Her hoof shook slightly when Twilight raised it to the door knob. She stood before the main entrance to the crown hall in Canterlot Castle and was more than just nervous about the following conversation with her former tutor.
Just yesterday she had sent a letter to the Princess, asking for her approval. The princess had responded only a moment later, though her message had been rather short.
“Visit me as soon as you can,” was all she had sent.
Twilight had a bad feeling about this. It was not often that Celestia cut herself so short, regarding letters to her most faithful student. Something must have really upset her, but what?
Breathing in deeply, she grabbed the handle with her magic and knocked on the door. “Princess Celestia?” she asked.
”Twilight,” she heard her mentor's voice, muffled because of the thick wood. “Do come in.”
The portal swung open and Twilight saw Celestia, sitting on her throne with a quill grasped in the mellow aura of her magic. Next to her was a tremendously high pillar of paperwork, and on the opposing side, she saw an even higher staple of pages, already signed by Celestia.
She strode quickly in front of the supreme regent of Equestria and took a bow before her. When she looked up, she saw that the princess had descended from her throne, and emerged before her, lifting Twilight's chin with a hoof. She smiled motherly at her. “My dear Twilight, no need for these formalities,” she spoke gently. “I have known you for the most part of your life, and you are a princess yourself after all.''
Blushing, Twilight rubbed the backside of her head. “Sorry.”
Celestia winked at her. “No need to apologize.”
”Oh, sorry,” she grinned awkwardly, trying to cover up her nervousness. She succeeded hardly, though.
Gesturing with a hoof to follow her, Celestia walked back to her throne and pointed at the spot next to her. Twilight quickly followed and sat down on the soft pillow on the throne. She was so close to the princess she could feel the warmth of her body, smell her unique scent that always reminded her of sunflowers and sword lilies. She felt like once, when she had just entered Celestia's program for gifted unicorns, when the princess herself had welcome her in her school and hugged her for the first time. All of that seemed to lie back so long now.
Twilight was no longer the little filly who'd watch Celestia raising the sun in awe. She wasn't the small Twi-Twi anymore, she was a princess now herself, she had responsibilities and duties, although there might be one thing that won't ever change no matter her age: Her love for books.
”Twilight,” the soft tune of Celestia's voice stopped Twilight's mind from roaming. “I wanted you here, because of the topics you wrote about.''
Twilight nodded. “Yes, I was quite surprised to hear from you so fast, although..” she stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished.
”Yes, Twilight?” Celestia's expression made clear she waited for her to resume, but Twilight didn't know how to put it. The response the princess had sent was strange. It lacked the usual letterhead, the usual words of praise, the usual warmth that came with them.
Gnawing at her lip, Twilight picked her words with care. “It's so unlike you to write in such a short manner. Have I done something wrong?”
Celestia unfolded one of her alabaster wings and pulled Twilight in a hug. The sensation of her softly pounding heart made Twilight comfortable like nothing else. She felt how Celestia lay her chin on her forehead, and draped a hoof around her shoulders. Nestling to her chest Twilight enjoyed the moment of closeness to her mentor.
”Oh, my dear Twilight, you have so much to learn still.” Celestia let go of her and looked deeply into Twilight's magenta eyes. There were so many things in her gaze, strongest of all empathy, care, sympathy, but also... pity? The way Celestia looked at Twilight made her aware of just how young she was compared to the princess. She suddenly didn't feel warm and protected anymore, and even backed away from Celestia.
”Princess?” Twilight asked with more than a bit irritation. What was wrong? What could she have written that made the princess look at her that way? “Why did you want to talk to me?''
The princess gave her a sorrowful smile and sat down, sighing deeply. ''Twilight, my most faithful pupil, you are so young, and at your age, I had the same dream as you. I wanted for my ponies to live in peace, to know them safe and secure. I wanted them to live together in harmony, and so, I traveled the same path you now seek to pursue.”
Tilting her head, Twilight waited for Celestia to go on.
”When I was way younger, you see, I saw that my little ponies developed individual skills, followed their dreams, and how they sought self-actualization. I realized that they were very intelligent sentient beings, and so I thought they knew best what was good for themselves,” Celestia told her, heavy with melancholy as she remembered the times past. Sweet bitterness quickly crossed her face, but was gone the moment later. “I thought letting them make their own decisions was best for their development. Unfortunately though, I was gravely mistaken.
”Here I sit now, ages later, and I see myself in you, Twilight,” she said matronly, caressing Twilight's cheek and smiling softly at her. “Although, I see you have put much effort into this. Tell you what, why don't you explain to me why you think this is the best way?”
Eyes opening widely, Twilight stared at Celestia. “Really? Well, the thing is, your Highness, I read these books, and they seemed very promising, and the Minotaurs had a similar form of state some time ago, and-” Twilight's stream of speech accelerated with every syllable, until Celestia raised a hoof and lay it on her mouth.
”Shhh, Twilight. Now, concentrate and try again, only this time try to apply some structure to it, OK?” When Twilight nodded slowly, she put her hoof back down again, and listened carefully.
”Alright, got it. So, I came upon reading this specific chapter in a book describing Minotaur society, and it said that for about three hundred years, each clan elected a representative. Twice a year, those representatives would meet at a counsel and negotiate with each other about the future of their race. They voted for a solution for the most urgent problems, and every member had one vote respectively.
”I have dug in deeper on this and found that the dragons too once had a similar system, although they elected a champion for their host, who then went to a championship, where he had to face the other competitors, and only when he won every fight was then announced leader of the race until he was defeated.”
Twilight thought about it for a moment and looked at Celestia, waiting for her to say something. When the princess remained silent, though, she chewed her lip and sorted her thoughts before she resumed with the outcome of her studies.
”The way I see it, democracy grants everyone a fair chance at bringing up concerns for the society to discuss and find a solution. If we establish a systems of annual elections, we can certainly put up enough representatives, who come from all different fields, art, office, agriculture, or whatever, so we can see problems where they come. The larger the variety of the ponies we elect, the more issues we can cover and solve.
“Ponies would think about where they live, develop a sight for the needs around them and think about what they can contribute themselves. I think with this new form of state, we would grow aware of each other, grow closer, form friendships.
”An also it would give us a feeling of freedom. I don't want to insult you, Princess, that's the least I'd ever want, you are a great leader and I have nothing but respect for you, but I think that we are able to maintain ourselves. I know you want only the best for us, and I am truly grateful for what you've done for me, as teacher and a friend, but it is as you said: I am a child no longer, and the other ponies, not only my friends, but pretty much everypony else, has grown up. It's time for us to see after ourselves, to make our own decisions, how you intended to let us do so long ago. I am going so far to say, that by now, we are capable of ruling ourselves.”
Twilight looked at Celestia with bated breath, hoping to not have said anything the princess would be taking as an insult. Celestia by herself didn't give any hint about being displeased. Her smile had faltered a tad, but otherwise did she still look at Twilight with the same understanding and encouraging smile she had been wearing through the entire speech.
Tilting her head from one side to the other and back, Celestia finally asked, “And what about ponies who contravene the law, what would happen to them?”
Twilight considered the question for a short while and answered, “We would bring the pony in question to a tribunal. I think one hundred and one pony should suffice, and the defendant would then present his point of view to the court. Witnesses could be asked, and judge may be present to present acquittal, if the defendant is found innocent by vote, or punishment, is he found guilty, and if so, then which punishment would be the most appropriate.”
”Mhmm,” was all Celestia responded. “One more question, Twilight.”
”Sure, your Highness, what is it?”
”On what do you think, is democracy based on?”
”Excuse me?”
”What makes you think this form of state is working?”
Twilight thought about it. “On the thesis, that a large enough group cannot be wrong. A sort of swarm intelligence, if you wanted to say it that way.”
”We would follow the will of the majority then?”
”Technically, yes. The original purpose of a government is to benefit as many of the individuals being reigned as possible. Meaning, that if we ask everypony, then the option most voted for is the option they consider the best. Is that wrong?”
Celestia closed her eyes for a rather long moment, and smiled the widest she had until now. It seemed like she was smiling more to herself than at Twilight, though. What memories were going through her mind right now?
Opening her eyes, Celestia settled down on her belly, bringing herself to eye-level with Twilight.
”Sadly, it is,” Celestia said, more quietly, and her voice so sooth. “Let me explain to you why, and I hope you will then understand. You may ask questions though, alright?”
Twilight nodded.
Celestia responded with a thankful nod of her own, closed her eyes for a moment and sorted out a sensitive way to confront Twilight with the truth. ”See, Twilight,” she began. “The main problem is that most ponies aren't as concerned with their government as you think they are. I have learned that very few actually think about the system they are living in, but those few really are engaged in politics, just like you recently have become. I get a letter from time to time, and I am always happy to read them when they ask the same questions as you. They get the same reply as you are getting now, by the way.
”If we were to hold elections, those would be voluntarily, and you would be negatively surprised how few actually attend them. I have been through this a long time ago, but I will come back to it later on. As long as ponies don't have to undergo major changes that regard their habits, they don't care much about who is in power, that is a matter of fact. I know you have studied the laws of Neighton. What does his first law say?”
”A body remains still as long there is no force affecting it,” Twilight answered immediately.
”Very right. A similar principle applies to ponies. As long as they don't have to bother who they have to follow, they are happy and remain still. As soon as they have to actively contribute to their state regarding its leadership, they are disturbed in their stillness, and they don't take that too fondly, should it happen too often in a distinctive period of time.
”You care much about this, because you are very smart, Twilight, but others aren't gifted with your intelligence. These ponies aren't as educated as you are, Twilight, and because of their lack of knowledge, they tend to make the wrong decisions. The amount of ponies who put actual thought into their actions will always be outweighed by the amount of ponies who don't.
”Furthermore, how did you imagine these elections to be held?” Celestia asked doubtfully.
”Well, I guess we would all assemble in the town hall, list up the candidates and then raise our hooves when his or her name is called,” Twilight almost whispered. She was beginning to have doubts in her theory herself already.
Celestia's lips formed a fine line. It was plain how much it displeased her to crush her student's dreams like that. But then again, it couldn't be helped. Twilight was to remain her most faithful student, and therefore, she had to see why she was wrong.
”So there are multiple candidates? How many, Twilight?”
”A-as many as there are ponies willing to run.”
”And if there is only one or two volunteers? As I said, ponies are very lazy, and when there is only one option, that wouldn't be very democratic right?”
Twilight's head sunk ever deeper.
”Furthermore, the voting system has flaws, too. Imagine there is a pony found guilty of a crime, so grave, that only a prison sentence for a very long time is sufficient to make up for his deeds.
”Imagine further that the pony in question is not the youngest anymore. Hypothetically speaking, if this pony was to go to prison, he would die there, because the length of his sentence would exceed his life span. Now imagine that fifty ponies vote for him to not be guilty, whereas fifty ponies want to see him punished, and the last pony is hesitating. Then the decision made on that day is not democratic, but dictatorial. A dictatorial decision made by the last pony that couldn't decide in time. This is the way of it, democracy will always be the dictatorship of the random.”
”But we could vote anonymously!” Twilight tried to intercept. “If we wrote down our choice, no name, no sign of anything, and put them into a collecting basin, and then they were counted in private-”
”That would only prolong the process, and the main problem isn't solved either. It doesn't really matter if you can see what others voted, that could only influence your own opinion. The problem remains the same, when there are equal results, fifty-fifty, then the decision lies on one random vote.” Celestia kept quiet a little while after, giving Twilight time to let what she had said sink in. After an adequate pause, she resumed.
“There is this aspect concerning the thesis about the will of the majority. You have met a lot of different ponies over the last few years, you have come to see that no two ponies are alike, and that is another hindrance to democracy.
”Let us assume we held an election about whatever is troubling the society, and we have twelve options at hoof. Let us then assume that for the first option, thirty percent gave their vote, and that is the majority. The rest of the votes are split up over the other options, but none has more votes than the first; when we count these scattered votes together, we have seventy percent of votes, who don't think the first option is the most appropriate.
”We could go through a process of eliminating the least considered options, but if there are too many options, this process would stretch out so long, that at the point where we have come to a conclusion, the problem isn't solvable with the solution present, or worse, not solvable at all.
”To make matters worse, the longer the process of new elections goes, the more frustrated ponies will grow. At the end, they will vote for the lesser of two evils, just to get it over with, and we both can agree that this is not what the original intention was.”
At this moment, Celestia realized how quiet Twilight had become. Her nose was pointed on the ground, her wings hung down from her side, and her gaze seemed empty. Surprised how much she must have hurt Twilight, she wrapped her wings around the whole of Twilight's body, dragged her close to her chest, embraced her, and hummed a soft tune. Eventually, she felt how some of the tension left Twilight, and how she leaned against her, seeking comfort, finding comfort. Celestia paced a light kiss on Twilight's forehead.
”Oh, Twilight, I never meant to make you sad. I understand why you must think democracy is the best way possible to rule a state. You must see, not everything that shines is made of gold,” she whispered softly into Twilight's ear.
Twilight didn't respond and kept herself pressed to Celestia. Granting her and herself some more precious moments of comfort, Celestia hugged her most faithful student, and rummaged in her mind.
Gently, she retreated her wings and sat back down. “I have told you, I have tried it once. I assume you would like to hear what happened?”
”Yes, princess,” Twilight answered, a little of her confidence restored.
Celestia breathed deeply. Pointing her hoof at a stained glass window, she said, “What scene is displayed here?”
Following the direction of Celestia's hoof, Twilight saw the scene how Spike had brought back the Crystal heart and dispelled King Sombra. “The reclamation of the Crystal Empire?”
Clestia smiled. “The result of my attempt, to be exact.”
Twilight's eyes grew wide. “But how? It's King Sombra, not councilor Sombra! The Crystal Empire wasn't a democracy, it was a monarchy!” she exclaimed, disbelief pitching her voice high.
”In the end, it was,” Celestia responded, all calm and collected. “King Sombra was the outcome of what power does with eager mortals. But first things first, I will start from the beginning.
”Sombra had appeared from out of nowhere, he was an enigma. Charming, charismatic, intelligent and ambitious as he was, he quickly rose in ranks, and eventually he applied for the position of the supreme president of the Crystal Empire.
”His plan failed, though. When the day of the publication came, it wasn't his name that was announced. It was a heavy blow to his confidence, and possibly the triggering event that made him the power hungry tyrant he then became. After these events, he recanted politics and formed his own underground party.
”Oh, how they followed his every word. From there on, it went downhill. When he rejoined the parliament, his followers had grown in numbers so vastly, that nopony dared oppose him. Of course, this time he had the numbers advantage and was elected supreme president. As a consequence of that, he, and his followers changed the constitution in a way that allowed him to stay in power permanently, and thereby not breaking any laws.
”He had found a way to use a loophole to his advantage. You know the rest of the story.” She ended with a deep sigh and looked sullenly at Twilight, who had sunk deep into thought.
Minutes passed in silence, where none of them said a word. Eventually, though, Twilight looked up at her former tutor and asked with a coldness in her voice Celestia had been yet to hear, “Princess, Why do you yourself not step down from the throne?”
Celestia blinked. “Would you want me to step down?”
Twilight didn't answer.
”Well then. Twilight, when was the last time we were at open out war?” she asked.
Twilight tilted her head and answered, “Around a thousand years ago, when you dethroned King Sombra.”
”Indeed,” Celestia nodded. ”And I don't remember a single civil war, either. A thousand years in peace, Twilight, that is why I stay in power. Because of me, my little ponies do not have to worry about politics, because there are none. Because of me, they can fully live to their heart's desire in whatever they take interest in. Because of me, there is peace. The monarchy you and everypony else is living in is a safe net, a golden cage that protects you from harm of any sort. Within, everypony is free to live the way he or she wants. Throughout my reign, I created a safe place for everypony to be oneself, without having to fear dire consequences.
”You have to understand, Twilight: Democracy might seem like the best way for everyone to unfurl one's personality, but the harsh truth is, that through this form of state, opinions clash, rivalries are formed, bonds shatter, and friendships wear away.
”And most important: I am old, my dear Twilight, so very old. As you know, with age comes experience, and with experience knowledge as well as wisdom. I have seen many things in my life, experienced ages, and I have learned so much in that long time.
”One day, maybe I will step down from this throne, at least that is what I think I will do in the future, far away or nearer than one might think, and I want to bestow this crown and the duties that come with it onto you. I want you to be an excellent regent, Twilight, and therefore you need to learn, how to lead an empire.”
The shocked look on Twilight's face made Celestia stop. Reaching out with a hoof to caress her cheek, she went on. “Don't be so surprised, Twilight. I am certain that you will make a great leader. After all, it was you who ascended to princesshood all by yourself.”
”But, princess, I always had my friends by my side!” Twilight intercepted. “I was never alone in anything. The fact that I got these wings is because of the bond with my friends that made me realize what I had to do. What when they are gone?”
”You will find a way, you always have. See it as a part of your life: gather as much experience as you can together with your friends, so that one day, when you sit this throne, you know what to do intuitively. You are smart, and your knowledge will only grow over time. Have faith in yourself, Twilight, you will more than add up on your role.”
Twilight's head locked in place as her thoughts swirled. Everything the princess had said was true, and history proved it. All her theories and theses had gone up in smoke the moment Celestia had explained the true face of the other ponies. Maybe she had been wrong, maybe she had not put enough thought into this whole thing after all. Oh, she really did still have so much to learn.
The thought of her sitting where Celestia sat right now terrified her. Where would the princess go? What would happen to Luna?
And worst of all: What would life be without her friends. The image of losing them was too painful for Twilight to bear right now, and she suppressed it as hard as she could. She didn't want her friends to be gone! She didn't want this throne! She wanted to live happily in Ponyville, go on one of Pinkie's parties, hear Applejack's anecdotes about apples, drink tea with Fluttershy, enjoy a day at the spa with Rarity, or hear Rainbow boast about a new trick she had taught herself.
All that she wanted. But when the princess said that she was to take her place, who was she not to oblige? Celestia had been there for her pretty much her entire childhood. She had formed her, how could she oppose her?
Rising, and with heavy steps, Twilight left for the door. This was not what she had imagined when she had written the letter.