Aboard the Augury, Celestia was at ease. Even though the screen went blank, even though she had just seen Fluttershy get shot. Discord was twiddling his paws, ready to click the whole Fleet into nonexistence.
“It’s all right, Discord. We’ve won,” Celestia said.
He looked at her, fury in his eyes boiling. “We’re all right!? How can you say we’re all—“
“The Elements have been used,” she cut him off. “Can’t you feel it?”
“Oh, uh, yes. I do have a sense of a slight tingling that desperately wants to tear me apart for whatever reason.”
Celestia didn’t say anything. Her horn glowed suddenly as she picked up a psychic message.
“I’ve no idea what you did, sis,” Luna said. “But they’re retreating back to their accursed ship. Shall we chase them?”
“Don’t,” answered Celestia. “The Elements have been used, they should be harmless by now.”
“But Twilight and her friends are still with them as far as I’m aware. We must take them back!”
Celestia sighed. “Yes, we should, but not with cannon fire. I’ll negotiate with them, but they know they’re on the losing position. Twilight and her friends will return here safely.”
“I hope so,” said Luna quietly and cut the connection.
Discord didn’t ask about the call and Celestia wasn’t eager to talk either. They both waited silently for when the chamber they were in would regain contact with the Kushan Mothership. Celestia could tell, with a simple spell, that they weren’t the only ones present on the ship. There were bipedal figures hurrying back and forth, avoiding the chamber she was in.
There was a stir among the Kushan on Augury. Once again, their coat of arms was displayed on the screen – the two circles encased by wings – and a voice sounded through the speakers. No, not a voice. The voice.
“Certain unforeseen events have taken place. Our forces are currently retreating and we’re thankful for you not chasing us. We wish to sign a peace treaty if possible. A Corvette will be send to escort you to the Mother—”
“We shall speak here,” Celestia cut in. As the silence she forced persisted, she turned to Discord. “Thank you, but I think I’ll handle this matter myself.”
Discord, although for the slightest moment he looked as if he wanted to object, nodded solemnly and teleported away, leaving Fleet Command and Celestia to themselves.
“I believe it would be in the best interest of our both to maintain a physical contact while—”
“No.” Celestia tampered herself before the upper hoof led her too far. “There is no point in arguing over it. We both know that you still have the Elements. You wish to have me aboard your ship too. I cannot adhere to that.”
“The Elements are unhurt and are being sent back to Equestria as we speak. All forces are being pulled back, both ground units, and starships.”
Celestia looked at the screen puzzled. “Why? What happened that made you back away even after the sacrifices you’ve made?”
“This is not Hiigara. This planet has no importance to us, no more than any other habitable planet would. It doesn’t belong to us. It never has, and we don’t wish it to. We will leave it as soon as proper reparations have been paid for our transgressions.”
Celestia stood in place, completely petrified for a moment. “Why do you wish to talk to me on your ship then?”
“I wish you to see, and I will need you to understand.”
Celestia turned her gaze downward, considering. Even if Fleet Command was lying, what was there to lose? “I will be there as soon as the Elements are reported back. I will arrive on the ship you send with them.”
“Thank you.” Fleet Command cut the call.
And so the Idiot Balls have finally been dropped.
...I think think I can get away without spoiler tagging that...
Edit: And can Luna please be called out for being raciest against clones? PLEASE?
7585945
Well, she was called out by the advisor. Not to mention it wasn't her, as much as it was the influence of you know what. Alternatively she could've been speaking without deeper knowledge. Idea was that she was the more conservative/nationalistic of the sisters, and thus would probably be less tolerant of things like clones. I mean, we've all seen what happened to Pinkie's clones in "Too Many Pinkie Pies"
7587175
Mixed messages here. You have gone a long way to show that what was assumed to be malice or a third party was in fact a lack of communication and ordinarily rational people acting like complete idiots. See my World War 1 reference a few chapters back. That one bit with the "fog of anger" still sticks out, but has nothing else to support it.
...and I meant called out by someone Luna would actually listen to. Also, Faust damn it! I am still traumatized by that episode!
7587210
You missed a lot of clues, man It'll be explored later on though. Not to mention the plot is not quite as simple as it seems. That is to say the plot is literally spaghetti. omnomnomnom I honestly didn't expect the scene to have as much impact on the readers. I might just have a bonus scene added to some chapter where Celestia and Luna sit down on the idea (perhaps right after the pertractations). I'll throw you an indication when it's done.
I also honestly didn't write it with the idea of Luna actually meaning what she said, as much as just spewing anger out, same way Advisor did.
My writing is somewhat different these days, however, so I'm trying not to alter the story too much.
Edit: New chapter today. I'm prolly making it two, since it's real close to the ending, and the chapters are pretty short.
7587349
You said it yourself, those clues required not just reading between the lines, but reading between the lines of those lines. Like anti-government propaganda in places where such things wouldn't just earn the writer a bullet, but also one for their family, their friends, and anyone they ever bumped into on the street. I'm not saying that you were being too subtle, but with no one else commenting on these chapters, I had no one to bounce ideas off of to figure out what I missed. In short, be prepared for other readers to cry Deus Ex Machina when you get to the end, while you try to figure out how they missed everything you put into the story showing that the ending had to happen the way it did.