Future Progressive: The Speedfics and Drabbles of Present Perfect

by PresentPerfect

War Comes to Equestria

"How dare you?"

The pronouncement was spoken so softly, Celestia's mood was so calm, that no one in the great conference room understood its meaning until she spoke again.

"How dare you, Ambassador, come into my kingdom under a flag of peace, only to casually make reference to war when negotiations aren't going your way?"

The griffin snorted, the ornamental feathers lining his epaulettes ruffling in the breeze.

"Good Princess," he said slowly, his voice pinched, "I merely bring up a theoretical. The fact is, your kingdom sits upon the resources mine lacks, and it is merely a matter of--"

"No!"

Celestia's hoof struck the marble tabletop, the impact of her golden slipper ringing across the high ceiling. A lump formed in Luna's throat, but her mouth was too dry for her to swallow it down.

"Do not speak of war as if it were some trivial, everyday matter!"

A tiny smirk formed at the corner's of the ambassador's beak.

"Do forgive me, Your Highness, for my rashness in speaking. War is, however, very much an everyday part of life for griffons. We lack the, what is the phrase... peaceful utopia you have worked so hard to build here in Equestria."

"Yes." The words seemed to calm Celestia. Luna relaxed as her sister settled back onto her seat. "A peaceful utopia that I, with my own hooves, have strived for centuries to build and maintain."

"A peaceful utopia," the griffon said quickly, "and a soft life, that has left your ponies weak, unawares, easy targets should a nearby kingdom--"

"Stop it!" Once again, the hoof slammed upon the table, hard enough this time to dislodge the slipper. Celestia did not move to replace it.

"I have offered you every courtesy owed your position today, Ambassador. I have been more than willing to negotiate trade between our lands, even going so far as to put myself at a slight disadvantage in the agreements. But nopony, no one, no thing threatens my little ponies in my presence!"

"Sister," Luna mumbled, "take care."

Celestia turned to her, a light chuckle on her upturned lips. "Sister, are you hearing this drivel, this rot falling from the beak of this griffon? Either I'm losing my mind or he is actually trying to anger me!"

"I merely seek to remind you of what you stand to lose, Princess. There are certain levels of priority that a ruler must--ghkk!"

Magic lifted him by the neck, cutting off his words. As he struggled midair, Celestia continued, her eyes growing harder by the moment.

"Do not lecture me on what I must or must not do! You, my good Ambassador, have much to learn about dealing with royalty."

The griffon was able to choke out a few words. "This... is an act... of war..."

"Celly, stop it!"

"No!" Celestia's mad eyes flashed at Luna, who froze. Behind them, she saw a shadow, a spot of darkness, a blot of unreal nothingness that she knew all too well.

"Equestria is not some plaything to be trifled with by any upstart king who thinks we are too soft to defend ourselves." She loosed her grip on the ambassador, who flopped into his seat and crumpled over the edge of it, wheezing. Celestia began to pace around the table.

"I will not stand idly by while the callous and small-minded threaten and intimidate us because they think bullying will help them get their way. You have no idea, Ambassador, no idea at all what I have had to do, to sacrifice, to make Equestria the shining jewel of peace that it is today."

"Enlighten me," the ambassador croaked.

"Rebellions crushed. Foes imprisoned. I have moved mountains, diverted rivers; even burned cities when necessary." Celestia closed her eyes, drawing a breath in through her teeth. "I have nurtured so many, only to see them wither and fade after a few breaths. I have lost and lost and lost again those I love, yet it has never stopped me from seeking out more ponies, more wonderful ponies, to love and nurture and care for, to provide this soft life, as you call it, that they in all their infinite talents and desires and marvelous friendships, so rightly deserve."

Rubbing his neck, the ambassador righted himself, looking at Celestia through one eye, his voice still hoarse. "A tremendous feat, I am sure. Yet it seems to have been an arduous task for one pony, even one as... long-lived as yourself, to undertake. Surely Princess Luna has had a hoof somewhere in all of this..."

Celestia's head lowered. Luna saw the shadow flash behind her and started forward, hoof outstretched.

"Celly, no!"

When Celestia raised her head, her eyes were red and rimmed with tears.

"I sacrificed my own sister for this kingdom!" She was quickly losing the fight against her emotions. "And if I had to do it again, even knowing how painful and lonely that millennium was, I would do it, unquestioningly, to ensure that peace reigned in Equestria!"

The ambassador chuckled, glancing slyly to Luna. "No doubt your sister feels the same way."

Luna felt both pairs of eyes on her, saw the shadow lancing tendrils through her sister's mane. "I..."

"Luna..."

"If we had to do it over again, I would..." Luna swallowed, or tried to. The lump was back. The shadow pressed against Celestia like a lover. Luna saw its smile, knowing, winking.

"I would..." Luna blinked, her vision blurring. A thousand years of rock, dust, binding, blackness, void, breathlessness, hunger, loneliness.

The shadow's grin was horrifying.

"It sounds," the griffon said, chuckling thinly, "as though not everyone is as pleased with your sacrifices as you, Your Highness."

Celestia's eyes squeezes shut. When they opened, a heat aura surmounted them. Her eyebrows were thin lines of fire. Luna could not make her body move fast enough. The shadow leered mockingly at her.

"Everything I have done has been for the greatest good!" Celestia's voice was unnatural. It hung in the air like oppressive summer heat. Luna's hooves skidded across the table and she took to the air.

"Everything I have sacrificed, I have done so selflessly, so that others would benefit!"

Luna could not approach her sister. The heat was like a force field, pushing her back. The ambassador's ceremonial garb smoldered and ignited at the edges.

"Everything I have done, everything I have strived for, everything I have accomplished has been worth it!"

Celestia's mane turned bright red. It ceased flowing normally and began to crackle. Luna cried her name, but her words were swallowed by the hot and the shadow and the anger. The ambassador burst into flame.

"If you want an act of war, I will give you an act of war!"

Luna screamed as Canterlot Palace burned from the inside out.

The next day, the drums of war beat a march for Canterlot. War had come to Equestria at last.

Comments

[kits]

it's a thing i guess.

[PresentPerfect]

1439776
your face is a thing

[kits]

1439809
I just don't see what the point of this is. Celestia doesn't have a temper and there's no lead up. I get it's a speedfic, but that's like starting at the cower!Dash scene in Rainboom and never explaining why she's nervous about flying. Sorry if you didn't want critique, but Mr Horse said it best. Sorry if you wanted a more positive opinion.

[PresentPerfect]

1439951
Okay. :O I am okay with this. It is entirely a thing that came to me, and that's why it's here and not its own post with, like, work put into it. :B

[zero588]

I'd like to see a continuation of this scene into a full story.

[Themaskedferret]

I'm feeling the same as Kits I confess. It's an interesting idea but without seeing the buildup it makes no sense. Luna sees the shadow appearing why doesn't she intervene more aggressively? she clearly knows whats at stake but does nothing?

[Admiral Biscuit]

See, I read a blog post a while back about predator vs. prey behavior, and this actually struck me as being accurate: Celestia would give the griffon a couple of chances to back down, and when he doesn't, she goes all the way to 11 with no warning.

[Cursed Quill]

formed at the corner's of the ambassador's beak.

corners

Celestia's eyes squeezes shut.

squeezed