46 - Sunrise
Some of the tension between Laud and Twilight and her friends abated. The secrets and worries he had been holding close to his chest were revealed to be seen and dealt with, and the ponies had not turned against him for what could happen.
Pinkie waved excitedly. "A mare's work is never done!"
Rarity nodded in refined agreement. "Well said. It was nice getting this out, darling, but we do have responsibilities."
Laud returned the nod to either of them. "Good luck." His eyes darted to Twilight. "I presume you'll bring Applejack and Fluttershy up to speed?"
Rainbow snorted as she lifted from the ground. "I have to swing by AJ's anyway. I'll make sure she knows what direction's the sky." She saluted and launched herself out a window without delay, a streak of rainbows giving short-lived proof that she had been there.
Spike, who had been quiet, hiked a thumb in the direction she had gone. "That meant she'll tell AJ what's happening so she knows what to do."
Laud had assumed as much. "That was a very 'flyer' saying." There remained yet one of Twilight's friends, and he looked to Fluttershy. "You're quiet, do you have something on your mind?"
"Oh!" She smiled nervously. "N-no, I'm fine." She waved a hoof as she shook her head, standing up on her throne. "I should probably be going too, if that's alright?"
"A witness is in order," came a firm, female, voice. The clip-clop of Celestia's approach was clear, her metal-clad hooves striking the crystal of the castle. Beside her, the boots of many men came with her. Both she and Paul came into view only moment's later, his men trailing behind. "We have important things to announce." Her eyes were on Laud and Twilight with equal intensity.
Laud looked to Paul, but the man's face was impossible to read. He had put on a poker face only a high-born royal could have mastered. It was enough to tell Laud he should be worried, and he was. What had they discussed outside of his ears? "I trust your meeting was productive?" He decided with, trying as best he could to keep his own expression passive. The truth would come, he just had to wait for it.
Paul nodded towards Celestia. "Always refreshing to meet a fellow protector of their people, and it's a change of pace to meet one not of the Hawkwood house that holds themselves to decency to both their people and others."
"You are too kind." Celestia smiled gently at the compliment. "But, what I am about to do will not be seen as kind, and to one that has been nothing but wonderful to me..." The tension in the room grew. Twilight and Fluttershy were locked on Celestia. Even they knew that something was happening. "I can only hope that she will forgive me, in time, for I act in Equestria's best interests, and this is a matter greater than even our beloved country."
Fluttershy's eyes widened with alarm. "O-oh, my. Is everything alright?"
Celestia smiled down at Fluttershy. "I'm afraid not, but I think it will get better, in time." She turned fully to Twilight. "I must ask that you perform a task that falls onto royalty, which you now are. In order to shield our world from the ravages of the larger universe, we must be seen wholly as a portion of a larger whole." She inclined her head towards Paul. "We have the way to do that."
Twilight's jaw tensed, a little tremble passing through her body. "How can I... help?" Somewhere in her, she was starting to get an idea, her eyes darting from human to human.
Celestia raised a hoof and pointed at Twilight in a firm thrust. "Twilight, I have arranged your union."
Twilight fell back against her throne. "Oh, is that all." She sank against the back of it. "I thought it was something serious." She laughed a brief little hysterical sound. "It's not like you're marrying me off or anything."
"Um..." Fluttershy looked between the distraught Twilight and Celestia. "Is it to him?" She pointed at Paul.
Spike snorted softly. "Doubt it."
Celestia approached the great map that occupied the center of the room. Her gaze swept over it. "This is not a matter I choose lightly. It has weighed on me for some time." She placed a hoof gently on where Ponyville was on the map, having to rear up to reach it. "This could destroy the entire world we've worked so hard to protect. While some would... say we have the means to defend ourselves. If it came to violence, it would be a matter of when, not if we were destroyed, wiped out to the last."
She turned her eyes on Twilight. "I hope you understand what I am doing, in time, and can forgive me."
Twilight stiffly nodded. "O-of course..." She sat up, forcing herself to be at rigid attention. "Fluttershy's question is apt. Who am I... being forced to be with?"
Celestia looked towards Laud, saying nothing, but saying everything, all at once.
Laud's mind raced. He turned towards Paul quickly. "What about Lyra?" Even as he said it, he realized the ludicrousness of even asking. Lyra had already denied him, twice, and compared to Twilight, she was almost a commoner.
Paul clapped Laud's shoulder with a firm hand, his fingers digging just enough to make it clear. No choices were being given at that moment. "It's for the best. We want to protect these, our new people, and this is how we start. You'd sooner take a blade than see your people put upon, isn't that right?"
"Yes, of course!" Laud shot back, voice strained.
"This is a blade of another sort, and it falls on you to put yourself on it." Paul suddenly shoved Laud back. "Will you rise to your duty, or prove everyone right, young noble?"
Celestia smiled gently on Laud. "You will become a prince, with all the responsibility and privilege that comes with it. As we have no kings or queens, you would immediately be among the most powerful by rank within the country, and with it, we would accept and acknowledge Hawkwood as not only allies, but one of our own."
Twilight met Laud's eyes, her own frantic with new worries. "Well, at least I... know him." She laughed her little unnerved laugh, mane becoming frizzier by the moment as if the stress somehow manifested itself there. "I should... tell my family. Oh, look at that! After I complained to my brother, now I'm the one springing a wedding on them unexpectedly." She laughed all the harder, the hysterics only getting stronger.
The sound of a slap echoed through the room.
Twilight looked to Spike with a stunned face, her cheek burning red from where his little hand had struck her.
"Snap out of it," he commanded firmly before turning to Celestia. "Are you serious? These two don't have anything in common."
"This is not a matter of love, Spike." Celestia dipped her head low, heavy with the weight of what she was doing. "I hope they will find mutual respect, at least, and are good friends."
Laud felt his estimation of Spike rise slightly. That had taken some bravery, he decided. "She is correct... Marriage does not always equate to love, or even passion. If this... is what has been decided, I will play my part honorably." He would not be known as a pouty child, refusing to do what needed to be done. He clapped his boots together and bowed formally to Twilight. "I accept your ha--hoof and will honor and respect you until my last breath."
Paul shook his head with a little laugh. "You're being hasty, Laud. Nice oath, but we should make a formal ceremony of it. The people of the country need to be perfectly aware of what's going on. We'll want to capture pictures to share and spread the news across the gates. That's how we'll announce this world, its people, and Hawkwood's involvement all in one fell swoop. No room for doubt there."
Celestia rose back to her full height. "Yes, there are things to plan." She turned for the exit, sliding free of the table she had been on. "Are there human traditions to marriage we should factor into the arrangements?"
Paul moved to keep up with her, and they began planning the wedding as they went, soon gone from the room, leaving the two newly-promised ones behind.
Laud needed to sit down, but the only seat around was also a throne, and it wasn't his throne. He settled with putting a hand on the large map and leaning against it, trying to calm himself. That had been fast, too fast. His plans... Were not entirely destroyed. He would still oversee the port. He would still be the go-between. He would still do what he wanted to do. He was just getting married, to the wrong pony.
Wrong? Was Lyra more 'right?'. There was love there, even if one-sided. She liked him. He liked his women on two legs. Pointless, it was all pointless. He wasn't being given a choice. He wanted to save that world, and its people, and that meant shutting up and taking it, like a man...
Twilight suddenly laughed. "You look like you're taking this about as well as I am." She leaned forward in her throne. "That's strangely comforting. Fluttershy?"
"Yes, Twilight? I'm here for you." She smiled timidly, but did not flee.
"Thank you... But I think, right now, I need you to tell the rest of the girls what just happened. Can you do that, please?" Her voice was low and tense, but she didn't sound hysterical. "I need to... think about this."
Fluttershy hopped up. "I'll do that, Twilight, but you... take care of yourself." She looked to Spike pointedly. "Keep an eye on her, please." She fled, wings flapping, but not flying. She galloped out the front door.
Spike saluted after her before looking to Laud. "You alright? You look as bad as Twilight, with less rambling."
"Hey!"
"Calling it like I saw it." He smiled at Twilight a little. "Feeling better?"
She rubbed the fading stinging of her cheek. "You didn't have to hit so hard..."
"Yes, yes I did." Spike hopped up onto her throne with her and patted her shoulder. "Now, the way I see it, you two are friends, just, you know, not that kind of friend. So you're getting married, big deal. They can't make you do more than that. You're friends with a fancy title, don't make it more than that."
Laud stood up, pushing away from the table. "I..." His objection died. Could a human and a pony produce an heir? If not, that truly was the end of it. They would not need to be anymore than friends with extra baggage. But, they didn't know. Still, the odds had to be low, right? A random species did not cross with humans...
He frowned deeply. Except, ponies might be humans.
Twilight tilted her head. "Bit for your thoughts? You look like you're thinking about something pretty seriously."
"What Spike said, he's not wrong, on some levels, but if we can make an heir, it will be expected that we do." He took a slow breath, trying to calm himself. "But that... is a problem for another day, perhaps another year." Maybe another decade? "For now, Spike is speaking wisdom." And surprising him. "When did you become such a calming presence?"
Twilight burst into a short laugh, hopping down from her throne. "That's my Spike. He's always there for me when things are at their worst, and he usually says something worth listening to... that I don't always listen to. Sorry for that, Spike, and thank you." She held out a hoof and Spike was soon there, the two hugging one another in the fond embrace of kinship.
Outside, Bon Bon picked herself up from where she had fallen when she heard the sudden news. "This changes things," she muttered as she dusted herself off. How was she going to get Lyra what she wanted?! "Back to the drawing board..."
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I personally don't see any reason for a forced marriage, but whatever
I can see it happening. Don't get me wrong, it's a heck of a surprise. But a political marriage to secure the future of the planet? The stakes are high enough to warrant that response. Also, we don't know how often this Celestia has resolved Equestrian conflicts with marriages.
Well Bonbon, are herds a thing in equestria? If so then getting Lyra into his arms is a matter of time and she getting her britches on like a big girl.
Else, well... How do equestrians and the humans see concubines?
It seems highly, highly unlikely that they would be able to produce any kind of offspring without magical aid. Even if the ponies used to be human, now they're so different all the way down to a genetic level that I can't even imagine it being possible for children.
And as long as they don't produce offspring, there's nothing saying that they can't have a lover or whatever on the side. Based on what Laud said, the marriage vows will be the typical "honor and respect" sort of thing, and an affair or two doesn't violate that as long as both partners agree that it's ok.
But I suppose we'll have to see how this all plays out. There's still Lyra and Bon Bon to consider, after all.
I was pretty sure this would happen, although I thought Luna might get involved too. She still could, I suppose, if she has pity on Twilight.
Hmm... political marriages are never easy. But from I gathered Twilight won't feel too terrible about it. Laud... I don't know. But I fear Paul and Celestia are right when it comes to making it 100% clear that every citizen in the borders of Equestria is under the proctection of the Hawkwoods, so that the other houses don't even think they could somehow underimine their authority to enslave the Ponies, or worse... sending the inquisition.
Especially when they find out about the ability of the Equestrians to use magic. Fear and paranoia are strong motivators for the ones acting on ignorance and irrational feelings to declare war on the innocent.
8862382
Because there is none at all. Especially since Celestia is the one actually ruling, not Twilight, Cadance, or even Luna. So if anyone should have been married off, it was Celestia. And if it was anyone of the Nobility, then it should be Lyra.
And also Celestia is lying out of her ass, as both her and Luna can easily blow up Gate and prevent anyone from ever finding them ever again. Permanently. And it wouldn't even cause the death of anyone, tho it would strand anyone on this side on Equestria.
Whats more, the humans are lying to them. In a straight up war, Pony would slaughter the entire Galaxy, easily, and be ultimate victor, if they has any inking of being violent. The only reason they would lose, is cause ponies are naturally non-violent and would rather be shot themselves, than save themselves by killing someone else.
---
The conflict is being very forced, and not natural. There are many other options, yet they aren't even brought up, or thought up. They are literally becoming slaves to these humans... Just cause the humans tell them it's better for them, and don't question it. Just like this newest conflict, of Laud being forced to marry Twilight, instead of Lyra, even tho everyone knows Lyra has a thing for Laud, and is Nobility. They didn't even give a reason WHY they picked Twilight instead of Lyra.
This is the 'explanation' given, which doesn't explain anything.
Doesn't help that Laud needing to marry a nobility of the planet doesn't even make sense.
8862477
You have a very high opinion of ponies, and that's good. I like them too.
They would not stand up well against the advanced technology, magic, psionics, starships, and the sheer numbers of an entire empire.
Ponies are doing what ponies do, solve it with friendship. Fortunately, they have two nobles(one a royal) in contact that are already friends, let's just make it formal and official so everyone else can back the heck off.
Could Celestia marry Laud? Oh, sure, she could. The people of Equestria would collectively flip their wigs and lose their minds. She is the untouched goddess, and ever she must remain, or risk trouble.
Could Cadance... uh... she's married, with a kid. She's not a candidate really.
Luna! Step forward, Luna... Luna, you're going in the wrong direction. Stop screaming, Luna.
... Flurry Heart? ...
Twilight, you're up.
Another thing, did Bonbon overhear the conversations before that too? The one about the Shantor? That could have implications.
8862518
I don't know which way I'd have Luna go on the issue, but I doubt Celestia wants to marry off her little sister for politics. She only recently just got Luna back too.
This chapter killed the interest I had in this story. Good luck with the rest if it!
8862533
I mean, it's not like Luna would be going anywhere. She doesn't even have to live in the same country as her husband, much less the same house if she doesn't want to. And since the chances of reproduction are basically nil, it's not like they even have to consummate anything. About the only reason that Twilight is a better choice than Luna is that Twilight has no real political power and no control over the planet's celestial bodies (which are, admittedly, pretty good reasons).
8862560
We've been promising political shenanigans for some time now. Why is this a rude surprise?
Well, it is the logical choice really, nothing cements an alliance better than blood.
8862518
I honestly think you, and others, have a low opinion on Ponies. Or really, just magic in general. A weak pony putting up a small sound shield? Being made of magic, and not physical, will instantly negate and stop anything physical from penetrating it. No matter if it's a Rock, a pistol bullet, an armor piercing sniper bullet, or a rocket.
Plus, everyone keeps forgetting, But Celestia moves the sun. The SUN. If she can touch it, and move it, she can manifest power from it. As in Canon with Day Breaker who had control over many things Fire, without even needing to use her magic at all to do lots of deadly attacks.
So what is preventing Celestia/Luna from moving the Sun/Moon to the gate and destroying it? What is Preventing Celestia from calling down a blast of Solar Energy to melt and destroy all the humans and ships? What is Preventing Celestia and Luna from taping into the Elements of Harmony, which we have seen stop a being with unlimited power that can effect anything in reality, and just making a bubble around the planet, sun, and moon so nothing can get in?
That's the beauty of magic. It doesn't give a shit. You want something to happen, Magic can make it happen! There is literally next to 0 limits that magic can do, with a powerful enough magical energy. And Celestia and Luna, having access to Celestial Bodies, have more magical energy at their horn tips than any other being next to Discord. And the Elements of Harmony, have unlimited magic and can literally do anything. Even Negate the Magic of a being, Tirek, who had the Magic of every Alicorn, Pegasi, Earth Pony, Unicorn, and DISCORD's Magic in Equestria.
So yeah, it always pisses me off when Authors forget that compared to humans or other beings in fiction, Ponies and their Magic are very much unstoppable, if they choose to be. And while yes, they are peaceful... The other option to be enslaved and have all their freedoms taken away. And having lived for a thousand years, at the least, Celestia and Luna should see the bigger picture and know that unless they destroyed the gate, or protected the planet, then they WILL be enslaved. They might have a fancy collar and a nice owner in Laud, but it is still being enslaved in a cage.
8862589
My interest in this story was on the fence as it was. Interesting concept, but this is conquest through peace by might, and not one character objected. Not one. The ponies all rolled over and gave their world away, not even before the other sapient races had a say. It could have been written a lot better and I know you are more than capable. I'm disappointed more than anything else. You are a gifted author and this story feels lacking compared to your ability.
The wife, the mother, the handmaid, the mistress and the night on the town?
Or are Griffons the core hybridisers on Equestria? Griffon plus human gives Earth Sphinx?
8862635
I agree with you to an extent but the fact is ponies will always go with the peaceful solution before resorting to violence. Could they wipe out the invaders? Maybe. Would that be their first course of action? Hell no. If a political marriage is all it takes to prevent war they would have to be really stupid to not take it.
8862589
Arranged marriages are a bit of a sore spot I've noticed, especially when its Celestia deciding this for Twilight.
As for me, well as we Dutch say, I'll wait and see where the ship beaches first. Shenanigans like this can be so much fun if done well.
8862635
Shields do not work this way. Shields can not work this way. If they did, Twilight would be panicking a lot less often. Twilight would be smashed by objects a lot less often. To claim full knowledge of MLP magic is outrageous, since not even the writers know what it can do until it's convenient for the plot for it to do it.
How easy are gates to destroy? According to Fading Suns canon, which takes higher precedence with a gate, they basically can't be. The worst anyone's managed was to turn one off temporarily, if I recall. I'm sure Paul and Celestia discussed the matter and possibility.
8862644
If you are willing to roll over as you see the ponies doing, I can't stop you, but hope you had fun along the way. I admit, I'm a little baffled as to what changed between last chapter and now, except he's marrying a different pony. That is literally all the changed.
8862589
This twist passes the "Consistent with what may happen in the setting" test, based on what you've established so far through things like the interaction with Lyra... but it fails the "Consistent with established tone and narrative" smell test.
With Lyra, you established "Can happen to background characters I don't care about" by having the character we cared about escape from that.
You even established sufficient support for Laud and Lyra to get paired up, since Lyra is interested and Laud grew up knowing that this might happen... and potentially foreshadowed it.
...but Twilight? This feels like it's coming out of left field. You've spent what is easily an entire novel's worth of text (~92,000 words is well within the 80,000 to 120,000 range for a typical novel) building up an expectation of the tone of the narrative and didn't spend any time dispelling the default assumption that canon tonal forces were in play on the canon cast. (And, if anything, Canon did a pretty good job of implying that it's the norm for princesses to marry either for love or not at all.)
While of a lesser degree, this comes across as the same kind of writing error as when J.K. Rowling killed Cedric Diggory after 3.9 books worth of allowing the expectation to build that Voldemort was like a Saturday morning cartoon villain. (I actually remember my mental image of him as a kid being based off NoHeart from The Care Bears.)
Ideally, you should have dispelled that assumption within the first 20,000-30,000 words (the length of a typical first act) since that's roughly how long it takes for a reader's expectations for a story's tone and atmosphere to solidify. (Beyond that point, changes which break expectations are dismissed as bad writing.)
The only truly effective way to change the atmosphere and tone beyond that point is to wind down both the story-level driving conflict and any series-level driving conflict in play and start an entirely independent narrative in the same setting (either a sequel or a side-story following an independent set of characters in parallel)... and you're still likely to lose at least some readers who came for the tone of the first arc. (And not gain replacements unless your sequel/sidestory can be read without reading the first one so readers who only want the changed tone can join in.)
Personally, I'm against arranged marriages in general, as, unlike Laud or Celestia, my worldview makes it very clear that love is the ONLY reason for marriage in the first place, thus rendering such political gestures as shams. Of course, without a person like me involved, the only way out would be if a pair falls in love fairly soon, one which includes Laud and either Twilight or Lyra.
I'm surprised people are freaking out about political marriage. It has been talked about for several chapters and having Laud marry Twilight does make the most sense.
Blackwood? isn't it Hawkwood?
8862674
Has anyone tried to throw a gate into a sun though? Even if that doesn't destroy it (and I'd question that) it would at least make travel impossible by destroying any ship trying to travel through it.
8862772
Possibly! But are you going to keep the sun there?
8862791
Don't need to. Suns have huge gravity points, once the gate's inside the sun'll just drag it along. Even if that's impossible (super quantum lock or what have you), just park the sun there every time the gate activates. We know the sun can be moved across the entirety of Equestria's visible sky within a second, meaning it can get to the gate fast enough to disintegrate any ship that just translated through the gate and be ready for any ship that'll follow. Any that miraculously manage to make it through that can be smashed by the moon.
Safe control over the movement of a system's celestial objects is a major gamechanger in local space warfare. Sure, Equestria is never going to conquer the galaxy since all their power is limited to their world, but their world itself is nigh-untouchable.
8862796
Except you wouldn't know the ship was there until a bomb tore Canterlot apart.
It's not like they had any idea Laud was coming.
8862799
True, the only thing they really need is a warning system that'll tell them when the gate is doing things. Maybe some extras that say where ships are. Once they have that they're pretty much set.
8862802
They'll just fly one of their own space... ships up there?
8862808
Send someone to the moon and build an observation post.
8862674
The current condition of the local gate implies that gates are not indestructible. And if it is possible to manipulate gates enough to repair them, it should be possible to go in the other direction and render one inoperable.
"It was a wreck. Fresh smoke billowed around it. Sparks jumped fitfully. It was no small miracle that he had even arrived safely. No, he would not be jumping home through that, at least not until it had gotten major repairs."
8862837
There is a reason for that. It will become clear.
Well, I expected Laud to get roped into a political marriage, but I wasn't expecting it to be with Twilight. Still, I have to say it's not too surprising or unbelievable, as Celestia has canonically shown herself to care more about the Greater Good than individuals.
8862802
Another Sci-Fi I'm reading has that as a major element. Once they complete the magical telescope, they'll be able to detect and smash any ships.
8862808
It's the one thing they need House Hawkwood for, but once they've got it they're pretty much good to go in defence.
Well to be fair Lyra was the weaker political choice.
Sometimes things move quickly.
Keep going! ;)
8862876
Royalty have always found alliances where necessary. Those who are Royalty know that such things can happen, even if Twilight was not quite aware that it applied to her as well. Shining would not have been allowed to marry Cadance if Celestia hadn't approved of their union, that much is certain. Obviously, Celestia felt Shining would be a strong protector for Cadance as they lived in a place far from Canterlot. But that does prove that sometimes she doesn't object to Love in a relationship. As it is, sometimes Love can develop from arranged marriages. Look at Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They grew to love each other so much that she nearly died emotionally when Albert passed away.
Maybe if they found a way for Laud to spend some time with Twilight as a pony, they might begin to see each other in a different light.
As for Lyra, she had two chances and blew both of them. Bon Bon might find herself facing Celestia's wrath if she interferes too much...
If Twilight has to marry, and if they do the herd thing, maybe one of her friends can join her. ( Starlight, maybe? I don't think she'd mind, if it was for Twilight. She is shown to be fiercely protective of Twilight and her well being) It might make it easier.
8862635
Pretty much everything you just said about pony magic was head-cannon and I don't think you should try to impose yours on other peoples stories. Let magic work in the authors world how the author wants it to work. The rules for magic and limits of what things can/cannot do is not explained enough in the show anyway.
8863289
Internal consistency is magic!
I do hope I am consistent at least.
8863289
Are you sure? The Shields being Magical and thus not effected by the Physical is the only thing I made as head canon, as that is how Magic would realistically work, being on another place of existence than we are. However, other than Shining Armor's Massive Shield around the city, that only broke when he was very mentally weak and loyal slave to Chysalis, we've never seen a physical object break a magic shield of any kind in the show.
Most everything else I said, was drawn from the Canon of the show. We've seen Celestia draw power from the Sun, We've seen Celestia control fire without the use of magic. We've seen Luna draw power from the Moon to transform into Nightmare Moon. We've seen many times that Celestia and Luna can control the sun and move them however they wish. We've seen how godly and unbeatable the Elements of Harmony are. They are on an entirely different level than Discord's, Tirek's, and everyone pony in Equestria's magic combine. They were passively surrounding the Main 6, not even being used at all, and they canceled out Tirek's 100% full strength blast. And yes, it was the EoH, as all 6 girls were sapped of all their magic.
Everything I said, except the one bit, is supported by canon. And even the one bit I added in, you can twist to say is canon as well.
8863322
For that and other statements, you're using the "ad ignorantiam" argument, a logical fallacy. Learn more about that here: Link
8863359
Wouldn't it be the same way if you are saying the shield can't stop physical objects? There is still no real proof Either way.
The only source is unreliable because of how weakened Shining was.
Who's to say that a fully functional unicorn like Starlight can't stop every physical threats with her shields.
8863322
Except there is no proof that they still have that Rainbow power, which seems to be something entirely different from the Elements. For all we know, that was just a one time thing.
8863322
I'd love to know what source you have proving the "realistic" use of magic exists on a higher plane of existance. First of all, different planes of existance have yet to be definitively proven, higher or lower. Even assuming they do, any "realism" that might be associated with magic, by that logic, could not necessarily be applied due to the fact that other planes of existance might not operate by the same laws we understand.
Magic is simply a concept. It's possibilies are subject to imagination. Imagination as a concept is infinite, however people's ideas are not. Magic, being a concept, relies on people's limited ideas, and therefore is also limited.
8863434
I mean, you could decide magic can do whatever you want ever without any practical limits, yay!
That is criminally boring. Can we not do that?
8862876
Twilight not realizing she specifically mentioned Laud in relation to a question about romance made me wonder if this situation might happen in some way, but I didn't quite expect it so abruptly or so directly.
As far as why Twilight, marrying royalty would cement Hawkwood's connection all the more firmly than a noble would, leaving even less room for their opponents to get in the way, short of force.
Any civilization that has noble or royal class systems, even only wealthy merchants, has made use of political marriages to make stronger ties or families, so this situation should not come as a surprise.
Of course the series itself won't get into these sorts of situations explicity, it wouldn't make a good series for kids if they used those themes. So complaining about the less tasteful aspects of class systems making it into a fanfiction is rather silly. You can see situations like this one throughout human history, arranged, or forced, marriages between influention factions, many of differing cultures. How is this different, besides the obvious?
8863438
Eh, personally, I'm of the opinion that while magic is theoretically omnipotent, only a being on the level of what we think of as a god could possibly make full use of it. Anything less would lack at least one factor that would prevent such a thing, be it mana capacity, focus, ability to channel, comprehension, etc.
Celestia, and Alicorns in general, appear to display higher proficiency is these areas than other beings, but they are clearly not unstoppable. You couldn't channel the energy of the sun indefinitely, it would eventually run out and either dissappear, implode, or explode when the power sustaining it became insufficient.
Luna's abilities are more vague, and my knowledge of canon is limited, but a civilization capable of razing planets could very likely blow her moon into an asteroid belt.
Not to discredit Cadance, but I think her abilities would be negligible in a war with a force that could possibly hurl small suns of plasma at a shield limited to one small country.
Twilight is certainly formidible on her own, but if she lost a friend then she'd become fairly predictable, whether that was her becoming paralyzed in grief or going berzerk in rage. Depending on which friend, this could also disable the Elements. I've never seen them work properly without all Bearers present.
TL:DR- Even if magic could be omnipotent, people are far from it.
Hawkwood?