Chapter Nine
Kirk paced back and forth in front of Thelin, M'ress, Chekov, and Scotty. The five were in a room in one of the lower levels of Canterlot, the four participants of the brawl in the Punch Bowl having been brought in from holding cells in the rarely-used dungeon, the Klingons and yaks in other cells for the moment. The four all stood at attention as best they could, considering various scrapes, bruises, and the amount of alcohol imbibed only two hours before.
Kirk clasped his hands behind his back as he stopped in front of Scotty. “Well, this was not... exactly how I wanted the time before my meeting with Celestia to go.” He spun to face the engineer. “In your own words, Commander Scott. What... happened?”
Scotty stared straight ahead. “Well, Captain, we arrived at the Punch Bowl all right. We all had some drinks. The Klingons had drinks. The ponies, they had a lot of drinks. Kellett and I exchanged... some words, but nothing really came of it.” He shrugged. “For the most part, it was actually pretty nice. Certainly had worse times in a bar, I can tell you that.”
M'ress smirked and purred. “Like Station K-7, Mister Scott?”
Scotty grinned. “Aye, lassie. Or that time– ”
Kirk held up a hand. “Belay that, Scotty.” He held both hands out. “The... Punch Bowl?”
Scotty's expression fell. “Oh, sorry, sir. Well, Kellett and I were about to toast each other. A genuine toast, with a Klingon! But before I could drink, those blasted beasts came blundering in!” His eyes blazed and he raised clenched hands. “And I didn't even get to finish my drink!”
Kirk's jaw canted slightly. “You didn't get to... finish... your drink. I see, Mister Scott. So, the yaks came in...”
Scotty nodded. “Aye, sir. And those beasts had the devil in them! One of them yelled at Berry Punch, the wee lass who ran the pub, and smashed her bar like an angry Gorn. Kellett confronted it, and that yak smacked him in the chest. After that, well...”
Kirk nodded. “That... lines up with the reports I've received. Miss Punch was quite... adamant that the yaks initiated hostilities.” He paused for a moment. “I'll be discussing this with Princess Celestia at the meeting. In the meantime, however, I'm afraid I'll have to... confine you to quarters for one day, although I won't put anything into anyone's permanent record, since none of you were on duty at the time and your actions were in defense of others and yourselves. Mister Chekov, though, is exempt from confinement. He was the... only one not involved in the altercation.”
M'ress hissed slightly. “Only because he was passed out at the bar.”
Kirk's head turned and he glared at M'ress, silencing her. “I... can make a note in your record, Lieutenant, if you wish.”
M'ress straightened to attention. “No, sir,” she said, swallowing.
Kirk nodded, smiling. “Good. Dismissed.” He waited for them to turn and begin walking out before speaking. “Scotty, wait a moment.”
Scotty stopped. He stepped back from the others and walked around back to Kirk. “Aye, Captain?”
Kirk waited for the others to leave the room before speaking. “Scotty... while you were speaking with Kellett. How were you... feeling, at the moment? Do you remember?”
Scotty's brow furrowed. He rubbed his chin and stared off at the wall. “Well, sir. I must admit the alcohol hazed it up a wee bit. Still... aside from one brief spat, we were getting along rather well.” He smiled rather broadly. “Must admit, it wasn't too bad.” The smile fell away as quickly as it had appeared. “Why, Captain?”
Kirk leaned in a bit close. “Just something I've noticed among the crew and the Klingons. We seem to be a bit... friendlier than normal. Kang and I had a rather... interesting discussion at Twilight's castle the other day. We managed to keep it about the level of raised voices.” He waved Scotty off. “Thank you, Mister Scott. Dismissed. Although as before, for the moment, you are confined to quarters.”
Scotty shrugged and smiled. “All right be me, sir. I've got some brand-new technical manuals to catch up on!” And with that, he walked out.
Kang stood in front of Kellett, Worf, and Tarqus, hands clenched behind his back. “I must say I was not expecting to find you three here in the dungeons after a brawl in a bar. Most surprising.”
Kellett stared straight ahead. “Captain, I take full responsibility for the incident at the Punch Bowl. As the ranking officer, I am the one–”
Kang held up a hand, silencing his chief engineer. “Honorable, but unnecessary, Kellett.” He reached into a pocket on his vest and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I received a letter from the proprietress of the Punch Bowl when I arrived. She swears that none of you initiated hostilities, and all fault lies with the honorless yaks. I have no reason to doubt her.” He smiled faintly. “I'm actually impressed with you three, that you stood up for Miss Punch and aided her against those Ha'DibaH.”
Kellett visibly deflated. “Thank you, Captain. Orders, if any?”
Kang rubbed his chin. “Worf, Tarqus, report back to the K'naiah's Pride. Resume your duty stations and tell tall tales of your epic encounter with the yaks. Kellett, I need you a moment longer.” He waited for Worf and Tarqus to exit before stepping up to his chief engineer. “Kellett, at this bar, before the yaks arrived, how did you and the others interact with the Enterprise crew?”
Kellett's eyes rolled up slightly as he stroked his beard in thought. “Well, we had a tense moment or two. Mister Scott and I almost got into an argument, but... the pegasus Rainbow Dash managed to defuse tensions.” He barked a laugh. “She did it by telling us to drink, so I'm not sure we could have refused if we wanted to!”
Kang cracked a smile. “Of course. Nothing can break tensions faster than being offered a drink. Thank you, Mister Kellett. You are dismissed.” The smile fell away as quickly as it had appeared. “Now, then, Princess Celestia. You, Kirk, and I have some things to discuss.”
Twilight paced back and forth in front of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The three stood in the throne room of Friendship Castle, near the Cutie Map. Twilight's head bobbed up and down as she spoke. “I can't believe this! You two were supposed to be having a nice time at the Punch Bowl, not tearing the place down!” She stopped in front of Rainbow Dash and leaned in close. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”
Rainbow Dash's ears folded against her skull. “Stop shouting, for one, Twi. Yeesh. You're loud enough to be heard in Tartarus.”
Applejack spoke up. “And second off, we didn't start anything. It was those dang-blasted yaks! We were having a pretty good time when they barged in and one of them wrecked part of Berry Punch's bar! If we didn't do anything, they would've done even more damage!”
Twilight turned to her. “Well, okay... but did you try talking to them, first?”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchanged a glance before both directed a withering stare at Twilight. “Well, Kellett did,” Applejack said, “but the one of the yaks kind of planted a hoof in the middle of his chest and tried to cave his rib cage in.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and snorted. “Yeah. Come on, Twilight! We didn't start anything. And if we didn't do anything, the Punch Bowl would've gotten wrecked! What gives?”
Twilight opened her mouth, but nothing came out. head dropped. “I... I'm really sorry, you two.” She let out a groan, stretched her wings out, and cracked her back. “This whole thing's got me so tense. There's never really been anything like visitors from beyond the planet itself.” She cracked a smile. “Nothing really in any book for this that I've read. I mean, it's one thing for people from the next house or town or even country to show up, but another star system? Multiple star systems? There's also what Sunset Shimmer wrote back to me.” She rolled her eyes. “Ugh, is it this afternoon, yet?”
Any response was cut off by a knock at one of the doors. Twilight's horn glowed and it opened, revealing Berry Punch. “I hope I'm not disturbing anything,” she said, peeking in.
Twilight shook her head and waved her in with a wing. “Oh, no!” She waited for Berry Punch to trot over before continuing. “Are you all right? How's the Punch Bowl? Is Ruby Pinch all right? What about Ponet? And–”
Berry Punch raised a foreleg and placed it over Twilight's mouth. “I'm all right, thank you. The Punch Bowl's been pretty heavily damaged, and will be closed for maybe a month due to damage. Ruby was at school, and Ponet was at Mane Street. Thank you for asking.” She looked to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “And to you two, thank you so much for what you did. Things would've gotten a lot worse if you and the others hadn't stopped those yaks. Drinks are on the house for you two for the rest of your lives.”
Rainbow Dash pumped a foreleg. “Yes!” She glanced from side to side as everyone turned and stared at her. “What? Oh, right. Ah, you're welcome, Berry. And glad you're all right.”
Applejack bowed her head. “Much obliged, Berry. If you need any help with the repairs, just ask.”
Berry nodded to the two, then looked back to Twilight as she removed her hoof from twilight's mouth. “I wrote two letters, one for Kirk and the other for Kang. I told them the same thing I told you.” Her expression fell. “I hope none of them get into any trouble.”
Twilight glanced to the ceiling and rubbed her chin in thought. “I... think I can talk to them later tonight, Berry. I know they're meeting with Princess Celestia this afternoon, and I've got a meeting of my own to attend, too. I'll make sure they're aware of what happened, Berry. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”
Celestia sat at a small round table in Conference Room Three in Canterlot Castle, quietly sipping some tea and eating cake. Luna was asleep, Cadance dealing with matters in the Crystal Empire, and Twilight had her own business to attend to. This should be interesting, and fun. Two communicators, one from the Enterprise, and one from the K'naiah's Pride, were placed in front of her. She glanced to a clock on the wall, noting the second hand sweeping across the face. “And four, three, two...”
Both communicators beeped. Celestia's horn glowed and she delicately twisted a knob on each of them. “Hello, this is Princess Celestia. One at a time, please. Enterprise, first.”
Uhura's voice came over, a tinge of static to it. “Your Highness, Captain Kirk is ready and standing by to beam to your location. Over.”
A few seconds later, a male voice came over the Klingon communicator. “Captain Kang also stands by to transport on your command, Princess.”
“Thank you. Send them down anytime.”
Two columns of light appeared, quickly resolving themselves into Captains Kirk and Kang. The two oriented themselves before turning to Celestia. “Your highness,” Kirk said, bowing. Kang, meanwhile, thumped his chest in a Klingon salute.
Two chairs slid away from the table. “Good to see you,” Celestia said, smiling as they sat down. She floated over cups and saucers to them. “Now, before we talk about the official bulletin points, there's the matter of a little incident at the Punch Bowl.” She held up a hoof. “I've read testimony from patrons there and Berry Punch herself. And I know she's written letters to you both. I don't hold them in any way responsible for the destruction caused, and would like to personally thank them for their heroism. As for the yaks, they're in the dungeons at the moment. I sent a letter to Prince Rutherford, the leader of Yakyakistan. I'll wait until I hear from him before dealing with the yaks.”
Kang nodded, smiling slightly. “I am relieved to hear that, Princess. I felt the same way. I did not punish any of them, and I will make arrangements for them to meet you.”
Kirk hesitated. “I... didn't put anything in their permanent record, but had all but Chekov confined to quarters pending the... outcome of this meeting. I'll have them released from that, and arrange to have them meet with you.” He leaned forward. “Princess, there's been a... discovery at a 'rock farm'.”
Celestia took a sip of her tea and bite of her cake. “Oh, you mean the dilithium weeds that sprout up there? I was wondering when you'd find them.”
The two captains sat in their chairs, frozen for a moment. They exchanged a look before Kang spoke. “You... know of them? How are they formed? Where does the energy for them come from?”
Celestia pointed at the floor. “There's a small... subspace leak, for lack of a better term, near the core of Equus. A magic portal, in other words. It's not unstable or destructive, and provides for rock farming, the dilithium crystal growths, and is a nigh-limitless supply of power.”
Kirk waved his hand in the air. “Your Highness, This changes... everything. Dilithium crystals are one of the most, if not... the most valuable substances in the galaxy. And you have them... growing out of the ground! The implications are beyond enormous.”
Kang nodded. “Kirk speaks the truth. When this gets out–and it will–Equus will become one of the most important planets in two quadrants of the galaxy. It will be quite... dangerous.”
Celestia sighed. “I think I see where this is going. Now, I do thank you both for the concern you're showing. And you're right. This will change things a bit. However, it won't be nearly as dangerous as you think.” Her horn glowed once more.
Every object in the room, barring Celestia, Kirk, Kang, and the chairs they sat in, floated up. They spun about, pirouetting in the air. “As I control these objects, I control the sun. And Luna controls the moon. Any starship or starships who attempt to attack our planet will be in for a very short and unpleasant surprise.” She focused on Kang. “And as you noted, it would be unwise to challenge us. If pressed, we could be more... forceful. As a last resort, mind.”
Kang nodded. “Mara did note you could unleash a solar flare upon any attacking fleet, or Luna could use the moon itself as an unstoppable kinetic-kill vehicle. You're well-defended, Princess.”
Celestia hung her head slightly. “Believe me, Captain. Those two options would be our last resort. I loathe the idea of violence, but if it comes down to it, I will protect this planet and all who live upon it.
Kirk nodded. “A... sensible outlook, your Highness. However, it might not stop those who are... desperate enough. A renewable, almost infinite source of dilithium crystals can... change... the balance of power in the galaxy!”
Celestia half-smiled as she set everything back down in their proper places. “Well, it's a good thing we've got you two negotiating on behalf of your governments. I have full faith you'll be able to convince them of the folly of trying anything against us, and instead, both governments working with us. As friends.”
Kang barked a laugh. “As 'friends', Princess? I highly doubt that will occur.”
Kirk shifted a bit in his seat. “I must... concur with my Klingon colleague, Princess. I... highly doubt our governments will ever see eye to eye.”
Celestia looked from Kirk to Kang. “Your crews were able to cooperate and drive away a very powerful entity that fed off of hatred. It had every advantage over you, yet you still put aside your differences and laughed it off the Enterprise. It would've been so easy for you to succumb to your hatred. Instead you both managed to see reason and stop the conflict before it consumed you all. If you can manage to stop fighting under such circumstances, then it's within the realm of possibility for your governments to do the right thing and end hostilities.”
Kang waved her off. “The circumstances on the Enterprise are far different than those we are currently in. To have real, lasting peace between the United Federation of Planets and Klingon Empire would be difficult, to say the least!”
Celestia stared at him, expression neutral. “I never said it would be 'easy', Captain Kang. I said it would be 'right'. It's almost never the easiest thing to do, but it has to be done. And it can be done. At one time, I wished for Discord to be gone forever, to be dead or locked away in Tartarus for all eternity. I gave him a chance, and although it went roughly in more than one instance, we are now... not enemies. And someday, we might even be friends. I've lived a long time, and have seen many things that were once deemed difficult or impossible happen.”
Kang met Celestia's stare with one of his own. “What may happen in the future has no bearing on my mission, here. I was sent by the High Council to secure your allegiance, and within the bounds of my honor, I shall do so.” He glanced to Kirk. “Just as Captain Kirk shall do his best to lure you away from the correct choice.”
Celestia's wings ruffled. “That assumes, however, that this is a zero-sum game. That we can only ally either with the Federation or the Empire.” She leaned forward and smiled. “My sister and I believe a third option is available, where we ally with both governments and open diplomatic and trade deals with you.” She looked from Kang to Kirk. “And wouldn't that be better for all of us?”
Kirk's jaw canted to the right. “I suppose for the moment... neither of us have any real... choice in the matter, Princess?”
Kang crossed his arms. “You're right. I too doubt either of us have much of a choice, Kirk. What is it precisely that you propose, Princess?”
Celestia clapped her front hooves together. “Excellent!” Two folders floated up and over to Kirk and Kang. They landed in front of them and opened up.“Let's get down to the business of business, Captains.”
Stats
Page generated in 0.053 seconds
Total duration
872 users online
454,375 hits today, 1,931,246 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2023
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2023 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Glad to know Celestia is no pushover.
Thousands of years of diplomacy practice goes a long way, and she knew about the dilithium issue probably before the rock farm tour.
She's ten moves ahead of both.
Nice chapter.
It was a reasonable aftermath of the bar brawl. It was nice that Berry Punch talked favourable of them.
So... the Magic of Friendship and Harmony began to manifest over the crews of both starships... it will be interesting.
I really want to see Sunset to meet the crew of Enterprise now!
Since...
She would have... interesting spoilers to say about this subject, Captain Kang!
I loved Celestia in the final part of the chapter, in special:
I'm sure that she smiled after say that!
And, of course, that have no intention to let Equus to be a game piece between the two star powers.
And now folks, let's play a game!
WHAT IS IN THE FOLDERS?!
Example 1: Kang frowned as he looked through the contents of the folder. "Princess, who is Megatron and why should I understand the need for organic energon growth?"
Kirk turned to look at the klingon. "I might not be this Optimus fellow, but now I'm curious about this sub-space trailer idea..."
Example 2: "I'll have the lasagna with a troubadour salad and lemonade!"
Oh dear just by being around ponies other sentient beings become more friendly. Reminds me of the Idolons from Farscape, just being around them made you more reasonable. Ponies have a future as intergalactic diplomats. Also they can induce random musical numbers... The Galaxy just got lot more musical.
Speak softly, and carry a big stick seems to be Celestia's diplomatic method of choice.
8358123
Sub-space trailer! Gosh...not sure what is the worst: that idea or the fact I understood that idea....
8358143
Think the Borg have perfect kick lines?
I see a familiar nod to the post-brawl scene from "The Trouble With Tribbles".
So, shall we have the Equus Accords instead of the Khitomer Accords, and decades early at that?
Boo! I am a ghost
Over a thousand years of running a government has to teach you a thing or two about diplomacy.
By now, Pinkie will have been delivering invitations and complimentary cupcakes to various Fediration and Klingon worlds.
I mean, thats her rock farm. she has subspace dilithium at the atomic, never mind cellular level. Then again, given magic and weeds, very likely so does every other entity and object on Equus. And if speed is a function of drive to mass, Pinkie has movement thousands of times that of a top end starship. Before recursion is taken into account like with moon and sun.
An X class solar flare is planet damaging. A Sunbeam is planet destroying. But then you can move into Coherent Plasma beam, and Temporal Compression.
Pinkie shouldnt be the only magical being capable of detecting the subspace warping of an incoming stealthed ship, drone, or delivery package.
Well, theres Discord for starters. I think he would be most upset at any attempt to infect Fluttershy with a biobomb.
8358168
Lots of trek races would break out you into weird songs. I mean how weird would a Vulcan musical number be?
8358422
Logically, Weird Science.
Awesome chapter!
I love the hesitancy in Kirk's voice. The exaggeration makes me chuckle every time.
You didn't have to write Kirk like that. But you did. You went the extra mile and we all love you for it.
Aww, I wanted to see the business side of things.
I found that joke funnier than it probably actually is. I chalk it up to stress over my borked computer.
8358072
Please. She is only ever a pushover in canon.
I'm intrigued that both Kirk and Kang have noticed their respective crews are acting a bit...friendlier since coming to Equestria.
So...is Sunset Shimmer a Trekkie?
8359098
Imagine if they assimilate Pinkie Pie.
8359525
Well then its game over, isn't it? Pinkie Pie Borg? The universe is screwed
8360537
I suspect that the Elements of Harmony/power of Harmony could reverse assimilation. Besides, they have Discord. I doubt he can be assimilated any more than Q can, and if the Borg put Fluttershy in danger, he could turn tham all into clockwork toys. Though it might be more interesting to give them the ability to feel empathy and sympathy.
Also, assimilating Pinkie would be the last mistake the Borg would ever make. There'd quickly be a new Borg Queen, an extremely pink one.
"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and join the party. We have 542 different kinds of cake. Being a party pooper is futile."
I'll second j-grizz's comment a while back - this fic reminds me very much of the John Ford classic "How Much For Just The Planet". Hopefully that's an effect you're striving for?
Wow, I just finished reading the entirety of the published chapters, and since almost the beginning I've been waiting and wanting for something to happen from Sunset Shimmer's reply to Twilight!
What a big tease you are. 
There is a lot happening here and it is being dealt with in a very conceise way.
I can't shift the feeling that Celestia is the one running this show and there's an agenda. Maybe she's subcontracting for the Organians or something? That said, her invocation of the Element of Laughter as the source of the victory in Day of the Dove makes me wonder if the agenda is hers. How long has the power of Harmony been watching the Federation and the Empire, gradually shifting them onto the path it wants?
In any case, Kirk is right about 'desperate'. Some of the galaxy's more powerful races (most notably the Gorn and Tholians) are just stupid or desperate enough to try something, no matter how suicidal that is. Then there is the subspace rift and it makes me wonder just who has been doing what to the planet Equus and for what purposes.
It will be interesting to see what Rutherford says. He's always been a being ruled by his pride and archaic ideas of 'honour' in a way that would shock even a Klingon with its primitive nature. He's likely to dig his hooves in because he feels 'insulted' at his people's treatment. On the other hand, maybe Pinkie and Ember can talk him down; he owes them both, after all.
8358097
I've no doubt the Federation and the Klingon Empire have both just become pawns in her game...
Oh, I definitely want to see Sunset's reaction to this
8365866
Both the Federation and the Klingon Empire are lucky that Celestia like to reach a win-win scenario!
And while we don't have Sunset on Enterprise... I realized that this fic is missing: more McCoy and antics by the Cutie Mark Crusaders! Let's make some members of both crews try understand Cutie Marks, with tree sap as a work hazard!
8358123
Genius.
8358422 Maybe they would sing a song about a certain hobbit?
8361171 Your actual threat would be the Borg assimilating Chrysalis.
And then the Borg show up and assimilate Celly and Loony.
Zecora shows up, "Well, we're F'd in the A about now, I'd say."
Hmm... Friendship isn't just magic, it's contagious. Among non-yaks, anyway. The question is whether that's a property of the planet or the ponies.
And I do love Celestia dragging both captains to the negotiation table by their ears. I can only imagine what the respective governments will make of this.
Well, the opening was a bit rough and nearly threw me out of the story, but it seems like you have gotten your feet under you now and things are definitely picking up. You seem to have a good handle on the Star Trek cast which is always important, and I especially like that you are using the animated series content because I think it is honestly a more pure representation of what Star Trek was supposed to be than the first show since the executives didn't see the cartoon as substantial and thus gave Roddenberry more leeway to put in things that were politically unacceptable at the time like Uhura commanding the Enterprise.
Also, I'm curious to see what you do with Sunset because that definitely isn't something you would do without having a plan for it.
Hoping for new chapter before end of today. (September 8)
My point still stands. Equestria could very well ally with the Romulans
8365784
I apologize if this seems rude, but I have to address this before I update again.
Ben, I had to look this up concerning Rutherford and Ember. Apparently they met in the IDW comics. Comics that... 1. I don't read, 2. have little knowledge of, and 3. what I've heard about them puts me off in the most massive of ways.
As far as I and this fic are concerned, no. Rutherford and Ember have never met. I don't even really have plans for Ember or Rutherford to appear in the flesh, to be honest. Kinda sorry to disappoint you, but I figured it'd be a good idea to head this off.
To be honest, I'm pretty sure it's outright impossible. The two are the complete antithesis of each other. Permanent peace between the Federation and the Empire would require one of them to change its nature utterly - the Federation would have to become a far more aggressive, warlike state that was even more blasé towards the treatment of people outside of its borders than it already is; or else the Klingon Empire would have to undergo truly massive internal reforms. I mean...the Klingon Empire is warlike, mystical (that is, they prefer mystical explanations to events over scientific ones), staunchly traditionalist, expansionist, feudal, oligarchic, openly derisive of scientific and technological innovation, centered on ideals of racial superiority, and has an economy based on what at best can be charitably described as forced labor, but really is slavery. Such a state *can't* be a permanent ally of the Federation.
Peace between the Federation and the Klingons only ever seems to last a few decades. After Khitomer in Trek VI, relations were already beginning to break down again by the time of the Narendra III incident that claimed the Enterprise-C. That incident bought the Federation a few more decades, but things once again broke down when the Klingons invaded Cardassian space and there was even a brief shooting war between the Klingons and the Federation.
Then depending on your timeline of choice, things broke down again at the turn of the 25th century when J'mpok became Chancellor and kicked off another Federation-Klingon war, which was only stopped by the arrival of the Iconians.
Mind, reforming the Klingon Empire is something that would be a fascinating thing to watch, and I'd love to see it as a backdrop to a post-VOY Star Trek series. But that's the only situation under which Federation-Empire peace is possible: if one of the two changes so much that it's no longer recognizable as what it once was.
8438615
If the Klingons and the Federation are the COMPLETE antitheses of one another, then where do the Romulans fall on the spectrum?
8436955
You know what's interesting. It's good you're avoiding Star Trek online story. Because it place 30 years after deep space and TNG
8438615
The khitomer Accords beg to differ
8358088
Yet she can't see Luna's issues till NMM, Sunset, and then the wedding
8361171
Don't you mean "join the herd"?
...
I'll see myself out.
Kudos to celestia for using the term Zero Sum Game.
8707296 The first two might be because they're so 'close to home', so to speak. Even an Olympic sprinter can trip over their own feet. She was so busy focussing on the 'big picture' that she missed what was going onright under her muzzle.
The common fanon for the Wedding debacle is that she couldn't use any more power without risking collateral damage. She had to take a dive and let others take over. Here it would have to be the answer, as she certainly has enough raw power to take out Chrysalis with minimal effort.
And then the Romulans show up and try something.