The young yellow filly looked up at her sister, her eyes wide with shock. She began tearing up, trying to process the single sentence that had just flipped her world upside down. "Lose the farm? Wha'dya mean, Applejack?"
"I told ya! We ain't losin' the farm. It's just..." Applejack paused for a moment, trying to find the right way to word it. "Changing. That's it! Look, I know it's sad, but Celestia's army needs weapons if they're going to crush those rebel scum! Our farm was the perfect place for a factory. You should be happy to help!"
When Applejack had agreed to this, she had been excited. She would do anything to support the war, being one of Princess Celestia's top advisors. This was a perfect opportunity to prove to Celestia her loyalty (though she had done it so many times before). Applejack just didn't know how hard it would be to break it to her family. Well, to Apple Bloom. Things had changed since the war.
Granny Smith had finally done it. The old mare had finally passed, shortly after the war began. Some say it was just her age, having been alive since—well who knew how long? Everyone had moved on, saying that she had lived a full life raising her children and grandchildren. They said when the kids were all grown up, she had lived out her life's purpose, but Applejack knew the truth. It was the shock of a war, but mostly that traitorous Big M—
No! He isn't worth your thoughts. He's just another scumbag rebel, Applejack scolded herself. She waited for the day when she'd finally take that dirty, traitorous rebel down.
"When does it happen?" Apple Bloom didn't even look up. She stared down at her hooves, avoiding making eye-contact with her sister.
"They told me it'll be done by the time the week is out." She turned to walk towards the stairs to her room and passed the window, pausing. The sun, low in the sky, turned the leaves to a sea of pure gold. The crimson apples shined out, reminding her of the times when she was young. She had grown up here. She remembered the day she bucked her first tree, her legs sore for nearly a week after. She remembered the day her parents brought Apple Bloom home, she was overjoyed. She remembered the day they died, leaving her with her Granny and him. She remembered the day they fought. She remembered the day Apple Bloom cried. She remembered the day he left.
Applejack tore her eyes away from her childhood home, filled with good and bad memories. The night would be coming soon, and she didn't want to be out then. "Pack up your bags, we'll be staying at the General's house."
"Can't you just call her Rainbow Dash? She used to be your friend," Apple Bloom blurted out. Applejack had expected a reaction like this. Apple Bloom still held onto some ideas of the old world. It was sad how often Applejackhad to drill the truth into her head. The idea of friendship had corrupted Apple Bloom's mind.
She walked over slowly, right up to Apple Bloom. In a low voice she began the speech that Apple Bloom knew all too well. She couldn't afford to lose Apple Bloom's help on the far-factory, so she had to take care of re-education herself. "Now you listen her; I have told you time and time again - there is no such thing as friendship. It is, and always has been a lie. The General and I simply know each other, but we know better the truth of what we should be doing. Using our skills to win the war, and nothing else. You need to forget about your little ideas of friendship, and get your priorities straight, clear?" Applejack believed every word of her speech. After all, if the Elements of Harmony, who had harnessed the 'supposed' power of harmony time and time again, couldn't stay together throughout the war, who could? "I said, 'clear?'"
"Crystal," Apple Bloom sighed. At least she'd see her frie-peer, Scootaloo. They'd always stick together, unlike some ponies.
"That's right, sugarcube. Go ahead and get your bags packed. Well, your room. They're giving us a more modest home along with the new factory. Exciting, right? Now get moving, a brighter tomorrow is coming."
Rarity rushed down the halls of the New Lunar Republic Headquarters, and burst through crowds of ponies. She was going so fast, ponies could barely here the apologies thrown over her shoulder. She turned many corners, the halls seeming like an endless a maze. The building was larger than the entire town of Ponyville, and Rarity's poor sense of direction had misled her many times. Finally, after much error, she came upon the familiar hall where Luna's office was located. The door alone was more extravagant than anything Rarity had ever owned. Rarity admired President Luna, and everything she stood for. She would never lie to her ponies.
Rarity brought up her hoof to knock, and the door swung open. The office was more beautiful than Carousel Boutique. Its walls many shades of blue, ranging from navy to a few spots of bright peacock. Swirling about the walls were silver stars, ever changing, making new constellations every minute. Lining the far wall, that seemed miles away, were shelves filed with knowledge that even Celestia did not know in the thousand years she had led her country into oblivion. Hanging from the ceiling was a single, large light fixture, meant to look like the moon. The centerpiece of it all was a large, platinum throne, shaped like a crescent moon, at the head of a matching table.
Sitting upon that throne was President Luna, who had told them the truth. She had led them into a true democracy, that she would lead forever. Her regal, expectant expression looked down upon Rarity, waiting. The white unicorn stepped closer to the alicorn and raised the letter out of her pocket. She was wearing the suit designed (by her, of course) for Luna's top advisors. Her magic enveloped it, its aura blue, sparkling like the stars of the night sky.
"I have great news President Luna. After my sister was caught sneaking letters to that Empire brat, she was sent to re-education, as per your request. It turns out, the brat she spoke to was the adopted daughter of the General after one of our soldiers killed her parents in battle. After re-education, she finally let go of those silly notions of friendship.
"Sweetie then persuaded that brat to abandon those Empire freaks. She has just arrived and has been sent to re-education. This may not win us the war, but just think about the moral effect on the General!" Rarity beamed. She was so proud of her sister, now that she was a true revolutionary.
"That is good news. We shall speak of it in the meeting of advisors today."
"Oh, when is that? I never received a notice," Rarity asked, normally an attendee of the meetings.
"You will not be needed. You don't really seem to have a purpose, do you?" Luna seemed to have a hint of a smile on her face.
"W-what? What do you mean?" Rarity felt as if somepony had stabbed a knife into her gut, and twisted it.
"I mean, find your purpose in revolution. If we are to beat my sister, everypony must be doing something. Find your purpose, and you may be re-invited, but for now, you are useless." Rarity was in complete shock. Her idol, practically her god had told her she was useless, and it was true. It had to be true, for Luna decreed it.
Rarity turned to leave the vast room, and ran throughout the hallways, not even trying to keep track of where she was going. Tears flowed out of her eyes, wrecking the makeup she had so little of.
She had worn it because it was supposed to be a day for celebration. She remembered the days when she wore it every day. It was pointless during the revolution, not unlike herself. That day she had worn it, thinking that it would be a grand day, for her sister had finally helped in revolution. If only she had known what today would actually be like.
I am pointless. I do not deserve the glory of knowing the president, Rarity told herself.
She stopped running, panting as her lack of athleticism finally catching up with her. Finding herself beside a familiar door, she decided to enter, hoping with all of her might that her hooves had led her home.
She immediately recognized the room she had stepped into, but it did not belong to her. It belonged to a certain mare who used to fight for the Solar Empire. They had switched sides, coming over to the true side but they had never spoke of the reason why.
To most ponies, it would not matter, for the mare had come to help, so why would the reason matter? Rarity, however, had made a connection. She knew the reason had to be important. Rarity had kept tabs on her peers from before the war, and knew that the mare was one of the best fighters for the Solar Empire, and one of its strongest supporters. Rarity knew the mare wouldn't just leave.
In the days before the war In the time between the war's start and end, somepony important in her life had died.
Rarity trotted over to the only spot of color in the whole room, even though it had been watered down by tears.
It was a picture of a stallion with a smile so wide, Rarity wondered how it fit on his face. His cutie mark was displayed. An accordion, made by a grilled cheese sandwich, showed his love for parties. Beside the picture was a single rose. It had obviously wilted long ago.
"What do you want?" A voice, though quiet, echoed in the silence. Rarity jumped, shocked by the entrance of the room's owner. It was Pinkamena Pie.
Her once bright coat had faded many shades, and her hair, once full of bounce and life had straightened and became duller. The mare made eye-contact with Rarity, who immediately looked away. The dead eyes were something Rarity could never get used to. It seemed impossible that the mare standing before her used to be so full of life.
"I—I'm sorry. I found myself here after running like a mad-mare throughout the whole building. I've had quite a difficult realization."
"Does it have something to do with why you weren't at the advisors meeting today?" The dull pony asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Ah, yes. Those things. Wel, er, I will no longer be attending those. President Luna b-believes I have nothing t-to offer. And she is right. I have no purpose," The white unicorn sighed. "Oh, how did you do it? How did you find purpose in revolution and become such a valuable asset to the Republic? I've been here much longer than you, but still I do nothing but where a vest I do not deserve!"
Rarity tore off the vest, tossing it upon the stone floor. Pinkamena picked it up and placed it on the small dresser she had.
She then sat on her small cot, and Rarity took the space beside her. Rarity took a better look around the room. It was as sad and dull as the mare beside her, but she wasn't surprised at all. The Republic couldn't afford large homes or rooms because all bits were going to revolution. For now, citizens lived in very small rooms with dull, grey walls, a small dresser, one to two cots depending on the amount of ponies in the room, and a bathroom for every hallway. Pinkamena had said that conditions in the Solar Empire were the same, or worse, so Rarity felt slightly better about her accommodations.
Pinkamena began speaking in the sad voice that wrenched at Rarity's heart. "When I came from the Empire, I thought about all of the poor ponies who didn't know the truth. The ponies tricked into the lie Cheese and I followed. It brought me nothing but pain. I'll never forget the relief coming to the truth. The New Lunar Republic saved me.
"I wanted to help as many like me as I could. I realized I could spread the truth I had learned. I would tell the Solar Empire of the lies they believed in. President Luna gave me the idea of going with a small group over the border and giving secret meetings and causing revolts, slowly recruiting more ponies to the Republic.
"Tell me, when you think about the Solar Empire, what immediately comes to mind? The first thing?"
"Lies. Celestia is a lying bitch that needs to be exposed," Rarity didn't even think before replying. The words just came out like instinct.
"There's room for another on our team. Would you like to join us?" Pinkamena looked at her, and Rarity thought she saw the slightest hint of emotion that had come out of nowhere. Hope.
"I-I really do think that would be my place in the revolution. Spread the truth of the New Lunar Republic!"
"I must warn you, it will be dangerous. Some poor ponies have been brainwashed by the Solar Empire, and will kill us without a second thought."
Rarity thought for a moment, but her mind was made up. Nothing could stop her from saving the poor Solar Empire ponies. "I will join your group. Cross my heart, hope to fly-"
"Don't," The glimmer of hope disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Meet me at the entrance hall at midnight."
Rarity frowned, but rose from her seat and slowly walked to the hall. She turned back for a moment to find the pink mare with a picture in her hooves - her dead husband. Rarity wondered yet again what exactly had happened to the cheerful stallion. She made her way out of the room to get enough rest before her first real action against the Solar Empire.
"Fluttershy! Miss Fluttershy! Help!" A cream colored earth pony came rushing into the main medic tent. Her navy and pink mane was wild.
"Calm down! Bon-bon? What's happened?"
"It's D-Derpy! She got shot! I-I didn't know what to do! We brought her over, but she's lost a lot of blood! Fluttershy, you have to help us! She has to make it, she has to!" The mare burst into hysterics. It was understandable. Fluttershy would have, if she didn't have to stay strong for the ponies around her.
Derpy, or Ditzy, was one of the best mares Fluttershy had ever met. She was always the first to volunteer to go out on the front lines to help ponies, and boosted moral even in the darkest of times. Her smile pushed soldiers to survive.
Fluttershy had known her even before the war, bonding over their flying skills, which were not quite up to par. After that, she helped found the Peace Corps, standing by Fluttershy throughout the whole journey.
There wasn't a single pony who didn't love Derpy. Fluttershy tried to calm the pony down, but she was interrupted when a stallion came in, carrying the wounded mare. Caramel set her down on a bed and explained what had happened.
"She was helping retrieve the wounded with Coco Pommel and me, when she-she-" Caramel stopped to take a breath, and turned around to look at the wounded mare. Upon the sight, he couldn't speak. He moved aside to allow Fluttershy to see. She gasped, even though she had tried her best to prepare for the sight. The red blood and dirt staining the once white vest was too much for the yellow pegasus to bear.
"Nurse Redheart! Please, come over here, quickly!" Fluttershy called out to one of her top healers, a white earth pony with a pink mane, who had been a real nurse before the war. She began working immediately on the fallen mare. While her face was extremely stone, showing no emotion, her eyes betrayed her, showing panic, which was quite infectious. What would happen to Fluttershy's dear friend?
Fluttershy moved to the side, allowing the nurse to do her work. She grasped Derpy's hoof, sitting at her side. She had no clue how long she sat there before Caramel, a look of concern on his face, came up beside her.
"Look, I know nopony expected this, but it was bound to happen eventually. We go out every day on the front lines to heal ponies, so a stray bullet wasn't unlikely. It's not healthy for you to do this to yourself. You need to stop this. Please Fluttershy, we need you! What would Derpy say?" he askedher. He helped her on her feet, and she nodded, reminding herself of what Derpy would do right then.
Come on silly, I know it's tough, but you gotta get a move on. There's a world full of people who need help! Derpy's voice cheerfully said in her head. That's what she would say, so that's what Fluttershy would do. Flutter shy took a walk around the camp without knowing or caring where she was going.. She looked out to see where she had found herself.
It was the graveyard.
No matter how many lives were saved, some were always lost. It could be that her scouts couldn't get there in time, or that they simply couldn't be saved. They had made a graveyard for all of the soldiers lost in the war. It broke Fluttershy's heart every time she saw it, because she felt personally responsible for everypony's death.
"Don't worry Ditzy Do. I promise you won't be out there too."
"I knew bringing that fool orphan into my home was a mistake! How could I have trusted that freak off of the streets? How dare the Lunar Republic do that? How dare they?" General Dash paced back and forth across the room in a rage, occasionally slamming down and breaking vases or chairs. The general stopped for a moment, at a loss for words. She sighed, collapsing onto the only chair that hadn't been heaved across the room into a wall.
"They took her. They take everything. How can a pony go on? She was my daughter," The general's voice cracked on the last word, and she began something she had rarely done even before the war, let alone now. She began to cry. A single tear was shed, and it rolled down her face. It glowed silver and glistened in the damned moonlight.
One after another, the silver tears rolled down her cheeks, an even paler blue than usual. It seemed all of the color had been drained from the rainbow mare. War did that to ponies, and paired with heartbreak...
Scootaloo, the flightless pegasus, had looked up to Rainbow Dash, even in days before the war. Rainbow Dash had practically raised her, the poor filly's parents always away on tours with the Wonderbolts. How cruelly ironic it was that the flightless pegasus was the daughter of some of Equestria's finest flyers. In fact, many bullies had gone as far as to call her "Penguin." Even more, she was always a disappointment to her parents. Rainbow Dash took her under her wing, teaching her about the world around her, and that she could find her place in it. When the war came, many things changed.
Rainbow Dash became the General of the Solar Empire, and Scootaloo's parents became soldiers in the fight, under the General's command. When war took the two, Scootaloo was left all alone, no other family to turn to. Rainbow Dash couldn't bear to send her to the hell that was the orphanages. They may have been crucial to teaching orphans to despise rebels from a young age, but some of their processes scared the General more than some of the bloodiest fights she had ever seen on the battlefield.
The General took her in, taught her the ways of the Solar Empire. Soon enough, the General adopted her, and even began to think of her as her own daughter. She thought everything was doing well, but then she found the letters.
The damned revolutionary filly had tried to convert her, but the General had stopped them - or so she thought. The letters still stole her daughter, and there was nothing she could do about it. She had left of her own accord, believing in the lies that the Lunar Empire had fed her.
Why does this feel so terrible? The General thought. Everypony knew that love was a lie. It was made clear when the princess of love abandoned all of the ponies when the war began. She was never a true princess, and her love wasn't real either. Why, then, did it feel like her heart was breaking?
She sat there for a moment, sitting on the chair that Scootaloo always sat in. The General cried, her heart shattered into a million pieces, more violently than the stained glass windows portraying Luna in the Royal Palace. The General thought she would be immune to heartbreak, but no such luck.
The General had been through battle wounds that would have killed any normal pony, and survived with just a scar at most. This ache, however, couldn't just go away with a trip to the hospital. The ache had no spell or antidote. One pony could cure or mend her heart, and they were the cause.
Th door swung open, and Rainbow Dash's head shot up, her eyes wide. Her hooves wiped away the tears that had blinded her, and she saw who had intruded on her mourning session. Applejack and her younger sister walked in, clearly shocked from the sight.
"Miss Dash? You oka-"
"Shut up! That's General to you! Front and center," The two confused mares hastily made a line in front of the enraged pony. "I think you need to know something. The fool orphan who was staying in my home has defected. She has left go join the rebels. Understood? Good. I don't want to hear another word about it."
Apple Bloom looked up, her eyes wide. "She what? Scoota-"
"Don't you dare say that name!" The General snapped, her eyes flashing. "Please make your way to the back room. I've set up a pair of cots for you to sleep on. You will find me in the room beside your own. The factory should be done before the week is out."
"Thank ya General. We appreciate it. Apple Bloom, head on to the room and get ready for bed. I'll be back in a second."
"Okay, big sis."
"Would you like to talk?" The orange mare asked the General, the unfamiliar feeling of concern washing over her.
"No. But a word of advice, concerning that sister of yours. Re-education may seem cruel, but it is the only thing that can save possible rebels. You alone cannot save Apple Bloom. Being exposed to ponies like that orphan has clearly affected her"
"With all due respect, General, I think I know how to raise my sister," Applejack turned to leave the pegasus mare to her grieving.
"I thought I knew how to raise my daughter."
The purple unicorn sighed, and closed the door behind her. The things done in there appalled her, but it was necessary to the war - Celestia said so. She continued down the hallway to the throne room. She nodded at the ponies she passed. Being the head strategist had made her quite famous in the war. She may have had her alicorn status revoked, but when the princess of friendship lost all of her old friends, she lost her earth pony strength and wings with them.
She reached the throne room, and glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes past noon. She was late! Celestia hated it when anypony was late.
"You're late, Twilight Sparkle. Care to explain?" The throne was giant, so the alicorn literally looked down on her. Twilight shrunk down under her gaze, even though it was kind.
"Well you see, I was finishing the report and got sidetracked, and, um, well, I lost track of time. I'm so-"
"My dear Twilight. I know you have plenty on your mind, but do not confuse your priorities. You do know where they lie, correct?" Twilight nodded vigorously. "Okay then take a seat."
The unicorn sat at the large table that resembled the sun. There were a few other ponies sitting at the table. A gray earth pony who donned a pink bow-tie and a treble clef cutie mark. She took notes on the meetings and would help advise, as all the ponies in the room did.
One of the old Wonderbolts, Soarin, sat awkwardly. It was clear he didn't want to be there. He would share news from the front lines on which he fought, because the General was rarely able to come herself.
There were also Twilight's parents, who would always stand by her. They gave her advise when she was distraught, and would comfort her when she cried, both occurrences being far more often since the war began. They always sat beside her at the meetings, but had instead taken seats far away from her place close to Celestia. They were whispering in a panic, and would not even glance at her.
There were other ponies, but Twilight didn't take the time to look at them because Celestia spoke in a loud booming voice.
"There have been traitors among us," The statement shocked the whole room into attention. "Yes, and they have been feeding everything to their son in the Lunar Republic. Yes, I thought they had learned that rebels were not worth the trouble of caring for, but I was wrong. A very rare occurrence.
"Now, we all know the punishment for treason. It truly is a shame that it will happen to the poor traitors.
"I would like to give these ponies one last chance to confess and prove their loyalty to the Solar Empire. Please do the right thing, you could be good ponies. Now, you have fifteen seconds."
"Fifteen," Celestia began very calmly, her soothing voice echoing throughout the room, silent as a mouse.
The countdown began, and Twilight focused on her parents. Her father shakily placed a hoof on his wife's, and they shared a knowing look, making a mum decision.
"O-"
"Fine! You've caught us. We admit.We were sending letters to our son, and he was caught. He was to be imprisoned if he didn't provide information from the Empire," Nightlight stood up suddenly shocking everypony in the entire room, excluding Celestia. Her expression was completely calm and knowing.
"You have to understand, we couldn't let him be imprisoned! He is our son!" Twilight Velvet agreed, standing up as well on shaky hooves beside her husband. She looked at the floor and hid her face. Nightlight tried to comfort her, placing a hoof on her shoulder, but looked up when Celestia's voice cut through the silence.
"Well. Thank you for your confession."
"Please, we have confessed! We promise to stop! Please spare us, so we can continue to watch over our daughter here!" Nightlight pleaded with the princess.
"Twilight Sparkle," The purple mare's head shot up to the princess. She had been sitting there in shock, not able to say a word. While on the outside, she seemed to be stone, inside her emotions were running wild, from shock to sadness to fear, and even more she didn't even comprehend they came so fast. "I'd like to ask you a question. This is completely your decision, but I think you will know what the right answer is."
"Princess?" Twilight responded warily, unsure of what to expect.
"You shall decide their sentence."
"W-what?"
"You heard me. You are my right-hand mare, and I trust you. If you truly believe you need them, then they may stay, or you can punish them. Just know that everything we have to do is for the good of the Empire.
"Of course."
"These two have betrayed the Solar Empire. You can choose what shall be done."
Twilight thought of what the Solar Empire meant to her. It was fighting against the disgusting rebels of the night. They had helped them, the ponies she despised more than literally everything in the world. Even more, they had chosen him. He had abandoned her, and had helped the vile, sickening rebels that she fought against.
Her parents, her mama and daddy, as she once called them, were meant to stand by her, were meant to fight for her, not Shining. Her whole life, they had chosen him. They had always held him above her because of how good he was at magic from a you age.
Oh yeah? Well I became Celestia's personal student! Even then you sent me away, and she was the one who raised me to the mare I am today. I don't need you. I've never needed you! Twilight's thoughts swirled around her head. Her emotions were wild, but her feelings settled on one - anger. It seemed clear what she had to do then. Twilight's face had gone through a noticeable change, the shock transferring to that of pure fury.
"Take them away. Away to the dungeons where traitors belong, because that's all they are to me now Celes—can I call you mother?"
"Of course, my dear Twilight," Celestia's face was unreadable, but it was certainly different from her par—the traitor's expressions. Twilight Velvet, normally a very calm and organized mare, began sobbing, tears flowing out of her eyes like a waterfall. Nightlight placed his hoof around the hysteric mare's shoulders, and wiped away some tears of own.
"I'm sorry. It's for the good of the Solar Empire, even if you don't think so." The guards began taking them away. "You've made the right choice Twilight," Celestia said, coming up and placing a hoof on her shoulder.
Twilight sat for a moment before turning to the traitors and shouting out. "Wait!"
The two soon-to-be prisoners turned, their faces hopeful.
"Goodbye, Nightlight and Twilight Velvet."