//------------------------------// // The Shoulder She Cries On (Gladius Stride) // Story: Aftermath of a Fallen Star // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Aftermath of A Fallen Star By Rated Ponystar Edited by The Unnamed Pawn and Commander X5 Pre-Read by: Magic Man and Chaotic Note Gladius Stride (The Shoulder She Cries On) *** Its funny how one’s fortune changes over the years, huh? I was once hated and despised by my fellow guards for being related to my brother. The traitor known as Gallant Heart. If you’re going to ask me if I hate or resent my brother for what happened then the answer is no. I loved my brother. I still do. I find it hard to believe that the stallion who carried me up the mountain when I was injured would do something as horrible as assassinate a princess. To this day I still don’t believe it. But I don’t want to talk about my brother. I’ve talked about him more than enough times. I want to talk about me... and Princess Celestia. If anypony has suffered more these past few years it is our Princess of the Sun. Having lost her daughter figure by her own subjects, the princess changed. I won’t say a total good way, but I will not say a bad way either. For one thing, Princess Celestia wasn’t taking crap from the nobles anymore. Ever since her return from her hiatus, Princess Celestia has done everything in her power to make sure Princess Twilight’s reforms are pushed. No longer did a cutie mark have to limit you to your career choices in life. All races from changelings to griffins were welcomed as equals in jobs, education, marriage, and government. The new magitech inventions and discoveries into science had changed the way we live greatly. I could now contact my cousins in Fillydelphia by a quick call via the phone. Many benefited from these changes... and others didn’t. Mainly those who live in the past. There was much resistance, especially from the traditionalist. At first we thought it would be from the nobles, but even the common folk had caused much resistance. Canterlot, Cloudsdale, Dodge Junction, Balitmare, St. Neigher, half of Las Pegasi and other places were full of traditionalists who fought, argued, and even protested that the changes were wrong. Many of Celestia’s advisors told her she was forcing the changes too fast, that Equestria needed time to adjust naturally. She ignored them. All that mattered to her was making Twilight’s dream for Equestria to come true. And me? Well, all I did was protect her. Not just from threats that meant to harm her... but also herself too. I’m one of the few who really knows what goes on in her heart. I am one of the even fewer who sees her without her mask on. This only has made me more loyal to her. There were many who thought it was wrong to make me one of her personal guards. Some even said I would continue the work my brother started. Princess Celestia instantly squashed those rumors and stated that she trusted me. How could I not be loyal to her after that? And so I stayed by her side every day. I was there when she went to court. I was there when she ate her meals. I was there when she wandered into the gardens for a breath of fresh air. I stood there with pride and determination to never once fail my princess. But over time I became more than just a guard to her, I became her friend. Whenever we were alone we would just talk. At first it was about our loss, then about Equestria, and finally just our regular feelings. They were short, but sweet talks that made me see that behind the power, crown, regalness, and wisdom was just a regular mare. A long living mare who had lost so much, but a mare nonetheless. I became strength for her and a shoulder to cry on during the days she thought about Twilight. And she did the same for me the days I thought about my brother. The only time she ever ordered me to leave her side was when Princess Twilight’s dragon son, Spike, ran away from Equestria. I had searched with multiple groups all over the western area of Equestria for at least three months before we had no choice but to give up. I remembered that day very well. *** I was not looking forward to my report to the princess as I strode down to her bedchambers that evening. I stopped and my heart clenched as I heard her soft yet gentle tears from beyond even the door. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. “Princess? It’s Gladius Stride... may I come in?” There was silence at the door, but then I heard her magic activate and the lock turn. I entered and saw her laying facedown on the pillows of her bed. I slowly removed my helmet and gently made my way towards her. When I sat down, I calmly patted her back as she slowly turned to me with her teary eyes. “I failed him...” “Don’t...” “I should have tried harder. I tried so hard to get him to open up... I’m horrible... I don’t... I’m so horrible...” whispered Princess Celestia as she slowly raised herself. “Seeing him... it reminded me so much of Twilight... that I couldn’t... I was... oh Faust am I so pathetic that I can’t even properly comfort a child when he loses his mother?” “You did your best, Celestia,” I whispered, slowly wrapping my arms around her. Most guards would be appalled by what I was doing. But this wasn’t Celestia the Princess. This was Celestia the pony. “He’ll come back home... he has friends and loved ones here... he’ll come back...” “When? A year? Ten? A hundred?” muttered Celestia, shaking her head. “Do you know what he said to me when we last spoke? He hated Equestria... because we were unworthy of his mother... that so many would take her legacy and spit on it like those damn traditionalists and their sheep.” “He’s just angry... and he’s a kid,” I said, shaking his head. “Have faith that he’ll find his way home.” “I just don’t know what to do...” she whispered, looking at me with her haunted eyes. “How can I be a leader if I can’t protect my own family?” I didn’t say anything. I just sat there. Holding here and letting her cry on my shoulder. *** Time passed. So many things changed. We still don’t know anything about Spike, and maybe we never will. The Princess and I continued to grow closer over the years, but before you think anything with those thoughts it wasn’t like that. Not every guard falls in love with a princess like Shining Armor or Flash Sentry. I happen to be happily to be married with two colts of my own. I suppose you could say that I was the princess guard friend. She even came to my wedding. However, things began to get worse and worse over time. Equestria was becoming more divided between those who wanted change and those who didn’t. Even in the Royal Guards there were divisions; mostly over the argument of letting non-ponies join. I had passed over various promotions so I could stay with my princess, even though she said that I could move on with my career. My parents wanted me to do so as well, mostly so the stigma of my brother-who they refused to name still-could be washed away from our family’s honor. I didn’t care about that. My brother didn’t either. It was about duty, not glory, that we both wanted to become guards. Even if my brother did shame himself in the end... It was becoming apparent also that violence was escalating in the Equestrian nation. We didn’t know how bad it was until... *** It was as if Tartarus itself has arisen from the earth. Such burning fire and black smoke that covered nearly half the upper district, combined with the cries of dying, burning, scared, and more. It was a nightmare come to life. The moment the explosion was heard and echoed across all of Canterlot, both Princess Celestia and Luna went in with water spells at full power. I had just arrived with a squad of handpicked guards to help secure the area. I could already tell that we had many casualties by the dead and burning bodies of the students and teachers in the area. Some of them were as young as seven to eight. What was going to be a day of remembrance for Twilight Sparkle had turned into another disaster. One where more innocent life had been lost. Medics were doing their best to save as many as they could as firefighters did their best to assist the princesses in putting out the fire and saving the civilians. My guards and I kept panicked parents and civilians back as I saw Princess Celestia work as hard as she could to be rid of the flames. I saw the terrified and horrified look in her eyes as it pained me to see the school she created hundreds of years ago as now half destroyed. This was no normal explosion, especially with the magic one could feel from the flames. But those thoughts were soon interrupted by a sight that showed just how powerful Princess Celestia was. Glowing like a bright star, Princess Celestia bathed herself in her solar magic and shined above the school. Slowly, the flames began to rise up and connect with her like she was a giant magnet. Every ember from the roof the ground was slowly rising around her and began to form a giant ball of fire. In less than a few minutes, Princess Celestia was glowing with flames dancing around her like a second sun. With a cry of power, she shot the flames upward and into the harmless sky, her horn glowing even hotter than the embers. We all watched with amazement as our leader, with one great powerful spell, erased an entire fire. Princess Celestia managed to fire away the last of the flames and, when they faded, she slowly began to fall. I reacted in an instant and rushed to where she would crash, but Princess Luna saved her first. Gently, laying her down, Princess Luna allowed me room to assist as Princess Celestia slowly looked at me. She asked, “How many?” “How many have we lost?” she weakly asked with tears growing in her eyes. I didn’t say anything. I just looked around and saw various students making their way from the burning building in awe or joy. I looked at her and gave a weak smile. “Not as many as the ones you saved.” *** We later learned it was a group of traditionalist called “Equestrian’s First” that had done this. Soon, similar groups began to arise and we had ourselves an entire armada of terrorists. The princesses declared them enemies of the state, but while some saw them are villains, others saw them as heroes. Some even dared to say that the princesses caused the fire as an excuse to, and I quote “eliminate those who seek to spread the truth against the sparkheads who are ruining our country”.   This nation... what is becoming of it? Princess Celestia since that day had been very cold and talked very little to me. Her sister, even more so. The Elements no longer appeared in the castle, having been busy with their own lives. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor are also busy helping The Changeling Republic against the recently proclaimed “Queen Cicada”. And finally, more than half of the Council of Lords have resigned in protest over the actions of the princesses. My princess is all alone once more. All I can do is be by her side. I entered her room where she is standing beside the balcony, looking over Canterlot with an emotionless face. I don’t even bother giving out greetings, I just approach her side. We are alone. Just the two of us as it has been for many years. “Gladius...” said the Princess as she closed her eyes. “I failed Twilight.” “How? You have brought about her reforms one by one. You have changed Equestria so much, is this not what you wanted?” I asked with confusion. “I have brought about her reforms yes...” Celestia answered with a soft sigh. “But I have failed to bring the virtues they were suppose to supply all of my subjects with.” I stayed silent. “Princess Twilight believed, more than anything, in friendship. Yet have I offered these changes in that name? Have I kindly, slowly, and carefully allowed the minds and hearts to be won for these changes like Twilight wanted? Or have I just simply ordered them into action out of anger and force? To let the nobles and traditionalists know they cannot have their way anymore. I responded with force... and vengeance in my heart.” Celestia slowly took off her crown and stared at it. “Many praise me for bringing change and reform... but just as many curse me for being a tyrant and forcing change without letting others say their voice...” She slowly put it back on. “They are right. You can force or put in a law for as many or as little as you want, but what good is it if the spirit of that law is put into action without any care of the other side? What is the point of the law is so many refuse it out of fear or distrust? Forcing them to obey, even against their beliefs, does nothing but cause division and hatred. Hatred that fuels violence. Violence that fuels loss... such as what happened at the magic school.” “That was not your fault,” I said sternly. “No, it was not my fault and I know this,” answered Princess Celestia as she looked at the stars with tears in her eyes. “But I cannot help but realize that my actions pushed others into doing this. I am ashamed to admit this Gladius, but I must.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t make these changes out of love, equality, friendship, or justice... I did it for revenge. I wanted to hurt the nobles, the traditionalists, all those who hated Twilight. I wanted to make them pay and I thought the best revenge was to have Twilight’s reforms go into action without even a single thought about the other side. Without any care for those who didn’t hate Twilight, but didn’t want her changes either.” “And because of this, I have caused my country and my ponies to slowly crawl into a world of hate. I have divided us... and now I must find a way to unite us again before the worst happens...” whispered Celestia as she turned towards the memorial gardens that were only a few feet from us. “I’m so sorry, Twilight. Even after all these years, so much bitterness and loss still lies inside of me... I’m so sorry I failed you...” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do. All I could do was hug her. She didn’t even bother hugging me back. She just sat there and cried. She cried in shame and in sorrow. And I let her unleash this all on me because I am her guard. And I will always protect her. Even from herself. *** The Sun's Shoulder stood by The Sorrowful Sun Even as the Civil War raged he never left her And while she never said it out loud, The Sorrowful Sun always whispered these words in he heart "Thank you."