//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Three: What is Done in Vain, Truth is Hard to Swallow // Story: All-American Girl // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// “This is how it must be,” the dark, shadowy figure told its twin in presence if not in standing, said counterpart as light as the sun itself. Both stood upon the dying light of their latest battle. Rivulets of lava, once solid ground, burned around the two, though neither seemed to notice. The very air itself in the area had been annihilated to nothing more than the ozone stench of pure energy, a place where nothing mortal could exist, much less live. In the distance, two massive gullies, carved by great gouts of force channeled away from the central crater for miles and miles. “No, it doesn’t have to be,” the ivory shape replied, its tones pleading. “We have suffered enough, we two, this I know. But must it always be like this?” “Yes – or have you forgotten already?” the dark one sneered. “Have you forgotten what our sister has done? Have you forgotten that we no longer dwell with whom we loved so? That we were given this realm, even as he and she have moved on?” There was a laugh, but it was bitter, cold, chilling. “Of course you’ve forgotten. Why else would you take my heart’s desire from me?” The light one grew angry. “Because you would do something to shatter the balance!” The voice was now a roar of anger, fear and defiance. “BECAUSE YOU WOULD DESTROY WHAT YOU CLAIM TO LOVE SO MUCH!” “That is its purpose,” the dark one said, coldly. “As is my own and neither are for you to question.” “They are when it comes to destroying a life!” The dark one charged its horn once more. “So be it. If that’s your answer, then we’ve nothing more to discuss.” “Please, there has to be another way, F—” “I don’t answer by that name any longer,” the dark alicorn sneered. “You may call me Nightmare. Or you may call me by my first name – the name that was taken from us when we were Commanded! But I will take from you my heart’s desire.” The Nightmare snickered. “Perhaps I’ll even take your dearest love as well, Faust!” “YOU’LL TOUCH NEITHER!” Faust roared, as a shaft of blue, thicker than the base of the largest mountain, tore away from her horn, exhausting her in one go. But as difficult for her as it was, it caught the Nightmare completely unaware, vaporizing its body in one blow, a fatal strike. Endless minutes Faust lay, exhausted, unable to move as her strength failed and her stamina broke. Then finally, she managed to scramble to her hooves, looked around and realized what she’d done, wept for the equicide she’d committed. Perhaps it was justified; she could probably convince their followers as much given F – no, Nightmare, that’s what she wanted to be called in the end – given the Nightmare’s recent attitudes, which had greatly disturbed the pony chieftains under their banner. And even still, you failed. The voice was silky sweet yet cold as ice, and Faust froze in a flash. You struck me down; you will pay dearly for that someday. Even better…you freed me to work towards my final goal! I will have my h— “Never. She’s mine now. Both of them, and to hell with you. I will fight you until the end of days if need be, Nightmare,” Faust vowed. So be it, Princess of Equus…or should I call you Queen? the voice taunted. And with a start, Faust woke up in her bed, her husband dozing beside her. A quick spell proved her children to be safe, with Screw Loose asleep in the guest room…and Screwball asleep on the ceiling. She was about to go back to sleep when she heard what she was expecting: I have taken another. And this time, you will lose. A cocky sneer came onto Faust’s face as she snuggled into her pillow, scooting closer to her husband. Don’t plan your victory celebration yet, Nightmare. You’re farther from victory than you realize. Or perhaps it is you, Faust, who is and cannot see it yet? The alicorn-as-woman ignored the specter’s taunts; it was the best insult she could toss. Drifting back to sleep, Faust entered the Dreamlands. She was going to have to start shaking the tree again. Standing on her balcony, Luna began the daily ritual of lowering her moon. On the other end, on her own balcony, Celestia should be doing her part in the phenomenon, shepherding her moon along its ageless path, in a perpetual game of chase with its solar counterpart. That was how things had worked since the day they had first assumed this responsibility and executed it. It was as much a part of them as it was a part of the fabric of the nation. As Luna sent the moon on its way to the other side of the world, she noticed that the sky was not brightening but instead remaining dark. She sent out an invisible tendril of magic to search for the sun and found it sitting at its starting point above the eastern edge of the Ethopic Ocean, waiting to be given its daily push. The dusky alicorn felt around for any traces of her sister’s magic and found none. «Sister? Is everything okay?» Luna asked, sending a mental signal to her elder sibling. Usually Celestia would answer within seconds, unless something was amiss – not likely within the castle – or she wanted to be left alone, which was more likely. Sure enough, the sun alicorn did not respond to the psychic missive, and Luna tried again. Finally, she received a blatant «What?» from Celestia. The tone sounded groggy, as though Celestia had just awoken from a deep slumber, something that was very much unlike the sunny sister. «Tia, did you forget something?» Luna asked. «Such as…oh, I don’t know, this huge ball of fire and plasma that’s parked itself just west of Donkonia?» «Is it that time already?» The send seemed panicked, as though Celestia had somehow lost track of time – a virtual impossibility, Luna knew, given that her sister was the source of time…or at least her sun was, based on how ponies once tracked it. The alicorn of the day had always marked this as a personal note of pride and was sure to keep things under tight control as a result. However, today did not seem like that day. «Yes, it is that time already, sister! How can you have forgotten?» «I’m…indisposed,» came the response. «You mean you’re with your paramour,» Luna seethed. «You need to get your priorities straight – I am more than happy that you’ve found somepony to love, but truthfully, even my time with Robin didn’t impinge on my work schedule. And right now—» «Luna, please attend to the sun for me,» Celestia pled. «I’ll explain later, I promise. It’s just…now is not a good time, okay?» «What is keeping you so busy that you cannot walk to the balcony and move the sun?» «Uh…you don’t want to know.» Luna groaned. «Fine. But you owe me – and Cadance – some answers. And don’t forget today’s priority – unless Twilight and the others no lon—» «Don’t you dare joke about that,» Celestia seethed. «Then get out of your bed, send your lover off and come meet me and Cadance as soon as possible,» the younger alicorn reproached. «This will be tedious and dangerous enough as is; let’s not make it any worse than it has to be.» Not waiting for a response from Celestia, Luna closed that magical circuit, and opened another one. «Cadance, would y—» «Already expected this. I’ll call my office and let them know I’m not coming in. Let me check my son into the daycare facility and grab a quick breakfast before I check in with Celestia’s office. Hopefully it’ll be a quiet day until…well, you know.» «I agree – and I’m sure that will go swimmingly as well. As soon as I’ve raised the sun, I’ll meet you for breakfast; we need to plan our strategy as to how we’ll proceed with this afternoon’s meeting with Blueblood. I’m already dreading that.» «Same here,» Cadance admitted, and the night alicorn could practically hear her heartbreak. «See you in a few.» «Please let the chefs know it’s going to be a two-pot of coffee day,» Luna asked her, then closed the connection and started to focus on the sun. Sister, she thought, you had damn well better have a good explanation. The two lovers collapsed in the pungent scents of sweat, chocolate and wild honey. Celestia looked at Sam and sighed, both in contentment and guilt. It’s the first time in a while that I’ve forgotten about my solar duties. The last was when I lost Luna. Instinctively she turned away in shame. “Hey, I’m not that bad, am I?” Sam asked, reaching over to her. “No,” she commented, turning back to him. “In fact…we’ve only been together these past few days, and they’ve been a balm for me – the best time I’ve had in years.” She leaned over and kissed him. “It’s just…I’m not comfortable with us being in this sort of situation.” “Cel, I think it’s a little early to be talking about anything more solid in our relationship,” he said, half-jokingly. She flashed him a smile, but said soberly, “I think we need to think about how our relationship is going to affect…well, everything. I mean, how far do we plan to go?” “Nobody plans to go anywhere in life,” he told her. “Hell, if you’d told me a year ago that I’d find myself here with you, I’d have laughed and said you’re nuts.” “You sure about that, given how you said how you’ve felt about me all this time?” “Generic ‘you’, then,” he amended. “But seriously, if you think that I’m going to allow myself to screw up because of the responsibilities you gave me, then hide behind your tail when people come for my head, you’re wrong. I can keep things personal, and our relationship shouldn’t bother anyone in the slightest, especially given the fact that you’re dating is bound to give ponies an aneurysm anyway.” “That’s not what I’m talking about,” the alicorn as woman told him. “I mean…I’m worried about me losing my focus. You…you’re used to balancing work and personal life, or else you wouldn’t be able to function effectively. But for me…for so long my work and my personal life have been the same; I told you that. I’m always Princess Celestia, when there are times I just want to be Celestia. That’s why what friends and family I have are important to me, because they give me a tiny hole to peek out of my gilded prison. But….” “But?” “Argent Lance and I…we never went as far as you and I have; those were different times back then, and it was scandalous enough with him being the paramour of the ‘Goddess of All’. But there are records that will tell you how much…well, they would now describe it as me having ‘lost it’ due to my love for Argent. He was one of the most important ponies in my life, along with the Blueblood and Bluebelle of that time, and I likely didn’t behave as a princess should. And then when Blue and Belle passed on, I was disconsolate for quite some time.” “All that proves is that you’re human, er, pony, Cel. Everyone has bad days, and you’re not allowed to be an exception just because you’re an ageless beauty.” “Flatterer,” she said with a smile, then continued. “Seriously, though: I let the country go to hell because I was in a relationship and let everything fall apart when I lost it all. That happened once before, when I banished Luna. I let the world come to hell and my ponies suffer twice for that, and I’m not sure I could do it a third time.” “So, is there something you’re trying to tell me?” he asked, wondering exactly what she meant. “Yes, though not what you’re thinking: How do you – and please excuse the term – mortals do it? I’ve lived for thousands of years, and while I can live with it, it seems like when I want something in my personal life, everything seems to go to Tartarus.” “So, you’re saying you want what I have?” he asked, and when she nodded, he laughed. As she looked at him oddly and he explained: “There’s a saying we have, and I’d be surprised if you don’t have anything similar: ‘The grass is greener on the other side.’ You’re craving stability that you see others have – Fluttershy, Applejack, Cadance and so many others – and you want it for yourself. That’s only natural…but you need someone there to help guide that stability. And that’s why I’m here, so I can give it to you.” She sat up in bed. “You know, it’s funny: I’m used to being the one to dispense advice and giving assistance, but I’m rarely on the receiving end. I take it you’ll be dispensing with many nuggets of wisdom?” “For as long as you want…because I’m certainly hoping it’ll be for a long, long time.” He leaned in to kiss her… …and then his phone chimed. “Great. Well, I need to get ready to go: shower, shampoo, shave and shine, then Potato Chip and I need to find a location suitable for the new headquarters for the REAL. I don’t want to operate out of the Guild facility and frankly, we’re going to need some room to operate without the military or other agencies in the way.” “Well, what about Tangled Tail Trail? It’s a small town at the base of the mountain, and it has an old Guard base that was deactivated in the reorganization. The ERG has been keeping it up in case it was ever needed, so it’s in top shape, at least from the last time I did an inspection. Maybe that’s something to look into?” “It’s a thought,” he said, getting up from the bed. “Plus, I need to set up my home.” Pulling her from the bed – she was amazingly light as a human – he helped her to her feet and she in turn took a few steps from him before changing to her normal form. “I swear, I’m never going to get used to that,” he told her. She leaned over and kissed him. “If you’re going to be my coltfriend, there’s a lot of things you’re going to have to get used to, Sam.” “Like what? Feathers all over the bed?” “Well, I plan to sleep in my human form when we’re together for obvious reasons, but I was referring to the…less savory parts of life.” The look on her face took a guilty cast as she added, “Like the plans for tonight.” He reached over and placed a caressing hand on her cheek; she in turn nuzzled it. “Hey, everything’s going to turn out as right as rain. You’ve put up with worse, and Twi can survive anything.” “I hope so,” the alicorn said softly. “I hope so.” Eyes bleary, DJ smacked the iCoffee and waited semi-patiently for the thirty seconds it took the heating element in the machine to warm up the water so she could slap the coffee pod in and get her big mug of brown joy. I really need to get her the newest model, but she’s always like “Oh, that’s sweet of you, DJ, but really, I’m fine with what I have!” The humanized pony sighed. No, dear aunt of mine, what you mean to say is, “Oh, that’s sweet of you, DJ, but really, I’m fine with paying for overpriced white chocolate honey mochas at the local Sugarcube Corner, even if I have a lifetime discount!” Finally, the screen on the machine stated that it was ready, and DJ moved into action like only a dedicated caffeine addict could. She popped the top open, slipped in the two coffee pods – pumpkin spice hazelnut, her current favorite for the moment – then pressed the BREW button as though she was smacking a giant red button labeled EASY. With that in mind, she walked over to Twilight’s kitchen, pulled out the creamer, walked over and got the sugar – I didn’t know that Sugarcube Corner had its own brand of house sugar, odd – then parked herself right in front of the iCoffee, watching as the steady drips of clear brown liquid percolated away from the chrome-and-black colored plastic machine towards the decently sized mug below. The violet eyes moved up and down like a game of NeoArkanoid, watching each drop of umber-colored bliss fall, the basin they careened towards slowly but surely depleting its empty space…. Finally, after sixty torturous seconds, the machine chimed, letting its clientele know that it was open for business. And soon after, a very good attempt at breaking the non-Pinkie speed record for loading down on cream and sugar was made, followed by the first sip of ambrosia, as the caffeine molecules dispersed through her body to perform their heroic deed, etched down into the annals of java justice since before the dawn of time itself…. DJ allowed herself a private little squee as she enjoyed her coffee in the morning light, watching her eldest aunt’s dawn as it started to come up. Fine, I’ll admit it, she thought to herself, there are days when I can stand Equestria. I guess it’s like the saying goes? “Great place, but I wouldn’t want to live here.” Except that was the problem, wasn’t it? By the end of the year, the four of them – her, Mike and their boys – would all be living in Northside Canterlot, in the house so generously provided by Twilight. Japan would be a memory, as well as Human-Earth, her home. Or to hear that bitch Rarity, I’d be coming home, DJ thought, the distaste visible on her face. She quickly brushed off the thought; she promised that she would try to keep things civil and besides, it was too nice of a morning to spoil by thinking of undeserving bitches who she was only related to by the most bare of concepts. Besides, she had to make breakfast. She had a whole bunch of things planned for the day, and then they had to start wrapping things up so they could return to Japan to finish out the boys’ year there before they headed back here. Hopefully by then the modifications would be made, and they’d be made correctly. I guess I can lean on Sam for that. That would be another adjustment she would have to make: Her younger brother, Sam, was moving here as well, having accepted a job to create a national police force. Part of her smiled in pride at that; she’d always known her little brother was capable of being more than just a beat cop, something that he’d already proved when he moved to Hawaii. But despite the fact that Celestia had tapped him for the spot...well, the humanized pony thought that there was more than just potential nepotism by proxy involved. I’m sure Celestia respects his talents, DJ assured herself. Honestly, I think Sam’s biggest problem is getting a girlfriend. A second cup of coffee later, violet eyes were a lot more bright and alert than they’d been just two mugs ago. And it was a good thing too, as Mike picked that moment to come through the door after his morning jog. “Gotta say, it’s definitely different jogging at this time of the morning,” he said, giving his wife a quick grin and a kiss. “Folks are so friendly here that I have to actively go out of my way to avoid them or else I’ll end up chatting forever and a century with them. But on the bright side, I think I found a nice place to have breakfast at when we move here.” “Yeah,” DJ said morosely. She’d accepted that she was going to live here, and she’d do it for Mike, but she still didn’t like the idea. He caught that and simply put an arm around her, and the two sat there in silence for a while. Finally, she spoke: “Maybe it won’t be so bad…. After all, I was born here.” Her eyes took on an uncertain cast as she added, “The fact that I know almost nothing about this place other than nightmares is beside the point. The fact that my biological mother is trying to make my life utter hell is besides all that. The fact that my birth family wants nothing but me to be back wi—” “Hon, stop worrying about that. Nobody wants you to be anything other than yourself. And they don’t want you to give up on who you are instead of who you will be.” “It feels like I don’t have control of my world anymore,” she told him. “You do. We’ve been over this a billion times, DJ. You are Daisy Jo Hikaru Martinez. That is all you know, and that is all you need to be. Sandalwood is a name from the past, and everyone and everypony knows that and will deal with that. The only ones who don’t seem to realize that are Rarity…and you.” “Me?” He sighed. “We’ve had this conversation how many times since Luna first asked you to come back?” A thoughtful grin came onto his face as he whimsically added, “If I had a nickel for every time we’ve had this conversation….” “You’d still be underpaid by the Navy,” she snarked back. But the smile soon came off her face as she told him, “Sorry. I just feel completely out of sorts this morning.” “Nervous about today?” She nodded. “Yeah. Today’s the big day, and either Twilight survives…or I’m out several aunts. Well, then again, the bitch will die too, so I suppose that’s some consolation.” “I don’t think Elusive would agree with that. Or Silversteel.” “I guess not.” She looked towards the hallway where the spare bedrooms lay, specifically the ones used by her sons. “Well, I can’t let the boys down, so I guess that means I’ll deal with it.” He gave her a lidded look. “Until the next time you go emo on me, you mean.” “Damn skippy, dude. Do you have time to have breakfast, or do you need to get going?” He shook his head. “I need a shower, but other than that, I only have duty staff working today. It’s the weekend, you know.” DJ blinked. “It is?” When he nodded, she groaned. “I swear I lose track of time here.” Mike shook his head and laughed as he let go of her. “How? This time zone is the same as Eastern.” “Hey, remember how long it took me to get used to Pacific Time, and then JST?” She shrugged, taking care not to drop the mug. “Well, let me get breakfast ready and you go take a shower.” He looked at her mussed mane. “Or you could join me.” She gave him a minor glare for that, and he chuckled. “Fine, fine, I’ll take a shower – alone.” “Yeah, so long as it’s a cold one.” She patted him on the back, then went off to start fiddling around in the kitchen. “Cadance, is there something wrong?” Champagne Dreams passed her cousin-in-law while the latter was on the way to the throne room. The romance alicorn found that surprising; usually Champagne wasn’t found in the castle this early in the morning. “Oh, hello, Champagne. Odd seeing you here.” She nodded. “Well, I have a meeting with some staffers from the Summerdream Museum in Fallshoof. Unfortunately, they had a very busy schedule today and asked if we could meet at eight. I agreed to it, but since I figured that it would be too far to travel from my family’s mansion to here, I opted to stay the night in one of the guest rooms.” She sighed theatrically and added, “Couldn’t sleep a wink; too used to my husband’s warm touch near me.” “Glad to see you’re doing so well,” Cadance commented. “How is your family doing?” “Blue’s just wonderful. I wish you would come over sometime and visit; I’m sure he’d love to see you again.” The words were a lie and both mares knew it. “Additionally, Silver Platter? I do wish he would find a nice mare and settle down; he’s a bit restless in his youthful years and while I certainly understand the need to ‘run in the meadow’, even still – he’s a prince and should compunct himself as one. “As for Lily…while I do believe my little filly has found herself a paramour, she doesn’t wish to discuss it. Perhaps she’s dating beneath her station and doesn’t wish to admit such a shame to her father.” She gave Cadance a weak smile and said, “Certainly, I wouldn’t mind, but you know how my husband can be at times. He hasn’t completely changed his habits.” “I…see. Well, perhaps we can all go out to dinner after our meeting with Blueblood,” Cadance commented, knowing that wouldn’t be the case. “I think you’d be interested in meeting my son.” “Ah, yes – I’d heard that you recently adopted,” Champagne replied. “Well, it should be interesting. If my dearest and I can arrange it, certainly, count us in.” “That would be great,” Cadance said with a smile she didn’t really feel; it had been something she’d picked up over the years from Celestia – the ability to smile and make it look authentic when she knew it wasn’t. “In any case, I have to prepare for Court, as well as some other things before my meeting with Blueblood, so if you’ll excuse me.” Champagne nodded and Cadance continued on, walking on towards the Solar Throne. As she walked off, Champagne tried hard to tamp down the rage she felt on her face; she’d heard rumors over the last few days that Cadance had adopted a foal that wasn’t a pony. Did she adopt some mongrel hybrid, like the chef in the kitchen whose mother was a donkey? Or something even more obscene, like a minotaur or kitsune? Maybe even a human, if she truly wanted to shame herself? What was she thinking? She wasn’t, Champagne told herself as she continued down the hallway towards her objective. She’s just being the Avatar of Love, not the Avatar of Braincells – I’m not truly sure she has any in that pretty little head of hers. In any case, Champagne put it out of her mind, stopping in an alcove down the empty hallway. Summoning her magic, she focused, pulling a small vial of green liquid from a hidden satchel she had in her mane. Uncorking the vial, she powered up a new spell, her horn turning a brilliant blue before fading. A second later, before her stood a copy of herself; her true self: Sunset Shimmer. The doppelganger had been created from her own mane and been trained to serve semi-independently, always asking for permission to execute the big deals. Using the doppelganger had allowed her and “Sunset” to be in two locations at once, and also helped to serve as “proof” that Champagne was serving as Sunset’s benefactor in running the Purehooves. The doppleganger looked at Champagne, vacant-eyed. “How may I serve you, Mistress?” “Form Sixty-One,” Champage abruptly said, and watched as Sunset’s eyes glowed a myriad of colors as the mental suggestions took hold. Champagne had programmed her doppelganger to make sure she was usable in a variety of situations, and had even once or twice had her impersonate herself – as Champagne – while the real one attended to other business. The glaze in Sunset’s eyes went away, and she blinked. Looking around, she said, “Are you sure this is a good idea to have me with you, your highness?” Champagne smiled sweetly. “Sunset, anything you did in the past is that; you’re my secretary, you’ve served me faithfully for years, and I couldn’t trust anypony more than you. Besides, we’ve been friends since foalhood – why are you still calling me ‘your highness’?” “Look, Chammie, you and I might have grown up together,” the doppelganger said, reacting to its “programming”, “but here you’re still a princess, and I’m still just your secretary.” “Not just a secretary,” Champagne commented as she ushered her servant down the hall, “but a good one: trust me, I know you like I know myself. Now, did you bring the documentation to speak to the delegation?” The museum’s delegation was a legitimate meeting, but who Champagne really wanted to talk to was Display Space, the most junior member of the group – as well as her regional commander for the Purehooves, a stallion whose father had killed himself when he lost his job to humans. He’d sought the Purehooves out and had worked himself up the ranks in no time flat, an impressive accomplishment. The pieces are falling into place, Champagne thought, a soft smile coming onto her face, and soon my husband and I will rule all – and we will make the other species beg for mercy! “Okay, mark that area just like I showed you,” Twilight Sparkle instructed. “On it!” Shining Dawn chirped happily, eager to help her mother. Flittering over to the area of the ruined containment center they were currently still quarantined and trapped in, she started to clear away rubble from the area, making sure she had enough space to create the rune her mother had shown her. Twilight, for her part, smiled widely with motherly pride. “She learns fast,” Twilight said, the swelling of joy in her chest palpable. “She may be untrained, but I think she has the makings of a mage within her.” “I’ve…already done the apprentice route, Twi,” Sweetie Belle coughed, barely able to stand. The curse was claiming her fast, and unless they did something about it soon – meaning tonight – then there would be nothing else they could do for her. Every minute counted, and Twilight hoped that nothing would go wrong. Now it was just a matter of racing against the clock. “Twi?” Sweetie looked up at her boss and mentor with glazed eyes. “If I…if I don’t make it…tell Pip that I….” “You’ll make it.” Twilight pointed to her daughter, who had already started working on the next layer of runes, without Twilight even having asked her to. “Your niece will need you.” Sweetie smiled wanly. “I have more than enough nieces and nephews. I was hoping to have a foal of my own by now.” Sweetie studiously avoided saying anything about Pip; Twilight didn’t know and she didn’t want to upset anything, especially when the mare knew she was fighting for her own life. “That’ll happen, I’m sure of it.” Twilight took Sweetie’s hoof in hers and stroked it, trying to get her to relax. “Have I ever told you how proud you make me, Sweetie?” “About a dozen times, at least. The first time when I found out I was adept at magic. After when you made me your apprentice, and then after that when I became a mage on my own, then every time I was promoted, then….” Sweetie flashed a grin. “Don’t worry about me, Twi. Check on Rarity and the others, and I’ll still be right here. In fact, if you need me to, I can help direct Shiny to set things up.” “Okay. Just don’t strain yourself, okay?” “I promise I won’t.” Sweetie watched Twilight walk off to check on the others, then nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a voice behind her, “You know, she’s still worried about you.” Sweetie turned to see Shining. So much of her is like Twi – her voice, her stance, the way she carries herself like Twi first did when we met back in Ponyville. That memory, in the wake of the defeat of Nightmare Moon, when the silly, eager filly that Sweetie used to be met the somewhat shy, bookish unicorn, without any idea of the great destiny that she would face, much less the fact that Sweetie herself would join Twilight on that journey eventually. “I know,” Sweetie told her. “That’s the thing about family: they’ll always worry about you whether or not it’s warranted. I get the feeling you’re not familiar with that?” Shining shook her head. “Chrysalis cares nothing for her troops, save those that are her acknowledged brood. Anything else is a pawn to be used or thrown away, so long as it furthers her goals. I may have been surrounded by pepsis and changelings that I was related to, but I have never known family until now – until others showed me that there’s a way better way than being nothing more than a broken, unfeeling tool.” “You’re no tool,” Sweetie told her, catching the sorrow when she’d said tool. “You’re the daughter of Twilight Sparkle, and you have the blood of some of the most powerful unicorns in history flowing through you. Besides, you’re my niece: if anypony ever tells you that you’re nothing but a tool, they’ll have words with me, got that?” Shining leaned forward, giving Sweetie a nuzzle and a hug. “Got it. So what now?” “Well, I see you were working on a spell matrix.” Focusing on the distance, Sweetie could just make out the edges of a few of the runes, but it was more than enough. “And a pretty advanced one, too. Way more than just first year at the Academy; these are the sort of matrices that you learn when you start an apprenticeship.” Despite the pain of the curse burning through her as she used her magic, Sweetie focused on the runes, seeing that they held a latent charge. That shouldn’t really be possible, not at her level of skill, unless she’s a lot more advanced than she seems…. Sweetie looked on at the seemingly-teenage pepsis in front of her. Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised: she is the daughter of Twilight Sparkle, after all. “Twi, Ah still think yer completely off yer rocker, gal!” Applejack said as Twilight explained the plan to her. Applejack had already heard it once, but had now asked Twilight to explain it again, just in case. Given that she was no mage, but more familiar with magic than the average earth pony due to her station, the former farmmare was beginning to wonder if her sister royal had finally slipped the surly bonds of sanity. “It will work, Applejack, I know it will!” Twilight insisted. “You had faith in me earlier, what happened then?” “Ah didn’t think you’d come up with a cockamamie plan t’ get us all killed!” Applejack retorted, though she knew Twilight wasn’t to blame for any of this. Without a doubt, that was entirely due to both Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon, and both were still out there, causing catastrophes for Equestria and who knew how many other nations besides. That was the job of the Knights: to solve problems like that…but they couldn’t do it if they were stuck here, which is why Twilight had devised her plan. If it worked, they’d all be mobile again. If it didn’t…stopping the bad guys would no longer be a concern. As Twilight turned away, Applejack murmured, “Sorry, Twi. Ah know y’ jest tryin’ t’ do yer job, an’ get us out of here. Ah’m…Ah’m afraid. Whut if it doesn’t work? Ah don’t want mah family t’ have t’ go on without me. An’ Ah don’t want t’ lose any o’ y’all.” “You won’t,” the unicorn insisted. “We’ll all make it through this, and then we’ll stop both of them before anything else happens.” Twilight took her old friend’s hooves in hers. “And then once we do? Everything’s going to change, Applejack.” The look of confidence and surety was so etched on Twilight’s face that it was hard for the earth pony to deny her friend’s faith in what was to come. “Now that’s the Twilight Ah know that c’n solve all this,” Applejack said with a grin. “C’mon, let me go get some food, an’ when that’s done, then y’ c’n tell me what we’re doin’ next.” “What’s next is that we wake up Rarity and Rainbow, then explain what’s going on. It’s going to be hard enough, after everything that happened, to get us all on the same page again. But if we’re going to make it through all this together, then we have to try.” “Father, I’m not sure this is a wise idea,” Elusive said to Silversteel as they met in the location where the latter was convalescing. “You’re still recovering from your own injuries, and now putting yourself at risk further is a foolish thing to do.” “Your mother needs me,” Silversteel replied, as if it was the most natural – and only – thing in the world. “If that briefing I received an hour ago is true, then Rarity needs me and I will not shirk my duty, as her husband, to stand by her side.” Elusive gave his father a lidded look. “Yes, I do believe that was what you already told me. A dozen times, no less. But look at it from my position, Father: my mother is on the verge of death. You’ve been injured, as has my wife. I’m tending to my children with DJ’s help, but she cannot be everywhere at once. And frankly, I dislike like this idea of you throwing yourself at the problem. You’re no schoolcolt, you know.” “Son, in case you forgot, I’m a military stallion. Always have been, always will be. And your mother has been up against things far worse than I have. You’re too young to remember the bugbear infestation we had when you were six months old. Lost a lot of good ponies during that fracas, and your aunt Goldie was hurt as well. But we made it through that, and we’ll continue to work our way through problems. Because that’s what your mother and I do.” “I still don’t like this,” Elusive said, leaning back in his seat. “You don’t have to like it, son. You don’t have to even understand it. You just have to accept that it’s going to happen. Your mother, despite everything, means the world to me and I don’t think I could be the stallion I am if I let her go into this alone. Maybe I’ll be risking myself for nothing. Maybe I won’t walk away from it – Sweetie’s down for the count, and she’s in as much danger now. Or maybe it’ll be the last time I see her. But the thing is, danger or not, stupid or not, I’m going. It’s part of the vow I took when I married her.” The young unicorn then decided to use his trump card: “Then what about DJ? Don’t you think she gets to have something to say about this? Or are you fine with just disappearing out of her life so soon after coming back into it?” Silversteel shuddered in his seat, and by the look on his face, Elusive knew he’d struck home – perhaps a little too successfully. Backing down, the younger stallion began, “I apologize. That was untoward of me.” But the older stallion sighed. “No, you’re right. I didn’t take that into account. Just as I haven’t taken into account Minty’s loss…or the fact that I just recently came out of a coma and nearly died, taking your sister and her husband with me.” He shook his head. “It’s just…none of this feels real. I’m not sure how I can quantify it, Elusive.” “What do you mean?” “Do you remember the myth about the four ponies of the apocalypse? Celestia once told me that they were based on four real-life ponies that served her mother, but got out of hoof and committed atrocities. As a result, Queen Faust sentenced them to roam the world, unable to have peace until they repented for their sins. Even Celestia doesn’t know what truly happened to them; she believes that her mother imprisoned them. Either way, the legend remains.” “I don’t understand wha—” “It feels like since the day when your mother and your aunts confronted Chrysalis and got waylaid by Nightmare Moon that events have been spinning out of control and that all of us who are surviving are doing so by the skin of our teeth. Most of us have been in life-threatening situations over the past few weeks, and I have no reason to believe that it’s all nothing but flukes. Something is changing, son. Something that wants to make me tell you to leave Equestria – hell, leave our world – and never come back.” When Elusive stared at his father, Silversteel said, “Something big is coming, and I think we’ve just seen the start.” “And so how does this have to tie in with you?” “I took a vow to protect Equestria. And while I’m not in the best of shape, protecting her is what I do. Besides, I also have your mother and your aunts to think of. And lastly, I know Soarin’’s going to be there, and far be it from me to just let him do whatever he wants without me getting involved to either slow him down or drag him along with me.” That earned Silversteel a chuckle from his son; Soarin’ and Elusive had always gotten along. Regardless of that cheer-up, however, Elusive wasn’t sitting easy with his father’s decision. “And there’s no way that I can convince you to change your mind?” Silversteel chuckled. “You’d have a better chance getting Celestia and Luna to join one of those matchmaking sites they always show on TV. I mean, Match.com? PonyDate? Well, maybe Tia; she’s always been the more technical-minded of the two.” “I see.” Elusive got up, then walked over and hugged his father. “Please be careful. I’m running out of family members at this rate, and I do want you and Mother to finally make up with DJ, as well as have the chance to finally discuss Minty with her.” “That’s a whole different mess in and of itself,” Silversteel mourned. “She’s vexing me,” Faust said in the Dreamlands. At the moment, the great alicorn was conversing with Discord over coffee and donuts (her choice) and onion juice and stale bread (his.) “I know she’s pushing my buttons, but she’s doing a damn good job of it.” “Well,” Discord said in arch tones, “you did do it to her, first.” “Because a life was at stake! You know what she would have done!” the alicorn practically shouted. “I know, old friend, I know,” he told her gently. “Who was it that suggested it to you, after all? It was a great way not only to stop her from committing that atrocity, but to cause a grand amount of chaos on my behalf. And besides, I have always been on your side, you know that – her side is more generally in tune with mine, but in the long run yours is the better bargain; you can’t cause chaos when all around you is nothing but death. That’s the ultimate equalizer, the last level of order – and my existence thrives on anything but.” “You’re a flatterer,” Faust said with a smile. “But seriously, I need to know what else I can do to thwart her plans. She has means and ways of getting to things that I can’t.” “And vice versa, in your regard: you have dozens of advantages that she cannot hope to claim,” he reminded her. “And there’s little more I can do. The rest must fall into Luna’s hooves, for she is the one looking into the riddles.” “I see,” Faust said calmly. If there was a mare who was attuned to mysteries and enigmas, it would be her younger daughter, the Princess of the Night. “I have every confidence that she’ll be able to solve them. I just hope she can do it in time.” “If she doesn’t,” Discord warned, “we will be in for the kind of roller-coaster ride that might even make me beg for a little order…and by that point, we might be a little too late.” “So….” Star Swirl began, looking at Rumble over the edge of the table. “So….” he replied, looking back at her. It was the late morning, and both were sitting at Star’s kitchen table, drinking coffee and wondering what happened next. Not much sleep was had last night, and Star was glad that Spines was over at her friend’s place; it made what was going on a lot more tolerable when you didn’t have a baby dragon wondering just what was going on. Star had woken up next to the wounded pegasus in her bed, and from the look of things, it had not been a quiet night, either. She was sore, and not all of it was from yesterday’s misadventure. Especially in that part. She peered into her coffee once more, as if hoping that the Arabica and Kona blend would be able to give her some sort of answer as to what to do in this situation. “So….” she said again, trying to figure out what more to say. Finally, she looked right into his eyes and asked, “Hungry? I can make us some breakfast, if you want.” “Sure, if you don’t mind,” he said, a mere answer, instead of the questions that she required, like what happened, why he and she went as far as they did, and was this the end of it all? She knew all the stories that she’d been told about “foxhole romances,” as the term was called in the military; truth be told, she’d had a couple of them while on assignment with other mages – those she knew weren’t going to work out and go anywhere. So why did something feel a little different about this one? As she walked to the kitchen to start putting something together, Rumble asked, “So…about last night….” She froze, unable to take another step. She turned to look at him, and to his mortification, his wings were on full display. She knew what the deal with pegasus wings was, and that they were basically telegraphing what a pegasus thought in that regard. She looked at him with a mixture of fear and wonder, unable to say anything and hoping he’d clarify all. On Rumble’s end, his brain was short circuiting. The first thing he wanted to do was to rip off his wings, but the traitors had moved a little too fast for his comfort. He dared not stand up, because the other little traitor was probably going to hint something as well. And then there was something about his head spinning, and he wasn’t altogether sure that was due to the supposed concussion he had from the high-speed impact. So he kept looking at the mare who was half his age, the one he’d slept with: Sweetie Belle’s former apprentice, the mare he’d turned to ask for help from, not end up in the sack with. But he’d ended up saving her life. And from what he remembered of last night, she’d initiated things, and he hadn’t exactly been inclined to turn them down. And past that very strange meet-cute, a whole lot of stuff had gone on. Part of it had surprised him: she definitely knew what she was doing when it came to that sort of stuff, possibly even more than he did. But the point was that he knew that he and she had formed the two-backed beast and would have to figure out where to go next. “What about last night?” she finally spoke, seeming as though she was reluctant to voice anything. She looked at him and asked, “So…no breakfast?” Rumble was trying to think of how he and she could discuss it in a neutral setting. Then an idea hit him: “Tell you what: Why don’t we go out and grab some breakfast? That way you don’t have to cook and we can discuss…things.” “Things? Are there things that we need to discuss?” Star looked at him, then back at the kitchen. The last thing on her mind was cooking, as that would probably delay the inevitable. But walking out in public would cause its own concerns. And what would Sweetie think, if she just happened to show up? That could cost Star her chance forever, not that Sweetie’s relationship with Pip made it any easier. And yet, I wanted something last night, and I wanted it with him – what does that tell me? She looked at the stallion before her, twice her age, and wondered what it was that echoed within her. Was it the slight attraction that she felt for him? He was a looker, no doubt about that. Was it because he saved her life? She was grateful for that, but she didn’t exactly see her trade favor for favor, in a manner of speaking. Or was it just her need to be loved by somepony aside from Spines? “Any suggestions?” Star asked. “What about Sugarcube Corner?” he volunteered. “I haven’t been to the original in a while, and I can’t believe that it’s changed much over the years.” “Sounds good to me,” she commented, falling into line right next to him. Maybe by the time they got there, she’d think of something else to say – something that might just make her feel less conflicted about everything. The REA helicopter pulled away from the Ponyville Garrison, moving on its flight path towards Canterlot. Within the helicopter were the pilot, the co-pilot and two mares, watching their families wave them off. “Oh, don’t be such a worrywart, Flutters!” Pinkie said with a smile. “This plan of Twilight’s will work! I just know it!” “We haven’t even heard what the plan is,” Fluttershy reminded her friend, “and the fact that Twilight asked us to bring our Elements and retrieve the others is a concern. I mean, I have faith in Twilight, but I dislike not having details.” “You know, you’re sounding a little like your old self,” Pinkie told her. “Relax, okay? Twilight’ll have brained her way out of this, we’ll use the Elements and BOOM! Everything’ll be perfectly fine. Really!” “But we’re talking about the Elements, here, Pinkie. They didn’t work when we faced Nightmare Moon, because we were all disparate! How can you be so sure that they’ll work this time?” Pinkie’s face took a thoughtful, sober look, the rare expression flitting upon the businessmare’s countenance. “Because we’re family. Because when all is said and done, Fluttershy, we are family, and I can’t bear to see the ponies I love suffer anymore. And so I choose to believe – I have to believe – that Twilight knows what she’s doing, and that she’s doing it for all of us.” Fluttershy nodded and smiled. “Did your Pinkie Sense tell you that?” Pinkie simply shook her head, even though a soft, fillyish smile came onto her face. She pointed at her heart, saying, “This told me.” “You sure about this?” Matt asked his daughter. “Sounds dangerous, especially after what you went through – and I’m not happy about that.” “Dad, that wasn’t my fault,” she told him. “Besides, Twilight needs me there, and if there’s one member of the family I’ll always support, it’s her. Plus, Sweetie and AJ are involved and I can’t let them down either.” Anna looked at her daughter, then at Mike. “What’s your take on this?” “Truthfully? I’m in agreement with you: I don’t like the idea that DJ’s putting herself at risk by going, especially since she’s been more of a disaster magnet than usual.” DJ folded her arms. “Gee, thanks.” “I’m being serious here, sweetheart. Your life has been at risk no less than three times in the past few weeks, and each time you nearly died. You almost bit the big one in Singapore, for fuck’s sake, DJ!” “So did you,” DJ pointed out. “How the hell do you think I felt when you fell off the side of Cloudsdale? Or the fact that I managed to barely save your ass with my tail?” “Sweetheart, I’m the one who’s supposed to risk my life – it comes with the territory. But you’re not military; when push comes to shove, you’re a civilian, and not supposed to be in the line of fire.” She gave him a defiant look. “You’re not going to make me change my mind. They need me, else they wouldn’t have asked for me to be there. I won’t let them down.” Anna looked at her daughter and her son-in-law. “I’m not taking sides here, kids, but…have either of you thought about your sons? What would happen to them if one of you was lost? If both?” That argument stopped everything right there, as both of the younger adults halted in mid-snipe, their words pulled before they could even utter them. As both looked at the older woman, Anna smirked. “I didn’t think you did. DJ – and Mike, I’m sure your parents would agree – you two have more than just yourselves to look after, you know. You both know that either Matt and I or your parents, Mike, would happily take your sons in if we needed to – but how do you think everyone would feel if we lost you both? It’s a terrible thing, to lose a child, and you can’t have forgotten how I was when I saw you after thinking you were dead, DJ.” The look on DJ’s face indicated that no, she hadn’t thought about it. Mike, though it was clear that it had crossed his mind, wasn’t about to gainsay his wife on that, especially since he knew that in the heat of the moment, it hadn’t been a priority to him. Seeing that she got their attention, Anna continued. “DJ, Twilight will understand if you can’t go. Mike can go in your place, since if I remember what we were told, humans are immune – though, Mike, given the condition of where they are, I would personally prefer that you didn’t.” “I’ll contact some of my duty staff and liaise with REA forces on site and see if we can’t get some sort of rig hooked up. That way DJ can be there in spirit if not in person,” Mike suggested. “And as for me, well, it’s what she said: they’re family and they need us, so one of us has to go. Given how the situation is, if there’s another round of changeling insurgents, they’ll be at their weakest and they’ll need someone to cover them. In fact, I’ll contact the quarterdeck and ask for human volunteers. Better be safe than sorry.” “Good idea,” Matt told him. “Will that be okay, DJ?” DJ looked at her parents, then her husband. She knew she was being stupid and obstinate about the whole thing, but that was just in her nature. “Fine, but…be careful, Mike?” “Careful’s what I do,” he told her. “Guess I’d better go change into my working gear and make some calls.” He walked over and kissed her on the forehead. “Everything’s going to be fine, DJ. They’ll be safe, and if anyone tries anything, we’ll put them down.” “You’d better,” she insisted. He flashed her a smile and he went off to change. Without prompting, Matt suddenly said, “No.” “No?” DJ asked. “Yes, as in, I changed your diapers, put you through school and college and so I know what sneaky shit you’re up to, mainly because you learned it from your mother and I,” Matt told her. “Sorry, kiddo, but no, you’re not ‘gonna go out for a walk’ at a convenient time and suddenly head towards the hospital. We’re not stupid.” Anna merely nodded at her husband’s observation. DJ shook her head. “Do you really think I’d try that?” “Yes,” both parents said at once. In a camp thousands of miles to the south, a man looked at a changeling queen. “You know that if you do this, you will have the world on your backs – both worlds,” Ghino di Tacco warned. “I do…and frankly, I don’t care,” Chrysalis told him. “I want this ready to go, and I’m sure our erstwhile partner does as well. Your people know who to get and how to get it, and once it’s done, then I’ll send in everything I have to claim the lands.” “You’ll lose a lot of troops – a lot of troops,” he told her. “I just conquered every changeling hive out there, thanks to your troops!” she laughed. “I have more than enough troops to spare. Besides, with the additional training that you’ve been giving my pepsis, they will make far superior troops than the drones ever would.” She added, “It seems that mating with non-changeling species has been a net benefit.” She then eyed him and asked, “Perhaps you are interested?” “Sorry, never mix business with pleasure with the employer”, Di Tacco demurred. “It’s unprofessional, and besides, you have already offered me the services of one of your subordinates as a liaison, so my needs are met in that regard.” The changeling queen shrugged irritably. “Suit yourself, though I daresay I might be able to change the minds of your subordinates.” “Entirely none of my business, madam; what they do when not on the clock is their own business, though I would inform you that they too are professionals. Keeping constant vigil is what prevents us from ending up dead or worse – and I can assure you, we make a lot of enemies in this business.” “I see,” Chrysalis said, then continued to look at the plans that sat on the table. She didn’t know too much about human technologies, but she knew a weapon when she saw one. Though how this spear-like weapon was supposed to be something of such power that it would be able to annihilate the alicorns was beyond her. “And you’re sure that this will be able to work against Celestia and Luna?” she inquired again. “Your majesty, lesser versions of this weapon were used a century ago to stop a war that threatened to wipe out a large amount of mankind. The weapons did untold damage and forced a previously unstoppable empire to its knees.” Di Tacco knew there was more to Japan’s defeat by the US in World War II, but a good salesman never muddied the waters by giving an overly long explanation. “In order to successfully kidnap the scientists, I will need your best changelings, ones that you may consider disposable – because once these people are confirmed to be in your custody, you will start a global panic that might start the offensive early.” He pointed to the distance. “Over those mountains is the ocean, and Equestrian, Griphonican and Polaran vessels prowl the seas. American, Russian and British warships are starting to make ventures into this world as well. Now imagine each of those, armed with missiles not as powerful as the one you wish but no less lethal for the damage they can do. And then imagine submarines – vessels you can’t see because they’re nearly always underwater – and those carry the kind of missiles that this one is.” “Nothing ventured is nothing gained, correct?” she asked him. “I have waited more than enough for my revenge against Equestria. I will have those lands, I will own those ponies and I will have the heads of the alicorns mounted on spikes in the palace. I want the world to know that changelings are the superior species of this world, and if the human realm wants the resources of this one, then it’d best be prepared to acknowledge its rightful empress.” “I’m sure that day will come soon enough,” Di Tacco said, without a trace of emotion. That only served to annoy Chrysalis further. In an earlier age, the Ballroom of the Skies was a small but serviceable chamber used for smaller soirees. The finest artisans of Cloudsdale and other pegasi cities had made the place a beautiful work of art, from the cloud bunting that sat at the top of the walls to the half-pillars, ensconced in the walls, that brought a serene majesty to the room; from the finest marble floor, quarried from a mountain considered nigh sacred to the winged ponies, to the small, inset stage that allowed chamber quartets and similar arrangements to play here. It had been this room where Celestia and Luna had met Robin so long ago. But the world and times changed, and not even ballrooms could stand by it. Now the ballroom had been turned into a large conference center, modernized for heavy-duty diplomatic sessions and other matters of similar import. While the décor remained, it now clashed with the panoramic displays, whiteboards and volumetric displays on the large table in the center of the room. The chamber stage now was a set of workstations for staffers who worked the room and worked both the tech and communications for the room. Even the marble flooring had not gone unscathed, mostly covered up by the carpeting moved in so that the table wouldn’t mar the exquisite tiles. What had once been a welcoming and inviting ballroom was now the Skies Grand Conference Room, the most secure room in the palace complex that didn’t have a military-grade security clearance attached to it – and that was due to be fixed in the near future. As she sat down in the seat assigned to her, Lyra looked over the documentation that she’d received from a courier this morning. What she was reading…it both shocked and terrified her. “Your majesty,” she said to Celestia, “you can’t be serious about this.” “I am very much so,” Celestia said, favoring her diplomat with a smile. “You are a very capable mare, Lyra Heartstrings, and I cannot think of somepony more suited than this.” “Oh, I don’t know, what about…well, everypony else?” she asked. Turning to Cadance she asked, “Surely you don’t agree with her, do you?” “I was the one who suggested it, Lyra,” the romance alicorn said with a smile. “I believe in you.” “Gee, thanks,” the unicorn muttered. “You know I’m not a politician, right?” “You’re a diplomat, Viscountess,” Luna chimed in. “There’s not much of a difference. Besides, you’re the kind that we like around here – the honest type.” Lyra would have said more, save at that point, Blueblood walked in, flanked by Champagne Dreams and, to Celestia’s surprise, Sunset Shimmer. Before Celestia could say anything, Champagne asked, “Your majesty, if I may: I know you have issues with my secretary, but she’s proven to be invaluable. All I ask is that she be allowed to prove herself. Plus, even if not, given the urgency of the situation, I don’t think it’s wise to worry about such issues right now.” “That’s fine, but I would like to have a chance to talk to her later,” Celestia added. Champagne bristled nearly imperceptibly but nodded. “As you wish, your majesty.” Then she turned to Sunset. “Take a seat at one of the control consoles and monitor whatever needs to be dealt with.” The junior unicorn bowed, then walked over to the computer. “Seems unusual of you to have her as a servant, Champagne,” Luna observed, “given what I know of her past.” “I believe in second chances, your highness,” the junior princess replied to the alicorn, “and besides, she and I grew up together, old foalhood friends. I know her to be completely trustworthy, and I will argue that point to anypony.” “So noted. Besides, I was just inquiring, not accusing.” “Fair enough, Princess,” Champagne commented. Several other ministers filtered in over the next few minutes, with Spitfire, serving as Acting Defense Minister, bringing up the rear. As they all entered, Celestia said, “Everypony, please take a seat. For what we have to discuss here, we don’t have much time to do it in, so we must make this fast. Furthermore, because I don’t want to waste time with pleasantries, I expect everypony here to be honest and forthright – don’t hide what you really want to say because you feel you might hurt another’s feelings. Now’s the time to be clear. “With that, let’s begin. As many of you know, four of our Knights Elemental, as well as one of our senior mages, has been infected with a curse that is slowly killing them. As of two days ago, Knight Elemental Commander Twilight Sparkle has discovered a way to counteract that curse, and has cured herself in the process.” The murmurs, as expected, filled the room, and even Lyra did a double-take at that, looking with surprise at Cadance, who merely gave an imperceptible nod. “However, she has chosen to stay in the quarantine zone in order to assist her fellow Knights in vanquishing their own curses. However, during the attack on the hospital, Senior Mage Sweetie Belle was injured and infected as well. Furthermore, Knight Elemental Rarity is in an advanced stage, and Knight Elemental Rainbow Dash is pregnant, complicating matters. “However, Archmagus Sparkle has uncovered a method, using the Elements, by which we can completely cure the afflicted Knights and Mage Belle. However, it will take a lot of power, as well as other necessary steps, that will involve the presence of we three alicorns.” Celestia fixed her eyes on each of her ponies and added, “I will not lie: this step puts us at an extreme risk to the curse, and because we will be using our magic to the utmost, there is more than a slight risk that we three, as well as the Knights, will fall.” A noble in the back of the room gasped. “Your majesty, you’re not saying that—!” Luna nodded. “My sister is saying so, Count Andravida: we could all fail in trying to stop the curse, and if so, it will cost us our lives. If such is the case, The REAF has orders to saturate bomb the area, followed by a permanent sealing spell thrown up by the Mage Guild, and there will be general request made by the government to the mages of the world – and it will likely take all of them to pull this off – to take the vicinity of the hospital grounds and launch it into deep space, with no chance of it returning. After that, Protocol Rebirth will be enacted. “One last thing: in order to prevent potential public panic, the operation – and if our failure occurs, Protocol Rebirth – will be enacted at sunset tonight – or roughly, in about six hours.” The room practically exploded into pandemonium and it took several minutes for order to be restored. Finally, when the room calmed down to a dull but terrified roar, it was a shocked Spitfire who asked the impossible: “Are you seriously suggesting that Protocol Rebirth be activated – that we make that idiot—” she said, pointing to Blueblood, “—King of Equestria?” “I would watch your tongue if I were you, General,” Blueblood said archly. “While I am more than willing to disregard the slight for the sake of the realm, I will not tolerate anything that would undermine my potential rule should it come to that.” “Don’t worry, nephew,” Luna said with a flourish, “because it wouldn’t. Protocol Rebirth requires the nation be turned into a constitutional monarchy with the majority of the head of government authority being invested in the prime minister should it come to pass.” Blueblood shifted in his chair; it was clear that he’d only read the protocol documents insofar as they made him king. “And, praytell, who would be this prime minister?” he asked in a stilted voice. Cadance gestured towards her left. “Based on her long service and her diplomatic record, we have agreed that Lyra Heartstrings, Viscountess Morgan, will assume the position of Prime Minister of Equestria, should the alicorns fall. She commands the respect of good many diplomats in both worlds and would be an invaluable asset to the realm in a time of crisis.” The flicker in Blueblood’s eyes as he watched his supreme power head virtually defenestrated with prejudice would have been comical had he not fixed Lyra with a murderous stare. “I see, then. Well, Viscountess, we shall see if you wield power effective—” “Objection!” Everypony in the room turned to see one of the nobles, a fat, balding pegasus stallion known for being one of Blueblood’s supporters, leap to his hooves. “The viscountess cannot stand as minister; she’s compromised. She is married not only to somepo—no, someone who is not of Equestriani standing, he’s not even native to any species we should allow to live within the country’s borders!” The pony huffed. “Perhaps it was acceptable when the viscountess was a mere fillyfooler, but now she chooses to rut wi—” “Lord Karabair, with all due,” Lyra snarled, “Go fuck yourself. You can criticize me all you want, but the moment you even consider throwing things at my husband and children, you’ve crossed a line that I will punt your fat ass back across, got that?” “Buck. Plot.” Karabair narrowed his eyes. “It seems the good ambassador cannot even remember the slurs she grew up with, instead preferring the human ones. How do we know she won’t be in the pocket of Washington, London or Beijing?” “You’re out of line, Oakbarrel.” Fancy Pants, always willing to believe in the Crown, stepped up to back Lyra by pointedly using Count Karabair’s actual name vice his title. “Ambassador Phillips has been an immense asset to the nation and I feel she would make for a wonderful prime minister. I feel I speak for many of the nobility when I say that I believe in her ability to rule.” A second voice, an earth pony mare, joined in the counter argument. “Perhaps, but how are we supposed to take the word of Lyra Phillips, not Lyra Heartstrings? She doesn’t even use her secondary name, but instead has replaced it with a human surname! I suspect the only reason she didn’t fully change her name is because Lyra is a human name as well! And her children!” The mare then turned to address – or more accurately, accuse – the mother of the children in question. “Did you or did you not pick names that existed in both cultures?” Spitfire chimed in. “Hey, knock it off, Wine Harvest! Lyra’s one of the good guys, and she’s got my support!” Lyra was about to speak, but held back when Celestia looked at her with sympathetic eyes which seemed to say, Let me deal with this. Looking at those assembled, the eldest princess said, “The positions will not be changed. You may have misgivings, and I understand that. But if we alicorns lose our lives in the service of our realm, then I want to ensure that those who are more than capable of ruling shall do so. For the nonce, these are who we put our faith in and they will not be countermanded, understood?” Reluctantly everypony else nodded, and the room fell silent. “Okay, now that that issue’s out of the way,” Celestia said, “Now we have to go over all the plans so that a smooth transition would be possible should this come to pass; I don’t think anypony would disagree if I said that panic in the streets of our major cities would be any kind of blessing at all. Please turn to page forty-two of the documentation, and we’ll proceed from there.” In Silversteel’s guest quarters at the base, there was a knock at the door. The general had been reading from a book when he heard it. “C’mon on in, Soarin’,” he said. “Not expecting anypony else at this time.” The pegasus stallion walked in, wearing his dress uniform. “Reading from a book? Are you trying to go for the grandpa look, Silver?” The earth stallion laughed. “I am a grandfather, in case you haven’t forgotten.” “Oh, I haven’t. Looking at you makes me feel really fucking old, especially when I realize my own boy’s just about at that age.” The pegasus shook his head and asked, “So, how’d Elusive take the news?” “He thinks I’m being suicidal, and that I’m risking myself needlessly. I love my son, but I think he picked up his mother’s sense of worrywartism without the spine to back it up. My girls were always a little braver, admittedly.” “Yeah, but he’s a good kid, dutiful son and all that,” Soarin’ said. “Now my son, there’s somepony who I’m surprised managed to make it to captain without mine or Rainbow’s help.” “Blitz is brave, one of the finest officers I’ve ever seen,” Silver added. “And I usually don’t comment, much less praise, junior officers, because for the most part, they’re worthless. But your son’s sharp, Soarin’, and don’t you ever forget that.” “Yeah,” the pegasus agreed, and the two stallions stared at each other, unable to speak for a few minutes. Then Silver stood up and hugged his old friend. “You ready to go and face the music?” Soarin’ asked him as he let go. “To free our wives…or join them in the Great Pasture, I’m in,” Silver said soberly.