//------------------------------// // Unwelcome counsel // Story: Armor's Game // by OTCPony //------------------------------// Their Highnesses’ Most Honourable Privy Council met on the first Wednesday of every month. That day in March, Twilight led a trail of apprehensive friends into the Council Chamber. Rarity had been eager to come. Pinkie had been ecstatic when she’d heard they were going back to Canterlot, but now seemed rather sullen after Twilight had told her in no uncertain terms to control herself. Rainbow Dash had thought the whole thing sounded dull, but had agreed to help Twilight to convince the rest. Applejack had tried to make excuses, but Twilight had had none of it. And Fluttershy had just about burst into tears at the prospect of having to meet the most powerful ponies in the realm, and had had to have been pushed on to the train by Rainbow Dash, her hooves tearing up the platform as she tried to get away. As they pushed through the double doors into the Council Chamber, Applejack stopped, staring at the dozen or so ponies in the room. Seeing the sashes and stars of various noble orders pinned to their dresses and vests, she quickly swept off her battered old hat, blushing. “Twilight, ah... ah shouldn’t be here.” “For the last time, Applejack, Princess Celestia invited you. You were fine at the Grand Galloping Gala!” “Yeah, well, ah didn’t really make mahself welcome there. Jus’ don’t make me speak, okay?” But a smartly-dressed Unicorn stallion suddenly trotted over. “Ah, you must be the party from Ponyville they mentioned.” He had an upper class Baltimare accent and his cutie mark was a quill and parchment. He bowed to Twilight. “Your Highness.” “Good morning, Sir Burnished.” He extended his hoof to Applejack. “Lovely to meet you, my dear. I’m Burnished Bronze, Home Secretary.” Applejack looked like she was facing a pack of Timberwolves. “Uh... ah’m Applejack, sir.” “Applejack, eh? Visited Ponyville myself a few years ago. They do a wonderful apple strudel. Sugarcube Corner I think the place was called. I’ll bet you had something to do with it!” Behind Applejack, Pinkie looked ready to explode with happiness. Fluttershy put a warning hoof on her leg. “Lovely talking to you,” said Sir Burnished. “I look forward to hear what you have to say today.” “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” said Twilight, as Burnished Bronze trotted off. “Sir Burnished has been the MP for Baltimare for forty years. Celestia made him Home Secretary last year in recognition.” “Goodness, is that the Prince of Horsetria?” whispered Rarity, nodding at a group of three ponies gathered on the other side of the council table. “Yeah, that’s Withers von Hoofsburg himself. The other two are the Duke of Idahoof and Iron von Hayenzollern from Prancenburg.” “Who represents Ponyville?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Ponyville’s part of Moscolt, so her over there,” said Twilight, nodding at a tired-looking white Earth Pony with a bunch of grapes on her flank. She twitched every so often. “Snowy Grape. She’s Minister of Agriculture.” As she cast her eyes further around the room, she spotted Amber Spyglass leaning nonchalantly against a roof support. Every other pony was keeping a discrete distance from him. On the other side of the room, Prince Blueblood stood in splendid isolation. To him, even these ponies were part of the vile hoi polloi. Two Royal Guards in armour pushed through the double doors at the other end of the room. They raised trumpets to their lips and blew. The councilponies who had already been sitting at the table hastily stood. Princess Celestia, flanked by Luna and Cadance, walked serenely in. The councilponies bowed, and Twilight and her friends hastily copied them. Celestia acknowledged her councilponies then walked over to Twilight. “Welcome, my little ponies! It’s so wonderful that you could come. I want you all at the top of the table next to me.” A massive council table of polished oak sat in the middle of the room. Cadance, Celestia and Luna sat at the top of the table, with Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie to their left and Rarity, Rainbow and Applejack to the right. Most of the councilponies looked rather disgruntled to be shoved down the table. They were used to having space to spread their briefing documents out, but now they sat almost shoulder to shoulder. “Well, good morning, everypony,” said Celestia brightly. “Sir Burnished, shall we begin?” The Home Secretary riffled through his papers. “For our first order of business, Councilpony Ponyatowski has motioned that we discuss the Partition of Ponland with the Crystal Empire. You can find that on page three of your folders.” A red Earth Pony with a white mane adjusted his papers. His cutie mark was a white eagle. “Your Highness, it’s been eight months since you chose to partition my region with the Crystal Empire. With the benefit of hindsight, I think it’s best that we discuss that policy and some potential revisions.” “Ponyatowski,” said Celestia calmly. “We discussed this in detail last year. If we had not given the Empire access to a larger area of farmland and greater tax base, the Crystal Ponies would now be facing food shortages. While I regret that it had to be Ponland, if I recall correctly, you agreed with the principle behind it. You also helped draw up the partition plan.” “Yes, Your Highness, and I’m happy to say that because of that, the Partition passed with a minimum of fuss. Since then, however, I’ve been receiving concerns from a number of my constituents. Some of them feel that the referendum wasn’t well-publicised, and others say that family members across the Partition Line feel that their areas are being marginalised in favour of the Crystal Empire proper.” “What do you say to that, Cadance?” “Your Highness, while it’s true we’ve had to reduce the block grants to a number of towns in Imperial Ponland to fund the Empire, we have to remember that the Crystal Ponies are a thousand years behind the rest of Equestria. We have to bring them up to date on education, social policy and economic changes. There’s also a lot of reconstruction and rehabilitation from Sombra’s time that still needs doing. We also consulted with the mayors of those towns before making the decision and they assured as that they could make savings in non-essential spending.” “All good points, Your Highness,” said Ponyatowski. “But that ‘non-essential spending’ includes cultural and arts education. Many ponies in Imperial Ponland are feeling that their culture is being marginalised. I’ve also heard that ponies resent having to cross a regional boundary to visit family members.” “The Ponish had the opportunity to vote on the changes,” said Celestia. “The referendum showed that most were indifferent to the Partition.” “But Your Highness,” broke in Twilight. “Like Ponyatowski said, the referendum wasn’t well-publicised and a lot of Ponish weren’t entirely sure what it was they were voting for. I’ve looked up referendums and elections in Mareope: their campaign seasons are three times as long as ours! Under our current system, there’s not enough time to get information out to the electorate. That’s why turnout is so low.” Everypony in the room stared at her, mouths hanging open. None of them had ever imagined that Celestia’s most faithful student would ever disagree with her. “Twilight,” said Celestia calmly. “I know about those electoral campaigns of theirs, and watching them for a thousand years had convinced me that they do nothing but lead to division, bitterness and infighting. It’s the same reason we don’t have political parties.” “PAR...?!” began Pinkie, before Fluttershy stuffed a hoof into her mouth. Celestia turned to another pony, a brown-maned Pegasus with bag of gold for a cutie mark. “Could we increase the Empire’s grant?” “I think so, Your Highness,” said Diamond Charm, Chancellor of the Exchequer. “If I can consult with Ponyatowski and Princess Cadance, we can identify roughly how much is needed before we set up an interdepartmental committee.” “Wonderful. What’s our next order of business?” Increasingly bored, Pinkie Pie cast her eyes around the room in search of something to interest her. Ponyatowski looked satisfied, and the Unicorn that Twilight had said was Minister for Culture looked happy at the prospect of more ring-fenced funding. But as she looked right, to her astonishment, Twilight was sitting there fuming. “If you’ll turn to page twelve,” continued Burnished Bronze. “Princess Cadance has asked that we discuss an expansion to the Royal Guard.” Celestia’s head whipped round to face Cadance, and Twilight was stunned. Her elegant features were twisted by a look of cold fury unlike anything Twilight had ever seen. Cadance was utterly unperturbed, an inspiring feat considering that a sun goddess looked like she was trying to bore holes in her with her eyes. “An army of fifty thousand ponies,” said Snowy Grape, reading the executive summary. “Of which ten thousand are Pegasi cavalry, supported by one hundred and ninety guns.” She frowned and her cheek twitched slightly. She ground her teeth together in thought. “Well, that’s quite an expansion, Your Highness.” The other Councilponies were leafing through their folders. Some looked mildly interested, others concerned. “This seems like a lot of expense for something for which we have no clear need,” said the Foreign Secretary, Binding Treaty. “And even if we were to need it, fifty thousand ponies taken out of the workforce? Our factories repurposed to build guns? Could the realm bear an expense like that?” Diamond Charm looked flustered. “Uh, I can’t say. We’ve never had to...” “Cost estimates are provided on page twenty,” said Cadance, softly. “The realm will not bear the expense,” said Celestia, coldly. “Because the realm will not be doing it.” “Tia...” “We have discussed this time and again, Cadance! Equestria will never march to war while I wear this crown!” A ringing silence descended over the Council Chamber. Fluttershy had her hooves to her mouth, eyes wide. Rarity looked shocked. Applejack looked more than ever like she wanted to be anywhere else but here. “Princess,” said Twilight, slowly. “Under the terms of the Great Charter, we do have to debate the bill. And we do have to vote on it before we dismiss it.” “I think we should do just that,” said Binding Treaty. “I do not believe this proposal would ever get through Parliament.” “This proposal doesn’t require Parliamentary assent,” said Cadance. “It’s an internal reform of the Royal Guard.” “As Snowy pointed out, Your Highness, a very big internal reform. One with potentially devastating consequences to our way of life and international position. In any case, how are we to fund it? Parliament still has to vote on budgets and they’d never accept something like this.” “Oh, I imagine that could be solved with some good-old-fashioned apple barrelling,” said Burnished Bronze. The Royal Guard de jure came under the Home Office, and anything that led to a minister’s budget being increased was to them a good policy. “But what for?” pressed Binding. He turned to Cadance. “Your Highness, I know you support your husband in this, but I’ve seen his lecture, and myself and my staff find his analysis of our strategic position wanting.” “We don’t want to begin some pre-emptive war in Mareope, if that’s what you mean,” said Cadance. “But if you’ve seen his lecture and listened to Amber’s reports, you’ll know the threat we face in the south.” “The Changelings will not cross the Appleloosan Mountains,” said Celestia. “And if they do, we’ll throw them back with the Elements of Harmony.” “Your Highness,” said Twilight quietly. “We already know the problems with the Elements. What if we’re separated from our tokens? What if one of us dies?” “In any case, it is not just a question of waiting for the Changelings to try to force their way over the mountains,” said Amber Spyglass. “You’ve all read my reports from the south. Chrysalis is preparing to assault the Lynxes. Lieutenant Recon in our watchtower at Froud Valley says the planning is well into the final stages. If she takes their territory, she may well recoup enough strength to attack Equestria again.” Binding Treaty pawed at the floor nervously. “Your Highness, while I’m still sceptical at the scale of the threat, if Amber Spyglass is right, then letting the Changelings take over the Lynxes could do irreparable damage to our diplomatic position. We already let them take the Felinia Matriarchy. What would Equus say if we let them take over another neighbour?” “We don’t have the kind of industrial base to support a military build up like this!” snapped Celestia, but Twilight could tell she was grasping at straws. She was losing the Council. “That could be a problem...” began Diamond Charm. “Forgive me, Diamond, but that is no longer true.” Everypony looked around to see Prince Blueblood sitting serenely at the end of the table. Smiling, the Minister of Industry and Mining pulled a sheet of parchment from his immaculately-pressed jacket. “Owing to the recent expansion in forge construction, our industrial base has enough surplus capacity to handle the Princess’ proposed build-up. A fortuitous coincidence, I’m sure you’ll agree.” Twilight’s lip curled and she felt her hooves shaking. Blueblood had known. He must have known from the day Shining Armor had given his speech to them last year. He had begun the apparently-nonsensical forge rush and had speculated wildly, knowing that it would benefit him in the end. Had Shining told him? She hoped and thought not, but however he had found out, one thing was certain: Blueblood stood ready to make a fortune. “Very well,” said Celestia, icily. “We’ll put this to vote. But I warn you, great armaments inevitably lead to war. I saw this a thousand years ago, and since then I have seen it every year across Equus. You may vote for this in a misguided belief that it will keep you safe, but if you do not wish to see thousands dead; if you do not wish to see your homes and farms burnt and this land torn and bleeding, you will vote against this.” Silence descended over the Council Chamber. Burnished Bronze coughed and prepared to call the vote. “Uh, can ah say sommin’?” Everypony looked to the top of the table in astonishment. An embarrassed-looking Applejack looked sheepishly around the room. Twilight beamed. “By all means, Applejack dear,” said Celestia, her voice softer now. “Well, uh, thanks Princess. Now, uh, ah don’t know much about yer budgets an’ yer diplomacy and all yer other governmental words, ah’m just an apple farmer. But ah do know one thing: If we’ve got a blight on a tree back down at Sweet Apple Acres, it ain’t a good idea to jus’ leave it ‘cause ya think it’ll be okay. You gotta cut it out before it can infect the rest. Now, uh, ah don’t want a war. Ah don’t wanna see anypony get hurt. But if we don’t do sommin’ about those Changelings now, we might jus’ end up losing the whole orchard.” Twilight slapped her on the shoulder. Rainbow Dash beamed. Rarity looked astounded. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie looked worried. And all the Councilponies looked like they had just been told something very profound.” “All right, then,” said Burnished Bronze. “All in favour of the proposed military reform?” Along the table, hooves were raised. Some shot worried glances up at the Princesses before they made their decision. Blueblood of course voted aye. So did Iron von Hayenzollern. The Prince of Horsetria did not raise his hoof. Neither did Snowy Grape or Diamond Charm. Until the last hoof was raised, the Privy Council was evenly split. “No...” whispered Celestia. Her face grim, Luna had raised her hoof. “The ayes have it,” said Sir Burnished uncertainly. Everyone stared at the Princesses. Under the Great Charter, Celestia and Luna held joint veto over the Council, but it could only be exercised if they both agreed. Otherwise, it came down to a simple majority vote. Over the past thousand years, Celestia had wielded veto power alone until Luna had returned. The Princesses had not come to accord on a Council decision only once before, which had precipitated the transformation of Luna into Nightmare Moon. “Luna...” whispered Celestia. Tears formed in her eyes. “I am sorry, my sister, but I am quite convinced. We can remain defenceless no longer. We must have an army.” Celestia looked desperately around the Chamber. None dared meet her eye. Tears began to trickle down her face. “Tia...” Luna gently laid a hoof on Celestia’s leg. She put something that only the two of them could see on the table. Twilight stared at Celestia in shock. The Princess of the Day had an expression of utter horror on her face as she stared down at the thing on the table. Twilight craned her neck to look, but Luna swept it away before anypony could see it. Celestia looked up. The tears still flowed and her voice was thick. “Very well, there shall be a Royal Army.”