Keep Calm and Frigoris On, Part 1
Twilight Gets a Puppy
Season 3
By TDR
Keep Calm and Frigoris On,
Part 1
[Sweet Apple Acres, morning]
“Alright we want every pony back out there. Celestia is raising the sun early to aid in the search. Pegasi we want that storm fully moved out. Ground forces move out now, teams of six two pair of each pony type in each, we have mapped the quadrants to explore. Anything hostile is to be dealt with as quickly as possible and the search is to continue. If you cannot drive off the wild life you are authorized to remove it. We are missing an Element of Harmony and one of the Sparkles. We do not need to tell you why that is problem. Now go.” Luna bellowed.
The Guards took off as ordered and Luna turned to look back to her sister.
“We will head back to let the court we left know of the situation and then we shall return to aide in the search.” Luna yawned.” Spike keep me informed if there is any sign.” Luna offered before taking to the air to do a last fly over before heading back up towards the castle, once she was clear of the forests edge there was a flash of light as she teleported back up to Canterlot.
Will do princess.” Spike nodded trying not to yawn along with the night princess as he huddled in his puffy coat, warmer area around the farm or not, it was still cold.
Princess Celestia stood by the tall crystal spire of the Apple's new barn. Spike looked tired but with all the stress and excitement of the night he was still wired. The CMC were much the same way , though neither Sweetiebelle nor Scootaloo could keep their eyes open past four am and were put to bed in the farm house. Applebloom had nodded off once or twice leaning against Spike, but the moment any one tried to move her she fought tooth and hoof to stay put. Granted it was only Spike that was keeping her upright at the moment. Granny Smith sat in her rocker on the porch still holding her grand pappys gun and still awake as well.
“They have been missing for nine hours.” Spike offered.
“I am aware.” Princess Celestia noted with a bit of sadness.
It had taken several hours to get the troops to mobilize and get down here, her sister had teleported herself and a small contingent of guards almost immediately. By time they got there, there was no sign of any threat. The guards had secured the area and were waiting to search in mass until there was light. A few smaller groups had gone in though with the storm there was no trail to follow, though they did find Rahs' coat, the lack of damage and position over a branch made it clear it was removed rather that lost.
The Princess of the Sun's horn glowed brightly, the moon lowering and the sun being guided up over the horizon. The solar object had barely reached it's zenith when there was a cry from the woods and several forms emerged from the treeline.
A very tired looking navy blue figure strode out of the woods flanked by a number of guards. Rahs looked like Tartarus. The moon dog was clawed up with several deep bite marks and one of his ears was ragged, there wasn't much left of his pants to speak of either, only the belt and a swath of the leg material wrapped tight around one ankle.
Over one shoulder he carried the limp orange furred form of Applejack. She was muddy and her fur seemed to have been mussed up, though she didn't have any visible wounds on her.
Rahs approached the farm house slowing as he spotted Spike and the Apples, though he came to a dead stop, his ears flattening to his head as he saw Celestia.
“BORK!” Rahs called out.
“Of course I called her. It's SOP for crap like this.” Spike rolled his eyes glancing up at Celestia curiously. “Why?”
“ Woof.” Rahs sighed as Spike's eyes widened. He glanced down at Applebloom as she rushed over to check on Applejack though Rahs kept her lifted above her much to the tired fillies annoyance. He turned his head and caught one of the guard's eyes, flicking his ears.
The guard nodded moving forward with another to pull the protesting foal away.
“Git offa me that's mai sister he's got, is she okay lemmi go!” Applebloom flailed.
“Bark.” Rahs offered snapping Spike out of his shocked expression.
“He says she's fine, just tired.” Spike added. “ Princess I think we're good now, I'll send you a message later about what happened.”
Celestia blinked glancing to Spike then back up to Rahs and Applejack before walking closer. “ Are you certain, this is the second time such a thing has happened there certainly must be more than....”
Celestia froze staring at Rahs as the moon dog backed up away from her.
She looked confused a moment before her focus turned fully to Applejack laying over his shoulder. She might not have noticed at first, but it wasn't just that the farm pony was a bit ruffled, her fur was actually longer.
Rahs took another step back and seemed ready to run his ears flat to his head. Celestia took note of the wounds on Rahs, they were not closing properly, that didn't make sense, the last time she had seen him with wounds like that was after he fought.....
“Rahs put her down.” Celestia ordered.
Rahs narrowed his eyes and stepped back further.
“I will not ask again. Put her down.”
Rahs this time turned to break into a run.
Celestia's horn flared and the moon dog was stopped in his tracks lifted into the air. She tilted him nearly upside down so he flailed reflexively and plucked Applejack from his grip, bringing the sleeping mare closer to examine her.
The first thing she noticed was that the farm mare was larger than she last recalled. Not quite as big as her brother but she was decidedly bigger. The second thing she noticed was that the mares ears had gotten longer and more pointed, and that there were two glowing dots of light above the tips of each. The third thing was that the mare was drawing in the magic that Celestia used to keep her floating there.
Celestia's eyes widened in fear.
“CLEAR THE AREA !” Celestia's voice boomed in the RCV. “ All guards fall back to Ponyville. I want the whole town cordoned off with no one in or out of the town. I want every pony who has had any contact with Applejack or any member of the Apple family in the last month isolated from the others and kept under lock down. Halt all shipments to and from the town of anything. I want everything within five miles of the town in full DR5 contagion lock down!”
The guards were trained well and scattered, gathering the others who had come back from the forest at the noise.
Celestia flinched, her magic opening the mares mouth spotting the fangs, her own ears drooping.
“Oh Applejack … I'm so sorry...”
The heat around the solar princess flared as she set down the sleeping pony in the grass, her horn blazing brightly as she prepared to cast.
Suddenly her face was filled with blue fur as Rahs broke free of her grip and slammed into Celestia , his fore head pressed to hers as his amber eyes stared into the princesses pink ones. A low throaty growl left his bared fangs as his claws gripped the regalia around her neck forcing her back.
“Rahs....” Celestia stated digging in her hooves to prevent herself from being pushed back. “Stand down.”
“You first.”
Celestia frowned her magic grabbing the moon dog again and yanking him away from her. Rahs flailed and clawed at the magic only for Celestia to pour on more power and fling him away towards the Apple's swimming pond at the edge of the eastern orchard. The water hadn't frozen and he would be fine even if she missed.
She turned her attention back to Applejack sparing a glance to Granny Smith and the flailing Applebloom still held by a guard. She would need to check them all was well, there was no telling how far this had spread. The home might need to be burned as well. Granny wouldn't like that, but the risk was too great.
She looked back at the sleeping Applejack her horn flaring again before she dumped power into her spell and brought down a blast of solar fire from the sky to destroy the body fully.
There was a scream from the younger sister and looks of horror from the others present.
Celestia frowned ceasing the attack, the area was blackened to ash, the dirt under the spot glassed, save a small circle of green grass with a orange mare still sleeping on it.
The purple shield over Applejack winked out.
“What the buck is going on here!?” Twilight Sparkle demanded, storming up with the rest of the Element Bearers as well as the older brother of Applejack.
“SHE TRIED TO KILL MAI SISTER!!” Applebloom screamed.
Twilight and the others looked to Celestia with a mix of confusion and anger at the statement.
Before Celestia could explain she was hit in the side by a soaking wet blue furred missile and actually sent sprawling.
“BORK!” Rahs snapped.
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked more confused at the mention of a journal.
Twilight looked shocked, than mad as Celestia again flung Rahs away from her. Her horn flared as she gathered up a coil of chain from near the barn ripping it from the plow and wrapping it around Rahs sun welding a few links together where it wouldn't burn the moon dog before dropping him aside.
“Princess. Stop.” Twilight ordered.
“There is too much at stake here Twilight, you don't under stand what is happening, but I have seen this before...”
“Terry Cairn” Twilight said flatly.
“Oh...” Celestia trailed off recalling her former captain and his bid to escape her. “So you do know. Then you know why I need to end this as quickly as possible. I cannot let the scourge that was the witch wolves run loose again, particularly not when there are so many more innocent ponies now than there were last time.”
“You didn't seem to have any issue with Rahs.”Twilight demanded.
“I had him under twenty four hour a day watch, I kept the thieves he mauled in solitary isolation for three years before I let them go to any sort of trial just to make sure. When I was certain he was not a witch wolf I relaxed. I was prepared to wipe your whole block out of existence if I saw even a sign he could spread this.” Celestia stated. “They are all supposed to be dead and gone Twilight. If the one in the Empire had gotten to any of you I would have been ready to do the same, but the only one he injured was Rahs, who still showed no signs of infection. “
“Princess.” Twilight stated.
“I bore witness to groups of no more than two of them wipe out whole towns, rip through battalions and when we finally killed them, three more would pop up, and attack. Just when we thought we had killed them all, more showed up. This went on for years Twilight, years. More lives were lost in the time after the Equestrian Civil war than during it. We finally found out they were infecting others, spreading it when several of my Guards became the monsters. I tracked down each one personally after that was discovered. They didn't come back from my magic. …. One more regrettable death to save who knows how many others.” Celestia stated.
“I'm not going to let you kill Applejack.” Twilight growled. There were sounds of agreement from the others, if hesitant at the idea of going against Celestia.
“No I expect not. She is your friend. But it is not as if I am allowing that choice in this instance. That sort of loyalty has caused more suffering in instances like this before.” Celestia's horn flared and Twilight vanished with a flash of light.
[Crystal Empire train station.]
A bright flash of light and a pop announced the arrival of a purple unicorn who landed with a thud in the snow just beyond the shield wall.
To those Crystal ponies who had missed the light and her appearance, Twilight Sparkle made sure every one knew she was there by the loud string of profanity she let out.
[Sweet Apple Acres.]
Celestia looked at the others, noting the anger among them, though the moment one stepped forward, Big Mac in fact, she stopped them.
A massive wall of flames erupted between her and the rest of the farm, the circle of flame roaring hundreds of feet into the sky, the heated updraft designed to blow even flying creatures off course.
With the world sealed off Celestia turned back to Applejack, the mare hadn't moved, her chest rising and falling still as she slumbered.
“Again I am sorry for this Applejack. I wish you peace in your next life.” Celestia's horn flared again.
“So … you ever wonder what would happen if I dragon mailed you to yourself?”
Celestia paused, and looked back as Spike strode through the firewall, his coat turning to ash as he passed through the heat, unbothered by the flames.
“Spike...”
“Cause you know, I figure it will either fizzle out or maybe just maybe it will drop you into a nonstop loop of agony as you're burned alive forever and ever with no way out and no way to be rescued.”
“Spike....”Celestia's ear twitched a little.
“But you know what? If you try again kill my filly friends sister in front of her and her family like you're threatening, we're gonna find out together right here and now.” Spike stated flatly letting a flicker of green flame dance along his teeth as he narrowed his eyes at the larger figure. ”Wanna see who's faster on the draw?”
“Spike I don't want to do this but if Applejack infects any one...” Celestia frowned.
“Yeah I get it. It's a nightmare scenario. A TPK. A wipe. I've run a few games like that, every DM has. Not to punish the players... well not most of the time, but to see what they can do.”
“This is hardly a game.”
“I mean I ran one game with a zombie outbreak. But a lot of the zombies didn't even know they were infected and it resisted any kinds of detection. I even threw in a Zombie t-rex cause who doesn't like an old fashion dinosaur zombie?” Spike continued glaring at her, but ignoring her attempts to interrupt.
“Are you going some where with this Spike Or is this going to remain a mexicolt standoff. Because I am more than willing to risk your threat if it saves every pony from another outbreak of witch wolves.”
“See that's what I was thinking too. And I set up a way for the players to turn the town to ash in order to save the surrounding countryside from the infected in the town. But you see in my game the players didn't try to escape or burn the place to the ground... though they did blow up an inn and that's kinda been their trademark move since in every other town they've been to. The thing is they did stuff I didn't expect. They noticed things and put them together and found the source of the plague. They met and fought a boss who by all rights should have destroyed the low level players. But they used tricks, trapped the body snatching big bad in a inverted circle of protection from evil and killed him, ten levels before they should have been able to, it was awesome.”
“Spike.....”
“The point is did you ever think to investigate the why of this? Why there were so many witch wolves? If you could save those infected?” Spike asked. “ How many angles did you look at the problem from?”
“Sixty three died in Canterlot when I tried to do that. Some pony made a mistake and got infected and it spread. It is why the north face only has a large park on it and no buildings. I had to destroy a whole district to contain the outbreak. Nothing was discovered.” Celestia let her ears droop.
“Ouch harsh. So tell me this did you use all your resources?”
“Of course. I tried to help them all before it was found to be useless. All I could offer was a painless death to stop the spread.”
“Did you have a moon dog helping you? This sounds like magic and Rahs eats magic..”
“No but...”
“Did you have a Twilight Sparkle? A pony you've stated yourself is beyond gifted in all things magic?”Spike continued.
“Spike, you know...”
“Did you have the Element's of Harmony? Something that we've seen has cleansed a taint from Nightmare Moon and returned your sister? For that matter did you have your sister? The very creator of both the witch wolves and the moon dogs?”
“.....”
“What about Sombra? Or Soloman's notes and books? What about a good half dozen plus gods that owe favors that we can call on for aid? Did Ascepius even exist back then? The goddess of healing? What about your school and all the gifted ponies in it Moon Dancer, Minuette, Twinkle Shine, Lyra, Lemon Hearts, you think they wouldn't try to help with all they've done?! Did you have any of that when you first looked into this?” Spike shouted, the little dragon pointing a claw up at Celestia.
“No.... I did not.”Celestia stared at Spike for a moment.
“Well?” Spike demanded.
“I am tempted to offer you a position as an adviser to the court.” Celestia stated simply.
“That's not an answer.”Spike huffed.
Celesita's horn faded, the glow dying out, the fire wall dropping as she stared at Spike. The large white alicorn turned away from Applejack, her horn lighting up again to break the chains holding Rahs. The moon dog moved quickly placing himself between Celestia and Applejack. He looked a little surprised when the solar mare tossed him the coat he had left behind on a tree branch.
Spike nodded and moved quickly to catch Applebloom before she ran over to Applejack again.
Another flare of the alicorn's horn along with a pop of white light and a pissed off Twilight appeared again before the Solar Princess.
“YOU!” Twilight growled.
“Applejack is fine for now Twilight. Spike convinced me to hold off. I am putting you in charge of the research to help her. I want her quarantined from every other pony and I want to make sure that no one else has been infected. Ponyville shall be in lock down as well. Keep mind you must be wary of every bit of blood, every drop of saliva, even her excrement as it was never known what exactly caused the spread. I will put any resource you need in your hooves for this and I will call in any favor from other gods I have if you think it will help. But if even one more pony shows signs of this Twilight, even one. I will be forced to purge Ponyville. I will not allow this to spread again, do you understand?” Princess Celestia demanded.
“Yes. I do.” Twilight let out a sigh her eyes steeled against the Princesses' gaze.
“I will give you what ever time you think you need, but I want daily progress reports. If you can find out how to stop the spread of this, I will consider lifting the quarantine, if you can cure it that would be even better. Aside from Gods however no one will enter or leave this town. Any who try will be stopped under the DR5 contagion rules. Make sure they all know that in town Twilight.”
“What does that mean?” Rarity asked.
“If any one tries to leave and refuses to turn back the Guard is authorized to kill them.” Pinkie Pie explained deflating.
“I truly hope that you will be successful in this Twilight. I do not wish for the alternative, but I will do it if I need to.” Celestia stated sadly.
“I don't like it. But I understand.” Twilight stated.
“I am sorry..... is there anything you need right now that I can get you?” Celestia offered a bit softer.
Twilight let out a sigh as her mind raced. “Any book that you can get written by Solomon, no matter how simple it seems. A full range of sensors including an earth pony MP scanner. And.....” Twilight trailed off with a frown.
“And what? I did say I would get you anything you think would help, what is it?” Celestia asked.
“I need Discord.” Twilight explained.
“Done.” Celestia answered with no hesitation.
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Ho Ho Holy shit
9894928
it's not a prejudice , it's a legitimate tactic. To remove the cancer some good flesh needs to be removed too. she simply fell back on what she thought was right until Spike had a word with her.
And also gone the Elements Bearers - which, in turn, would automatically free Discord from his prison. (plus no more weapon to hold him down) Not to mention some Gods and other powerful entities that would take offence over killing their benefiters.
Don't worry tia, you'll get your chance flood the streets flowing with the blood of innocents again all to soon
9893675
Oops....right, I forgot about that little facet. So he might do a single one if he thought it would do more damage to Luna than to him, but he wouldn't create a spreading curse.
I still don't think Solomon or NMM would have done that either, though. Luna's Nightmare has never struck me as the sort to leave a 'taking you with me' sort of after-defeat trump card, and Solomon seems like he was too much of a control freak to have been the sort to create a spreading curse that would create more Wolves outside of his control.
so this is how MR. Crewtoy come back. also all in favor of Discrod new name being MR. Crewtoy, or atleast that what pinkie pie and few of the other gods call him
....Can we have Spoiled Rich trying to leave Ponyville and refusing to turn back?
Well, a millenium of peace certainly has not reduced Celestia's terror at this contagion one little bit.
And again, Spike shows why he's the smart Sparkle. I've run similar scenarios in D&D before...unless you have a thoughtful group of players, though, it tends to not be pretty. But he is a hundred percent correct here. Celestia has so many more resources than she had before, but she wasn't even considering using them to find the source. You do destroy healthy flesh to kill off cancer, but if that cancerous growth is only a symptom of a deeper problem all you're really doing is letting the source hide to pop up again elsewhere.
Also....Luna should mention her former classmates' achievements to Twilight when she gets a chance to, if Twilight and Spike don't already know about them. I believe it was Twinkle Shine that was the apothecary prodigy? Someone like that would be invaluable here.
Hopefully someone remembers to tell the Jade Wolves about this. Dunno if the pack and their den is considered part of Ponyville, either way though they need to be warned about the quarantine.
Did Celestia even stop to think what could happen if she kill Applejack? Sure, she cut a problem and she have ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM...
Let's do Chemistry with Celestia and see what we get...
With a killed Applejack we have a very angry Spike that could very well tell Bleu, and we have a very angry Bleu, that is one godess angry with her for doing a stupid thing.
Let's add to that a very Angry Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn with high powers and student of Celestia that know many things, and let's not forget the resources because a very angry Twilight that have a very angry brother, a captain on the guard and her sister in law, heroes in Canterlot, and Cadence being a demi-godess, something that could also give problem and how they govern the Crystal Empire and while they need Equestria currently as they can't survive by themselves, they could very well do all they can to be bad neighbours,
Then we have a very angry Apple Family that is around Equestria and could give another big problem, almost everypony in Equestria know a Apple or know someone that know a member of the Apple Family if they are not also cousins or family of them, if they want they could very well help to make a economy crisis and be very angry with the Princess making the beginning of a civil war.
Let's not forget also that we can even have a very angry Luna when she hear about what her sister did and how again let herself decide everything in the diarchy without asking her... That up the thing to two and half godess angry with Celestia
Then of course, let's not forget a very angry Ponyville for Celestia killing Applejack, some of them being students in Celestia School, and a couple knowing nobility
We have also very angry Fluttershy that is very friend with a bunny that is family of the god of time and have many animal friends ready to attack the goddess of the sun or to make things hard throwing poop and making the life impossible to her
Also, a angry Rarity with many noble contacts in Canterlot that could make the nobles doubt Celestia and her ways to kill before asking.
And a angry Pinkie Pie with strange Pinkie Pie magic, that is friend with almost everypony and whose sister could punch Celestia to the moon without need of the element of Harmony
AND ABOVE ALL THAT, No Applejack = No element of Honesty, if they need the elements for anything, that could be a problem because they are a set that could not work if one of them is killed. So when another problem from a thousand years ago appear, there will be nothing to protect Equestria
9895056
better yet Diamond Tiara pulling "You can't stop me Im a Princess"
9895095
given the pants shitting terror that hit her at the moment she saw something that should have been long dead that was NOT a puppy, but an actualy cursed individual, the momentary lapse of reason is acceptable so long as she caught herself.
I hope Pinkie Pie informs Princess Celestia that by her own laws, she herself is not allowed to leave Ponyville.
9895110
As she amended gods are the exception as they cannot be infected
9895106
The momentary lapse of reason could be, but she is a thousand years old godess and Empress (Even if she call herself Princess) of a DIARCHY, and she should think better that act and do something that could condemn her or all Equestria, and above all that, she should know when she is outnumbered and what could happened.
So.... Can we all agree to Rahpplejack as the new potential ship name?
9895139
Damnit zibb.....
9895125
We have seen nearly all the gods are impulsive and a bit out of it. Tia has managed this long, and Equestria has done so well because she often takes a sledge hammer approach to certain things. It has gotten worse since she stopped trying to chess master everything after getting called on it but in both cases old habits are hard to break.
9895095
Sound argument and theory of the Consequences Celestia’s actions would cause if she tired to obliterate Applejack.
9895125
Well, let's be happy that Spike proved once again that he is the freaking Demi-God of Wisdom and saved us all from the "Scorched Earth" Bad Ending.
Seriously, when Magical Mystery Cure timeslot (i can't even say events, because this is such an heavy AU that it's inaccurate) happens, i seriously hope that Spike get his ascension slot. Because this awesome lizard MERIT his place on the TGaP pantheon.
Also, we're all sure that once Luna learns of this chapter's events, she's gonna Flip Canterlot Castle while leaving every tables intact. Then Bash Celestia with her own throne, then tie her up like a Piñata and call Chrysalis for an Enthusiastic Walk.
Celestia dropped the ball. Hard. But if i know the author right, this will be far from consequences free for her. But since the beginning, we've been prepared for thins kind of reaction. Celestia's PoV was tainted since the first chapter with this incessant niggling about Witch Wolves, and Rahs similarities to them. She's scared shitless of them, and it's not without reasons... so yeah, i'm pretty much not surprised by the reaction.
But holy f
ck it almost went very dark there for a moment. Let's thanks Spike very much with high WIS, and his NAT 20 on his Diplomacy check.
Wow, I was wondering how you were going to justify releasing discord , and damn, you did not disappoint!
I half wonder what the original plans outcome would have been considering they would’ve been neutering if not neutralizing a national defense.
Would it just be Battle Princess(es) Luna and or Celestia?
love the way you write Celestia most authors who don't go with a very standard wise Celestia don't really treat her with respect you do you write her as a flawed character but just that a flawed character not a morally ambiguous chess master or something else like that
Celestia knowing the probable outcomes from past is operating in triage mode. Sacrifice a small part to save the rest of the body. This happens all the time in Trauma centers or during natural disasters or large scale accident save what you can
9895486
Based solely on past experience and none of the developments/changes over the last 1,000 years, up to and including the return of her sister, her nephew, and an entire lost empire's worth of knowledge.
As Spike rightfully pointed out, Celestia jumped the gun and almost acted without considering all of her options.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if a number of things happen between now and Magical Mystery Cure. Among which are:
1) Princess Luna ensuring her sister's neck has an appointment with Doctor Choppy for promising to kill her grandfoals and adoptive little sister should Applejack's illness spread WITHOUT consulting her.
2) Princess Cadance and Queen Chrysalis moving to Ponyville to assist Twilight while leaving Shining Armor in charge of the empire over his very strong protests.
3) Princes Shining Armor and Blueblood entering Ponyville anyways (staged like an accident) and Fluttershy wishing Zephyr Breeze would do the same.
4) Two dozen royal guards are kicked into next week for trying to stop Angel Bunny from leaving Ponyville whenever he damn well pleases.
9895532 iN the matter of split second decisions experience and training are all you have to go on
1) Luna will not be happy granted but when presented with the facts I don't know. Highly contagious, incurable disease that might as well be a plague. How many morally questionable things did either sister do to stop or contain plaques during thier rule over a 1000years ago
2) Princess Cadance and Queen Chrysalis moving to Ponyville to assist Twilight entirely possible and plausible
3) Princes Shining Armor and Blueblood entering Ponyville the later maybe but you had Shining Armor running the Crystal Empire. So if both Cadance and Shining Armor are in Quarantine who runs the Crystal Empire
4) Two dozen royal guards are kicked into next week for trying to stop Angel Bunny.. That power tends to imply Angel is a god himself or at least a demigod and probably immune
9895557
Angel Bunny is the grandson of a God, and was in fact taught by said God on how to punt ponies into next week. He may not be immune, but that wouldn't stop him from doing what he pleases.
Whoo! I love the slice of life chapters, but I'm always really waiting for this particular part of the story to advance
9895557
The thing is, it wasn't a situation that required a split second decision. Applejack was asleep. And judging by the ruckus that happen during Celestia's ill thought out ,
1) One of the main issues Luna has with her sister is how Celestia makes unilateral decisions for the both of them. This is something which is true in both the show and in this AU. Only this time, Celestia's unilateral decision has put those she has personally sworn to protect in jeopardy. At the hooves of her own sister.
Luna is not going to be happy, and she will have "words" with her sister. Regardless of how Celestia will try to explain her rational away.
3) Cadance's and Chrysalis's biological daughter of course. As the eldest daughter of the ruling monarch of the Crystal Empire, she is in line for the throne and entitled to sit upon it should the current rulers become indisposed.
4) Angel Bunny is a demigod. That has been confirmed 6 ways to Sunday. Still won't stop the royal guard from attempting to layway Angel's mid morning stroll through the Everfree Forest.
EDIT: I forgot grandson means apex of his species, not a Demigod (which is immediate child).
9895662
Not a Demigod. Demigod is the Offspring of a God. Angel is the grandson of a god. But that makes him the Pinnacle of his Race due to being the son of a Demigod. Perfect in pretty much every way a normal mortal of said race can be, likely without any of the effort that said mortal would need to put in the achieve such.
Wait I just realized. Has anyone told Celestia Applejack was in Canterlot recently for a medical exam and thus could have exposed others there to the curse?
9895730
Celestia will burn that bridge once she hears about it.
9895662
Angel is not a Demigod. He he most likely Apex. White is only his Grandfather not his direct parent.
9895139
Hmmm... that is a good name and has a nice ring to it. However, it would make 3 Shipping Goddesses upset with their void efforts.
9895730
That's... a grim possibilities. If she bumped into Jet Set or Upper Crust, I would be happy to let it happen. Even better, if the same doctor happened to have appointment with Celestia after that.
Wow, that moment when Spike reveals his heart is pure...
9895115
How can Celestia be sure? She herself said that it was never determined how the disease or curse was spread. Gods themselves might be immune, but could be carriers (can you think of a better way to cause a god suffering than by making them the source of their worshippers’ agony?). By leaving Ponyville, Celestia could infect Canterlot if Applejack hasn’t already. Heck, by teleporting Twilight to the Crystal Empire — even momentarily — she has already put another population center at risk. If you don’t know how a disease spreads, much less how to kill it, a full quarantine means nothing and no one leaves the hot zone for any reason.
9895606 Interesting idea that its a matter of training not POWER
9895662 ISN'T it... how long will it take to quarantine Ponyville and the surrounding area necessary to guarantee this doesn't spread. As comments already pointed out AppleJack had been to Canterlot just the day before. Considering how badly Applejack was hurt she has been to Canterlot for Doctors appoints several times before this in the last month.. This will is already quickly out of control as for a proper quarantine you not only have to round up everyone exposed to Applejack but everyone that was exposed to those she exposed potentially
9895872
I mean, Angel is already pretty much Apex of his species, he already proved he could knock a pony into next week during the PETA incident.
Remember that not all the Gods are very powerful either. Even the Apex Griffon Lord Thunderbolt was easily able to subdue and drag the Griffon God Lockheed through the Crystal Empire.
9895872
You literally just gave every single reason WHY rash split second decision making is the worst possible thing that could be done right now. you're also conflating two different issues and treating them as one in the same.
First issue, killing Applejack on sight of her being infected as patient zero.
Second issue, full quarantine of the exposed area to prevent spread of the disease.
Let's talk about how doing the first instantly and irrecoverably bungles the second. First and foremost, the only person who has accountability for her entire schedule for the past month is Applejack. When fighting and containing a potentially highly contagious plague disease, information is key. Destroying an invaluable source of information, no matter how dangerous, WILL create gaps in which will be vital in containing the threat.
For instance, Where has Applejack been in the last month? Which train did Applejack take to Canterlot? Which passengers did Applejack sit next to on the train? Which and how many stops did that train make? Did Applejack happen to go to the bathroom while in the city? If the pathogen is spread by bodily fluids, is Canterlot's entire Water Supply contaminated? Which hospital did she go to? Who has she been in direct contact with? Did AJ sneeze/cough on anyone? While Twilight and her friends & family can help with filling in the gaps, the only person who knows everything is Applejack. Lose her, this gets infinitely worse.
Because you will miss people. And that means the potential for spreading this has gone far and wide.
Now let's talk about how in her haste, Celestia bungled her own quarantine and exposed an entire different region that isn't Canterlot to this same contagion.
The second Celestia teleported Twilight Sparkle to the Crystal Empire. the DR5 quarantine was breached. Everyone who was on that train platform could have been exposed to a potential carrier of a now known contagious pathogen. It may take hours, if not longer, for that realization to sink in. Even before then, the potential for Twilight and her friends being carriers of this disease should automatically place the Crystal Empire in DR5 containment because of how close they are to Applejack.
Celestia's rash decision making is causing her to make mistakes and endanger people's lives.
Which again is all information that would have been lost had Celestia gone scorched Earth.
But that's not even the biggest blunder she's made to in this whole issue. The biggest one she has made is assuming she herself isn't a carrier after coming into contact with Applejack just because she herself is immune. She has no idea how the disease spreads. None whatsoever, and could very well infect the ponies around her. The real world example of Typhoid Mary being the perfect example this.
Luna should probably use that as justification to keep Celestia confined and under the same quarantine she just placed Ponyville under. After placing Canterlot and the Crystal Empire under them as well.
Celestia's split decision making has been creating mistake, after mistake, after mistake. She is acting out of fear and not reason, and those decisions are going to get a lot of people killed.
9895870
TGaP gods are weird. If they get sick they can blow themselves up and when a new body forms it's not sick.
9895936
Also keep in mind that grandchildren start at apex, they can train themselves to be better and go into superhuman teritory. Angel and Thunderbolt have done that.
<ahem>
EXTERMINATUS!
Even Discord can't say no to helping with this problem.
So, theory time.
The Witchwolf Curse was not intended to be contagious. It was made with the sole intent of, "Turn Target (Moon Dog) into (Witch Wolf)." The problem is, the kind of Dark magic needed for that kind of transformation doesn't really like to keep to itself.
Now, one of the most notable qualities of Moon Dogs, and by extension Witch Wolves, is that they turn foreign magic into their own magic. For Moon Dogs this isn't a problem, because they have more benign magic by nature. Even for Witch Wolves this doesn't normally amount to much because they tear away any magic they get their fangs on, and surviving a physical injury from them is an exception more that the rule.
However, one of the secondary features of the Witch Wolf is that injuries from them are naturally resistant to healing magic. It is an unintended side effect caused by the Wolf's magic lingering in the wound. It's twisted, corrupted magic which naturally (in as much as anything about the Witch Wolf could be considered "natural") converts foreign magics into more of itself.
And thus, the Witchwolf Curse spreads. Those afflicted are in a constant battle between their own personal magic and that of the Curse, and while it is near-impossible to completely stamp out a being's own magic within their body, the Curse can draw in ambient magic to force a surge, briefly transforming the victim into a full Witch Wolf until the surge fades and their own magic reasserts itself, though metaphysical "ground" is lost with each surge as the victim's own soul is slowly converted into that of a Witch Wolf. Lingering changes are likely permanent, even if a cure is found.
As for how the Curse got to Ponyville when there hasn't been a Witch Wolf there in nearly a thousand years?
Well, that's just it: there has been one there. Quite recently, in fact, not that anyone would have seen it coming. Even Discord didn't notice until it was using him as a chew toy. It likely somehow got into the Everfree (maybe while Rahs was playing fetch with himself, with Discord as the stick?), and after a not-insignificant period of gestation came out as a Timber-Witch Wolf. Much less stable, much more susceptible to fire, but still a Witch Wolf.
So, as with so many things, this is all Discord's fault.
Oh snap....
9895056
Yes please
9896379
I also want to know, 'cause my memory did not serve me right. When did Applejack was injured by a Witch Wolf?
I recall the only official Witch Wolf (not counting Rahs' brief transformation) to make an appearance was in the Crystal Empire. And I don't recall Applejack fought him. Her injuries came from the Timberwolves that recently attack Ponyville, if my memory serve me right.
So a question that no one has brought up because they were focusing on the curse is what was Apple jack and Rahs up to in the last nine hours especially since Rahs is mostly pantsless.
Also with the curse have applejack kicked into next week by Angel so you have a week to debate where the possible contagion is not present. I am sure angel would love to have permission to kick applejack without repercussions.
9896613
Well, if my theory is correct, the giant Timberwolf from the attack was infected/empowered by the Witchwolf Curse, and became a Timber-Witch Wolf. and as a Witch Wolf, it could pass the curse on to others, which it did to Applejack by way of excessive nomming.
No guarantees that this is the case, by the evidence lines up.
9896652
this sounds right, but the question is now just what can be done to fix this? could the other elements be used on her to try to slow down/cure the curse? would there be a potion that could at least make it where she could not spread the curse to anything else? maybe a wolfsbane potion of some sort or something.
9896618
My 1st thought was that they were engaged in Witchwolf foreplay.
Damn but Spike laid down the law like a boss.
1. I could easily see the entire apple family leaving Equestria over this or at minimum boycotting the capital.
2. I could see the tree of harmony itself either protecting Applejack or taking punitive measures against Celestia if Applejack was harmed.
3. I could see all of nature itself turn against Celly if Fluttershy was brought to tears by her actions.
4. The Sparkles would definitely find a way to make her life a living hell for the rest of time. Twilight would research some type of curse that would feed on her soul and magic.
9896690
That's what the next few chapters are hopefully going to tell us, though somehow I don't think it will be as easy as, "Harmony: Apply Directly to the Evil."
9894928
And her life would've become a permanent living hell. I have no respect for this version of Celestia.