It had been a few minutes since Gilgamesh had come inside and sat down, simply staring off into space as he sipped some tea, but to Trixie it felt like hours. Despite everything he’d done to help her she couldn’t shake her fear of this intimidating and powerful being.
Gilgamesh sighed. “I killed someone today,” he said simply, causing Zecora to widen her eyes in surprise and Trixie to shake in terror. “I mean, I’ve killed before, and I realize how horrible that sounds, but this was different.” He inhaled deeply before sighing and continuing. “Now, I’ve killed a lot of things, but I don’t really count mindless beasts or wild animals that I hunt for food. What I’m talking about is killing enemies. As of today, I’ve only done that three times. And before today, I had always followed my rules regarding the subject.”
"'R-Rules?'" Trixie asked, still scared.
"Yeah. Namely, in my eyes, there are only two legitimate reasons to kill another person. Either they are a truly, irredeemably evil being, or if you won't live if you don't." He took another sip of his tea. "Before today, I had only killed twice and both of them fit my criteria. The first would've killed me if I hadn't offed him first, and the second was trying to kill the Elements, Spike, and any other pony that got in her way and reveled in it." He sighed. “It was a lesson I tried to teach my first two students before I left them to their own devices. I taught them that killing should never be done in anger, no matter how justified. And yet, I find myself ignoring my own teachings.”
“In every life there is mistake, whether it be small or great,” Zecora attempted to reassure him, placing her hoof on his leg.
Gilgamesh sighed and and closed his eyes. “‘No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as with a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.’ John Donne, Meditations Upon Emergent Occasions: Meditation XVII.”
Both the equines looked to the warrior in confusion.
“It’s an excerpt from a work a man wrote about three to four hundred years before I was born. When I finally understood its meaning, it had a great impact on me. Its part of why I take the subject of killing so seriously, because it talks about how all life is special. Not just in the old fashioned ‘life is a miracle, each day is a gift’ point of view we get taught in schools. The poem says that all life is special because all lives are interconnected, even if we don’t realize it, and the loss of any life takes away something from me. Not just the world or those who knew and cared for them, I am now less because what that being contributed merely by existing is now gone. Every life, no matter how great or small, no matter how pure or corrupt, adds something to my own life just by being alive.”
Zecora smiled and nodded sagely, but Trixie looked completely stunned.
I… I never thought of things that way. Even somepony like me is important? I am important to everypony, even somepony like Celestia, just for being alive? It sounds a bit much… but, it does sound nice.
Gilgamesh took another sip of his tea. “Like I said, I have rules I try to follow when deciding to take the lives others, but today… today I broke them.” He sighed and closed his eyes before continuing. “It wasn’t because I would’ve died if I hadn’t killed him, he wasn’t anywhere near that level of a threat to me, and it wasn’t because he was some irredeemable monster. I mean, he was completely evil, but that’s not the reason I did it. I did it because… Because I was angry. Angry in a way I’d never been before. I… I snapped.” His brow furrowed as his hands shook. “You see, I didn’t just want to end his life, to remove the threat as quickly as possible. I wanted him to suffer. I wanted to make every inch of his body scream in pain. I wanted him to bleed, and cry, and beg, and suffer, and scream, and-!” Gilgamesh clenched his teeth to stop himself, shaking in fury as as the two equines stared at him in shock. After almost a full minute he finally calmed down enough to continue. “And worst of all, I liked it. God help me, I liked it. Getting back at the bastard for what he did was one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. And that terrifies me.”
Trixie looked on, still shocked and scared, but after a few moments gathered her strength and stepped forwards, placing her hoof on his knee.
“I may not be the smartest pony in the world, but if I know one thing it’s that we can’t let our mistakes rule us. It was because of you and Zecora that I am the pony I am now, and it was because she and you were willing to give me a chance. You looked past my mistakes and pointed me in the right direction so I could make up for them.” She smiled warmly at him. “No being is perfect. What’s important is we understand our mistakes so we can improve ourselves.”
Gilgamesh looked back at her, surprised, before smiling and scratching her behind the ears, causing the unicorn to practically melt in his hands.
“Thanks Trixie. I really needed that.” He sighed. “I don’t think I’m quite over it, but… I think I’ll get there in time. I think I need to meditate on this.” He got up and reached for his weapon. “Oh, and be careful, you two. I have a feeling Equestria’s going to become a dangerous place in the next few days. Don’t leave unless you need to, ok?”
Trixie and Zecora looked to each other, exchanging confused glances, before nodding back to him.
“Stay safe,” he says finally before cutting open a portal and stepping through it.
Next Day
Twilight gingerly touched her horn as she walked the ruined halls of Canterlot palace. Her appendage had been repaired through the use of some powerful healing spells, but she still needed to lay off magic usage for another few days to make sure it stayed that way. As she trotted along she saw the exhausted faces and injured bodies of soldiers and civilians alike who were either trying to stay awake and perform their duties or just staring off into space, some looking like they'd lost any reason to go on.
Twilight winced as she remembered some of the events that had happened after the battle yesterday. Though they had won and Canterlot still stood the damage had been done. Ponies had mourned over their lost friends and family or searched desperately for missing family members or trinkets of sentimental value. The final nail in the coffin was seeing Pinkie Pie, her mane and tail straight and deflated, bawling her eyes out as she held the body of a dead foal in her forelegs. The changelings had gathered up the bodies of their fallen comrades and lit a funeral pyre at the base of Mt. Canter, paying their respects to their brethren until their bodies had burned to ash. A stench that Twilight could only guess was the "smell of death" that writers had sometimes described in stories and history books still hung in the air as many ponies tried to identify who was among the fallen before putting them to rest. From what she'd heard, it was sometimes difficult, if not impossible, due to the... condition some of the bodies were in.
“Twily! You alright?”
“Huh?”
Twilight was broken out of her trance to see her brother trotting towards her. With Celestia and Luna still recovering, management of recovery fell to Shining Armor and Cadance. Unfortunately, with his own foreleg still in a brace, he was more an overseer while Cadance was the one going from location to location and trying to organize the troops.
“Oh, hey Shining Armor. Yeah, my horn’s repaired now just need to lay off any spellcasting. I can’t even use a levitation spell.”
“Harsh. Well, at least you’ll recover soon. This thing is going to take at least a week before I can move it without any pain,” he said, motioning to his foreleg.
“Twilight!” Both of them turned towards the voice to see Cadance floating towards them. “Good to see you up!”
“Hi Cadance! And yeah, I can’t use any spells for a few days or else it might reopen the cracks. How are things on your end?”
Cadance sighed and looked back over the ruined city. “As well as can be expected, all things considering.”
“Excuse me, Prince Shining Armor?”
The three royals turned to see two changelings escorted by four earth pony guards.
“These two would like to have a word with you,” one of the guards said.
Cadance looked at the two changelings before a spark of recognition crossed her eyes.
"You're the two from before. Um... Stag and Stinger, right?"
"Yes, your majesty," one responded, her voice noticeably more feminine, identifying her as Stinger. Looking closer one could notice her build was a bit slimmer than Stag.
"What did you want to talk about?" Shining Armor asked.
"The Queen wishes to send a contingent of our forces to go back and check on the Hive. For our own safety, she'd like an escort as well as some form of official document from the Princesses stating that we are under their protection."
"'Safety?'" Twilight asked.
"Quite frankly, Princess Twilight, we have little doubt that any ponies we come across on the trip would panic and possibly attack us without some sort of proof we aren't trying to harm any of them," Stag explained.
"Ok, I think I can write something up," Shining Armor replied.
"With all do respect, Prince, the Queen would prefer either Celestia or Luna make the document. You don't have the best history when it comes to changeling... influence," Stinger explained.
Shining grimaced for a moment. "... Fair enough. I'll talk to the Princesses. Anything else?"
"Princess Nectar would like your permission to allow our forces to assists around the city. Once again, under supervision," Stag asked.
"I have no problem with that. Cady, honey, you mind passing out some orders to the troops?"
"Sure thing, Shiny," Cadance responded. “Anything else you need to mention?” she asked the two changelings.
The two of them shared a glance before nervously shifting their hooves.
“We, um… we’d like to apologize,” Stinger said.
“‘Apologize?’ Um, for what?”
“For insulting you. We called you a coward, and insulted your validity as a royal and an authority figure,” Stinger explained.
“You fought bravely despite little combat experience and held your own alongside seasoned warriors,” Stag added.
They both bowed. “Please, forgive our rudeness,” they finished.
The ponies all looked surprised before Cadance gathered herself.
“No. If anything, I should be thanking you.” Everypony silently stared at her in confusion. “I was afraid, afraid of dying and getting hurt, but the truth is I was more lost than anything else. I didn’t hide away just because I was scared, I kept hiding because the idea of me going out there to fight besides everypony else never even crossed my mind. If you hadn’t said anything, I would’ve just sat there, and many more ponies and changelings could’ve died. So, thank you,” she finished with a smile and a short bow.
Stag and Stinger stared slack-jawed for a moment before looking to each other and shaking themselves out of their stupor.
“U-Um, w-well, you’re welcome,” Stinger replied hesitantly.
“We’re, uh, h-happy to be of help,” Stag added, still obviously processing what he was told.
Cadance chuckled. “Anyway, I’ll get the troops informed about Princess Nectar’s plans. I’m sure with you working side-by-side with the royal guard there won’t be any problems.” She spread her wings and took off.
Stag and Stinger turned to be escorted by the guards back to their hives, when Twilight called to them.
“W-Wait a moment!” she said, gaining their attention. “Um, I know she might be busy, but I was hoping to talk to Princess Nectar. Could you let her know?”
“She already wishes to meet with you, Princess Twilight,” Stinger replied. “I’ll let her know you wish to as well.”
“Thank you,” she said with a bow as the six equines walked off.
“Oh, and speaking of talking, Spike wants to talk to you and the girls,” Shining Armor told his sister.
“Spike?”
“Yeah, he said it was really important that he talked to all six of you. I told Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, and they said they were going to let everypony else know. He said he’d be at the palace gardens, in front of the hedge maze.”
“Well, ok then,” she replied before trotting up and hugging him, careful not to hit his foreleg. “I’m so glad you’re still here B.B.B.F.F.”
“Same to you, L.S.B.F.F.,” he replied with a smile. “See you soon.”
She nodded and took flight as he called over one of the guards, asking him to stay and direct the troops while he went and met with Princess Celestia.
Twilight reached her destination in a few minutes, managing to keep her flight stable over the relatively short distance, and spotted all her friends at the location, who waved to her as she came in for a landing. Fluttershy’s forehead, Rarity’s left hind leg, and Rainbow Dash’s chest were all wrapped in bandages.
“Hey Egghead, I was just about to fly out and see if I could find you,” Rainbow Dash joked, though her usual enthusiastic nature was barely half of what it usually was.
“Yeah, Shiny just told me a few minutes ago,” Twilight explained. She noticed the tired and saddened look on the faces of her friends, still recovering from the chaos of yesterday that still lingered. Pinkie was the most obvious, her mane and tail still straight, though she at least attempted to keep a smile. “So Spike, what is it you wanted to talk to us about?”
Spike inhaled and closed his eyes, trying to gather himself before starting. “I think I figured out why I went big. Twilight, do you remember what Gilgamesh told me about a year ago? About how dragons grow?”
“Oh, that’s right! That whole thing about filing versus fulfilling hoarding! So you figured out what gives your life meaning, and that’s why you’ve grown bigger?”
“Yeah, I have.”
“Well, don’t keep us waitin’! Just what is this hoard a yers?” Applejack asked, some enthusiasm returning to her voice and genuine interest on the faces of everypony.
He smiled. “I’m looking at it.”
Everypony stared for a moment before processing what he said.
“Oh, Spike!” Fluttershy gasped, tears starting to build in her eyes as she smiled.
“Yesterday, during the battle, when I was sent away and Twilight and Rarity were fighting, I heard a voice in my head,” he explained. “It told me to go help you, to save you and keep you from getting hurt. And the more I listened to it, the stronger I got. I… I kinda lost myself for a bit, but when I woke up again and was like this,” he motioned to himself, “I realized why I had changed. I’d found out what I really wanted to hoard.” He looked over the six mares and smiled. “And it’s not just Rarity and Twilight. It’s not even just all six of you. Celestia and Luna, Shining Armor and Cadance, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and almost everypony in Ponyville. You’re all my friends, the most important things I have in my life. Realizing that is why I have all this strength now. I’m so lucky to have you all, and there’s nothing I want more than to be able to help you.”
Pinkie Pie burst into tears as the color and bounciness returned to her mane. She threw herself at Spike, hugging him as tightly as she could. “SPIIIIIIIIKE!” was all she could say as she cried into his chest.
Rainbow Dash sniffed as she wiped her eyes. “Heh. That was really sappy, kid. But pretty cool, too,” she said.
“Ah’ll say. That’s some Apple-family level dedication there,” Applejack added as tears fell from her eyes.
Fluttershy was too busy crying to say anything, but the smile on her face was obvious as she trotted up and hugged him as well.
“Oh Spikey-Wikey! What a gentledrake you are! A true knight in shining… or, should I say, scaled armor,” Rarity complimented, doing her best to gently dab her eyes.
Twilight wiped her eyes and smiled brightly. “Spike, I’m so proud of you.”
Spike couldn’t help his but grin as he bent over and held his arms out wide. The other four girls joined in the hug and he closed his arms around them. For a few minutes, they simply enjoyed each other’s company.
“Twilight?” Spike began, breaking the silence.
“Yes, Spike?” Twilight replied.
“This isn’t over, is it?” he asked, his voice turning grim.
Twilight paused before sighing. “No Spike. I don’t think so. In fact, I think this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”
He exhaled sharply. “That’s fine,” he replied. “Let them do their worst. We’re all going to make it through. I promise.”
The seven friends gripped each other more firmly, their bonds and strength resolved to see them through whatever hardships lay ahead. In sharing their moment, however, they missed the figures flying towards the palace entrance overhead.
Celestia quietly observed her sister lying on her hospital bed, her barrel, wings, and head wrapped up as she laid there, much like Celestia herself. The doctor’s diagnosis stated Luna would make a full recovery, but her being out for almost a full day made Celestia worry nonetheless.
Luna. This is my fault. If I had kept Equestria strong, if I had stayed strong, you wouldn’t be in this condition. I could’ve saved you, or you could’ve saved yourself, and you wouldn’t be in such a state. Nor would Equestria.
“Um, excuse me, Princess Celestia.”
She turned to see Shining Armor peeking in through the door.
“Um, sorry to interrupt, but if I could have a moment?” he asked gently.
“Yes, of course, Shining Armor,” she smiled.
“Queen Chrysalis has requested an escort to send some of her changelings back to check up on the Hive. She’d like some guards to accompany them for protection and a signed order by you so that anypony that they might come across won’t be able to doubt the legitimacy of their claims.”
“I see. That’s perfectly acceptable. If you could get me a quill and parchment I could-”
“Your majesty!” came a voice from down the hall. Both Celestia and Shining Armor turned to see Lieutenant Starshine gallop over. “Please excuse the interruption, but I’m afraid there is a matter that requires your immediate attention,” he explained with a bow.
“And what sort of matter would this be?” she asked.
“The ambassador of Griffonia, General Rupert Skyrider, is here to see you.”
“The Griffonian Ambassador? What’s he doing here?” Shining Armor asked.
“He said he’s here to investigate the reasons behind a request made to Griffonia not long ago,” Starshine replied.
No doubt the request for Gilgamesh’s weapon.
“I see, where is he?” she asked.
“He and his guard have been escorted to the throne room. Should I lead you there?”
“No. I’ll go myself. Lieutenant, please retrieve a scroll, quill, and ink for me and meet me in the throne room. Shining Armor, you should return and guide the restoration efforts.”
“Right away, Princess!” they both saluted and trotted off to complete their tasks.
Celestia trotted to the throne room, the trip taking a few minutes, before using her hoof to push the door open. Inside was the Ambassador, the aging General Skyrider with his golden brown coat and darker brown feathers, both beginning to grey with time. Behind him stood twenty royal Griffonian court guards, personal protectors of the palace, the royal family, and anygriffin else the King ordered them to. All of them, including the General, were dressed in armor covering their breasts and backs, all of them armed with the traditional combination of short swords, lances, javelins, and the symbol of Griffonian technological advancement, flintlock pistols. All but the General wore their crest covering helmets, having removed his as a show of respect.
“Princess Celestia,” the General greeted, acknowledging her with a Griffonian salute, raising one talon up in a fist before bringing it to his breast.
Celestia bowed back, wincing slightly from her wounds before rising. “Greetings, General Skyrider. I must admit, I did not expect the King to send an ambassador here in response to my request. I apologize for the state of things.”
“Yes, your city seems to be in quite the need of repairs, no doubt requiring your attention, so I will quickly get to my point. The King wishes to know why you have requested the sword Excalibur which you and your sister bequeathed to our kingdom more than a millennium ago,” the General explained.
Celestia sighed internally. Same old Rupert, all business. Well, at least this time he’s slightly less direct.
“I had requested the return of Excalibur, as well as the other Swords of Legend, in preparation of what I thought might be a threat to Equestria. As you can see, that threat turned out to be very real,” she motioned to her city.
“I mean no offense, Princess Celestia, but your kingdom has faced threats before, several times in this last year in particular, and your people have still overcome them. What threat could be so great that you would ask His Majesty and the other kingdoms to relinquish the weapons you sent us for protection?”
Celestia exhaled before looking out over her city. I suppose that it is time once again.
At that moment Lieutenant Starshine entered the throne room. He saluted the General, who responded in kind, before approaching the Princess with the items she requested, which she took in her weak, yet still usable, magical grasp. She quickly wrote and signed before levitating the parchment back to him.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. I apologize for sending you on more errands, but I must ask for six more parchments. Also, I please pick out the most suitable pegasi available to act as messengers and escorts for them. Quickly, if you please.”
“Of course, your majesty,” he replied with a bow before galloping off.
Celestia turned her attention back to back to the General before an explosion-like sound came from off in the distance. Everyone turned to see what looked like the after-effect of a meteor smashing into the Everfree Forest, a cloud of dirt and debris having shot up into the air. Even more surprising was that a nearby mountain was broken, look like the top half had just been ripped off.
“Wh-What in the world?” Rupert stuttered, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Oh no. Another attack so soon? And this one near Ponyville!
Celestia made for the door and pulled it open with her magic only to stopped by an unexpected sight. In front of her was a grey pegasus mare with a blonde mane and tail and yellow wandering eyes, panting like she had just flown a marathon.
“Derpy Hooves?” Celestia asked.
The mare smiled and tried to respond, but was too busy gasping for breath to even speak. After several attempts at trying she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out an envelope. Celestia took it and Derpy collapsed to the ground, panting. Celestia quickly opened the envelope.
Dear Celestia,
Please do not be alarmed at any loud explosions or damage you see coming from the Everfree Forest. It’s just me teaching some arrogant prick a very harsh and painful lesson in humility. Still, some demons did attack Ponyville. Nothing big, no one was hurt, but you might want to send some guards or something to check up on them.Gilgamesh
Celestia breathed a sigh of relief, then realized how ridiculous it was at how such a letter could do so.
I guess I trust him more than I thought. Still, I should have Shining Armor send a regiment out to inspect Ponyville. Maybe even ask if Chrysalis can spare a few of her changelings for fast communication with their hive mind. It’s risky, but I think Equestria needs to know what’s going on with the changelings as well.
“Thank you for your effort, Derpy Hooves. Feel free to rest in one of the guest rooms, and help yourself to any muffins in the kitchen.”
The mare perked up and got to her hooves, shaking unsteadily before bowing and and trotting off.
Celestia turned to face the still confused General.
“Ambassador Skyrider, I have a message to give your King along with my continued request for Excalibur. Tell him that Equestria once again requests the fulfillment of the Pact of Nations,” she said firmly.
All of the griffons flinched and stared at her in shock.
“Th-The Pact of Nations!? Such a thing has not been called for millennia! F-For what purpose!?” the General practically screeched back.
“The same purpose it was called for last time,” she replied simply.
Once again they all responded with shock, this time even seeming to go a little pale. For a moment, no one said anything.
“Oh sweet Galahad, you’re serious,” he muttered.
Celestia nodded. “I would send a letter by magic myself, but I am still recovering from my last battle.”
Skyrider gathered himself and placed his helmet back on his head. “Then we will leave at once. We will return when the King has made his decision.”
“Of course. Feel free to take some provisions from the kitchen for you flight back.”
Rupert nodded and saluted, as did the other soldiers, before quickly racing towards the kitchen.
Celestia smirked, knowing this was all simply formality. King Gerard Ironclaw had been a friend of Equestria and herself for many years, so much so that he even had his eldest son, Prince Gilbert, spend many of his formative years in Canterlot under her own tutelage, much like Twilight. The two had even met a few times and learned quite a bit from each other. She had little doubt Griffonia would send its aid.
The real challenge will be convincing the Minos Tribes. Just because we have positive relations doesn’t mean that they will place their own forces in harm’s way for Equestria so easily. The reindeer may also need some extra work to convince as well. The buffalo tribes hopefully won’t be too difficult, what with more positive relations starting to build in places like Appleloosa. The zebras tribes and the Saddle Arabians shouldn’t be too difficult either. The dragons, however… relationships with them are shaky at best, even communication is sparse. And the changelings… I’d like to think Chrysalis knows her forces have the greatest chance of survival allying with us, but her hatred may still run too deep. Not to mention that many ponies will likely be against the idea as well.
Celestia came to realization after finishing that last thought and grimaced. The thing I tried so hard to keep from coming back has arrived. Equestria is going to war again, and I fear it will be even more vicious than the Great War.
At that moment Lieutenant Starshine arrived with more parchments and immediately went to writing.
I wonder… is Gilgamesh happy about this? In the past I would’ve assumed so, but after yesterday it has become clear that “Combat Incarnate” cares about more than simply fighting. She sighed. Equestria needs your aid now more than it does mine.