Planning for the Future
Once we got back to the castle we returned to the throne room. I looked around and though to myself, "This has to go. I do not want something this opulent in East Equestria." Morning Glory could tell the wheels were turning in my head and asked, "Starlight, what is running through your mind?"
I replied, "I am thinking that this has to go. I do not want a structure in East Equestria that reeks of this much inequality. I do not want something from the era of the princesses remaining. Those days are over and the relics from it need to be dismantled."
Yellow Star asked, "I know you want Morning Glory and I to live here and be the regional governors. Where will the two of us live until a more appropriate structure is built for us to live in?"
This was something I had not thought about. I guess I was so ready to move this nation forward that it skipped my mind. I replied, "You two may live in here until an appropriate home is built for you two."
Morning Glory asked, "So how are we going to rebuild this town? It was leveled by Tirek."
I replied, "We shall quarry Canterlot and the now unnecessary wall for building materials for all buildings that were damaged or destroyed across this part of the country."
Sunset asked, "So Starlight, what are your plans for the mirror that leads to the other world."
At first her question shocked me. I had been so focused on everything else over the past week, Twilight's friends illegally crossing the border, getting them locked up, my war plans, marching into Ponyville, killing Tirek and finally putting Twilight in her place that I forgot about it. I replied, "Well, I plan on destroying it. After all, things may come through it that may not have the best interests of East Equestria in mind."
I could sense a bit of sadness in Sunset. I continued, "What's wrong Sunset? All of a sudden you seem so sad."
She replied, "Well it is just a matter of me never being able to see my friends again. They truly do mean the world to me and I could never imagine life without them."
I had plans for her but given how she stood up to Twilight I decided to give her an option. I asked, "Sunset, I am going to give you an option. Would you rather return to the human world and be with your friends OR would you rather come to Fillydelphia and be my assistant? If you come and be my assistant, you will have a very comfortable life and you will never have to worry about a thing in your life."
I assumed and hoped that she would choose coming to Fillydelphia but I would be surprised. She replied, "I would like to return to the human world and be with my friends."
I gasped, "Seriously? You are picking an uncertain future in that world over living comfortably and job security for life?"
She replied, "Yes Starlight, I am. I know most ponies would choose what you have to offer but like I said before, I can't imagine life without my friends."
I asked, "Sunset, you do know I plan on destroying that mirror either way don't you? So if you choose to return to that world, you will never be a pony again and you will never see your homeland again."
I was hoping that would change her mind but without hesitation she replied, "Yes Starlight, I understand that and it is a sacrifice that I am willing to make."
I said, "Well lead me to where this mirror is so you may return to your friends and I can destroy a threat to national security."
She nodded and she led us up to where the mirror was. She flipped the switch on it and a swirling portal appeared. I hugged her and asked, "Are you completely sure this is what you want? Are you sure an uncertain future is what you truly desire?"
She replied, "Yes Starlight, it is. Everyone who truly cares about me is in the human world."
I said, "I respect your decision Sunset. I do know one thing, this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are not the pony that aided me in trying to stop Twilight from becoming a princess. I wish you luck in whatever endeavors you pursue in the human world and may you be happy for the rest of your days."
She hugged me one more time and replied, "Thank you Starlight. Goodbye, may you bring about unprecedented prosperity to East Equestria."
She turned around and walked through the mirror one last time. Once I was certain she was all the way through I deactivated it and smashed it into the wall, causing it to break into at least a thousand pieces. I will admit, I will miss Sunset given that we were finally on the same page but I simply could not allow such a device to exist in East Equestria. After all, the thing did open on it's own every thirty moons and who knows what would come through it.
When I arrived back downstairs my eyes were watering and Morning Glory asked, "Starlight, are you ok? You're going to miss her, aren't you?"
I replied, "Believe it or not but yes, I will miss her. From the moment when I first met her as a filly all the way up until her fight with Twilight I would not have cared but once she turned on Twilight I realized that she was not a mindless drone of Twilight's, that she was her own pony again."
Yellow Star interrupted, "I don't mean to be a bother but don't you think we should get the media here so you can address the nation Starlight, so that they will know you are the leader of the whole continent and get the western half of the country out of this economic disaster it is in?"
I replied, "Yes, we should."
I contacted both the East Equestrian News Network and what used to be the West Equestrian News Network. It would take them a couple of days to arrive in Ponyville so we walked around the town and surveyed the damage. Seeing this damage made me all the happier that we killed Tirek. I am hoping that once I address the nation, that the citizens of Ponyville will return home and return to their normal lives.
Addressing a Re-United Nation
Two days had passed and the media had gathered in Ponyville for what would be one of the most important addresses in not just the history of East Equestria, but the whole continent. I walked out to the edge of the balcony that Twilight used to use and once I was given the signal the cameras were rolling I began my address.
"Citizens of the Equestrian continent,
I am addressing you to let you know that there is a change in power here on the Equestrian continent. No longer is Twilight Sparkle in power here in Ponyville. Roughly a week ago some of her friends crossed the wall that separates West and East Equestria illegally. For those of you who are not familiar with the terms in the agreement that split East and West, the actions that Twilight's friends took were an act of war and thus I led my troops into Ponyville.
When we arrived in Ponyville, Tirek was assaulting the community and while initially we came to make Twilight pay for her friends' crimes, we launched a full assault on Tirek. In the end I killed him when I rammed a spear completely through his eye and into his brain. It was after that when we went in and deposed Twilight. I know many of you may hate me for this but I do have some good news. The continent has been united as one nation again, East Equestria. No longer will the cities and towns here in the west be cut off from the mineral and financial resources of the east. I am making it priority number one to make sure that the economic conditions here in the west will be equal to those in the east.
Also, I know that Tirek destroyed many, many buildings in the cities of the west. I have ordered that Canterlot along with the now unnecessary wall be quarried for building materials for any and all damaged properties. While I was portrayed as a villain by the princesses because of my Eastern heritage, I want everypony to know that regardless of their heritage, that they will all be treated as equals.
I will be keeping East Equestria's capitol in Fillydelphia but I will be placing two regional governors in Ponyville to handle issues in the western half of the nation. If anypony has any questions regarding the future of the nation or is experiencing problems getting back up on their hooves, either contact Morning Glory and General Yellow Star, who I have appointed as the regional governors or contact me.
In closing, I want you all to know that I love each and every one of you. You are all citizens of the greatest nation in the world and are the driving force behind it. You all have a wonderful day."
I will admit, this address was a liberating one yet at the same time a tough one. I am pretty sure that letters will be sent and phone calls will be received regarding what happened to Twilight. Do I expect some ponies to protest over Twilight's disappearance? In the West I certainly do, in the East her demise will likely be celebrated. In the end though once prosperity has returned everywhere, they will realize that Twilight wasn't that good of a leader and no longer care that she is gone.
After the address I headed back inside to a very happy Morning Glory and Yellow Star along with a very happy military. I know that my regional governors were happy that I had got that out of the way and we would be able to get things back to normal in Ponyville and the rest of the west while my soldiers are probably just looking forward to going home.
Yellow Star asked, "So Starlight, what do we do if we are not sure what to do when it comes to things such as protests or riots?"
I replied, "Well I would handle them gently. Have the soldiers that I will be stationing out here go in and try to calm them down. If those things do not work, have them rounded up and send them to me. I know about what happened to Canterlot in it's final days and mark my words, things like that will not happen under my watch."
Morning Glory asked, "How are we going to handle ponies that come by and ask us about Twilight. I just have a feeling that ponies here will come and ask about her given that she lived here."
This was something that even I didn't know exactly how to respond to. I replied, "Well just tell them to contact me over it and they can come to Fillydelphia to talk to me about it. If I have them in my home to discuss this, I will have more leverage in how I tell them what happened." I looked up at the clock and continued, "Well, I think you two are ready to take this on. I am going to get going home, after all we have a long march ahead of us back to the old neutral location and I would like to get there before it is too late and after I get home, I have prisoners to deal with."
Morning Glory asked, "So what are your plans for them? Are you going to keep them in jail, have them executed or what?"
I replied, "I am simply going to release them. Since Twilight is no longer in the picture they can not harness the power of the Elements and besides, I will not be returning their cutie marks to them."
Yellow Star asked, "Are you sure? Are you sure they might not be able to do something even without their marks?"
i replied, "They can't do anything without their marks so everything will be fine. From what the soldiers told me on the night they were captured that the white unicorn couldn't even dislodge the Elements from the Tree so we will be fine."
I could tell that the two had their reservations about my decision to release them but hey, since they are no threat why should I keep them in jail and waste tax dollars to house and feed them. I'll save that for ponies that pose a threat to society, not ponies who I have now deemed harmless.
Yellow Star asked, "You said something about leaving some troops here. Will they be from the soldiers you brought with us or will they be from elsewhere?"
I replied, "I am going to leave 250 soldiers here with you. The rest will be returning home with me.
Yellow Star asked, "So when will building materials start being shipped in so we can rebuild the town?"
I replied, "The city of Canterlot and the wall shall begin to be quarried tomorrow. I want to get everything rolling as soon as possible."
Given that at the time there was no train service to Ponyville my troops and I would have to march back to the old neutral meeting place and catch a train back to Fillydelphia so we said our farewells and we started our journey home. While it took a bit longer than I had first anticipated we arrived at our destination before it was too late. We had to wait for a charter train to come and take us home. It was later than I would have liked the following day when we got home, I had one more thing to take care of, I had to release the prisoners.
When I arrived in the jail Twilight's friends glared at me. I smiled and asked, "What are the dirty looks for? I have some great news for you!"
Rainbow asked, "Oh, and what is that?"
I replied, "I have decided to release the five of you."
Fluttershy asked, "Really? I can't wait to see Twilight again!"
I replied, "Oh, about Twilight. You won't see her ever again because I banished her to the Everfree Forest."
Applejack yelled, "Y'all did what?"
I replied, "You heard me." I unlocked their cells and began to force them out, I did not feel like having to give them supper. I yelled, "Now get out. Go home before I change my mind."
Rainbow yelled, "What about our cutie marks? Don't we get them back?"
I laughed, "Actually no, you will never see them again." I put my hoof around Fluttershy and continued, "Well Fluttershy, you might get yours back IF you do what I told you earlier."
Fluttershy pushed me back and yelled, "NO! I will not be your wife nor will I be your lover."
I sighed, "Fine, have it your own way." As they were leaving the jail I continued, "Oh, and don't expect to return to a nice house. Tirek destroyed all of them but don't worry, Canterlot is being quarried so there will be building materials going in so Ponyville can be rebuilt."
Finally, the whole continent was under control of Eastern Ponies. For over a millennia it was controlled by Western Ponies but now the roles are reversed. While I felt like I had fulfilled my destiny when I took over half of the continent, this was the ultimate fulfillment of my destiny. Now many may think I would discriminate against Western Ponies but that will not be the case. I will not stoop to the levels that the princesses did. With Tirek dead, Luna as Queen of The Equine Empire, Celestia as Queen of Saddle Arabia, Twilight banished forever to the Everfree Forest and me controlling the whole continent, I feel like I have completely and absolutely avenged my ancestors. I just wish they could be here, I know they would be proud of me.