//------------------------------//
// Tea With the Sun 
// Story: The Whisper of Freedom 
// by Gapeagle 
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The bustling city was noise, noise, and more aggravating noise of the denizens hopelessly trying to live their lives happily. I could barely stand it as I quietly watched from the street corner bench I sat on. Not only did my ears sting with the shouts and lies, but my eyes burned with everypony's hideous personal styles that told the world how superior they were compared to their less fortunate neighbor. I yearned to climb onto a stand and shout my message to them, but that would draw too much attention to a fugitive like myself.

The three fillies in Ponyville were great listeners, innocent and curious about the truth, but adults with no spare time would only ignore me unless I forcibly told them. I remembered doing that with some of my former friends in Our Village. Some of them took weeks to comprehend my words. A few even took months to realize the truth that was knocking on their tightly closed minds. I visibly grimaced as I knew I had no chance to catch a potential listener alone in this overly populated Tartarus of a capital.

"Hey ya lady," said an excited voice next to me, "Want to try our new line of summer hats?"

My eyes shifted quickly to a young, smiling brown stallion that was holding a blue hat up with his golden magic. My eyes then darted to his flank which adorned an obvious hat cutie mark. He was trying to make a profit off of his talent, trying to take my money for his own gain. He would no doubt forget my generosity by tomorrow.

"Of course not!" I snapped back rudely, before clearing my throat and smiling. "Ahem, I mean no thank you, sir."

My awful attempt at being polite went unnoticed as the stallion bore a frightened expression and backed away quickly. In no time he was gone from my sight. My smile faded away faster than he did. I never meant to be rude to the fellow, as it would be unequal if I treated one stranger kinder than the other. However, I felt no remorse and soon forgot about him.

The ponies around me did not forget my action as they all stared at me with frightened bewilderment. I gave them an annoyed look through my sunglasses, but that did not deter them from gazing at me longer. My anger boiled a little over the boundaries I kept it in.

"What is your problem?" I demanded sternly. "I've just had a bad day, that's all."

This, to my relief, made them turn from me and continue on with their unending activities. I sighed a long sigh and ran a hoof lazily through my mane. These ponies were curious but in all the wrong ways. They would gladly grab any thread of a topic to spin a new rumor around, even something as minute as a mare rejecting a salespony's offer. They desired to know every little detail of another pony's life but never wanted to know any detail that could improve their own lives. 

I stood up and started to walk carefully down the street. There were far less unadorned flanks in Canterlot than in Ponyville, but that may have been just because young fillies and colts seemed to be rare in the capital. The pegasi flew speedily around the high spires that defined the city as the earth ponies trudged their heavy hooves along the pavement. Nothing like that would have been allowed in Our Village unless it was in times of need. A unicorn could use its magic and a pegasus could fly only as a convenience, but never to show off each race's special abilities.

I was so caught up in watching the Canterlotians that I bumped right into an armored chest. My sunglasses fell to the ground and my hat was askew when I recovered from the surprise. Before me were two large and intimidating unicorn Royal Guards; each bearing a solemn frown on their hard faces. My initial reaction was that of terror, but I soon regained my dignity and stood firmly in front of them.

"Is there a problem?" I asked warmly.

"Yes, we are looking for you." One Guard said in a deep voice.

"Well I am sure there is some misunderstanding. I can't think of why you will be searching for me." I told him innocently.

"Don't play dumb, Starlight Glimmer." The other snarled. "By order of the Princesses, you are under arrest."

I felt iron hoofcuffs be summoned around my front legs. I was about to resist and attack them with my magic when I felt a sharp pain in my horn. An anti-magic spell was cast on me. These Guards were more advanced than I had anticipated. One of the Guards punched me across the face, sending me to the pavement.

"That's for my cousin!" He yelled. "I thought I lost her three years ago. Naw, she was brainwashed in your village all this time. You're lucky I don't beat you senseless."

A second pair of hoofcuffs restrained my back legs. The nicer of the two Guards helped me up, only to order me to move. I licked the blood that oozed from my lips and held my head high. My heart was racing and fear gripped me from inside. I did not know what would happen next. I did my best to appear proud, but it was only a facade.


=


"This is not the way to the dungeons."

"Her Highness ordered us to bring you to her private quarters."

"I am having an audience with Princess Celestia?"

"Yes."

The Guards escorted me through the fine halls of the palace. The place was marvelous in every sense of the word. The drapes, stained glass windows, and embroidered rugs screamed the pretentiousness of royalty. Even the Royal Guards with their unmoving faces were decoration that complimented the white walls and gold spirals on the columns. 

I was quite the opposite of the ostentation that surrounded me. The chains hindered my stride, giving me a slightly hobbled gait. My mane was ruffled and unkempt as it came undone from its usual ponytail. My traveling dress, of which I actually paid for, was torn on the edges and backside. I never cared much about my appearance, but it was certainly uncomfortable to be in such ruined apparel.

The two stallions forced me to turn and face a large, round golden door. There was no doubt that this was Celestia's room. The nicer Guard knocked his armored hoof on the door four times in a quick but uneven beat. Without delay, a quiet, soothing voice uttered from the other side of the glorious door.

"You may enter."

The Guards each took one side of the double door and opened it simultaneously. A cool breeze blew through the doorway, making me wince slightly. I was nudged to go forward and I entered the room with the two Guards flanking me.

The circular room was smothered in gaudy, flamboyant, and ornate decorations that glowed in the sunlight that flooded through the open balcony. In the center of the mostly purple room was Princess Celestia, sitting on a large red cushion with a low table in front of her. The table was holding up a tea set, each small cup marked with the steam that gently floated above it. The sweet smell of the tea struck me no harder than being hit on the leg by a newborn foal. I sniffed the air and found out that it was Southeast Equestrian tea.

The princess sipped her cup of tea with the grace only trained royalty could achieve. Her smile was oddly friendly and warm, making me visibly cringe. Her smile soon faded as her eyes darted to my hooves.

"Oh, you may remove those chains. They are unnecessary." She stated in a motherly voice.

The Guards saluted before taking the cuffs off my legs. I rubbed the sore spots without thinking and glared at the Guards. My attention snapped back to the princess when she softly cleared her throat.

"You may leave us." She waved a decorated hoof at the Royal Guards.

The Guards bowed low and turned around, closing the door behind them. A deathly silence engulfed the chambers. It may not have been so deathly to Celestia as her smile returned in its usual manner. I stood my ground, holding myself fast against this agent of oppression. I did not know what were going to be her first words to me, but I knew they would be harsh and unforgiving.

"Come and have some tea." She pointed her muzzle at the cups before her.

Well, that was not what I expected. However, I hesitated. She placed a bounty on my head. She had me arrested! Chained and humiliated through the streets! I could not see a reason to obey her command.

"You placed a bounty on my head. Do not treat me with your fake hospitality." I told her sternly.

She giggled. "That was Luna's idea. I simply wanted ponies to watch out for you and not to hurt you. That's why you are wanted alive."

She offered a drink again, coaxing me like one would coax an animal to a treat. I decided to ignore her and took some steps around the room, never moving my sight from her. She watched me patiently.

"If you wanted a discussion over tea, you should of just asked instead of sending your Guards after me."

She cocked her head. "And just ask a fugitive to tea in front of everypony? I would if they wouldn't spread rumors about me afterwards. The nobles are always ready to pounce on me for something like that. No, it is better that it appeared like a normal arrest. I hope they didn't harm you. If they did, I am truly sorry."

The apology seemed sincere. I consider myself a master at discerning one's true intentions, but this princess had that smile and joyful eyes that I could not read. I leaned on a bedpost crossed my front legs. She replied to my actions with a raise of the eyebrow. 

"How did you know I was in Canterlot?" I asked.

"Twilight informed me of that. She said you were heading down the road to here." Celestia nodded. "She was very upset about how you talked with those girls."

"I did nothing wrong." I defended myself. "I simply gave them advice."

"To forget their dreams and move on?" The question was rhetoric. "That's not I would tell children."

I stood up. "You would tell them to excel and try to prove themselves the best. Teach them to use others as a means to an end. Make them care only about themselves." 

She sipped her tea again. I was not sure if she was even listening to me. She frisked her long mane back and gazed at me with a piercing stare that made me step back. Her mouth slowly parted, her stare remained fixed on me.

"Did you really have a whole village living your life style? That is truly an achievement I must say. You are a skilled persuader. Have you ever thought about what you could do with that?"

"I do what I must with it. I don't persuade them, Princess Celestia, I simply tell them the truth. My message has always been there, I just free it from the biased bonds of this society."

She nodded slowly. "The stereotype is that earth ponies are the most stubborn of all the races. I personally think it's unicorns. Unicorns are stubborn."

"What does that have to do with anything!" I uttered more as an annoyed cry than a legitimate question.

"Nothing. Just an observation." She waved a quick dismissing hoof.

I felt like she was mocking me. I made this obvious to her by tightening my eyebrows and giving her a suspicious look. This incited nothing from the princess as she refilled her cup with steaming tea.

"Do you know why you are here, Starlight?" She asked with a more solemn tone.

"You are here to incarcerate me and keep me away from ponies."

She chuckled. "If that was the case, we would not be having this conversation. I never talked to Tirek, nor Discord, nor Chrysalis. You are the exception. Do you know why?"

"Compared to them, I am just a simple unicorn."

She nodded. "Exactly. You are not some monster that needs to be kept in stone or Tartarus. That is not to say that I don't fear what you are capable of."

"What would you fear from me?" I demanded. "What? Is it that I can turn the ponies away from you and the lies you have drilled into their heads. Have them riot against Princess Twilight? That I actually know the truth?"

She shook her head." None of the above. "What I fear is what you can become: a misguided unicorn alone in this world because you are too stubborn to release these philosophies you have acquired."

"Like you care about my well-being."

"If I didn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation." She rebutted sternly.

She stood up from her cushion and walked over to me. Her massive size made me stretch my neck just to look at her. Her eyes, so warm before, were now cold and intrusive. I did not sense anger in her, but I was certainly afraid. She leaned close to me, our horns almost touching. 

"Starlight Glimmer," She began, "What happened? Why do you hold this philosophy that everyone must be like you? The cutie marks, equality, and having everyone work together, where did it come from?"

"Why should I tell you?" I shot back, trying my best to appear bold. "You wouldn't understand."

She backed off. "So be it."

"Was that your attempt at intimidation?"

She walked away with her smile returning. "Ha, of course not. I'm not trying to scare you at all. You would know if that was my plan."

"Then why am I here? Are we to discuss our differences? Are you trying to get some confession or deep apology out of me? I do not apologize for my actions in Our Village. I helped those ponies more than you know. I brought happiness, peace, equality, and harmony to them. I will not apologize for that."

"You forgot how you kept them there under their will and were lying to them the whole time."

I jabbed a hoof at my chest. "Lied? I only lied about one thing and that was it. It's not my fault I cannot take my own cutie mark off."

"And that cutie mark is the only reason you achieved what you did. Without it, you couldn't remove cutie marks could you?"

I fell silent. It was true. My head turned away from the princess in a sudden wave of guilt and regret. Why did she bring it up? It was the travesty of my life. But I was helping ponies, even when they didn't know it. One cutie mark to save rest, yes. If only it wasn't so.

"I'll take that silence as a yes."

"What does it matter?" I faced her again. "I use my magic to help them in their times of need. I-"

"You never helped any of them." Celestia interrupted. "Not a single one."

"I did. They were my friends. All of them were. Then...Then they betrayed me at the sight of my only mistake. They are ungrateful."

"If they betrayed you, they were never your friends." She pointed out. "Starlight, have you ever had friends?"

"Plenty." I said quickly, trying to picture any that came to my mind. "They saw my message. They understood."

"So, because they were just like you, they were friends?" Celestia asked curiously.

"Friends should be alike. Otherwise they would fall into disarray and bitterness." I explained.

"That's not how it works." She said simply.

Oh, she was no doubt going to lecture me now. She was Twilight's mentor after all. I snarled at her and tried to conjure my magic, only to realize that the anti-magic spell was still active. The princess noticed this and merely shook her head in disappointment. The action reminded me of my mother when she was quietly upset with me.

"Do not lecture me, Celestia." I told her. "Spare me your nonsense."

"Nonsense? Well, I guess an over 1000 year old ruler is always full of nonsense and clearly has no knowledge of the world she has lived in for all that time." She replied in clear sarcasm.

"Of course you don't. You hold to your old and decrepit ways because you can't handle the truth of progress and equality."

"Then I have more to learn I guess." She said in a matter-of-fact manner. "Enlighten me."

I cleared my throat. "This society has taught ponies to stand out above the rest, to flaunt their cutie marks with pride and to use them to get ahead of others who are less fortunate. I want everypony to be equal. Get rid of their cutie marks so they have nothing to flaunt. Simplify the variables of life by having them be the same. I want to unite Equestria in a single thought process: to work together and never be angry with another. The ponies will live without nightmares because they will not dream in the first place. No one will try to better their cousin. No one will argue over trivial matters. No one would think different. No one would be different. All will be friends. All will be equal. All will be happy."

"So...In short, you want to take all freedom away?"

"No. We will have much more freedom without the burdens of cutie marks dictating our every movement." I explained.

"Like how your cutie mark is dictating your movements?" She didn't let me answer. "Starlight, there is nothing wrong with being different. You are quite different yourself. Difference becomes a negative when you want others to be like you. I shall use my sister and I as an example. I am very different from Luna. She is bold when I'm hesitant, she is brass when I'm cautious, and hasty when I am methodical. That's just how she is. Is it wrong? Of course not. I'm glad she is different from me. Yes, we have stumbled and created crevasses between ourselves, but that is over because we forgave each other. Our differences let us have pleasant conversations, create new views of the world, and carefully decide what to do with this nation. I'm glad she says 'no' to me. I'm glad her differences allow her to see errors in my judgement. If she was the same as I, I would never change my ways for the better because I would not know what to change. Iron sharpens iron."

I hastily thought of something to throw back at her. She was now resting her front legs on the railing of the balcony, letting the wind whisk her mane gently. I felt myself sway to the right as all her words interrupted my thoughts and ideas. My eyes were focused on the ground, watching a line of ants pilfer crumbs of cake off the floor. The ants were equal. All of them identical and fulfilling their roles in their colony. I could use the ants as an example of my vision for Equestria. I parted my mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of Celestia using her magic.

I glanced up to see her scribbling on a piece of parchment. her long phoenix quill flew across the page swiftly. She then rolled the paper up with her magic and sent it off with a pop. 

"What was that?" I hesitantly asked.

"Oh nothing," she said, "Just my letter to Twilight about reforming you."

"What!" I shouted.

"No need to yell. There is nothing to be upset about." Celestia smiled at me.

"No need?" I spat. "You think I need reforming! That itself is insulting and offending. Then you want me to be lectured to death by that pretentious princess!"

"Not to death, but hopefully close." She corrected casually.

"You think you can alter me with your friendship lessons? You think I'll give in like some weak fool? I know my words are truth! I will not believe the lies you have taught to your former student."

"We'll see." She shrugged. "But you start tomorrow. There is a guest bedroom in Twilight's castle where you shall be quartered. you shall live with Princess Twilight until she deems you "reformed."

I was never one for strong emotions, but a tidal wave of absolute hopelessness swept me away with no trace of dignity left. I dived at the princess's hooves, clutching them in desperately as tears formed in my eyes. I lost complete control of myself.

"Please don't!" I pleaded. "Anything but the princess and her so called friends! I have done nothing wrong! I am just a prophetess without any listeners! I am no threat to you! If I need to be punished, send me to the dungeons! Banish me to some distant land! Make me a statue for your gardens! I beg you not to send me to that princess who will force me to become an instrument of your friendship propaganda."

The princess was astounded by this reaction, blinking every two seconds in obvious confusion. She slowly pushed me away with her leg until I was no longer hugging her hooves. Her eyes perceived me with slight terror, but mostly bewilderment. 

"Uhh..." She began. "Starlight, you are going to live with Twilight whether you like it or not. I have faith you will see the merits of life and become a helpful citizen to our society. You are a free mare now. I do not want to punish you for I believe you have already been punished enough. This is not punishment, it is more like rehabilitation. Twilight is not going to be some monster to you. She is the Princess of Friendship for a reason." She paused. "Fine, as reassurance to you, I will keep communication with you. If she does something you find horrid or is purposely harming you without cause, you can report her to me. But I doubt she will ever do such a thing."

"I could be your maid....a butler... a-"

"No!"

My head fell flat on the clean floor in utter defeat. The tears had ceased and I was now in a pitiful state of depression. All of the horrors of brainwashing entered my saddened mind. She would use this as an act of revenge against me. The Princess of the Sun, in all of her vile majestic manners, sauntered over to me, placing me in her tall shadow.

"Starlight, one of Twilight's friends reformed the Lord of Chaos himself. I do not think you'll prove more difficult than him."

My head slowly rose, my anger now very present in my expression. She thought me weak, not being able to hold my ground against Twilight. Discord was reformed by them? So what? I was not Discord. I am Starlight Glimmer! Even though I did fear what would become of me if I fell to Twilight's ideals, but that would not happen. As sure as Tartarus it wouldn't happen. 

Celestia cleared her throat softly. "You may enter again."

The two Royal Guards opened the door and walked in with the speed of a chimera. They then saluted and awaited their ruler's orders.

"Gently take Starlight to the train station and give her a one-way ticket to Ponyville. Watch her until she safely arrives at Twilight's castle. Then report back to me."

They bowed before forcing me up to my hooves. I did not attempt to resist as I knew it would be futile. I was ordered sternly to march out the door. I huffed indignantly and held my head high as I walked out of the room. They thought they could reform me, their words for making me one of them, making me a servant to the princesses, a weak minded buffoon who accepted the flaws of this world, and making me accept my cutie mark as a part of me. I mentally laughed at the idea. They wanted to reform me?

"They would try."


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