//------------------------------//
// Prelude 1 
// Story: The Southern Expedition 
// by Ponelover 
//------------------------------//


Everfree City, 9:00PM


It has been eons ever since the Alicorns left their frigid homeland from the South and conquered everything they saw and King Galaxia couldn’t be happier. He has just finished a glorious banquet between himself and his loyal and caring family and was about to retire for the night. The moon was shining brightly and he was very tired as he approached the doors to his quarters.

Opening the doors to his bed, he trotted lazily as his magic undoes his regalia and he slumped in his bed ungraciously due to his tiredness. In the process he failed to notice that in his almost dunken tiredness, he accidently slumped into his wife and to no surprise, just as about he was about to sleep a sudden jolt of pain was felt in his cheek as he suddenly opened his eyes and scampered out of the bed, horn ignited.

“Next time Galaxia, please be more careful” as the King immediately defuses his spell knowing that it was the voice of his most beloved wife: Queen Solaria.
“Well, when you have someone as beautiful as you, how could I keep my balance when I laid my eyes on you” the King cheesily replied as his wife rolls his eyes and chuckled
“Yeah, well get used to my ‘beauty’ because we’ve been married ever since forever. Come, the night is getting old and we need to sleep” the Queen responded as her husband quickly puts his hooves on the bed and cuddles with her immediately. 

“So how’s Celestia?” the King asked to his wife as he was hugged even tighter by his wife 
“Oh she’s okay, I just saw her returning to her quarters with Luna”
“Well that’s good. That mare can certainly hold herself in a fight”
“That is a given Gally, now shush” Solaria replied as she uses her magic to put the candles out as they started sleeping


Castle of the two sisters, Everfree City, 10:00PM


Celestia was trotting nervously in circles around her throneroom as she anxiously waited for Luna to come and bring her the news. What if he noticed and took down everything she nervously thought as she noticed that the sound of her armour was making it uncomfortably loud for her and for the castle as well.

She was about to fly in order to see if her sister is all right when the door leading to the throneroom suddenly opened and out comes Princess Luna, fully laden with her armour as well as several Alicorn Royal Guards as well.

“It appears that the conspirators are ready Celestia, they have pledged their loyalties for us and will not falter in bringing down the Tyranny of the Alicorns down.”
“Good Luna, I must address the troops before we commit.” Celestia responded as she took to the podium in front of the throneroom and starts addressing the small crowd of Alicorn Guards.

“Arise Stallions and Mares of the awakened, we have seen what our rulers have done to the Ponies, Zebras and Griffins. They have failed their duty in bringing in their supposed ‘prosperity’ to all the races, and now they will pay for their ignorance and oppression!”

"For eons our parents have ruled with a steady hoof, they've have built it, maintained it and ensure it's prosperity from threats of other lands as well as threats lurking within this proud realm. They have done a remarkable job in building this empire that we all cherish, but empires change and our parents have foolishly ignored the wishes of their own people!! this cannot stand brothers and sisters!!"

"They have created this proud empire, but the time for change has come and our parents have foolishly looked away. They have grown senile and old, the cracks of the supposed 'eternal' rule are showing itself. The time for change has come brothers and sisters, and WE will be the harbingers of change!!" Celestia finally concluded her speech to the sound of clinking spearheads and stomping hooves

“Now go on Mares and Stallions of the awakened, march now and take the capital from it’s tyrant ruler. Remember Mersna!”
“Remember Mersna!!”
“Remember Mersna!!”
“Remember Mersna!!”

And it was there, in the castle of the two sisters. That the night of the long knives began.


Officers Quarters, Everfree City, 10:15PM


“Huh? what's with the commotio-hrk!” as Captain Burstfire stabbed another officer as the coup began. 
“Celestia, the young officers has been rounded, do the talk.” he said which is met with a nod from the Sun Princess as she quickly walked into the group of cornered officers, spells raised and shields cast.
“From what I see here, you have two simple choices, you can join us and overthrow the king without having to face tribunal, or the demand for cremation spells will increase just a tiny bit more. Make your choice.” Celestia said with clear venom in her voice.
Faced with a Princess of the Empire herself, the head of the young officers stepped in nervously “W-we…...pledge a-allegiance to the n-n-new rulers of the Empire.” he nervously replied.
“Good. Now get your weapons and march down to my parent’s castle. Burstfire, watch those officers closely and use ‘proper’ punishment if any of them even thinks of readjusting their loyalties.”
“Of course Celestia, for Justice!” Burstfire responded as the group of Alicorns starts running towards her Parent’s castle.


Parliament housing, Everfree City, 10:30PM


“Y-you can’t do this!! King Galaxia is the legitimate ruler of the empire! They will NOT accept usurpers like you into power!”
“Oh but my dear Papyrus Roll. They will, and I have a plan for that. Commander Steady Pace. Kill this traitor immediately”
“Yes ma’am” the Commander replied to the Princess’s orders as a magical aura envelops the white coated Alicorn’s neck and a snapping sound was heard moments later.
“Now Commander, proceed to hunt down the rest of the loyalists, live for the night!”
“Of course milady.” Steady Pace said before addresing his troops.”Move in and clear out the remaining Loyalists. Live for the night!” Steady Pace ordered his men which they reply with a salute as the coup has gone full swing. 

It has been too long ever since their parents have ruled over the realm, and although they haven’t realized it, both Luna and Celestia have agreed that the time for his reign of the Empire has come to an end. He has become increasingly erratic and could no longer be trusted with power. And Celestia and Luna are going to be the harbingers of change once this is all over.

“For...All of us” Luna said, straightening her armour and once again moving out to complete the first half of the plan, the second half of this operation is about to commence anytime now.