//------------------------------//
// Dealing With an Unpleasant Crowd 
// Story: The Decline and Fall of West Equestria:  Twilight's Tale 
// by StormLuna 
//------------------------------//

Early morning would arrive all too soon for us as none of us were able to get much sleep.  We were all very worried about how we were going to be received, especially Celestia and Luna.  As we wiped the sleep out of our eyes we headed into the dining hall for a quick snack before taking flight.  Given that none of the chefs were awake, we just had to scrounge around for something quick.  We decided to just eat some uncooked oats and headed on our way.

About thirty minutes later we began to fly over Canterlot.  Unfortunately for us a crowd had already gathered in the courtyard below the balcony where Celestia usually addresses her subjects.  As we flew overhead we were greeted by boos and insults regarding our leadership abilities.  The only positive thing said was a pony who yelled, "We love you Princess Twilight!"   

We quickly landed on the balcony and rushed inside to make plans on how we would handle this.  Celestia was the first to say anything, "Well, it looks like we will be dealing with an unhappy crowd."

Luna added, "We know that this is going to be most difficult for her but we think that it would be best if Twilight headed out onto the balcony first."

I asked, "Why me?"

Luna replied, "We believe it would be best if thou art the first to address them because they are not angry with thee.  They are very angry with us, especially our sister."

Celestia agreed, "Luna makes a good point Twilight.  I know that they love you and know that you are not responsible for what happened.  They know you were taken captive and they showed a lot of support for you during your time in captivity."

I replied, "Well ok, but I think we should eat first and besides you two have your royal duties you must do."

While we waited for breakfast and the time for Celestia and Luna to do their duties, we continued to talk about the direction of the country now that it is split but we became worried as the crowd outside became louder and the demands to speak were becoming more apparent.  Finally the moon had been lowered, the sun had been raised and we were eating breakfast.

While we were eating a royal guard rushed in and said, "Your Majesties, this does not look good.  This crowd is starting to look like a mob.  A few have torches and a couple have pitchforks."

Celestia gasped, "Oh my, this is going to be difficult."

Luna looked at me and could tell that I was very nervous upon hearing this.  Luna gave me a look of confidence and added, "Do not worry Twilight, we know thou will be able to calm them down as they love thee."

I gulped, "I certainly hope so."

We waited a few minutes until we decided to start this address.  Finally as I headed out on the balcony all the boos and heckling changed to a loud cheer.  I stood there at the edge of the balcony and waited for the crowd to quiet down.  Once they quieted down I began, 

"Citizens of Canterlot, you have no idea how happy I am to be able to see you again.  I am going to admit, while I have faced dangerous villains who sought the destruction of Equestria, this past year has probably been the most difficult year of my life.  It has not been myself that I have been worried about, but it has been being able to be here for you that I have worried about.  I want you to know that I love each and every one of you with all my heart and that if there is anything I can do for you, let me know."

The crowd began to cheer and I heard multiple ponies again yelling, "We love you Princess Twilight."

Once the crowd quieted down a bit I heard a less pleasant voice yelling from the crowd, it was Fancy Pants.  He yelled, "Princess Twilight, we demand to speak to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.  We want to know why they would so easily sign away so much of the country."

I replied, "Well uh..."

Fancy Pants yelled, "There is an angry mob down here and we demand answers!"

I said, "Ok."  I headed in to get the princesses and when I arrived I said, "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, things are not sounding really good.  Fancy Pants is demanding answers."

Luna sighed, "Ugh, he always is the one who thinks the world owes him everything."

Celestia interrupted, "Little sister, he is the one member of the nobility who seems to support us the most."

I asked, "Do you two want me to accompany you back out to the balcony?"

Celestia replied, "Please, they may not react so negatively if you do."

I nodded and we headed out to the balcony where we were greeted by booing, heckling and even some profanity despite me being there.  Fancy Pants yelled, "Princess Celestia, we demand to know why you signed away over half of the continent!  We demand to know why you put us at such an economic disadvantage!"

Celestia began, "Listen everypony, I'm not the one who was in charge of how this land would be split.  Starlight Glimmer was the one who drew up the map regarding the terms for her release."

A pony in the crowd yelled, "Couldn't you have just overpowered her and took Twilight?  Why would you have to negotiate?"

Celestia replied, "Listen, like I said on the TV that day, Starlight is more powerful than me.  I tried to break her aura to retrieve Twilight's cutie mark a couple of times but I couldn't.  Since I couldn't do that her power is greater than mine."

The crowd continued to boo and yell so I decided to step forward and see if I could calm them down.  I added, "Listen, had Celestia not did what she did, I would still have that equals sign cutie mark, me and my assistant would still be locked up in a Fillydelphia jail and a friend of mine would still not have her talent and likely be bankrupt.  Would you really want that?"  I paused for a minute and continued, "What Celestia did was an act of compassion."

Fancy Pants yelled, "What she did was NOT an act of compassion.  This was her putting you and your friend ahead of everypony else because you two are so close with her.  This was an act of nepotism!"

Another pony yelled, "So you think you are more important than the rest of us Twilight?  You think Celestia getting you free was worth putting all of us at an economic disadvantage?"

The crowd began to boo me too and I realized that the way I worded things was probably not the best.  I shrank back and Luna began to float above the balcony with her eyes glowing white.  She yelled, "Silence!  How dare thee accuse Princess Twilight of that!  We can do what we need to do to keep our economy strong."

I was happy when Luna did this as it caused the unhappy crowd to go silent.  I knew right then that if any one of the princesses would protect me from any unruly mobs, it would be Luna.  While Celestia is powerful and loved, Luna has the type of personality that will keep ponies in line.  When she landed I ran to her and said, "Thank you Luna!  Thank you for stopping their booing."

Luna said to me, "Of course Dear Twilight, they do not know of thy situation.  They know not of what it was like for thee to be held prisoner."

It was not long after Luna yelled at them that the crowd dispersed.  They know that when Luna yells, that she means business.  We headed back inside and realized that while Luna is good at causing crowds to disperse, that we would have to put up with more of this.  I looked at my fellow princesses and asked, "Your Majesties, do you think that any of these protests will become violent and that they may try to harm us."

Celestia replied, "I don't think so Twilight.  They know that if they do that they would do serious jail time."

Luna snarled, "If we have our way, we would banish them to the sun for all eternity and if they were to try to assassinate any of us, we would kill them." 

Celestia sighed, "Little sister, I know that you have your own ways of how you would deal out justice but we are benevolent, loving princesses.  The only instance where I would even consider the death penalty would be if they were to actually assassinate one of us."

I could sense that they were likely going to get into a nasty argument over a scenario that had not even happened yet so I decided to lighten the mood and suggest that we have a snack.  While they agreed, I could still sense a bit of tension between them.  After our snack I asked, "Your Majesties, do you think it would be safe for me to return home so I may address the ponies in Ponyville?"

Celestia replied, "Of course Twilight.  I'm sure they would love to hear from you and I know your friends will want to spend more time with you."

I nodded and headed back towards Ponyville.  I felt relatively stress free after this knowing that I will be heading home to my friends and to a town of ponies that for the most part love me.  If there are any angry ponies there, I would certainly hope that they would take their anger up to Canterlot rather than yell at me.