Aftermath of A Fallen Star
By Rated Ponystar
Edited by The Unnamed Pawn and Commander X5
Pre-Read by: Magic Man and Chaotic Note
Gladius Stride (The Shoulder She Cries On)
***
Its funny how one’s fortune changes over the years, huh? I was once hated and despised by my fellow guards for being related to my brother. The traitor known as Gallant Heart. If you’re going to ask me if I hate or resent my brother for what happened then the answer is no. I loved my brother. I still do. I find it hard to believe that the stallion who carried me up the mountain when I was injured would do something as horrible as assassinate a princess.
To this day I still don’t believe it.
But I don’t want to talk about my brother. I’ve talked about him more than enough times. I want to talk about me... and Princess Celestia.
If anypony has suffered more these past few years it is our Princess of the Sun. Having lost her daughter figure by her own subjects, the princess changed. I won’t say a total good way, but I will not say a bad way either. For one thing, Princess Celestia wasn’t taking crap from the nobles anymore. Ever since her return from her hiatus, Princess Celestia has done everything in her power to make sure Princess Twilight’s reforms are pushed.
No longer did a cutie mark have to limit you to your career choices in life. All races from changelings to griffins were welcomed as equals in jobs, education, marriage, and government. The new magitech inventions and discoveries into science had changed the way we live greatly. I could now contact my cousins in Fillydelphia by a quick call via the phone.
Many benefited from these changes... and others didn’t. Mainly those who live in the past.
There was much resistance, especially from the traditionalist. At first we thought it would be from the nobles, but even the common folk had caused much resistance. Canterlot, Cloudsdale, Dodge Junction, Balitmare, St. Neigher, half of Las Pegasi and other places were full of traditionalists who fought, argued, and even protested that the changes were wrong.
Many of Celestia’s advisors told her she was forcing the changes too fast, that Equestria needed time to adjust naturally. She ignored them. All that mattered to her was making Twilight’s dream for Equestria to come true.
And me? Well, all I did was protect her. Not just from threats that meant to harm her... but also herself too. I’m one of the few who really knows what goes on in her heart. I am one of the even fewer who sees her without her mask on. This only has made me more loyal to her.
There were many who thought it was wrong to make me one of her personal guards. Some even said I would continue the work my brother started. Princess Celestia instantly squashed those rumors and stated that she trusted me. How could I not be loyal to her after that?
And so I stayed by her side every day. I was there when she went to court. I was there when she ate her meals. I was there when she wandered into the gardens for a breath of fresh air. I stood there with pride and determination to never once fail my princess.
But over time I became more than just a guard to her, I became her friend. Whenever we were alone we would just talk. At first it was about our loss, then about Equestria, and finally just our regular feelings. They were short, but sweet talks that made me see that behind the power, crown, regalness, and wisdom was just a regular mare. A long living mare who had lost so much, but a mare nonetheless.
I became strength for her and a shoulder to cry on during the days she thought about Twilight. And she did the same for me the days I thought about my brother.
The only time she ever ordered me to leave her side was when Princess Twilight’s dragon son, Spike, ran away from Equestria. I had searched with multiple groups all over the western area of Equestria for at least three months before we had no choice but to give up.
I remembered that day very well.
***
I was not looking forward to my report to the princess as I strode down to her bedchambers that evening. I stopped and my heart clenched as I heard her soft yet gentle tears from beyond even the door. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. “Princess? It’s Gladius Stride... may I come in?”
There was silence at the door, but then I heard her magic activate and the lock turn. I entered and saw her laying facedown on the pillows of her bed. I slowly removed my helmet and gently made my way towards her. When I sat down, I calmly patted her back as she slowly turned to me with her teary eyes. “I failed him...”
“Don’t...”
“I should have tried harder. I tried so hard to get him to open up... I’m horrible... I don’t... I’m so horrible...” whispered Princess Celestia as she slowly raised herself. “Seeing him... it reminded me so much of Twilight... that I couldn’t... I was... oh Faust am I so pathetic that I can’t even properly comfort a child when he loses his mother?”
“You did your best, Celestia,” I whispered, slowly wrapping my arms around her. Most guards would be appalled by what I was doing. But this wasn’t Celestia the Princess. This was Celestia the pony. “He’ll come back home... he has friends and loved ones here... he’ll come back...”
“When? A year? Ten? A hundred?” muttered Celestia, shaking her head. “Do you know what he said to me when we last spoke? He hated Equestria... because we were unworthy of his mother... that so many would take her legacy and spit on it like those damn traditionalists and their sheep.”
“He’s just angry... and he’s a kid,” I said, shaking his head. “Have faith that he’ll find his way home.”
“I just don’t know what to do...” she whispered, looking at me with her haunted eyes. “How can I be a leader if I can’t protect my own family?”
I didn’t say anything. I just sat there. Holding here and letting her cry on my shoulder.
***
Time passed. So many things changed. We still don’t know anything about Spike, and maybe we never will.
The Princess and I continued to grow closer over the years, but before you think anything with those thoughts it wasn’t like that. Not every guard falls in love with a princess like Shining Armor or Flash Sentry. I happen to be happily to be married with two colts of my own.
I suppose you could say that I was the princess guard friend. She even came to my wedding.
However, things began to get worse and worse over time. Equestria was becoming more divided between those who wanted change and those who didn’t. Even in the Royal Guards there were divisions; mostly over the argument of letting non-ponies join.
I had passed over various promotions so I could stay with my princess, even though she said that I could move on with my career. My parents wanted me to do so as well, mostly so the stigma of my brother-who they refused to name still-could be washed away from our family’s honor. I didn’t care about that. My brother didn’t either. It was about duty, not glory, that we both wanted to become guards.
Even if my brother did shame himself in the end...
It was becoming apparent also that violence was escalating in the Equestrian nation. We didn’t know how bad it was until...
***
It was as if Tartarus itself has arisen from the earth. Such burning fire and black smoke that covered nearly half the upper district, combined with the cries of dying, burning, scared, and more. It was a nightmare come to life.
The moment the explosion was heard and echoed across all of Canterlot, both Princess Celestia and Luna went in with water spells at full power. I had just arrived with a squad of handpicked guards to help secure the area. I could already tell that we had many casualties by the dead and burning bodies of the students and teachers in the area. Some of them were as young as seven to eight.
What was going to be a day of remembrance for Twilight Sparkle had turned into another disaster. One where more innocent life had been lost. Medics were doing their best to save as many as they could as firefighters did their best to assist the princesses in putting out the fire and saving the civilians.
My guards and I kept panicked parents and civilians back as I saw Princess Celestia work as hard as she could to be rid of the flames. I saw the terrified and horrified look in her eyes as it pained me to see the school she created hundreds of years ago as now half destroyed. This was no normal explosion, especially with the magic one could feel from the flames.
But those thoughts were soon interrupted by a sight that showed just how powerful Princess Celestia was.
Glowing like a bright star, Princess Celestia bathed herself in her solar magic and shined above the school. Slowly, the flames began to rise up and connect with her like she was a giant magnet. Every ember from the roof the ground was slowly rising around her and began to form a giant ball of fire. In less than a few minutes, Princess Celestia was glowing with flames dancing around her like a second sun. With a cry of power, she shot the flames upward and into the harmless sky, her horn glowing even hotter than the embers.
We all watched with amazement as our leader, with one great powerful spell, erased an entire fire. Princess Celestia managed to fire away the last of the flames and, when they faded, she slowly began to fall. I reacted in an instant and rushed to where she would crash, but Princess Luna saved her first.
Gently, laying her down, Princess Luna allowed me room to assist as Princess Celestia slowly looked at me. She asked, “How many?”
“How many have we lost?” she weakly asked with tears growing in her eyes.
I didn’t say anything. I just looked around and saw various students making their way from the burning building in awe or joy. I looked at her and gave a weak smile. “Not as many as the ones you saved.”
***
We later learned it was a group of traditionalist called “Equestrian’s First” that had done this. Soon, similar groups began to arise and we had ourselves an entire armada of terrorists. The princesses declared them enemies of the state, but while some saw them are villains, others saw them as heroes. Some even dared to say that the princesses caused the fire as an excuse to, and I quote “eliminate those who seek to spread the truth against the sparkheads who are ruining our country”.
This nation... what is becoming of it?
Princess Celestia since that day had been very cold and talked very little to me. Her sister, even more so. The Elements no longer appeared in the castle, having been busy with their own lives. Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor are also busy helping The Changeling Republic against the recently proclaimed “Queen Cicada”. And finally, more than half of the Council of Lords have resigned in protest over the actions of the princesses.
My princess is all alone once more.
All I can do is be by her side.
I entered her room where she is standing beside the balcony, looking over Canterlot with an emotionless face. I don’t even bother giving out greetings, I just approach her side. We are alone. Just the two of us as it has been for many years.
“Gladius...” said the Princess as she closed her eyes. “I failed Twilight.”
“How? You have brought about her reforms one by one. You have changed Equestria so much, is this not what you wanted?” I asked with confusion.
“I have brought about her reforms yes...” Celestia answered with a soft sigh. “But I have failed to bring the virtues they were suppose to supply all of my subjects with.”
I stayed silent.
“Princess Twilight believed, more than anything, in friendship. Yet have I offered these changes in that name? Have I kindly, slowly, and carefully allowed the minds and hearts to be won for these changes like Twilight wanted? Or have I just simply ordered them into action out of anger and force? To let the nobles and traditionalists know they cannot have their way anymore. I responded with force... and vengeance in my heart.” Celestia slowly took off her crown and stared at it. “Many praise me for bringing change and reform... but just as many curse me for being a tyrant and forcing change without letting others say their voice...” She slowly put it back on. “They are right. You can force or put in a law for as many or as little as you want, but what good is it if the spirit of that law is put into action without any care of the other side? What is the point of the law is so many refuse it out of fear or distrust? Forcing them to obey, even against their beliefs, does nothing but cause division and hatred. Hatred that fuels violence. Violence that fuels loss... such as what happened at the magic school.”
“That was not your fault,” I said sternly.
“No, it was not my fault and I know this,” answered Princess Celestia as she looked at the stars with tears in her eyes. “But I cannot help but realize that my actions pushed others into doing this. I am ashamed to admit this Gladius, but I must.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t make these changes out of love, equality, friendship, or justice... I did it for revenge. I wanted to hurt the nobles, the traditionalists, all those who hated Twilight. I wanted to make them pay and I thought the best revenge was to have Twilight’s reforms go into action without even a single thought about the other side. Without any care for those who didn’t hate Twilight, but didn’t want her changes either.”
“And because of this, I have caused my country and my ponies to slowly crawl into a world of hate. I have divided us... and now I must find a way to unite us again before the worst happens...” whispered Celestia as she turned towards the memorial gardens that were only a few feet from us. “I’m so sorry, Twilight. Even after all these years, so much bitterness and loss still lies inside of me... I’m so sorry I failed you...”
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do.
All I could do was hug her. She didn’t even bother hugging me back. She just sat there and cried.
She cried in shame and in sorrow.
And I let her unleash this all on me because I am her guard.
And I will always protect her. Even from herself.
***
The Sun's Shoulder stood by The Sorrowful Sun
Even as the Civil War raged he never left her
And while she never said it out loud, The Sorrowful Sun always whispered these words in he heart
"Thank you."
Interesting, I wonder who is in play in this power struggle that will only end in death.
so will celestia go nightmare if enough hurt her in mind and spirit?
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Personally I love the alternating themes between politics and emotions.
It paints a wonderful image of the spectrum of life. That being said I am slightly worried about how the third story will go, it seems to me that your crowning achievement "aftermath" is a collection of short stories all in the same universe and I don't see that transitioning well to a war story.
But I am sure you know what you are doing. Keep on writing
Calling it now. the third story will end Final Fantasy XIV Online 1.0 style (except replace a giant dragon with something along the lines of like say...i don't know...a Mars-sized planet.)
>should
bruh you had one job
6432243 Why did I think that was Captain Carrot arguing with Lord Vetinari before I saw the last panel?
Try to balance both Rated. Keep the emotion and dip into the political area. Rarity will be a big one since she was so into high sociality before all of this. And i would expect some political stuff intheir as well since nobility was tied to government. but the emotions she would feel will be heart wrentching I bet.
Even if Celestia acted rashly when enforcing the policies Twilight wanted, the opposition has no moral ground to stand on when they believe they were within the right to take lives who probably didn't care about the struggle of politics. Murder and slaughtering of innocent civilians is not something you can justify. For as bad as Celestia's enforcement was, the traditionalists are every bit as bad, as if not worse.
Obi-Wan Kenobi put it best: "Only a Sith, deals in absolutes."
Rarity is next?
I'm going to Costco for a case of kleenex.
6432460
Celestia didn't kill foals. Traditionalist Terrorists Did.
Huh, is this a nod to A Change of Pace or just a happy accident?
Unfortunately for Celestia, she's committed now. She can't slow down the reforms since that'll just cause her opponents to feel they're winning and they'll become even more aggressive. I'm surprised that with the changelings onboard they're not better at sussing out the more violent offenders, though.
I honestly do not mind reading more of the political aspect of this story.
6390604 I'm a little sad you didn't work in an ungulate pun, like alpacalypse.
I'll see myself out.
I feel sorry for Celestia, glad she can always count on Gladius.
I just had a thought.
What if the reason Celestia abruptly changed her attitude towards Gladius and made him her personal guard is that she found out from Armor or Luna that the conspirators threatened him. Maybe she's keeping Gladius close to keep him safe, not the other way around.
6432530
Don't forget to pick up a drama couch on the way back, I have a feeling we'll need one...
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6432460 And that is why by all logic this attack would only strenthen the reforms. how many of those who were against them lost ponies during this attack?
it would seems that ponies function differently than humans, albeit that is something almost no one takes into account. they adapt far more rapidly than humans can to change. their minds are not nearly as narrow either.
guess people mistake theri behavior in zecora's premiere episode as xenophobia when in reality their fear was not of zecor but the fact she lived inside the eldritch magic forest that held monsters like it was a thing to do.
why did l hear an evil laugh and the crash of thunder when l read that last line?
If you were referring to my reaction, my issue was this entire forced conspiracy nonsense and somehow making celestia incompetent despite ruling for a thousand years that lead to it, and that SOMEHOW they are powerful enough that the fucking demigods cannot just destroy them.
Seriously dude, all that stupid unicorn had to do was tell luna'they gonna kill mah brother and make me kill twilight' and luna would be sitting in twilight room instead, and the dude's brother right by her side to emphasize the futility of their actions. They stand no chance.
Not a fucking soul would stay on the side of the idiot who angered the regal sisters dude. To think they could be paid to try and undermine the likes of the regal sisters is like saying you can pay a man to try and slow down a speeding train. They have theri own preservation to take into account. Hell i would suspect that most would have betrayed that idiot to Celestia after the assassination. Because whatever fate that could be inflicted upon them by that idiot, it owuld be impossible to compare to the horror that an enraged fire and light elemental could inflict upon them.
The reason why such things do not occur more often in the real world is because there are pretty much no leaders that have power beyond their political positions. Even the msot influential man is nothing if you can convince others not to listen to him. There is no way for Celestia to lose her influence in such a way, because she has power beyond just being a princess.
I wonder who the narrator at the end of these things is. He or she speaks as if these events are old legends of a distant past. Hmmm. Perhaps someone like Wind Whistler is using them to explain to Megan why the ancient pony kingdom collapsed thousands of years ago.
6432685 Spot on, and as mentioned by Fancy Pants, one of the rules of The Game is to Never Touch Celestia. One of the Princess probably could have teleported to Gladius and made sure no harm came to him.
Could this chapter be seen as what is going on in America right now? We got fundamentalist Christians wanting to keep the traditions of America before separation of church and state in 1962, and claiming that America is God's country. Even going as far as militia's like the Oath Keepers wanting to fight the government because they want to "protect" the Constitution of the United States. I say protect loosely as President Obama took an oath to keep the Constitution and it's laws alive and fundamentalists clearly don't know what the same document they want upheld really contains.
also that
6433098 not to mention teleported the guy who was behind all of this right into the throne room..... yeah. it jsut feels like all of this is a non issue going on. and that the while twilight assassinated, as it turns out to be some conspiracy, could have EASILY and completely been prevented.
I'm of the mind that Celestia was completely right in forcing these changes. Why should millions have to languish in the backwater just to line the pockets of the nobility? Why should integration and harmony be held back to keep up with pointless traditions created by pointless ponies so they can feel exclusive and better than everyone else?
These people are cancer. They deserve to die for harming their society without good cause in mind. How many innocent people would die, unknown, when these reforms could have saved them? Would have taken centuries to get the traditionalists to agree to these, and even then they'd spend generations fighting, trying to weaken the reforms and poke holes in them so that the nobility gets to continue doing the horrible things they've always done with all the power they've always abused?
Fuck them. Freedom of speech should only go to those who are correct and community/moralistically-minded to begin with. Otherwise it's just spouting selfish stupidity and demanding that you be taken seriously or else you'll cause trouble. Opinions should only matter when they're helpful overall. Should have just declared the reforms to be protected speech and speaking against them to be criminalized as hate-speech. This is a monarchy, not a democracy. They don't get to feel like they have power over the crown, especially when the crown knows what's best for them and has proven that longer than most family lines existed. How is a 40-50 something year old mortal going to honestly believe they know better than the gods who have guided their whole nation into peace and power for thousands of years, who have loved them unconditionally and whom they would not have existed without? They owe everything to Celestia, absolutely everything. Their lives, their station, their families. All possible because of her sacrificing her own personal life to sit on that throne for the fullness of her immortal life.
Total lack of humility in this Equestria, it seems. And of course many humans reading this idea would be against it because they immediately put themselves in those shoes and carry the intrinsic demand of all those around them that they are important and their voice matters, when it really doesn't. They'll get offended if you even suggest their true importance, start making arguments or whining. Short-sighted, which makes those traditionalists more like humans than ponies.
6433136
Basically, this. The entire premise of this story falls apart at the base and it's incredibly dissapointing to see none of these valid points aknowledged. I started following the story because it was an interesting look at the feelings of those affected by Twilight being assassinated by a bunch of brain-dead morons. Now that those morons have suddenly become master-conspirators that we are supposed to take as a serious, legitimate threat that Luna and Celestia were completely powerless to stop, the story has just wandered into territory of pure lunacy and is becoming less and less about what I first liked about it with every new chapter that continues this civil war nonsense.
The only way to redeem it now is for Celestia to just drop the sun on Equestria and go full: "Fuck you, you ungrateful mortal morons". Or, like the comment above that referred to the end of Final Fantasy XIV version 1.0, just release Bahamut from the moon and he'll do it for her. <.<
6433099
No
6433347
If you don't like the idea of the civil war thing, you might as well stop here then because in the next story "Ragnarok of Equestria" it takes place during it.
6433415
Do not worry, I can assure you that the story developments and the continuous ignoring of gaping, stupid plot holes as pointed out numerous times by your readers has convinced me to not even touch the sequel with a ten-foot pole. Currently inwardly debating if I should stick with the current mess to finish reading what I started, or to abandon a doomed, sinking ship and just save myself. Hate it when authors ruin their own good premise.
Whoohoo! Rarity's next and I have to say, its about time. I feel like we havent pent much time with the other mane six as of late.
Damn you... that was heart-wrenching powerful.
Probably the best chapter so far.
Haven't you made us cry enough? XD Great chapter as usual almost made me tear up
delete end " mark.
___________________
Powerful chapter, and really tied a lot of plot threads together nicely.
6433415
Are you sure? It seems awfully familiar to what is going with the current government leaders and the volatile Christian conservatives that seem hellbent on waging an non existing war against their own government.
6434278
I happen to be catholic btw and no it had no ties to that
Gotta balance those emotions and the politics.
Although... I think the last chapter was a good example of a fairly good mix. There was feeling and emotion in those betrayals, with Shining being betrayed, shocked, and then compassionate. Maybe it could've been focused a bit more on the emotional side of it, but it definitely was a situation where both emotions and politics mix.
6434569
To be honest, even thought I am pro-life, I kinda agree with that statment. Maybe it should be Anti-Abortion and Pro-Abortion really.
6434617 Agreed, because I have a similar qualm with "Pro-Choice". Aside from Huckabee and other such fools, people generally aren't authoritarian jackasses who want to strip choice away and force everyone into following Christianity.
It always seems to be all or nothing during most debates on anything.
6434706
That's because of the "us vs them" mentality that is in everything today
6434398
The Christian conservatives I'm talking about are really anti-catholic.
6434780
Oh, those. Still no. This has nothing to do with politics of today
6434787
Okay... I think the Equestria first group is doing things that the Oath Keepers and other militias will do the government they apparently hate so much. They hate the government so much that they are willing to screw the teachings on Jesus Christ, who they love so much, of spreading His word and laying down the sword for peaceful means.
I don't hate your last chapter, I think you found a good balance between feeling and "story" :)
I love like all pieces make a great pictures, and the new chapter have my attention ;)
6433099 And how do they think the millions of non-Christians in this country are going to react to the Christianization of the government? Honestly, this world is full of shortsighted morons.
6445897
Well duh... Even I know that...
6445905 Yes! Exactly! This is a "Duh" thing, and yet enough people ignore it that there are entire movements like that! Their stupidity knows no bounds!
6433239
Agreed. The traditionalists NEED a good stomping. All this bemoaning the poor hurt feeling of those who don't want to treat other ponies as equals. Well tough, the oppressed shouldn't have to have their rights deferred and continue suffering for another century or so on the chance that the oppressors will be feeling more benevolent and suddenly decide to give up power on their own. You play the "I'm the fucking sun goddess! Fall in line!" card, bring the hammer down on anypony threatening your system of harmony as hard as if they were Sombra or Tirek, and wait. Eventually, the next generation that grew up with these reforms will slowly replace the old bigots as they die off. Sometimes you really do have to wait for the racist older generation to just die out before you can make real progress.
I will say that it is somewhat surprising how many ponies the traditionalists are able to recruit to their side. That there were apparently so many ignorant, know-nothing, nativist bigots around to form a large enough group to have a civil war is pretty telling. Celestia seems to be taking it as evidence that she pushed too hard too fast. Because advocating egalitarianism and equal rights, and abolishing an oppressive caste system for freedom to choose one's own career is enough to push otherwise reasonable ponies into insurrection I guess. I say it's evidence that Equestria was more of a shit hole than anyone realized, with only the thinnest veneer of civilization. If this is enough to spark a civil war, then EQUESTRIA NEEDS A CIVIL WAR. They're bloody and horrible, but like a root canal, sometimes you just gotta get in there and rip the festering rot right out.
6432685
I remember making a similar comment on Chains,which features a bafflingly incompetent Celestia. The feasibility of rich nobles being able to even theoretically raise an army to move against Celestia came up. I don't care how much money you have, or how mercenary your mercenaries are, if there's no conceivable chance of survival, no one is signing up. You can't pay someone to jump into a wood chipper because the can't spend the money if they're dead.
6433415 you are completely overlooking the poitns people are pointing out.
The idea of a civil war happening does not add up. Because no one would be able to match the power of luna, celestia, and discord, in addition to cadance. In fact, this is such a major factor that you have made twilight very death contrived nonsense, because they are the power at their command is beyond mere politics. There is absolutely zero reason why that idiot of a spy could not inform luna that they are after his brother. Luna could have protected him without effort, they could have captured all the spies, they could have told Celestia, and the leader behind this idiotic conspiracyu would be char broiled by the end of the evening.
There is no reason given, or a reason that exists, why luna, could could destroy half of canterlot by herself, felt she had to hide it and sacrafice the fucking pony that made her no long demonically possessed.