//------------------------------// // Six: You're Face, To Face // Story: The Mare who Sold the World // by CodenameOne //------------------------------// "Preliminary reports suggest that My Heaven is in adequate shape, and is more than ready for a trip into space. We'll need to perform more tests and examinations of it, of course, but its early results are promising" Princess Luna said to her sister as they walked the halls of their private wing of Canterlot Castle. "It'll be two years, at least, before we can determine if it's truly ship-shape. In the meantime we'll need to run interdiction on any more who discover the truth, and teach Cadance the ways and meanings of the Alicorn Ideology. In time, she will come to understand, and then she will be made one of us, to carry on the beliefs of the Ideology" Celestia responded, the two reached Celestia's room and opened the door, sealing it shut behind them. "I question her resolve, but I trust your judgment, sister" Luna said. "Thank you, sister." In the privacy of Celestia's room the two Princesses stepped out onto the balcony, looking out over the land once again. It was mid-morning, the air cool and comfortable before the heat of the day proper. Celestia reflected once again on the regretful loss of this iteration, and the last thread of her conscience tugged at her in an attempt to sway her to do its bidding. Long I have wavered in my belief in the Ideology, but I'd like to think I would always abide by it so long as I live. I think I waver because I grow tired of searching the stars for the perfect blend of species and planet. It's just such a tiresome process, but I know at the end of the day that the Ideology is just, and that we WILL fulfill it one day Celestia mused. The two sisters sat on the balcony, silently looking out. They stayed like this for a moment, lost in thought as they simply appreciated the cool stillness of the morning. Far below, in the streets, the morning was even quieter. With most ponies at work the shops were quiet, the streets sparse with activity. It was all the Princesses could do to merely sit and appreciate the day. "I wonder what the next planet will be like" Luna said. "Successful, hopefully" was all Celestia had to offer in reply. A knock came to Celestia's door, and the two Princesses rose, trotting across the room. Celestia opened the door to find Cadance standing beyond the threshold. "Hello, Cadance. For what have you come?" Celestia asked, stepping aside to allow Cadance entrance. The young Alicorn entered, Celestia closing the door in her wake. "I've come to discuss the Ideology. And what we plan to do" Cadance answered concisely. Celestia and Luna looked at each other, wondering if finally they had gotten through to Cadance. "Come, child. Let us talk" Luna said. "Tell me," Cadance started immediately, "have you ever though about the morality behind the Ideology? Have you ever asked yourself if what you have done, what you are doing, is right? Is just? Tell me, have you ever felt remorse over what you have done, Princesses?" Cadance asked. "Watch thy tongue, sister, and do not ask questions that you do not want answers to, if you can not understand the 'why' of it. Our way may seem cold and harsh, but it is logical and just. Morality and emotion must always give way to logic, and the Ideology is logical" Luna scolded. "Is it? I'm not asking, I'm telling you to ask yourselves; IS the Ideology really logical? Just? Or is it immoral and unjustifiable. How many will die because of it? How can you sleep at night knowing that millions will die because of our inaction?" Cadance questioned. "Sister..." Celestia said, turning to Cadance. "I implore you, to try to understand us. We have lived since time immemorial, will continue to live for all time. We abide by the teachings of our race because they are what we know, what we have always known. There is no alternative to us; we are superior because we know it to be true, because we are Alicorns, because we represent the pinnacle of evolution" Celestia explained. "That's just it; the Ideology is circular logic! 'We are superior because we are Alicorns, and we are superior because we just are'. It's absurd, it's asinine! Would we not be better served by embracing all life as our equal? By trying to save as many as we could?" Cadance asked. "Why should we? What would we gain by treating others as our equal? They could never truly be our equal, so why should we treat them as such?" Luna said. "Because it is the right thing to do!" "Morality is subjective, sister. What one may think as just and morally right another may see as unjust and wrong. The difference with us is that we are Goddesses, so our morality, our way of thinking is correct. It is truth, and everything else is interpretation" Luna explained. "That's absurd! How can you think in such a way? How can you consciously look at this...this...lunacy and think it justified? It's ludicrous, it's ridiculous, it's some kind of bizarre doublethink that any sane individual would find illogical!" Cadance protested. "Enough! We are right, we are always right, we always will be right. We are Goddess personified, and our way is just. You will come to understand it in time, long after we have left this planet" Celestia stated. "I'm not leaving" Cadance declared, Celestia and Luna piquing their brows in response. "I don't want any part of this barbarism! You both sicken me, and if you are going to leave them all behind then I'm staying too." "I see" Celestia uttered. "Well, then, Cadance, if you will not come with us, then we will have to make you come with us." Celestia and Luna moved forward, their magic reaching out to grasp Cadance with their magic. Cadance writhed, her own horn taking on its own glow. "SHINY!!" Cadance bellowed, the door to Celestia's room slamming open. The sisters sun and moon turned to see Shining Armor standing in the door, his gun in his magical grasp. They released Cadance, the young Alicorn rushing to her husband's side. Celestia and Luna took their places at each other's flank, looking down at the stallion. "Cadance has told me everything. The sun, your plan... The truth. We will not allow you to do what you plan to do; we will stop you" Shining threatened, lowering his stance. Luna's face turned to one of rage. "You did what we told you not to and told a LESSER the truth of our reality?! I knew you were not ready! You should have never been entrusted with the truths we told you!" Luna thundered, the air shimmering around her as if heated. "Enough! Surrender peacefully, and face justice!" Shining commanded, leveling his gun. "You DARE to command an ALICORN!? YOUR BETTER?! You could not possibly comprehend or understand! A lesser such as you should have never been told the truth, and now we are forced to silence you" Celestia declared, her horn glowing red. Shining opened fire, Luna throwing up a shield to deflect the bullets. "COME NOW!! Face the might and power of the Alicorn!" Luna shouted, taking to the air, her horn glowing red as Celestia's. Shining and Cadance tensed, preparing to move. "DIE FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!" Luna thundered, releasing the death spell, the red beam lancing through the room, streaking dangerously towards the wedded couple. The Mid-Morning War had begun.