//------------------------------//
// 3rd December, 2015 
// Story: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité 
// by Ponelover 
//------------------------------//


Canterlot, 7:00AM, +19 days after event


As the airship finally touches down on the Hangar, out comes a very frazzle maned Celestia and an equally tired Julien as well. Daring Do quickly realizes that something has happened on their trip back home, oh she knew about the events that has transpired in Al Qafr but this looks like something else entirely.

“Hey guys, what’s wrong?” she approaches both the French Ambassador and the Princess of Equestria
“Oh it’s nothing Daring. I need to speak to Luna Immediately” as Celestia leaves for the castle, looking quite tired all the way through
“gee what’s her problem? I know Celestia can get very grumpy at mornings but this is something else, so Julien? you ruffled her feathers or something?” Daring asked Julien about what’s wrong with Celestia
“Let’s just say that this is a state secret for now” Julien responded
“fine fine fine” Daring grumpily responded. I hate secrets!! she screamed to herself as they finally leave the hangar and reaches Daring’s house. 
Now after the French have set up office in Canterlot castle, Daring Do has personally offered Julien to be roomates in her house, he was about to refuse but Daring won the argument by showing him the rent prices in Canterlot, and they’ve been roomates ever since. Not that I don’t want him to stay, afterall he’s…....kinda cute Daring blushed at that thought, ever since she has met the French ambassador, after all the misadventures they went through, from meeting the mane 6 to helping him getting some sort of understanding of the Saddle Arabians. She has kinda developed a light crush on him, their relationship have developed to the point that Daring felt emotionally attached to the French ambassador, Well it’s not like interracial relationships are frowned upon anymore, met my fairshare of hippogriffs during my travels, though I do wonder if humans and ponies are…..compatible she further thought as both Daring and Julien reached her mansion.

Now she knew that there is A LOT to explain when he first saw her house, It’s located in the higher levels of the city and it’s practically a well manicured mansion. He wondered just how much her adventures pay off when she told him that her family tree has been essentially one long trail of adventurers dating back to Luna’s banishment. Her house was built by her family and sponsored by the University of Canterlot because her contributions and her family’s contributions to the field of archeology and archaelogy has been substantial and the University management is compelled to sponsor some of the bills for housekeeping this huge mansion. 

“Y’know Daring, I still think that you’re a real life Lara Croft. The differences between you and that girl is so uncanny” Julien commented as a bunch of maidsponies opened the mansion doors and greeted both Daring and Julien

“Yeah, i’ve heard about her in one of those ‘internet sessions’ you gave to me, and I think we would be best friends if we were to meet. Sadly she’s fictional so meh...whatever” Daring replied as they both entered the dining hall and they are both met with a Griffon chef that welcomes them to a set of full breakfasts. “Yo gustave, what ya got for me and my friend here for breakfast?” Daring asked

“Oh Daring isn’t it obvious? the finest salads made by yours truly with some eclairs as dessert, complete with coffee or tea as drinks. Oh and some finest fish bought at Canterlot market preserved and presented for the human ambassador” Gustave replied as he left the two unlikeliest of friends together to eat breakfast.


Canterlot Caste, 7:15AM, +19 days after event


“I just don’t understand Luna! how in the world did the French managed to find THAT city?” Celestia circles around her throne room like someone who’ve been told earth shattering news. It’s just not possible!! that city was supposed to be destroyed in the last war!!! how did some remnants of the city survive! and an Alicorn out of all things was still out in the prowl, Mersna what are you doing!? she thought

“I also don’t understand sister. That city was a major hub and the King’s southern campaign should’ve ended the remnants of the resistance…..until we came in of course” Luna replied

“oh dear…….if the resistance still manages to survive. We could have a big problem in our hooves Luna! forget the return of the Crystal Empire, this can spell end to Equestria!! just imagine if Nes’Kledan is still out there!” said a concerned Celestia.

“I know Celestia, the beast CANNOT return and we will ensure it. I’ve also got the fact that Princess Cadence was all part of the plan isn’t it Celestia?”

“Of course it has been Luna, Alicornifying the ponies was a backup plan in case something happened to us, after overthrowing the king we did gain ascendancy but I fear the beast might plan something…..terrible right now Luna, the Ponies are the only race that has Alicorn potential and I'm afraid I need to fast track Twilight's before she's even ready!” Celestia’s tone was raised in concern. In all of my history of ruling Equestria, I never thought that THIS could be presented as a problem. Sombra can wait, the beast CANNOT

“Ah...but it appears that fate is on our side isn’t it Celestia?” Luna suddenly have a brilliant Idea, a crazily brilliant Idea but a brilliant Idea nonetheless

“what is it Luna? are we going to open the forbidden archives in the library? are we going to strike a deal with Tirek and Discord? because if that’s your Idea to defeat the beast, then…...frankly no” Celestia replied nonchalantly

“Ah but it isn’t one of those Ideas Celestia, we can use the humans as the vanguard. The fact that they managed to shot down Mersna with their weapons, WITHOUT MAGIC might I add is more than enough evidence that they can handle these threats. Imagine if we were to give them the knowledge of the arcane and let them incorporate our magic into their technology! we would have an army ready to face the beast before you know it!”

Celestia could only stare at her sister slack jawed, In all of my history I never thought she could concoct THIS craziness of a plan. Using the French as a Vanguard!! how do you THINK they would respond if we were to ask them to die for our troubles Celestia thought as she gave her response, “I…...I never thought you could be so careless Luna, the French are strong yes…….and I do see them possibly defeating the resurgent Alicorns with their own mechanical contraptions yes…...but isn’t it a bit too risky to inform them about the scale of what they’re fighting against? these Alicorns know no fear Luna, and what would be the human response if we were to ask them to die on the battlefield for our past troubles. It’s just not right isn’t it?”

“but it is the only way Celestia, they are by far the only species with adequate capability to defeat these Alicorns and as a bonus, we are good friends with them. I just formally ratified the Equestrian-French alliance yesterday in fact” Luna responded

“yes we might be allied with them Luna, but it still doesn’t discount the fact that they might need an incentive in order for them to agree to this! what I truly fear from your plan outside of giving the humans even more knowledge in weaponry is that the French might gain enough leverage and legitimacy for them to make us their protectorate. And I don’t need to tell you how bad being a protectorate is don’t you? remember the first Crystal crisis?”

“yes yes yes, I do admit to our mistake of ignoring the Crystal Ponies’s plight and only in the last minute did we interfere. Managing protectorates are hard…….and you just signed a treaty making the Changelings our protectorate don’t you”

“Luna…..don’t talk about that. This Equestrian protectorate will be managed differently than how we manage the Crystal Empire. but back to the topic, you do realize my concerns are valid yes?” Celestia responded

“Very valid indeed Celestia, and that’s why in order to avoid future problems with the French having a legitimate reason to make us their protectorate, I suggest ceding our claims to the undiscovered west to the French” Luna replied

“I know you’re going to say that…...and I can’t say I have a better Idea myself, the undiscovered west is the largest uncolonized piece of land that we laid claim to and ceding them to the French might as well be beneficial for us, only because they must then agree to find out and contain/ or neutralize the rest of the Alicorns in stasis (presumably of course)”

“I’m afraid that we won’t have a say on the matter if Julien decides to push the issue anyway. Very well then, I’ll go inform the French office about bringing back Mersna’s body to Canterlot. After all she’s been through, she deserves a good rest” Luna said as she leaves the throne room.

“based from the torturous experience the king brought to her. No wonder she joined the rebellion against the king, please bring her home Luna. It’s my fault that Mersna is now in some French facility being dissected” as both ponies departed and left for their living quarters after a very long shift for Luna, and a very stressful day for Celestia. The day court is closed for today as the fallout between the Changelings and Equestrians in Al Qafr meant that Celestia needed some rest after reasurring Hivemind that Equestria would support her actions of purging the upper echelons of Changeling leadership once she returns. And she's too tired talking with the Changelings via dragonfire to do any sort of work for today's daycourt anyway.


Toulon naval base, 9:00AM, +19 days after event


After 2 days of rough seafaring with the crew always on alert following the attack of their submarine, the Téméraire finally manages to reach the friendly harbour of Toulon and docks immediately into it’s naval base. Once the ship is docked a flurry of scientists, doctors and researchers accompanied by armed soldiers approached the exiting crew who is bringing out the bodybag containing the Alicorn. “Hello there, my name is head researcher Louis Delacroix and I will be the one performing the autopsy of the dead Alicorn body” a doctor said.

“Oh yes, the body is badly damaged following the impact of the exocet but I’m still surprised that it’s still roughly intact. Further superficial assessment indicate that the body has a lot of damaged internal organs and shrapnel as well as heavy tears in the coat and skin. Possibly suggesting that the Alicorn casted a last minute shield spell once she realizes the missiles are coming in her direction” the seaman who is in charge of the Alicorn body replied.

Hmm very interesting, so this Alicorn manages to cast a shield spell (albeit a last minute one) but still fails to stop the missile, I wonder if bullets can pass through Delacroix thought as they quickly brought the body in a black car as it races into the autopsy facility. 

Once inside the autopsy facility the analysis of the cause of the yellow Alicorn’s death begins. The doctor has been informed by the President that the Princesses of Equestria wanted her body back once autopsy is finished and they also requested to not alter the body too much during the analysis, he knew he cannot argue against that nor does he want to, I still have a clear conscience after all he thought as he begins the autopsy.

“Gentlemen, let’s begin the honours of doing our first Alicorn autopsy, asistant…...scalpel please” as an asistant gives doctor Louis a scalpel which he then used to cut a swab through the Alicorn’s torso. “hmmm very thick skin indeed, possibly designed for cold environments. Coat is far more thicker than a normal horse as well” as he continues to cut an opening through the dead Alicorn’s body. How did she die though? Princess Celestia publicly announces that she cannot die and even tried to pull a stunt 500 years ago by being drowned for a total of one hour and she didn’t die. Is there something different that separates Celestia from the other Alicorns? head researcher Louis thought as he remembers Celestia’s announcement via the French Embassy in Canterlot.

Eventually the doctor manages to cut a swab through the skin and inspects the internal organs. “Heart is obviously damaged by shrapnel hmmm, lungs have been punctured and is obviously being filled up by blood by the time of her death if she didn’t die from shock already, a relatively charred body with some major holes in it might indicate that thick alicorn skin manages to sustain the heat for some time until the shrapnel comes and hits her...very interesting indeed” as the doctor continues his autopsy of the dead Alicorn.

Throughout the autopsy, the doctor was surprised and surprised even more as the full extent of the death of the alicorn is found: “Death by shrapnel wounds penetrating through most of the internal organs as well as the brain. Causing massive damage to the body and guaranteeing her death immediately, if by some miracle the Alicorn survives the missile blast. She would also die a little bit slower by drowning in her own blood and asphyxiating as well due to the lungs being punctured and is already filling up with blood, the heart was also hit by 3 shrapnel pieces by the time we conducted the autopsy” The doctor said to the French foreign minister. It has been a couple of hours after the autopsy and the body is being restored to it’s orginal state and will be transported via airdrop to the city of Canterlot. Princess Celestia will be the one personally taking the body into the grave personally set up just for Mersna.

“Good job as usual head researcher Louis. So what is your conclusion in terms of the Alicorn body overall?” Laurent Fabius asked
“For me? well the body is specifically designed to withstand cold weather so we can conclude that they must evolve in very cold climates….rather odd because horses originally evolved in milder climates but oh well. Very tough exterior as well as interior by the looks of it not only caused by the simple fact that the Alicorn is larger, but also they have some of the toughest bones i’ve ever seen. Some traces of graphene can even be found in the bone structure!! this species must have been very tough to take on if you’re going close combat. And although I cannot even say about their magical capabilities, I can deduce that based from the amount of neurons found in the horn directly connected to it’s brain, these Alicorns can channel up a LOT of magical energy” Louis concluded

“okay then, Louis that’s all I needed to know, you’re dismissed” said the foreign minister as the head researches respectfully nods his head and walks out the room. 


Changeling Hive, Badlands, 10:00AM, +19 days after event


“This is an infamy! you cannot do this!” Nobledrone Abdomen screamed as he is dragged to the Queen’s throne
“Oh really Abdomen? because from what I learned ‘interrogating’ some of the suspects and other nobles. You are the one voicing dissent while I’m talking with Celestia. Do you really think I would be that stupid to just blindly walk into the measly trap you laid out? do you not think that the humans would easily knock over your conspirators like flies during your assassination attempt? well by the looks of it you didn’t anything at all didn’t you” the Queen replied as another Changeling reads out the sentence given to the noble

“Nobledrone Abdomen, you are therefore charged for conspiracy against the queen, attempted assassination of the queen and unlawful overthrowing of a legitimate heir of Chrysalis’s throne. How do you plead?” the Changeling asistant asks

“N..not guilty, I reserve a right to call upon a lawyer and not be accused of this unjustified accusations”
“Ah but it is not an accusation, it’s a legitimate case with multiple drones testifying against you. So what is your ‘defense’ Abdomen, assuming you still have one that is” the Queen laughed as the noble sneers at the Queen. “You do not understand!! the Equestrians will infiltrate our society and shape them up to be all ‘friendshippy and harmonious’ as they are, It’s not who we are!!”

“Silence you traitor!! I should’ve cut your tongue while you’re at it. Nobledrone Abdomen, as punishment you will be sentenced for execution by love draining, all your personal and familial assets will be distributed equally to the common drones and your family would be shamed for 1 generation. This case is over, bring him to deathrow” Queen Hivemind says that last sentence with venom in his mouth as the noble was brought to deathrow prison where he will wait for execution.

“Now, next!!” the Queen commanded as another traitor is brought upon her throne. Oh this will be a long day indeed the Queen thought as a lot of nobles will be charged and some executed for their crimes against the Changeling Queen.


The Mild Line, 11:00AM, +19 days after event


“hold your horses there Sugarcube, what in the hay am I seeing here?” Apple Fritter exclaimed once he saw the barrier of bard wires, artillery and machine gun emplacements lining up on the area. After a unicorn guard was sent and she was confirmed to be a pony, Apple Fritter became the first Equestrian citizen to technically ‘return’ back to Appleloosa, now providing local knowledge about Appleloosan territory and the mild west in general. She was outlining the general layout of the land when she saw this huge line filled with gun emplacements, machine gun nests and barb wire.

“Oh this? this is the mild line, It was created just a couple of days after our operations to retake the mild west has succeeded. It’s our premier defense while the talks with the Changelings are underway and by the looks of the update I got from the Ministere de la Defense, It went rather well” Colonel de Roux replied

“So does that mean that everything’s fine now? that we can go back to our homes and live normally?” she asked
“not really, first we need to pull back our troops. Secondly we also need to ensure that all Appleloosan and Dodge Town residents currently living on refugee camps in Ponyville are returned back to their homes, and thirdly Princess Celestia has personally requested for some of us to go to Canterlot in order to train the first divisions of a working Equestrian army. So yeah we’ll be staying here for a little bit longer. Not too long fortunately” the colonel replied

“Oh that’s good then, but ah’m still wondering why this? isn’t this a bit too excessive for a defensive line?” she inquired about the line
“Ah good question. You see we are not the most easygoing species out there, so we need to insure that when we create defenses we need to make sure the enemy doesn’t attack you when you’re not looking, fast forward a couple thousand years later and this is the result” he responded
“well, we are allied with the humans after all so that’s good. Just not comfortable with allying with a species that has a history of wars and conflict like you do. I still shudder when you inform me about the 100 years war and all that” she replied
“ehh we’re not that bad nowadays anyway. The days where glory means slaughtering entire villages is over afterall”
“and thank whatever deity you worship for that” Apple Fritter responded as they continue to survey areas the French might overlook


Canterlot, 3:00PM, +19 days after event


With daycourt cancelled, Celestia was left with nothing but sleep and some well earned relaxation. After the royal guard has informed the usually roudy nobles about what happened in Saddle Arabia. They quietly resigned and backed down, thank us for that she thought as she is now flying around Canterlot mountain trying to get to that part of the mountain.

She eventually found that area she’s been looking for and landed gracefully. A finely manicured garden she kept secret from the rest of the populace for over 1000 years straight, she found this part of the mountain just after Luna’s banishment to the moon and she’s been visiting this garden ever since, carefully tending what used to be a lush but untamed forest into a harmony of grasses, trimmed hedges and also the occasional patch of forest. She landed and went into the chairs she set up by carving the wood from the trees she cut down into chairs and tables for her to sit on. 

eventually, after calming herself over some tea she brought here, she finally said her usual greetings to her garden, “We meet again garden….it’s so nice being here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Perfect backdrop of the Equestrian landscape as well.....so relaxing” as she lazed around on the chair. Waiting for her ‘airdrop’ (whatever that means) to arrive.

Eventually the airdrop did arrive and It was unlike anything she’s ever seen. The ponies stared at awe as a massive human flying contraption just dropped something out of it’s belly, Celestia quickly flew into the parachuted bodybag and quickly flew back into her castle after she got what she wanted. She quickly unzipped the bodybag and sees a sight she never wanted to talk about again. Mersna’s body was charred with grevious wounds applied to her, no doubt the work of human weaponry she thought as she quickly teleported herself into the grave set up for one of the ponies that inspired her to overthrow the king and end the tyrannical rule of the Alicorns.

“may your rest be free of any disturbances Mersna un’shakal, for I now fare thee goodbye” Celestia quietly and caringly said as she lowered the dead body into the already placed coffin located in her garden. And closed her grave by personally filling her grave again. Once the deed is done she puts in a small flower to grow over her grave, a sign that everything she’s done for is not in vain and the future the rebels dreamed off has been realized in the creation of Equestria, where Ponies reserve the right to be free under the guidance of the Alicorns.

for we are the ones who have destroyed their liberty

so it must be us who brought them back to prosperity

help the ponies leave from their suffering

and lead them to the new age you’re offering

engraved in the gravestone of Mersna un’shakal by Celestia herself.

******

News 2-4 months after the events that has transpired:

Peace treaty between Equestria and the Changelings has been signed. Equestria now possess a new protectorate in the badlands

The port cities of Strasbourg, Brest and La Rochelle officially expands. New land is being bought by city authority for future plans of expansion, the main reason is because these cities are going to be major trade hubs for Equestrian and Amaterasan ships to trade in. 

The French government officially announces the creation of a new territory, named the territory of Nouvelle Sartre/ New Sartre. It is located in what is now the defunct undiscovered west 

New French expeditions to new lands announced, the mysterious south is being explored as well as contact with Zebrica has been confirmed as well

Zebrica creates it’s own embassy in France, in lieu with the Changelings, Equestria, Amaterasu and Saddle Arabia

ruins of the ancient Arimaspi Empire are found via satellite imagery, expedition team brought into the territory said contact with Arimaspi remnants has been confirmed, official diplomatic cables are underway to talk with the Arimaspi