The good of the many

by Dafaddah


Chapter 14: Onus Procedendi

Princess Luna took a deep breath and climbed the stairs to the Great Hall of the Tribes. To a musical fanfare and a smattering of applause, she emerged from behind the two thrones at the focal point of the huge room. Luna had rarely felt so exposed, despite being followed closely behind by Science Minister Hoofing and the Elements of Harmony. The applause gathered momentum as the Elements of Harmony appeared, and so did the buzz of voices as ponies remarked on the unusual occurrence.

As previously instructed, Luna's entourage formed a dignified line to her left, with only Pinky Pie breaking decorum by waving to both William Pies (the elder and the younger) who were apparently distant relatives. The elder Pie's expression froze in dismay as the pink mare waved at him, while his nephew the younger Pie couldn't prevent himself from face-hoofing in embarrassment.

The Princess ascended the single step up to her throne. By this time members of the Equine Assembly began to realize that Celestia had not yet emerged in her turn, and the buzz quickly gained in volume. Realizing that nothing would be gained by further delay, Luna sat, signaling the beginning of the session. The buzz became an uproar.

Hoofing glared at the ponies in the cabinet and the section of the hall were she usually sat. Under her stern gaze they began to sit, a gesture that was repeated in slow waves through the room until the assembly was finally fully seated, the crowd's noise abated but not entirely gone.

"Citizens of Equestria," said Luna in her royal voice, "We bring ye important news, so harken well onto Our words, and those of Our Sister, Her Royal Highness the Princess Celestia, who now lies resting from weariness after great deeds." She again took a deep breath. She knew she was sounding archaic in her choice of words, but she was too nervous to risk making mistakes before the entire governing body of the land.

"Scant days past, Her Highness Our Sister bade ye rejoice in Our return, in this, Equestria's time of need. Her Majesty did not then elaborate on the nature or substance of this need. This will be Our task this eventide. We shall also bestow Our Royal Sister's words that ye be at rest and hold her words to thine bosoms." She paused again briefly, scanning the crowd and seeing many more hostile faces than friendly ones. She gathered her courage and resumed speaking.

"Her Majesty Princess Celestia this very afternoon saved this nation and indeed the very world itself from a major catastrophe that would have ended the lives of all who live upon it. The prevention of this disaster required the expenditure of the very life force of Her Highness Our Sister, to the extreme extent that it might have caused her extinction, if not for the quick thinking and valiant efforts of the Elements of Harmony here before ye." She rose and the members of the assembly quickly followed suite. The ponies on the dais turned to face her.

"Elements of Harmony, Equestria is again in thy debt, and We, the Royal Sisters, Rulers of Equestria, give ye our gratitude for thy stalwart service to crown and country." She hesitated a moment, then looked directly at the six mares in question. "And, I... want to thank all of you personally... for saving my Sister." Rarity and Twilight Sparkle took a half step forward, which the other mares immediately imitated, and the six made a generally synchronized bow to the Princess. She sat down again, the assembly also resuming their seats.

"Our Sister also gave these instructions to Us before Her repose: that We the Ponies of Equestria immediately engage in reparatory activities to prevent further devastation of our world. We command that all citizens of Equestria forthwith render all assistance required by the Minister of Science here before ye in locating the rift that threatens our world, and that all Unicorns be ready to lend their aid to Us, Princess Luna, in the repairing of said rift once it is located."

The crowd was growing restless. Luna decided it was best to be brief, especially with the next part.

"It is also the wish of Her Royal Highness Our Sister that during Her convalescence, We shall endeavor to fully execute the ruling functions of this government and attendant duties, including the proceedings of the Royal Court and the raising of the Sun and Moon. Due to Our recent return to these tasks, We humbly ask your kindness and patience."

The assembly was becoming noisy again, almost beyond the bounds of respectful behavior with a monarch present. Luna stood.

"Citizens of Equestria! We are fully convinced that together We can overcome these trials, and that soon Our Beloved Princess Celestia will again be seated at Her throne. Let Us all strive together towards that most happy day." She signaled to the herald, and horns blasted the closing fanfare. Luna led the Minister and six mares from Ponyville behind the thrones and back down the stairs.

On the way, Pinky Pie again waved to her relatives, just to see if they would react the same way as they did when she entered. Yep, they did!

***

Laura tuned the radio to the BBC World News frequency while Abigail navigated her way back out through security and onto the autoroute.

"So what's so important Peter was begging my forgiveness for possible interruptions tonight? He wasn't just trying to cover up for you as usual, was he?" Abigail smiled at Laura's obvious embarrassment.

"I really wish it was just my usual OCD, but this time it's very serious," said the scientist. She suddenly raised the volume of the radio, filling the car with BBC english.

We report that the incident that occurred at four twenty one PM today has been confirmed as a massive gravitic shock wave, the first such ever scientifically recorded. The gravity wave was felt all over the planet, but seemed to be most intense in the heart of the european continent. Scientists at gravity wave detectors all over the planet are pooling their readings to determine where it came from and what might have been its cause.

The shock wave has also caused a degree of alarm with many national governments, including the United States which amongst others has placed its military on high alert.

In other news...

Laura lowered the volume. "I was wondering what the media would make of this."

"What?! Do you mean CERN has something to do with this?" asked the librarian. "Is this dangerous? Should we be getting away from CERN as fast as we can?"

Laura debated how much to tell her girlfriend. She didn't want to ruin their anniversary with gloom and doom, but neither did she want to lie.

"Gail...it's both not as bad and worse than what you could imagine. What happened this afternoon was the consequence of a near collision between universes. And it might involve something we are doing at CERN, but we just don't know for certain. I have some really bright people working on resolving that issue right now. That's why I might get some calls." She looked up as Abigail parked the car on the shoulder of the autoroute.

"Gail, this is something nobody can run away from. I can't do anything more by staying at the office. If the Universe ends tonight, I would much rather it be while I'm with you."
She and Abigail hugged silently for a moment, starting to tear up as she finally came to realize what was at stake.

"And if the end of the world comes, what better place than at Chez Chiquette," said Abigail through her tears.

"As long as we get the chance to have at least one bite of dessert first!" replied Laura, with a chuckle.

Her girlfriend put the car in gear and drove back out into the sparse traffic. She considered for a moment then decided not to hold anything back.

"By the way, as a bonus I got to speak with intelligent creatures from another universe today."

"No way!" cried Abigail.

"Way! And they were, get this, ponies."

"You mean like small horses?"

"Exactly. They have three, races I guess you could call them: regular ponies, unicorns and pegasi. Oh, and their royalty seems to be all three at the same time."

"OK, now you've got to be pulling my leg." She gave Laura her sternest librarian's glare.

"No, it's the unvarnished truth. The reason I know is that for a while today I actually exchanged bodies with one of them called Glowball, with whom you had a phone conversation. Didn't you notice me acting strange?"

Abigail thought about it for a moment. "Well yes, a bit. But it wasn't very far out of your usual self. It just seemed like you weren't sure who I was."

Laura's smile was smug. "I knew you'd notice."

"Well I almost didn't. Wow. I spoke with an alien today! But maybe you'd better tell me the whole story. It'll take us another twenty minutes to get to Chez Chiquette anyway."

Laura told Abigail about her day in Equestria.

***

Glowball and Rock Candy entered the reception hall at the Ministry of Science. Time Crescent was chatting animatedly with the receptionist, waiting for marefriend to arrive.

"... and then everypony in the library just started talking at the same time. I'd never heard such a ruckus at work! We noticed that some of the unicorns seemed to have taken it harder, especially the more powerful ones. So we went to check in the spell archives and there were six big-wig wizards from the Ministry of Science passed out between the stacks..." She noticed the pair's arrival. "Hello Rock, thanks for making sure she got here on time!"

"To be honest, she actually got prepared all by herself today. I had to check her name tag to be sure I had the right mare in tow," replied the stallion with a wink to Glowball.

"Oh sure. Yuck it up." Glowball looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"Awe, isn't she just so cute when she's feeling offended?" inquired the light blue mare.

"I can't really see it the same way you do. She usually works out her offended feelings by pounding on me. Or giving me piles of work to do. Or both." This time Rock was the one sighing.

"Since today is a special occasion, you're both off the hook. But don't expect me to make this a habit." Glowball tried to maintain a stern look for effect, but couldn't keep it up when all the ponies started laughing. She chuckled for a moment, and then her horn glowed as she levitated a bouquet of flowers from behind the reception desk, holding it in front of Time Crescent. "This is for you TC."

While her marefriend made of fuss and showed off the flowers to the receptionist, Glowball leaned over and whispered to her assistant. "Thanks, Rock. I owe you one." In her normal voice she said: "We have just enough time to walk over to Chez Squeezee's if we cut through the Royal Gardens. Let's get going!"

The couple said their goodbyes and left the Ministry of Science. As they walked Time Crescent resumed describing the impact of the afternoon's event on the library staff and patrons. "By the way, is this in any related to all the problems Rock said you were having at the Ministry today?"

The pony scientist was quiet for a moment putting together her thoughts. She hadn't had a whole lot of time to just think about things, but she decided to give it her best shot and try to explain it all to her number one librarian. It suddenly hit her that this afternoon the world had come awful close to ending.

"Yeah, we think these were all linked. Ticky, I have to tell you something you can't spread around, not yet anyway. Today Princess Celestia almost died while saving the universe."

Glowball only used her special pet name when she was being very serious. "Is that why you were so distracted when I came by the Ministry earlier?"

"Well, yes and no. I had been investigating the strange phenomena of the morning, but by that time I had involuntarily exchanged bodies with a being from another universe. They're called humans. You actually spoke to one of them inhabiting my body when you visited before lunch."

Glowball saw the shock in the pale blue pony's eyes. "Oh, and while the human was in my body, I was in hers, walking around on two legs like a bird, with hands and fingers instead of hooves." She chuckled, as she caught a glimmer of humor in TC's face. "And, by the way, they do amazing things with their fingers. And they have this incredible universal library thing called the internet!..."

The scientist enthusiastically described her favorite parts of the human world. She smiled as her marefriend's concerned expression was gradually replaced by wonder. She was determined to make this a great dinner full of happy memories for her special somepony.

***

The war-room was a medium sized conference room with a big table at one end and several smaller tables with chairs at the other. The walls were alternately huge display screens and floor to ceiling whiteboards. Next to the big table, Mary put down her whiteboard marker and turned to face the assembled joint chiefs of staff, the Vice President and a few 'advisors' who had not been introduced. She had done her best to explain coherently what she understood about the situation. She had left out certain facts that would probably not serve to get her story accepted, such as the aliens being ponies, having magic and communicating by spirit exchange with the help of a sleeping cap. She launched into her closing arguments.

"With Dr. Connor I have been able to establish a communications channel with the inhabitants of the other universe. This includes access to the head of state of the largest and most powerful nation on their planet." Mary winced as the VP seemed to frown at this. She figured the old lady did not enjoy having diplomatic contact with the other side managed by a pair of scientists.

"I have been assured that today's event, severe though it was, would most likely have led to the extinction of life on earth were it not for a heroic sacrifice on the part of our counterparts in the other universe. However, their actions have gained us only a short respite." The chiefs were not any friendlier in outlook than the VP. Despite the less than cheery audience, all she had left was to go for the close.

"They have requested our assistance in being able to definitively end the threat of m-brane collision by a coordinated application of energy at the focal points of the convergence in both universes. This requires two actions on our part. First the location of the focal point - which activity Dr. Connor is leading from CERN. Second, the marshaling of our ability to apply the most powerful and tightly focused energy at the required place and time." She took a breath.

"I propose we use the strategic defense laser grid to do something that has never been done before: deliver a concentrated blast of high energy laser light from all the lasers that can be brought to bear on the dimensional convergence focal point. I know that this risks exposing the secret of the SADL Grid to our enemies, but we have no alternatives. Even nuclear weapons may not provide sufficiently focused energy to close the rift, and their use may be problematical if the focal point is near a population center, or in near earth space for that matter."

The room was deathly quiet for a moment. The Secretary of Defense scratched his head. "You know that those things need to power up for a while first. And maybe contrary to your knowledge, most of our enemies are perfectly aware of the location of many of the SADL lasers." He smiled cynically. "Many, but not all, that is. So the problem is how do we avoid setting off a laser tag war with the Russians and Chinese when we start powering up those beauties?"

"Mister Secretary, I would not presume to tell you or the Vice-President how to manage relations with the Russians or the Chinese, but as the call to take this action might happen at any moment, I do hope you have some idea how to pull it off." Mary smiled weekly, a queasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. That was the best that she could offer, and she could see that Madame Walker wasn't buying any of it.

The Vice President stood. "Thank you Ms. Lachance. We will advise you if we have further need of your assistance."

Summarily dismissed, Mary left the room. Outside she saw Jim and a few other White House staffers gathered around his desk.

"You look like a car wreck's idea of a bad day." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but certainly not as good as I had hoped," replied the science advisor. "Now, all I can do is wait. Which I can do perfectly well in my office. Give me a buzz if they need me." She waved a brief goodbye and walked back to her office. She entered, sat, and took out a sheet of paper and began writing.

Dear Twilight,

The meeting with our government officials has failed to produce the desired results so far...

***

In the ante-room under the Great Hall of the Tribes, Princess Luna met with the Pony Cabinet after the general meeting of the Assembly.

"I am simply saying, your highness, that we would like to have a direct confirmation from Princess Celestia herself that the situation is in hoof, and that she has appointed you to act as regent during her absence from office," said Prince Blueblood.

"We understand thy request, but do remind thee that Our Sister is resting and cannot be disturbed, lest her health be imperiled and Our prospects to avoid this catastrophe along with it." She was growing annoyed at this foalish unicorn. How she wished she could just send him back into the fountain in the castle gardens! She was considering what to say next when rescue came from a quite unexpected source: the little blue pegasus.

"Oh, cut the hoo-ha, Prince! We were there and that's exactly what Princess Celestia told us," said Rainbow Dash.

"Yer darn tooting!" agreed Applejack.

"Indeed, she did!" said Rarity, who had been doing her best to ignore Prince Blueblood from the moment he arrived. Now she glared at him in a distinctly unfriendly fashion. The Prince looked back at her and swallowed.

Twilight took up the cause. "I assure you that Princess Celestia has instructed us in what needs to be done, and has full confidence in all of us including Princess Luna.

Pleased and humbled by the show of support, Luna reminded herself of her altered circumstances and changed her tone. "I... remind you all that Minister Hoofing and especially the Elements of Harmony have no reason to favor me above my sister." She swallowed the lump she felt rising in her throat. "Please, we need all of you to help, or Equestria may be doomed."

"I am still unhappy that none of the members of the Tribal Council were there to receive instructions. In the past one of us was usually declared regent in her majesty's absence. This is most unconventional," complained the monocled stallion.

Hoofing was also running to the end of her patience with the leader of the unicorn tribe.

"I remind the Prince of Her Majesty Princess Celestia's declaration at the prior meeting of the Equine Assembly concerning Her Majesty, Princess Luna." The old mare deliberately emphasized the title as a reminder. "She is co-ruler of Equestria, and so there is no call for a regent unless both ruling princesses are absent from court. As you can well see, my Prince, Her Majesty Princess Luna is right here."

Blueblood's eyes shot daggers at the Minister. She knew she would have Tartarus to pay for this later, as the Prince was at least nominally her boss. William Pie the elder looked at Commander Weathertop, who nodded.

"We agree with Minister Hoofing to support Her Majesty Princess Luna's proposals, and that these both represent the will of her Majesty Princess Celestia as well as being in accordance with the new governing structure she has recently decreed," said the elderly earth pony. "Are there any dissenting opinions?" None of the Pony Cabinet members voiced disagreement.

"Very well," said the Prince. "Then we are all agreed." It was patently obvious he was less than pleased.

"We thank you for your service," said the lady of the moon. She nodded her head. The members of the cabinet bowed and left, Prince Blueblood first in line, the Chancellor of the earth ponies last.

Just as he was to exit the room, Pinkie Pie rushed up to offer him a bro-hoof. He looked at her pink hoof hovering in the air before him. He sighed and touched his hoof to that of his distant cousin's, as he had been instructed to do by his youngest grand-colt. He gave her a pained smile and departed, glad that no other member of the cabinet other than Minister Hoofing had witnessed the scene.

Pinkie Pie turned back to the Princess and her entourage. "We did it! Good job everypony!" The other Elements of Harmony began congratulating each other, bro-hoofing and chatting happily.

Luna exchanged a glance with Hoofing. They both knew this victory had come at a cost.