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// My Negotiations with the Royals 
// Story: My History, Rise, Fall and Return:  Starlight's Story 
// by StormLuna 
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Their Arrival

The night after I got Twilight and Spike locked up I headed to bed confident that I would be able to get the ponies of the East a good sized chunk of the continent for us to start our new nation.  Suddenly an idea came to mind, I will submit three boundary proposals.  I will issue one for simply the return of Twilight, another one that will be further west if they want Twilight and her cutie mark and a third further west if they want Spike back too.   

I had a feeling that I had best just sleep down in the jail that night in the event that my prisoners were to cause any problems.  Yeah the floor was not that comfortable but I am used to sleeping on hard surfaces.  Hell, I slept off and on in the caves for over a year so one night would be nothing.  The biggest problem was trying to tone out the threats coming from Twilight and the snide remarks coming from Spike.  I was finally able to get some sleep.

In the morning I was woke up by a knock on the door when one of the guards came to notify me that I had company.  He led me to the municipal court room, which is where the city police led the princesses.  I headed up front to find three very unhappy princesses.  The first one to say anything was Celestia.  She said, "Twilight's letter said that a foreign power was threatening to declare war on us because of our violating a trade agreement.  What are you doing here?"

I laughed, "Seriously, she said that somepony wanted to declare war on Equestria?"

Celestia growled, "Let me guess, YOU are the one who penned that letter and signed it using Twilight's name."

I sneered, "Bravo!  We have a real prize pupil here."  I began to laugh hysterically, "Guards, give her a gold star!"

They were not exactly thrilled with the way I was running things so far.  I could see in their eyes that they thought I was disrespecting them.  Well Tia is the only one who has spoken so far and I will disrespect her all I want.  Luna chimed in, "Starlight Glimmer, we know that thou hast called us here over matters regarding Twilight.  What hast thou done to her."

Cadence added, "We know you are the one responsible for her disappearance.  Where is she?"

I replied, "Calm down you three.  You shall find out once we have some breakfast."

Given that city hall had no way to cook any food, I sent the guards down the street to get each of us two sausage, egg and cheese croissants.  When they returned they were not overly thrilled that I was serving them meat but if they are going to eat with an Eastern pony, they better expect meat in their meals.

Celestia asked, "Meat Starlight, seriously?"

Cadence spit her's out and said, "Ewww....gross."

Luna began to eat her's and suddenly found it rather enjoyable.  While she didn't gobble her's down as fast as I did, once she finished eating she said, "We thank thee Dear Starlight.  Our meal was most pleasant."

I smiled and replied, "You're welcome Princess.  I'm glad you liked it even though I didn't make it."

Her sisters glared at her when she referred to me as "Dear Starlight."  I know that is a sign of respect on her part but I wonder if perhaps she might be the one who would defect and join my side.  I know she is always placed in the shadow of her older sister and that even Twilight gets more attention than her, and I plan on using this to my advantage.  I know the chances of this happening are next to zero, but if I could get her to turn on her sister and want something where she would have more power, there is a place across the Alicorn Ocean that I would help her conquer.

Once breakfast was over Celestia glared at me and asked, "Where are Twilight and Spike?"

I looked at one of the guards and ordered, "Go and get our prisoners.  Just make sure that there will be no chance of them escaping."

Cadence frowned, "Prisoners?  They are your prisoners?"

"They could be." I replied as I pulled out the jar with Twilight's cutie mark in it.  I was holding it in my aura as I gave the three a smile and continued, "This is quite pretty isn't it?  Wouldn't it make a wonderful nicknack for my mantle?"

Celestia tried to grab it with her aura but couldn't break mine.  She glared at me and growled, "Starlight Glimmer, you are going to the moon forever for all the crimes you have committed."

I gave her a look of death and ordered, "Tia, until you and I are on better terms you are to refer to me as Grand Mage Starlight Glimmer the Second."  I turned to Cadence and added, "The same goes for you Cadi."  I turned to Luna and finished, "Princess Luna, you can just call me Starlight."

Celestia snapped, "Oh, and what makes Luna so special Grand Mage Starlight Glimmer the Second?  Why can she be informal with you but we can't?"

I replied, "Because your sister has faced many hardships in her life.  I see how she is treated across Equestria, I see how your roles are.  She is the victim of inequality.   You are always the one who basks in the spotlight, you are the one who meets with foreign dignitaries, you are the one who hosts all the parties and you are often referred to as THE princess as if you are the only one!"

Luna looked up and said, "You know big sister, she does make a point.  You get a far bigger role in almost everything."

Before the conversation could continue Twilight and Spike were led into the court room in cages.  The three princesses looked at this with anger but knew that since Celestia couldn't break my aura that they would have to negotiate their release.

The Negotiations

I knew the princesses were angry seeing their fellow princess and her assistant in cages like animals but out of all of them, Celestia was obviously the angriest.  She shouted, "You let them go now Starlight!  Release them and give Twilight her cutie mark back and I might not banish you to the moon forever."

I replied, "Celestia, you were unable to break my aura when you attempted to take Twilight's mark back, which means my magic is stronger than yours.  That also means that you can't banish me anywhere because I am more powerful than you."  I began to laugh as I continued, "So if you want Twilight and her mark back, I think it would be best if you calm down and negotiate with me."

Celestia snapped, "You more powerful than me?, NEVER!"

Luna interrupted, "Big sister, she is right.  The fact that thou could not break her aura means her power is greater."

Celestia sighed, "Fine."  She glared at me and asked, "So, what is it you want in return for giving us Twilight back?   Equal pay for Eastern and Western Ponies?, special rights for Eastern ponies?"

I replied, "NO.  I believe it is time that you return the lands that you seized from the Eastern ponies a thousand years ago.  Ever since then you have treated those of our lineage as second class citizens and up until just fifty years ago, Equestria still had segregation.  I do not seek equal pay or special rights, I DEMAND all the lands you took."

Celestia was shocked that I had the audacity to demand that.  She asked, "Oh and what would you do with all this land?"

I replied, "I would form a nation for the ponies of Eastern lineage.  A new nation, East Equestria would rise."

Cadence interrupted, "East Equestria?  You have got to be kidding me."

Luna added, "Starlight, while we can understand thy frustration over what hast happened to thy kin for the past millennia, we can not accept this proposal.  Thou asks for too much."

Celestia began to sob and interrupted, "Let's see a map Starlight.  I'm sure you have lines drawn on it.  I will do whatever it takes to have Twilight returned to us."

I noticed the other two princesses jaws drop open over the sun princess's comment.  I pulled out a map of Equestria with three lines dividing the continent.   I laid it down on the table and the three looked at the map.  Luna and Cadence scowled while Celestia looked at it with a more open mind.  Apparently she must want Twilight to be returned so badly that she is willing to cave into my demands.  She asked, "What do these three lines indicate?"

I replied, "Well the black line is what we want if you only want Twily, the lavender line is what we want if we give you Twily with her cutie mark and the green line is what we want if we give you Twily, her mark and Spike."

Luna interrupted, "What?  Thou canst be serious?"

I replied, "I am being serious.  Just like when you go to the store, the more you want the more you have to pay."

Celestia looked over the map and pointed her hoof to the green line and said, "Grand Mage Starlight Glimm......"

A small voice interrupted from one of the cages.  "Princess Celestia, I'm not worth it.  I know you can find a way to free me and Spike without having to surrender any land."

I couldn't help but smile as I realized that I had the pony who had so many spears pointed at me when she expelled me having to do some heavy duty negotiating with me.  Celestia bent down and said, "But Twilight, you are worth it.  Territory is just land, you are a living, breathing being.  You have no idea how special you are to me."

Twilight began to tear up and said, "Really?  I'm so special to you that you will give up a large part of the country for my return?"

Celestia leaned into the cage and kissed Twilight on the forehead, "Yes Twilight, you are that special to me."

Luna shouted, "Big sister, what about our citizens of Western lineage that would suddenly be living in Starlight's East if thou agrees to her conditions?"  She stood taller and continued, "Yes Twilight is a living, breathing being but so are all of our citizens as well.  What if Starlight was to discriminate against ponies of Western lineage?"

I interrupted, "Princess Luna, you would not have to worry about that.  East Equestria will treat all ponies as equals."

Celestia asked, "I just thought of something, what if we were to relocate all Eastern ponies living in the west to the east and all western ponies living in the east to the west?"

I replied, "I personally think we should leave that up to the individual ponies.  We should not force relocation on anypony."

This stunned the three, especially Celestia.  She asked, "Wait a minute, you hold no ill will against the ponies because of their lineage, it is just the wrongs of the past you wish to correct?"

I replied, "Yes, that is the case."

Celestia sneered, "Well, I have a different mindset.  I want those of Eastern lineage to return to the East because I can tell by the way they are acting that they will never support me.  The moment they saw you on the television, in the paper or heard your address on the radio, they know that the Second Coming of Grand Mage Starlight Glimmer has come and are now loyal to you.  I do not want ponies who are loyal to what will be a foreign leader living in what will become West Equestria and I do not want ponies of Western lineage having to pay homage to YOU.  I believe that they should return home to their homeland."

I sighed, "Fine."  Suddenly I realized that this was likely her saying that she was ready to agree to one of my proposals.  I continued, "So I take it that you are ready to agree to something?"

Celestia replied, "Yes, I am."

Cadence added, "As am I."

Luna interrupted, "Big Sister, Cadence, thou canst truly be serious about this can thee?  We know that thou art most close with Twilight but is sacrificing anywhere from half to 65% of the continent for her return really worth it?"

Celestia replied, "Yes little sister, it is."

I could feel it now.  My destiny was almost fulfilled.  All I needed now was for the royal pony sisters to stop arguing, draw up an official agreement and get it signed.  I became a bit frustrated as Luna continued to oppose this.  She yelled, "Big sister, dost thou not know what thou would be signing away?  Where dost most of Equestria's wealth come from?, THE EAST!"  She slammed her hoof on the floor and continued, "Most of the manufacturing lies in the East, all the economic transactions take place in the East, most of the natural resources that are mined are in the East and a lot of the hay is in the East.  If we agree to this, our nation will likely fall into an economic depression."

Cadence interrupted, "Don't I get a say in any of this?"

Celestia yelled, "Not yet."  She glared at Luna and yelled, "Look, I am aware of all of that but you know what, Twilight is far more important than all of that.  We can explore our side of the country for natural resources, we can begin to grow hay here, we can manufacture our own things and we can have large scale businesses started here and have our own stock market."

Luna sighed, "Fine, but when the economy collapses and we get ran out of the country, don't go blaming me."

Celestia snapped, "Well since you seem to think this idea is so horrible and Starlight isn't completely against Western ponies living on her side of the border like I am, why don't you just stay here with her."  She actually smacked Luna and continued, "I know she probably mentioned everything about our inequality because she has plans for you, plans such as invading a foreign nation and giving it to you after you conquer it."

Luna looked at me and asked, "Is our sister right?  Dost thou have plans like that for us if we were to stay in the East?"

I replied, "Yes Princess, I do.  I shall go further in detail with you on this if you decide that getting out of your sister's shadow is what you want."

Cadence interrupted, "We're getting off topic here.  We need to get this taken care of."

Celestia asked, "Starlight, I know you hid Rarity's cutie mark.  We have searched and searched for it but have been unable to find it.  Where did you hide it?"

I grabbed a red pen and drew a bit more of an expansion on the map for East Equestria's demands.  This expansion would place The Tree of Harmony in East Equestria, which would make it inaccessible to those of the West.  I said, "You want me to reveal the location of her mark, then we want this territory as well."

Cadence slammed her hoof down on the floor and yelled, "That would give Starlight control of The Tree of Harmony!  Who knows what kind of horrible fate would await us if we agree to that."

I replied, "Do not worry, The Tree of Harmony protects the whole continent, so we will all continue to be protected by it's power."  Now I was not sure if that was really the truth but I figured that if I can get them to believe anything just so I'll give Twilight back, a lie would be well worth it.

Celestia could not stand the fact that Rarity's business was failing since she lost her mark and broke.  She yelled, "FINE!  I agree to the line that represents the return of Twilight, her mark, Spike and information on where Rarity's cutie mark is."

I replied, "Alright, let's get the proper paperwork drawn up and get our nation's best builders to begin to build a wall separating East and West."

Celestia asked, "Why do we need a wall?"

I replied, "To prevent illegal immigration.  I am not sure about you but I will have my side of the wall militarized to prevent any illegal immigration and to protect against attacks."

Celestia yelled, "You know I would never invade you but with that being the fact, I'll militarize my side as well."

I said, "Ok, let's get this paperwork drawn up."

The Agreement

Since it appeared that Luna would be staying here so I can prepare her to go and take The Equine Empire and Cadence rules the Crystal Empire, it was Celestia and I who drew up the agreement on the separation of East and West.  It took a lot of work given that there were so many little details but in the end it stated that I would receive all territory east of the green line, including the line that went west of the Tree of Harmony down to the southern coast.  Regarding the arctic, all the lands surrounding the Crystal Empire would become part of West Equestria which I was perfectly fine with.

Also, a clause was added that would require all soldiers of opposing descent to leave the nation they are in and return to the nation of their lineage.  This would not make too much of a difference given that most of the soldiers in the Eastern half of the country are of Eastern descent as is the case with Western soldiers in the Western half of the country.  All soldiers of Eastern descent will become members of East Equestria's military.

Finally, I was going to make sure that the ponies of the East did not get cheated so I put a clause in there that stated that what I promised in return will not be given to Celestia UNTIL the wall was complete.  Now this would mean that our sovereignty would not become a reality until the wall was completed and I had handed over what I promised but that did not matter to me.  Given the number of ponies that were going to be working on this wall, East Equestria should become a reality within a year.

Celestia was not thrilled by the final part of the agreement.  She yelled, "What?  Twilight will not be returned until the wall is finished?"

I replied, "Listen Celestia, this is the case because I want to make sure that the wall is built fairly and in accordance to the line on this map."

Tears began to run down Celestia's face realizing that Twilight would remain a prisoner for almost another year as I continued, "Celestia, remember when you kicked me out of your school and as I was being led out I said that one day you would regret expelling me from your school?  It looks like that time has come but even I never imagined I would triumph like this!"

Celestia sneered, "Give it a rest Starlight."

After a couple of minutes of sulking Celestia finally signed her name to the agreement and I signed my name to the agreement.  YES!  Finally, my destiny will be fulfilled within the year.  Now all that remains is getting the wall built and then all the Eastern Ponies can celebrate our victory and our very first Independence Day.