Lateral Movement

by Alzrius

384 - Considerations of Conquest

Lex didn’t allow himself the luxury of relaxing as he watched the princesses’ chariots speed off into the night.

Or rather, as he watched several indistinct shapes fly through the air, barely visible against the starlit sky. Lacking enough dark magic to enhance his senses even slightly, there was no way for him to be certain that what he’d seen were the princesses’ chariots. But he felt certain that was what they were, since they’d appeared almost exactly where and when he’d expected them to.

The sudden transition from day to night had surprised him, but only momentarily. Knowing that it was Celestia’s doing, the tactical nature of her actions was readily apparent to him: she wanted the cover of darkness, which in turn meant that she was either about to launch an assault on him, or she was preparing to flee Vanhoover. Given how badly he’d injured her – and there’d been no doubt in Lex’s mind that she had no immediate access to healing magic, since not only was that beyond what Equestrian magic could accomplish, but if she’d somehow acquired any she would doubtlessly have made use of it on Luna when the latter’s horn had been injured during their fight – Lex had felt comfortable ruling out the former possibility.

Mostly.

Knowing that there’d be very little that he could do to fight back if he was wrong – between his dark magic being depleted and his injuries making it hard to move, his only remaining method of attack was a single thaumaturgical spell among the few he still had prepared, and it was far too deadly to use against another pony – Lex had nevertheless done what he could, placing all five of his magical gemstones in orbit around his head and staggering for the station door. The gems would provide him with a modest boost if worse came to worst and he had to fight Celestia again, but more important was that he be outside if it came to that. He’d have less cover, but Nosey was still asleep on what had become their usual bench, and Lex couldn’t bear the thought of her being caught up in another of his battles if Celestia entered the building in search of him. Even considering it was enough to send anger mixed with dread through him, causing his eyes to shine green-and-purple.

Thus he’d gone outside and looked upward, waiting for Celestia to make her move. Now that he’d seen what he’d expected to see, he resisted the urge to celebrate, forcing himself to remain vigilant. She might have sent those chariots as a decoy to draw my attention, he told himself, glancing around warily. The real signal of Celestia’s intentions would be when she raised the sun again, which he felt sure she would soon; it was one of the very few responsibilities that she took seriously, far too much so to leave it down in the middle of the afternoon for very long. If she didn’t attack him before she brought it back up, it would mean she’d been on those chariots, having chosen to flee instead of trying to fight again.

Five minutes later, he was proven right as the moon and stars suddenly set, the sun immediately rising to take their place. It was only then that he let out a breath, slumping in place as the strain of standing for several minutes made itself known. But despite how badly he ached, the corners of Lex’s lips were turned upward in a grim smile, enjoying the sense of vindication flowing through him as his victory over the princesses was once again confirmed, this time uninterrupted by Severance’s murderous rampage.

I defeated Celestia and Luna in battle. Lex held that thought in his mind for a long moment, savoring it like a fine wine. As much as he hadn’t wanted things to come to this, and knew that there would be fallout, potentially severe, as a result of it, he couldn’t help but bask in the significance of what he’d accomplished.

It wasn’t so much a confirmation of his strength – several of the monsters he’d recently vanquished had been far more powerful than Celestia and Luna – but rather the political symbolism of the deed that pleased him. One of the central pillars of sovereignty was force; a government too weak to enforce its laws wasn’t a government at all, and so a state couldn’t countenance any military challenge to its sphere of authority. By publicly triumphing over Celestia and Luna in a fight, Lex had just demonstrated to them, himself, and everypony else, that he possessed one of the essential qualifications to rule…and that the Royal Sisters didn’t. That would, Lex felt certain, not only cause a public loss of confidence in the alicorns’ so-called government (one that was long overdue), but showcase the dependability of his own when he founded his own nation.

That thought gave him the strength to turn and head back into the train station, a smirk twisting his lips. Celestia and Luna wouldn’t sit simply allow their powerbase to be eroded, he knew. As lazy and irresponsible as they were, even they were able to react to a clear challenge to their authority. But it would take them time to return to Canterlot, lick their wounds, and come up with a new plan of action. Time enough that, though it meant accelerating his plans, he’d be able to solidify his hold on Las Pegasus, and in so doing bring all of western Equestria’s major cities under his authority. Once that happened, he’d be on the cusp of forming his own kingdom.

And once he had his own nation of ponies, Celestia and Luna wouldn’t dare attack him again. Taking unilateral action against a sovereign nation – one that was legitimately working to serve the welfare of its people, rather than oppressing them the way King Sombra had the crystal ponies – ran counter to their altruism-based ideology. Such a thing would make them into the aggressors, leading their nation into a war for no greater purpose than their own personal animus toward him, which was why they’d never do it.

Though hopefully they won’t anyway, decided Lex as he slowly climbed back onto the bench, fighting to suppress a groan of effort as he laid down next to Nosey again. There was, he knew, a chance that Celestia and Luna would try to regroup immediately once they returned to Canterlot, marshalling everything they possibly could before coming back and attacking him again. But Lex didn’t find that possibility to be likely. As little respect as Lex had for the Royal Sisters’ intellect, even they would have to admit – once they calmed down and rationally reviewed everything that had happened during their time in Vanhoover – that he had acted benevolently. After all, he’d defeated the monsters preying on everypony here. He’d begun rebuilding the city’s basic infrastructure, slow-going though it was. He’d not only openly repudiated Severance for its murder of Silhouette, but had offered to bring the slain pony back to life, making no mention of Silhouette’s unprovoked attack on him the previous night. He’d even gone out of his way to make sure that both alicorns and their guards were given medical treatment after the fight, rather than levying any criminal charges against them, even though he’d have been entirely warranted in doing so since they’d continued attacking him even after he’d explained that Severance hadn’t acted with his approval. Despite their continued aggression, he'd let them get away with their attempt on his life, notwithstanding the curse that he’d placed on Luna, of course…

They’ll most likely attempt to negotiate clemency for her once they realize they can’t remove it, he decided, focusing on his saddlebag once again as he carefully pulled out the spell-infused gem that the Night Mare had given him, bringing it back over to him so that he could resume studying it. But he didn’t immediately turn his attention to it, instead frowning as he considered whether the curse that he’d placed on Luna would hold up against the magic that the alicorns and their allies – such as that so-called angel that Nosey had found out about – would doubtlessly use to try and remove it. As much as he wanted to believe that his magic was beyond their ability to undo, he couldn’t help but feel a sliver of doubt.

The cursory glimpse that Lex had gotten of Celestia’s magical abilities prior to their fight had shown that her capabilities were weaker than his own, which made it unsurprising that their fight had ended like it had. But while he’d always been cognizant of the limitations of what he’d seen, their battle had demonstrated a major gap in what he’d thought he’d known. Specifically, that both Celestia and Luna had been able to augment the spells they’d cast, pouring more power into them as they’d used them in order to increase the magical output several times over.

In theory, it was the same technique that he’d regularly utilized. But Lex was far from certain that was actually the case. After all, his method of amplifying his spells was by combining the energy from two disparate sources, with the actual casting done via utilizing thought-forms that contained the requisite energy in the proper arrangement while he simultaneously overcharged it with additional energy gathered physically. The alicorns, by contrast, were already casting their spells via physical processes, gathering and shaping the energy via their bodies’ magical channels and releasing them through their horn. Hence why disabling Luna’s horn had been such a decisive blow.

But in that case, where had they gotten the additional energy with which to augment their spells? The obvious answer was that they’d stored it in their thoughts, feeding it into their physical spellcasting in a reversal of the process he used, but Lex found that difficult to believe. Even if Celestia and Luna had somehow managed to learn the incredibly difficult process of creating conceptual matrices that could contain energy – and found a way to compress the necessary amount of energy to the point where it could then be forced into the thought-based constructs – catalyzing those required gestural and/or verbal activation triggers. In theory those could be compensated for, enabling purely mental activation, but those required a fundamentally more complex conceptual model, and Lex had never seen the point of engaging in so much extra effort for such a minor benefit.

And besides, if Celestia and Luna were capable of using native Equestrian magic and thaumaturgical spellcasting both, why use the latter to supplement the former instead of the other way around? Unlike how Equestrian magic’s potential was physically determined, thought-based spellcasting theoretically had no upper limit; so long as you could properly diagram and hold the thought-form, and fill it with the requisite energy, there was no inherent boundary to what could be accomplished. Relegating that much possibility to being merely a backup for something far more limited was so asinine Lex couldn’t seriously countenance the idea.

Another possibility was that their bodies were somehow more conducive to gathering energy than an ordinary pony’s. After all, their larger frames and wings gave them more physicality to work with. Perhaps they were able to draw in more power than any particular spell needed, and they were able to add the excess to the final product? But that was a poor theory, Lex knew. The sheer degree of difference between the spells they’d used ordinarily and the ones they’d augmented had been extreme, far more so than the comparatively small degree of difference in mass Celestia and Luna had compared to ordinary ponies. Moreover, they’d been able to make use of them over and over, numerous times in a row while apparently being little the worse for wear for having done so. Given how augmenting just two or three spells in a day strained his body severely, Lex couldn’t imagine how Celestia and Luna were able to use the same method to such greater effect.

If only I’d been able to study their bodies’ magical channels more closely, lamented Lex silently as he turned the problem over in his mind, running through another half-dozen possibilities only to dismiss them all due to lack of sufficient information. It was irritating to leave that mystery unsolved, but there simply wasn’t enough data to make any further headway. Ultimately, the only thing he could do for now was remain aware that the Royal Sisters – and probably the other alicorns as well – could augment their spells, and leave it at that. And if they were able to somehow remove the curse he’d placed on Luna…then he’d just have to deal with it.

Putting those issues out of his thoughts, Lex turned back to the large ruby in front of him. For now, there were plenty of other matters to hold his attention. He had ponies to resurrect. Relationships to repair. An irate goddess to placate.

And a country to found.

Author's Note:

Lex reviews and analyzes what's happened with Celestia and Luna, already thinking about what to do next.

Are his plans sound? Or is he being too ambitious?

Comments

[James Fire]

Lex seems to assume quite a few things, like the Sisters actually knowing what all he's done. Isn't he smarter than that?

[terrycloth]

9780811
He's remarkably bad at talking to people. He thinks that stating something in your presence means that you not only were paying attention and understood but accept it as true. He stated all that in their presence, therefore they know those facts.

And he still doesn't know that Celestia was mind-controlled.

[James Fire]

9780855
Even he should be able to tell that they didn't believe him. He's not that oblivious.

[harts fire]

Lex is stuck thinking like he is still in Everglow witch has him stuck inside a box. it is time to hear the sisters back story Lex they have a huge power battery just hanging out in space.

[Alzrius]

9780811
9780855 Leaving aside the issue of what Aria did to Celestia, Lex's problem here is the same one that he's always had, namely his persistent inability to understand (or rather, fully appreciate) the value systems of other people. As far as he's concerned, the facts were all made readily available to the Royal Sisters, which means that they'll eventually need to sit down, review them, and rationally come to the only logical conclusion, which in this case was that he didn't precipitate that attack on Celestia and Luna. Why else would he have just held Severance there the entire time they were fighting, for example? Why send them to receive medical treatment afterward if he truly meant them harm? As far as he's concerned, he's demonstrated his nobler intentions multiple times, and he can't imagine that not being understood.

Lex is very skilled at intellectual pursuits of all sorts, but understanding others has always been his greatest weakness. He knows that he and the alicorns have very different ways of looking at the world, but his inability to fully understand their point of view means that he can't anticipate how they'll react to something. Instead, he can only see their viewpoint filtered through the lens of his worldview, which places a primacy on facts and logic. Hence why he can't fully grasp that ideas such as "Luna got what she deserved" will be flat-out rejected by the alicorns, regardless of any technicalities around who attacked first or what warnings were given.

What we're seeing in this chapter is Lex's continued inability to look beyond himself, even as he looks to the future.

[Alzrius]

9781146 The idea that Celestia and Luna draw power from the sun and the moon (respectively) is an interesting idea, but not one supported by the show. The nature of "alicorn magic" being the power to enhance magic is something that has been shown to have at least some basis in the series, but what it actually is remains unknown. At least, so far...

[Booster Spice]

Lex is following standard logical economic theory. Everyone has all the facts and behave logically.

The truth is that everyone is in it for themselves and hasnt a clue whats occuring, which is demonstrated by systems as simple as fungus.

[Alzrius]

9781253 That does sum it up rather well.

As much as Lex denigrates other people's intelligence, he's still prone to thinking that everyone else can (and should) operate at his level. That's why Sonata and Nosey both told him (back in Chapter 222 - The Presumption of Stupidity) that he should assume that everyone else is stupid. That way he wouldn't be quite so frustrated when it becomes apparent that he's working from a place that no one else can fathom.

[aline1]

I sort of hope twilight or someone else breaks his curse with seemly no effort just to shake Lex up because Lex really seems like he needs a good shock and blow to his ego and it would be good for him to get a shock that didn't involve his evil goddess or the current troubles in his city.

[Alzrius]

9781806 Well, things like that are why I use an RPG system to measure various powers and abilities. That way, there's no (or at least, far less) question(s) about whether or not something will work. Given how much power Lex put into cursing Luna, however, that might be a tall order. On the other hand, Cadance was able to break his curses on Cozy and Aisle, so there's hope...right?

[Not so New Brony]

Magic 'lessons' with Lex is always so fascinating to read though his assumptions of the princesses powers are still just that, assumptions. Granted, I've got my own thoughts on that but I'll keep it to myself for the time being.

Like the others commented, just because Lex technically defeated the princesses, doesn't mean that everyone will immediately fall in line willingly. Sure, Feather Duster has thrown her lot in with Lex but that's more due to River's threats compounded with her witnessing Lex taking down the princesses. The camp ponies on the other hand, had promptly scattered after witnessing Silhouette being struck down and only have second-hand accounts of what happened so they'll likely still be wary of following Lex's orders at best.

Thankfully Sonata has somewhat mended the goodwill and trust between Lex and the camp ponies...or rather between them and herself since she's the one actually speaking to them. And given how much stock ponies put into heartfelt words and willingness to forgive(e.g: Garden's own apologies for her deeds as Fencer), I think that as long as Lex doesn't say something wrong or overly harsh to them, they should be fine.

However, given that we have yet to see the public apology that the Night Mare had demanded of Lex, that might be problematic and that's without mentioning the price he must pay for his disrespect. Maybe he'll make it after somehow reverse-engineering the magic in the stone and bringing everybody back to life?

[howard035]

Good to get Lex's thoughts on this. I'm thinking three things:
1)Celestia just announced to the entire planet that there is something incredibly wrong for her or her sister. If she was hoping to keep Luna's curse covered up while they fixed it, that just became a lot harder.

2)I don't know how long Lex thinks it will take for Celestia to react to him, but getting control of Las Pegasus (short of him going there himself Sombra-style and declaring his rule) is probably going to take him years. Somehow pulling off that debt trick would be step one of many. How slow does he think Celestia is? I know Celestia on her own has been really slow and passive, but she's now got a gaggle of allies that will push her to act more decisively, including her sister and the other Princesses.

3) The fact that Lex hasn't quite figured out how alicorns work doesn't bode well for his curse's chances of lasting in the face of whatever magic gets thrown at it.

I feel like Lex might be deliberately brooding on other things so he can avoid picking his sacrifice for the Night Mare, not that I blame him.

[Alzrius]

9782160 I'm always a bit nervous about posting chapters like this, that are totally focused on a character's internal analysis and reactions or dedicated to spotlighting how a particular (magical) process works. While I think that the axiom of "show, don't tell" is frequently overstated (particularly given how it's often misapplied with regards to textual format rather than films), it's still something I'm wary with regards to running afoul of it, despite (my thinking that) it's necessary to bring readers in on both the characters' reactions to events (otherwise they tend to feel flat in their presentations, as well as lessening the gravity of what's happened) and the "how" of various (magical) processes so that they know the structure that underlies the various circumstances that come up.

With regards to what Lex is thinking here...this is actually another aspect of what I previously mentioned. I wanted to highlight not just what Lex is thinking, but also the biases in his analysis of the situation. But I couldn't really bring in an overwrought, objective demonstration of "his take on the situation was filtered by his disposition," so I tried to make that understood without being too subtle. Several people so far have commented that Lex's take on the situation seems a little off, and I worry that it's not clear that it's supposed to be that way. He's placing too much emphasis on certain things and not enough on others, compared to everypony else.

Fortunately, he's got other ponies in his corner who are working to build up the areas where he's deficient, but they've got their work cut out for them. Sonata's already helped to bring the camp ponies back into line, and River is going to be attending to Las Pegasus (hopefully). Tall Tale will probably need some hoof-holding also, depending on how things go when Celestia and Luna pass through there. But dealing with the Night Mare, and (trying to) resurrect everypony, are areas where Lex is likely to be on his own...

Hopefully he'll be able to do those without screwing everything up, again.

[Alzrius]

9782169

Good to get Lex's thoughts on this. I'm thinking three things:
1)Celestia just announced to the entire planet that there is something incredibly wrong for her or her sister. If she was hoping to keep Luna's curse covered up while they fixed it, that just became a lot harder.

The funny thing about that is that the show has had several instances of the sun and the moon going wonky (e.g. when Discord toyed with them in The Return of Harmony - Part 2 (season two, episode two), when Twilight had the other princesses' magic (Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2, season four, episode twenty-six), when the Storm King absorbed the princesses' magic (My Little Pony: The Movie), and when Twilight was having trouble working the amulet with the Royal Sisters' power in it (Between Dark and Dawn, season nine, episode thirteen)). And yet we've never really seen anything to indicate that anypony was particularly concerned over this. There were no instances of public panic that we saw, nor anypony demanding an explanation (sure, a lot of the time that was because there was another crisis going on at the time, but even for ponies across Equestria there was no hint ever given that any sort of unrest was caused). That's particularly true for the rest of the world. So I wonder just how much Celestia really gave away, there. It honestly seems like everypony will just go "huh, that was odd. Well, back to work!"

2)I don't know how long Lex thinks it will take for Celestia to react to him, but getting control of Las Pegasus (short of him going there himself Sombra-style and declaring his rule) is probably going to take him years. Somehow pulling off that debt trick would be step one of many. How slow does he think Celestia is? I know Celestia on her own has been really slow and passive, but she's now got a gaggle of allies that will push her to act more decisively, including her sister and the other Princesses.

Well, he did say that he needed to accelerate his plans now. But insofar as the issue of taking on debt goes, bear in mind that he hasn't yet said exactly how he intends to use that to leverage the city to bring it under his rule. Of course, he does seem to be anticipating that Celestia won't be chomping at the bit for a re-match, since after all she just fled under cover of darkness. Now, she does have more forces that she can marshal, but even then Lex doesn't seem to be anticipating that she'll be exceptionally belligerent. But then again, he's also presuming that it's fairly self-evident that he was in the right to begin with, and that the princesses will recognize that and tread carefully so as not to seem like antagonists in their own minds. Which is to say, he seems to be wildly underestimating the level of trauma that both sisters have about what he did to Luna.

3) The fact that Lex hasn't quite figured out how alicorns work doesn't bode well for his curse's chances of lasting in the face of whatever magic gets thrown at it.

He knows what's happening, even if he doesn't know how. But as for how well his curse will hold up against future attempts to remove it...well, that gets into some numbers that I'm not quite ready to reveal just yet. I will when the time is right, though.

I feel like Lex might be deliberately brooding on other things so he can avoid picking his sacrifice for the Night Mare, not that I blame him.

That does seem like a safe bet.