After several long moments she whispered. “I'm tired, Luna... I've safe guarded my little ponies for a thousand years alone. I've had to do drastic things for their safety, and I'm tired... I learned long ago the simplest, most effective way to protect them was to eradicate threats before they became a problem.”
“Tia...”
Celestia raised her head and spoke with a stronger voice. “You're right, I haven't been sleeping well. We have one more petitioner, do we not? We'll see him and I'll go to bed early.”
“As you wish, Tia, but I must warn you... Iron Ingot is a friend of mine, but he's very caustic. Try not to repeat what happened with Dust.”
/*\
With their recess over, court had resumed, and both princesses waited for the final petitioner. However, they had been waiting for ten minutes, and Celestia began to wonder if he was still in attendance. Addressing the closest guard, Celestia asked “Was there not another, who wished to attend today’s court?”.
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Do you know why he has not entered?”
“No, your majesty, but I shall find out.” The guard left through the door.
After several minutes a brown coated stallion entered the throne room. As the door closed behind him he let out a mighty yawn and rubbed an eye with the back of a hoof. The stallion gave a quick bow before taking a seat in front of the princesses and glanced out the window at the sun's position. “Oh? Forgive me, your majesties, it seems I've slept in.”
Luna let through a stifled giggle, “Welcome, Iron Ingot. Although you may not have noticed, that is not a sun rise. It is a sunset.”
Ingot looked out the window again, “So it is. Forgive me, Luna, but long train rides always leave me… disconnected. Anyway, how is Night Shade doing? Is the new helmet chaffing?”
Before Luna could reply her sister let out a polite cough. “Iron Ingot, you are here to petition for the release of Lodestone, are you not? Could we please proceed in a more serious manner?”
Ingot observed Celestia with a tilted head before he shook it. “With all due respect, your highness, no, I cannot.”
“Pardon?”
“I'm sorry, Princess, but the ruler of our great nation has arrested a pup, who can barely keep his fur clean, without placing any charges. I'm half expecting Lodestone to jump out from behind your throne shouting “I told you I'd get you back for the hedge cutters!”.”
Ingot smiled and Celestia gave a questioning glance. Luna leaned back and looked behind Celestia's throne. “Perhaps you have him hiding under the floor panels, Tia?”
This earned her a throaty chuckle from Ingot and a sigh from her sister, “Luna, please... Didn't you already have your fun? Be serious.”
“But where's the fun in that?” Luna pouted.
Celestia ignored her sister and turned to Ingot. “For what reason do you desire Lodestone's release?”
“Do I really need one?” Ingot asked in a flat tone.
“It would be preferable, yes.”
“Well, you didn’t seem to need one when you arrested him.”
Celestia grunted and barely contained her frustration. With a fake smile and through gritted teeth she replied. “Please, trust me, my little pony, I have my reasons, but they are not for the public.”
“Can I ask you something, Princess?”
“Of course you can, my little pony.”
Ingot put on his most stoic face and flatly asked “Are you a puppy kicker?”.
“What?!” Celestia’s shocked expression earned a smirk from both Ingot and Luna.
Ingots face was suddenly somber, “I ask because Lodestone was recovering from a fever that left him delirious and spouting nonsense, then suddenly you come flying in to arrest him. You metaphorically kicked him while he was down, and he is still a pup, therefore you are a “puppy kicker”.”
Celestia's voice shook as she spoke and tried to contain her anger. “Iron Ingot, I ask you refrain from addressing me like that. We have plenty of empty cells.”
Ingot raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “So you need a reason to arrest me? Why's that? Is it because I'm a pony, but Lodestone's a canine?”
Luna quickly stood up and fanned her wing in Celestia's face to block her wrath. “Ingot! Today's been a long day for all of us. Please, just continue with your petition.”
Ingot bowed. “Forgive me, Princess Luna.” he locked eyes with Celestia before he spoke. “He is my friend, my apprentice, and guilty of nothing. I do not need any other reasons.”
Luna sighed. “That doesn't give me any information I can use to advocate for him.”
“I apologize, Luna, but I wasn't expecting things would be so grim. I thought this was all going to be a misunderstanding.”
“It may well be, but we need to know more. Please, may we see your memories of Lodestone?”
“Only if you don't mind my colorful language.”