Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Recording of a Radio Free Equestria broadcast, taken 1113 AF. Listening to, recording, or possession of so-called ‘pirate radio’ broadcasts are to be considered an act of heresy and will be punished accordingly.
H-hey, New Canterlot City. Thank you for tuning into Radio Free Equestria tonight. This is your host, Cutting Wave.
Yes, I know what you’re all thinking. Cutting Wave was a stallion, with a bombastic voice and charisma, not some sh-shrinking mare with a bit of a nervous stutter and no real confidence.
The truth is, Cutting Wave was my husband for fifteen years. I loved him more than life itself. He was my sun and my moon, he was the rain on my flowers and the bubbles in my soda pop. He was my everything. And the Diarchy killed him for telling the truth.
I’d like to pretend that he’s still alive somewhere, but we all know better than that, don’t we?
(The voice pauses, interrupted by a series of sobs, followed by several deep breaths.)
I’m sorry. I’m not much of a professional broadcaster. That was always Cut. He was a genius at this. I just managed the equipment and produced his segments. But during our last broadcast, we were raided by a Mystic black bag squad.
I…
(There are several more deep breaths.)
It’s hard to talk about that night. My love, my other half, distracted the Knights so that I could get Fiery Mantle and myself to safety.
I wish I’d died that night, too. Then I’d be…
(More sobbing.)
I-I’m sorry. This isn’t the usual program you all tune into. I’m not doing justice to Cut, to his work and to his passion. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do what he could, to inspire and enflame in the ways that seemed to come so effortlessly to Cut. But I’m going to try.
I think… I think I did die that night, when Cut was taken. But if so, I died so that I could be reborn.
Cutting Wave believed that the most important ingredient for a free society was a free press. It was his dream to see a day when radio broadcasters, newspaper journalists, authors, playwrights, and free-thinkers could all say what they wanted, free from the fear of Diarchy censors. ‘The free exchange of ideas will break our shackles faster than any army’, he liked to say.
So I want to announce something to all of Cutting Wave’s faithful listeners.
Cutting Wave died. But Cutting Wave was more than a pony. He was an idea. And you can only kill the idea if you kill every pony that longs for the freedom of ideas.
Who I was is dead. I am now Cutting Wave. And Sir Steadfast Word? You can find me, maybe. You can kill me, too. But there will be another Cutting Wave. And another. And another. A thousand times you can kill Cutting Wave, and a thousand times I will come back to haunt you.
Because you can kill a pony, Steadfast Word. But you can’t kill the truth.
Crystal Empire, 1113 AF
Emberglow would have liked to wait until things were more settled.
To be fair, Emberglow would have liked to wait for a lot of things. The idea of returning home, even if it was only as far as Old Canterlot, was like a sliver in her hoof. Always there, never quite fading.
They had one day to pack. The Crystal Fair would be a week-long event, she’d heard, but they were likely to be gone before it was over. Rarity, of course, was in a huff because she was still confined to the infirmary, leaving the packing to Emberglow.
A terrifying responsibility, to be sure, Emberglow thought with some amusement. Emberglow knew she was a practical soul, and she also knew Rarity had issues with space management when it came to packing. It was a touch intimidating to be in charge of Rarity’s wardrobe, given its size. As Emberglow stood in Rarity’s room, surrounded by the dozens of dresses Rarity had managed to either acquire or craft during their time in the Empire, she was paralyzed by choice.
It didn’t help that she was on a time limit. At least all her own packing was done.
At first, Emberglow had theorized that spreading out all of Rarity’s new dresses across the suite’s couch and loveseat would make her choices easier, by adding a visual element to the process. It did not.
Every single piece in Rarity’s admittedly fresh collection was astounding.
Here sat a daring evening gown, with a low hem but a scandalously high slit in the skirt, done up in crimson silk.
Next to it was a pastel blue coat, lined with brown faux fur and soft as velvet.
Then there was a winter dress, fawn brown done up in wool with white snowflake designs across the bottom.
Across from those was a ball gown, pink with almost comically puffy sleeves and violet accents.
Next to the gown was a dressing robe, monogramed with a stitched ‘R’ and a three-diamond cutie mark.
On one of the chairs was a veritable mountain of scarves in every color, material, and subjective level of practicality.
And on the floor, in the middle of the violent explosion of color and cloth, was an empty set of saddlebags.
“Saints protect me,” Emberglow laughed out loud. The prayer was still an automatic response sometimes, but it was heartfelt now. She could already see Rarity in her wrath, beautiful and glorious and terrifying.
Rarity herself, however, had been no help.
“Oh, just pack whatever, darling. I trust your judgment.”
Right. And Emberglow was sure Rarity had meant it at the time. She laughed again, going back to considering the mass of clothing.
And that wasn’t even considering the drawer in the top of the armoire on the north wall; it was a drawer that Emberglow hadn’t had the courage to even touch yet.
Rarity’s… intimates.
“I realize we won’t have much time for…” Rarity had cleared her throat, “…romantic recreation. But feel free to take a glance and pack whatever you think might look nice. Just in case we are able to find a moment of privacy.”
Emberglow wasn’t sure she’d even be able to look. She was also sure that if she didn’t, she’d never forgive herself.
It was certainly a dilemma. She could talk to her therapist about it, but Emberglow was pretty sure what Topaz would say. Besides, Topaz had other things on her mind. Emberglow hadn’t been there when Topaz and Lofty had explained to True that they would be going off and leaving him in the care of the Empress. But apparently it hadn’t gone over well with the young foal.
So the best thing to do now was avoidance, right? Emberglow laughed at her own thoughts. She was certain of what Topaz would say about that, too. She promised herself she’d take care of it, just as soon as she narrowed down the dress packing to…
“Four dresses,” she said out loud. “Two practical, two fun. No more. And if Rarity protests, I’ll… I’ll kiss her!”
A giddy little giggle of excitement bubbled out of Emberglow’s chest. She was being silly. She carefully folded the fawn winter dress, then rooted through the displayed garments to find a similar one in white-dyed fleece. For fun dresses, though, she hesitated.
Emberglow was interrupted by a knock on the door, before it cracked open.
“Lady Emberglow, ma’am?” Iron Shod called in without looking. Their guards really were a model of discretion. “Sir Heartwing is here to see you.”
“Come in, Heartwing!” Emberglow tried not to sound too excited. Maybe she needed some help.
Heartwing’s eyes sparkled as they surveyed the chaotic kaleidoscope of cloth sprayed across the room. “She made you pack for her, huh?”
“I offered. But…”
“Now you’re wishing you hadn’t,” he cackled, before shoving some of the dresses aside so he could flop onto the love seat.
She shrugged. “I just can’t pick.”
“Maybe think about it this way. Don’t worry about what she might want. Pick out something that you wouldn’t mind seeing her wearing. And if she complains, just tell her that.”
“That?”
“That you picked things you wanna see her wear. She’ll coo at you a little, flutter her eyelashes, then you kiss her and all is forgiven.”
“That’s… almost exactly what she said about…” Emberglow snapped her mouth shut before she could verbalize the thought. She couldn’t help but glance towards the drawer, though.
“What she said about what?” Heartwing’s eyes narrowed slyly.
“Nothing!” Emberglow squeaked, then flinched. Heartwing waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and it was enough to flood her face with embarrassment. “N-never mind that. What can I help you with?” It was past time to change the subject.
“You pick your dresses, and I’ll talk, okay? I have something I want to pick your brain about. Just focus on imagining Rarity in each of those dresses. How her curves fill out the lines of the garment, how nice it would look draped over her… or on the floor after you…”
“I have guards now, Heartwing. I’ll kick you out. They like me a lot, you know.”
“Noted,” Heartwing laughed. Emberglow smirked at him, and turned her attention back to the dresses. It was embarrassing to think about, but she could picture Rarity in each of the pieces of clothing spread out on the couches. “I’ll be good. There’s… something I wanted to talk to you about anyways.”
“Sure,” Emberglow said. She ran her hoof over a purple velvet dress. Now she couldn’t help but imagine feeling Rarity’s warmth underneath the dress. Heartwing had injected a sensuality into her task, and she couldn’t exactly be angry at him for it.
“I’ve been working closely with the Empire’s military leaders for a few weeks now. They’re all professionals, you know. And very loyal.” He sounded impressed. “But with the exception of the changelings in the intelligence service, there’s very little practical experience. So part of my plea agreement is that I’m the top general now.”
“Right…” Emberglow was still listening as she lifted a red silk miniskirt. The images that created were a bit too much, so she gulped and put it back down.
“The more I talk to them, though, the more… unsettled I get. Every single general, every officer and soldier I come in contact with… they all love the Empress, and the Princess. So maybe they’re naïve and inexperienced, but they’re dedicated. What they lack in killer instinct is made up for in their love for their leaders.”
With each word, Heartwing became more and more solemn.
“They’re like sheep, Emberglow. And I’m the wolf that’s going to lead them to their deaths.” His voice had dropped to a whisper. “Just like I did for the Discordant. It would be so easy. It’s what they want, after all. They’re so innocent. They still talk about the glories of battle. Righteous war. They’ll follow me without question.”
Emberglow stopped, and paced to where Heartwing sat. He had leaned forward in his seat, his head hidden by his hooves. The lines of his body were slumped with tired weight. She sat down next to him, ignoring the evening gown she was crumpling. After a moment of hesitation she leaned into Heartwing, hugging him with one wing. This close, she could smell the sour tang of wine on him.
“The Discordant were easier,” Heartwing sighed. “Terminus thinks I’m a fool for it, but… I get to know each one. Every one of you is my… my responsibility. You’re like my children.”
Emberglow could feel the weight of his words, even though the wine she could smell probably had something to do with it. She swallowed, hugging him closer.
“At least with you all, I could remember. How am I supposed to remember, Emberglow? I’m a general now. There’s so many of them. I can’t learn all of their names. I can’t. What if it’s too much?”
“Heartwing…”
“There was a time,” Heartwing interrupted her. “A time where ponies were nothing but toys to me. Playthings. I moved them about like dolls. Destroyed their lives like it was foal’s play. It was all meaningless to me. I was eternal, they were temporary. Fragile.” He shuddered. “Fluttershy taught me better. Each life, even the tiniest bunny, has… meaning.”
Emberglow silently held him close while he shook.
“That’s why I did it at first. I wanted to turn them loose. Let them find their own path. But Fluttershy never would have…” He cut off with a hitched sob. “So I led them. But I knew them. It was the only way I could justify letting them die for me. But now…”
He looked up into her eyes, and she looked into a thousand years of agony. He let out a single dry cough. “What in Tartarus is wrong with me, Emberglow?”
Emberglow squeezed him, and lifted a hoof to pat his head. “You know you shouldn’t be having this conversation with me, right? Where’s Terminus?”
Heartwing flinched, and said nothing.
Emberglow sighed as she released the hug, and stood up. “War was coming regardless of your choices, Heartwing. The shield would have come down no matter what. And you and I both know the Diarchy would have eaten the Empire alive.”
She reached out and lifted Heartwing’s chin out of his hooves. She barely knew what she was saying, but it felt right. Almost as if all he needed was a little dose of honesty.
“Ponies are going to die. And you’ll mourn them, like you always do. And we’ll worry about you. Like we always do. Your duties have changed, though. So you can’t do this on your own any longer. You have to lean on us. All of us. One of us in particular.” She let go of his chin and grabbed his hoof. “C’mon. I can pack later. We’re going to see Terminus.”
“You play dirty.”
“Well, you knew I would before you came here,” Emberglow muttered, tugging at his hoof. “Come, or I’ll go get him and drag him here and you’ll be in even more trouble.”
“Emberglow?” He let her pull him to his hooves.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
She laughed. “It’s what you came here for. Besides, you gave me some good ideas for packing, so I owe you.”
Emberglow and Heartwing found Terminus in their shared room, in the process of disassembling and cleaning his rifle. He looked up as they entered.
“Everything okay?” He inhaled, and his eyebrows narrowed. “Are you drunk? We’re leaving this evening.” Terminus’ tone was patiently disapproving.
“Not quite,” Emberglow said, meeting Terminus’ eye. “Your coltfriend has been very helpful, and he very much needs a cuddle.” She spun Heartwing so they were eye to eye. “And he needs to share his worries with you.”
“You play dirty,” Heartwing repeated. Emberglow shrugged and smiled.
“Are you really that upset if it’s going to get you snuggled?” Emberglow asked rhetorically. Heartwing laughed, blinked, and then darted forward to give her a quick nuzzle.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Be honest with Terminus, okay?”
* * * * *
In the end, Emberglow finally was able to pick two dresses, even though she knew it was unlikely that they’d have time for her to see Rarity wearing them. The first was a daring black cocktail dress, while the second was a more conservative red number. Emberglow was sure Rarity would be gorgeous in both.
She even managed to open her eyes and breathe long enough to go through the drawer.
Once Rarity’s bags were packed, Emberglow picked up both her set and Rarity’s, before heading off to the infirmary. If the doctor would allow it, Heartwing wanted to board the train this evening, just after the opening ceremonies of the Crystal Fair. The Imperial forces who would be joining them were already loading their gear into the storage cars.
The hallways were a beehive. Soldiers, guards, couriers and servants all bustled about. Her guards, a pair of stallions today named Hoarfrost and Glass Harp, had to move ahead of her to part the crowd like the prow of a sailing ship cutting through water.
Doctor Heartthrob was already waiting when Emberglow reached the infirmary, complete with an impatient looking Rarity sitting on her bed.
“Good, you’re here. The doctor says he can’t find anything wrong, so I’m free to go with you.”
“Not quite, Lady Rarity,” Heartthrob said, sounding cautious. “There is no change in your condition, for better or worse, and it seems harmless now, but we still have no answers. I’m going to need to give your marefriend some instructions for what measurements and tests I’d like her to keep taking, and what to do if anything changes. Unless you’ll agree to stay behind.”
“Absolutely not,” Rarity said, stomping a hoof for emphasis. “I will not be locked away in a hospital while those I love go off to danger.”
Emberglow’s heart fluttered.
“I thought not.” The doctor sounded resigned, but he smiled. “I’ve written out the instructions here.” He gave Emberglow a small notebook, and she flipped through it, skimming the instructions.
“Looks simple enough.”
“And you, Lady Rarity, will follow your doctor’s instructions.” Heartthrob managed to sound stern; a strange tone from his unusually young and pretty face. “Understood?”
“Y-yes, sir.” Rarity shrank back a little, a bit of her fire sputtering in the face of his determination and authority.
“Don’t worry, doctor, I’ll send you regular reports,” Emberglow said.
“I’m sure you will.”
He left them alone, and Rarity eyed him as he walked away. “When did he become frightening, darling?”
Emberglow giggled. “The moment he became worried about you. It’s how us doctors get when we’re afraid a patient is going to endanger themselves.”
“Even you?”
Rarity asked the question with a teasing lilt, but it sent a shiver down Emberglow’s spine.
“I think… I think I’d be a terror if you put yourself in danger, Rarity.”
A chill fell over the room, and for a moment Emberglow found herself lost in Rarity’s eyes. Neither pony seemed to know what to say.
“S-so.” Rarity finally broke the silence. “Are there any other preparations we need to make before we head to the station?”
“No preparations, no. But I did want to say goodbye to Turquoise.”
“Oh. I suppose I could meet you there, then.”
“Come with me,” Emberglow said suddenly. “I mean, if you want to.”
“I… darling, did you forget what happened the last time I ran into your old friend?” Rarity shuddered. “I doubt she’s keen to see me again.”
Emberglow had forgotten, for a moment. But it didn’t matter. “I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything. But I don’t want to hide you from her, either.” That didn’t make as much sense out loud as it had in her head. “I don’t know if I can ever rebuild a connection with my old friends. Like Turquoise. But I want to try. I told her I’d visit more. But I’m not going to pretend like you’re not the most important thing that has ever happened to me.”
Emberglow needed her to understand. Even if Rarity didn’t come with her, she needed it to make sense.
“I’ll come with you,” Rarity said, and Emberglow felt a flush of relief.
“Don’t feel nervous about leaving, if you have to,” Emberglow said. “I understand if things get awkward.”
“Awkward? Darling, I’m sure it will be a disaster. But I’ll be on my best behavior.”
* * * * *
The guards did their usual search, but to Emberglow, it seemed like she passed through more easily. The aggressive diamond dog was still there, but he seemed either too bored or too tired to be antagonistic.
Crossguard trailed behind them like a shadow; a quiet presence that somehow filled Emberglow with confidence. She was a little uncomfortable at the idea of having a bodyguard, but Crossguard did her best to be unobtrusive and supportive at the same time.
Turquoise was right where they’d left her, but Emberglow noticed a difference. She’d brushed her stringy mane, and she was sitting up a little taller in her wheelchair. She perked up a little when Emberglow entered, before scowling at Rarity.
“Good afternoon, Turquoise. How are you feeling?”
Turquoise huffed. “Why are you here? Why is that here?”
“I’d like you to try to be civil, Turquoise. I’m here to say goodbye. I’m going away for a while.”
“And your handler didn’t trust you enough to come on your own?”
“For your information, you rude mare,” Rarity sneered, “Emberglow asked me to come. Despite my misgivings, I agreed.”
“Came to gawk at your hoofwork, then?” Turquoise shot back. “Proud of yourself?”
“No,” Rarity said simply. “I regret the necessity.”
Emberglow was beginning to think this was a huge mistake. “Turquoise, please. I want to…” She didn’t know how to finish that sentence. What did she want? For Turquoise to get along with Rarity? Perhaps, in a perfect world, but she wasn’t that naive.
“In what twisted, mad nightmare did you conceive of this plan, Emberglow? Bring the mare that maimed me to chat? I thought you said you wanted us to be friends, somehow.”
“I do!” Emberglow pleaded. “But Rarity is a part of my life. And I want us to be friends, I do. But I’m not going to hide her away.”
Turquoise snorted. “Get out of here, Emberglow. Or don’t. It’s not like I can do anything.”
Rarity tapped her hoof on her shoulder, and Emberglow turned to see eyes full of pity. Emberglow shook her head, turning back to Turquoise.
“I’m not giving up on you, Turquoise,” Emberglow said. “And you shouldn’t either. I checked in with the nurse Doctor Heartthrob assigned to your care. He says you’re not doing your physical therapy.”
“I don’t know how—”
“I’m leaving, like I said,” Emberglow said. “But I will be back. I promise you, Turquoise. And I’m not giving up on our friendship. Or on you.”
“Emberglow—”
“I made a promise in front of Saint Applejack, Turquoise. That if you ever started acting like a mule again, I’d say something.”
“Your promises—”
“I have kept every promise, every oath I made honestly, Turquoise!” Emberglow was shouting, but she didn’t care. She stomped a hoof. “Every vow I made where I wasn’t lied to, Turquoise. ” Emberglow turned to leave, and Rarity and Crossguard followed behind her. “I’ll be back. And you’d better be doing your therapy.”
“Even as a heretic, you’re still a healer, eh?” Turquoise muttered. “So where are you going off to?”
Emberglow paused at the door, hesitating. “I—”
“Can’t say? Don’t want the enemy to know your plans?” Turquoise snorted. “As if I could send any reports from here. But I understand.” She waited, like her words were perched on the precipice of a cliff, waiting to tumble over. “Emberglow? Wherever you’re going… be careful, okay?”
She hadn’t expected that. Emberglow blinked, and sniffed a little. “Th-thank you, Turquoise.”
“Can’t keep your promise if you get yourself killed,” Turquoise whispered, then gave a rueful laugh. “I’d say, go with the Saints, but maybe you already are.”
Maybe it was all Emberglow was going to get. But for now, it would be enough.
* * * * *
The buzz of excitement and activity that flooded the train station washed over Emberglow, but she didn’t hear it. She felt the weight of what was about to happen. Heartwing’s worries echoed in her ears; his guilt and mourning for the path he was going to lead these creatures down pressed on her own mind and conscience every time she looked at a fresh soldier’s face, or into the eager eyes of the Empire’s citizens.
“They have no idea,” she whispered.
“What was that, darling?” Rarity chimed in from beside her. Emberglow shook her head.
“Nothing. Let’s find the others.”
It was easier said than done. The underground train platform was crowded, with creatures scurrying about loading freight onto the cars. It was a sort of orderly chaos that Emberglow had come to expect from Heartwing. Emberglow craned her head above the squads of excited soldiers and porters hauling supplies, peering about for familiar faces.
The platform was built into a natural cavern, with electric lights bolted to the stony ceiling high above. It was warmer than outdoors, but not quite as comfortable as the castle itself. Emberglow could see to the end of the tunnel, off in the distance, where cold wind blew flurries of snow about. She wondered if the tracks would be clear enough to safely travel over.
Above the platform was an iron balcony, with stairs descending to the concrete floor. Emberglow saw Princess Flurry and Lightning Bug standing with Heartwing as all three gazed down at the activity below. The Princess’ horn began to glow.
“My beloved citizens!” Her amplified voice filled the entire cavern, and all of the assembled creatures stilled. “Your attention please! As we speak, my dear mother, your Empress, is about to open the Crystal Fair. My faithful student, Lightning Bug, will be casting a mirror spell, allowing you all to see and hear the commencement ceremony. It’s going to be an event none of us want to miss.”
There was a wave of applause and stomping hooves. Princess Flurry smiled at the crowd of soldiers indulgently, while Lightning Bug lit her horn, firing a beam of magical force into the air above them. It carved a circle of crackling energy into the sky, and the space within it became opaque. Everypony stared as the pink circle resolved into an image of the plaza up above them, right underneath the palace itself.
Emberglow could see Empress Cadence sitting on a padded throne, set on a pedestal near the center of the plaza. At her hooves was a small yet conspicuous wrapped bundle. Surrounding the platform were a dozen stern looking guards, representing every race in the Empire. Their hard gazes watched the crowd. Emberglow imagined she knew what they were thinking; the Empress had been attacked once, and they were not going to let it happen again.
Next to her was True Tale, looking nervous and excited all at once. Emberglow’s heart ached for Lofty. That explanation couldn’t have been an easy one to give.
“Citizens of the Empire!” The Empress’ horn glowed as she cast the same spell as her daughter. Through the scrying window, her voice was clear, but came with a strange echo. “Thank you so much for attending our festival today. It has been nearly eight hundred years since we last held a Crystal Fair. I’m sure many of you are confused and worried about current events. I’m hoping today to alleviate some of those fears.”
Her voice was still thin and reedy from years of disuse, but her movements were strong and confident. She reached down and lifted the package that was sitting at her hooves. “My dear friends, this is the Crystal Heart. Many of you know that for centuries, this sacred artifact powered the shield that kept us locked away from the world. It kept us safe, yes. But it also kept us prisoner.
“Today, I’d like to show you all what the Crystal Heart was truly made for, not what we repurposed it to do out of unfortunate necessity.”
Her horn blazed brighter, and the Crystal Heart lifted slowly into the air, rotating gently. It was just like Emberglow remembered from Empress Cadance’s throne room. But here, in the light of day rather than a dark room, it looked alive. The blue facets glinted and glimmered in the sun, sparkling in incandescent radiance. There was something effervescent and joyful about the sight, and Emberglow wasn’t the only one who felt it. She could hear the buzzing of awe and delight from the crowd she couldn’t see, but was sure had gathered for the Empress’ speech.
“For the last eleven hundred years, you have entrusted me with your lives. With your happiness, with your safety, and the safety of your ancestors. I would hope that I have done my duty as well as I could during that time. I have not been perfect. But I can say I have done my best.
“Today I am asking you to trust me as we take our first hoofsteps back into a frightening but beautiful world. It is a world filled with wonder and magic. It is a world where we are once again in close contact with our friends across the ocean. It is a world where the Empire is graced with the presence of griffons and dragons.
“To celebrate our return to this world, we are holding this Crystal Fair. In the coming days there will be hurt and pain. Some of your loved ones may fall in battle.” Cadance’s voice hitched. “We will suffer loss and tragedy. Such is unavoidable in war.
“But if we can spread the love and light we have throughout all of Equestria, to all the ponies suffering there, it will be worth the cost.
“So to open these festivities, I ask you to look to the Heart, and remember. Remember your first kiss. Remember the time you first saw your child’s eyes open. Remember how your father tucked you into bed, and remember the way your mother chased away your nightmares with a night-light and a plushie to cuddle.”
“Look to the Heart, and remember love.”
Emberglow couldn’t help herself. Even though she knew the Empress was really speaking to those up above, outside in the plaza, she could feel the weight of the ancient pony’s words even here. The images she evoked appeared in her mind.
Lofty, offering friendship and rubbing alcohol.
Heartwing’s questions, calm and gentle and probing.
Topaz’s relentless cheer in her dreams.
Terminus standing next to her, side by side, on a cloud as they shared their pain.
And Rarity.
It was Emberglow’s memory of Rarity, of their first frenzied kiss on board Pearl Shimmer, which floated through Emberglow’s mind when the Heart erupted with prismatic light. Even this far below, in the station, ponies flinched as the ground rumbled and the hum of energy penetrated through earth, through architecture, and through the assembled soldiers and staff.
The air grew warmer. The biting chill in the air, muffled by layers of stone and structure, disappeared in a flash.
Shouts of joy and awe filled the cave. And even through the strange echo from Lightning Bug’s scrying spell, it was obvious the ponies in the plaza were doing the same. Emberglow could see, through the glow of Flurry Heart’s magic, the streets and buildings of the Empire outside. They were now clear of snow.
Cheers erupted through the crowd as the Empire’s citizens began to shed their winter clothing. Hats and coats were tossed skywards in a sort of frenzy, while the soldiers around Emberglow cheered along. The air was thick with celebration and noise.
But Emberglow’s gaze found one pony who wasn’t smiling.
He was an older crystal pony, with wrinkles spreading out from his gray face. His lips were pursed as the young soldier next to him, a stallion, barely old enough to be in uniform, cheered and cavorted wildly.
Emberglow’s eye locked onto his, and there was a shared moment of understanding. In those old eyes, Emberglow could see a pony who knew what was coming. Dread comprehension; a terrible sort of fear and resignation bled out of the old stallion. Ponies in his family all around him were celebrating.
But he knew. For whatever reason, this old stallion knew what war was. Emberglow could see it in his eyes.
It’s your fault, you know. Because of you, so many of these ponies are going to die.
Emberglow glanced at Rarity standing right next to her. Rarity’s attention rested squarely on Princess Flurry and the scrying spell. She was practically dancing, her hooves tapping merrily as she reveled alongside everypony else.
Emberglow looked back at the stallion, and there was something new there. Hate. His eyes were alight with a helpless sort of rage, the screaming of a pony trapped in circumstances that they couldn’t escape.
Emberglow empathized, even as she felt the heavy chill of his anger wash over her.
Why wouldn’t he hate you? When his grandchild dies, who is he going to blame?
And there was nothing she could do about it.
All around the station, ponies cheered the return of warm weather to the empire. And through it all, there were two islands of calm dread, voids at the center of the hurricane of celebration around them.
Emberglow felt a hoof on her back, and turned to see Heartwing, his own eyes misted with tears.
Perhaps there were three islands of calm dread.
She swallowed and nodded. He nodded back, and they embraced.
“We’ll bring back as many as we can,” she whispered to him, and felt him shaking. “I swear it.”
* * * * *
For Rarity’s sake, Emberglow tried to join in the spirit of celebration that surrounded them, but she was sure Rarity realized something was up. Rarity kept checking on her, asking if she was okay, as they boarded the train.
The Elements, it seemed, would have their own pair of private cars, shared with Flurry Heart, Lightning Bug, and Rarity and Emberglow’s personal guard.
This level of luxury now sat poorly with Emberglow. There were velvet-lined couches, done up in the colors of Flurry Heart’s mane and tail. The wood-paneled walls were lined with enchanted lights that bathed the car in a soft glow. There was even a small bar, with an attendant ready to serve drinks or snacks to the royal pony and her guests.
Emberglow half expected crystal chandeliers or some other such extravagance.
Rarity, of course, seemed right at home.
“This is quite the car, Princess,” Rarity said, gushing over the decor even as Emberglow squirmed uncomfortably on the plush couches. “Though it seems odd that there would be private cars on a military train.”
Flurry Heart snorted, and Heartwing hooted with laughter. Rarity cocked her head to the side, confused.
“Yes, Rarity. It is very odd,” Flurry Heart said sardonically. “Especially if somepony is insistent. ‘You deserve it, Princess. With all the hard work you’re doing. It’s only your due’. And then somepony goes behind your back and arranges things so that your own civilian private train car is casually stapled onto a military train.”
“I don’t suppose ‘somepony’ in this case had ulterior motives?” Rarity smirked, eyeing the way Heartwing relaxed on his own couch, closely held within Terminus’ hooves and wings.
“Somepony might have been tired of ship brigs and palace cells,” Heartwing noted. “Even the few weeks they got in a decent room might not have been enough. Perks of leadership, and all that.”
“You are a scoundrel,” the Princess chuckled. “And you always will be.”
But there was no heat in her voice as she said it. Emberglow marveled at the change. As Heartwing and Flurry bantered back and forth, there was little antagonism, barely a hint of the bitterness between them from before.
Emberglow wondered how much had changed during all of the strategy meetings they’d shared, especially those that had taken place while she’d been sleeping off the poison.
There was a distant rumble as the train engine began to steam. A few moments later, the cars lurched, dragging forwards. Each of the ponies swayed from the acceleration, and Rarity leaned into Emberglow a little.
“Whoops,” she said, unrepentantly, and Emberglow laughed, leaning over to kiss her on the head.
This sort of moment will be very rare, soon.
Gadget’s voice in her head wasn’t a condemnation, this time. Oddly enough, it sounded sad. Emberglow agreed with the sentiment, and pulled Rarity closer, holding on like she never wanted to let go.
She didn’t.
“Is everything all right, darling?”
Emberglow nodded. “Fine.” Rarity pursed her lips. “Really. I’m just worried about what’s coming.”
“Well, if holding me close is a balm for those worries, hold as much as you like.”
Emberglow looked around the car. The other couples were doing the same; worry and apprehension were bubbling just under the surface of the excitement that surrounded them. Heartwing and Terminus were sitting next to each other on the couch, cuddling, and Topaz was asleep, her head on Lofty’s lap, while he gently stroked her mane, a look of mild concern on his face.
But there was something hypnotic about the train; the rhythmic clacking of the wheels barrelling down the tracks, the gentle sway of the car, and the soft voices of her friends. Emberglow found herself drifting off, wrapping herself around her marefriend.
Time passed, and Emberglow floated on the knife’s edge of sleep. They clattered through a dark, cavernous tunnel, the windows of the car revealing nothing more than the light of the engine up ahead.
Suddenly the light brightened outside, though it was still mostly dark. Emberglow yawned and gently slid Rarity onto the couch, before moving to the window.
They were in the open. Behind them, a sharp row of knife-like peaks, snow twinkling in the moonlight, jutted into the sky. To their left and right were endless frozen foothills. And ahead?
Equestria.
Princess Flurry moved up to the window alongside her, looking out at the rolling hills of white flowing past them as the train rumbled through the night.
“I’m… invading my old family home,” the Princess said softly. “I’m bringing war and violence to the place Auntie Twilight fought so hard to protect.”
Emberglow looked up at the tall pony. Her eyes were distant and unfocused, probably fixed on some far-off point in the landscape.
“Somehow I expected this moment to be… larger.”
“You mean it’d have something like speeches? Parades? Grand announcements?” Heartwing’s voice came from the other side of the Princess. Emberglow leaned forward to look at him. He looked just as distant.
“Of course you would ruin the gravitas of all of this,” Flurry sighed.
“Tell me what you think the moment needs, Princess. And I will provide.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she snorted.
“Perhaps.” Heartwing’s smile was small. “Or maybe not. How about a song?”
Flurry Heart lifted herself up indignantly, her mouth open to protest, perhaps even to order him to silence. But when Heartwing started to sing, his normally jovial voice was different than usual. It quivered with emotion as he sung the words to a song Emberglow had never heard before.
“ Equestria, the land I love
A land of harmony
Our flag does wave from high above
For ponykind to see.”
Flurry shrank down, eyes widening and suddenly wet with tears. Emberglow saw her swallow, before opening her own mouth and joining him for another verse.
“Equestria, a land of friends
Where ponykind do roam
They say true friendship never ends
Equestria, my home.”
There was an odd sort of harmony to their voices; Heartwing’s scratchy, typically puckish voice formed a strangely beautiful counterpoint to Flurry Heart’s smooth, gorgeous tones. The song was short, but Emberglow found herself wishing they would sing it again.
“What was that?”
Terminus had come up behind her while they were singing.
“A very old song,” Flurry said, then sniffed. “I didn’t even know you knew it, Heartwing.”
“One of the first things I did when I started my rebellion was to find as many caches of banned or dangerous literature, music, and art as I could. One of them had some of Coloratura’s albums. Including a live recording of when she sang the anthem with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”
“I’d… I’d like to hear that.” Flurry’s voice was choked with emotion.
“It’s yours,” Heartwing nodded. “As soon as all of this has calmed down, I’ll have Cobalt start arranging to transport as much recovered art as I have up to the Empire. It’ll be safer with you, anyways.”
“Thank you,” Flurry breathed. To Emberglow, at least, she sounded sincere.
A moment of silence settled in the car. To Emberglow, it felt heavy.
Home. She was going home. Only as an invader, this time. A heretic, an outcast, a criminal.
She felt a little sick.
“Emberglow?”
Terminus’ voice echoed softly behind her. She turned to look.
“It’s time to suit up. We’re in enemy territory now, we should be ready for anything.”
She glanced back at the rest of the car. Lofty was already in his gambeson, putting on his armor. Topaz was gently waking Rarity. She now wore some heavy padding herself: a sort of coat with hard plates of armor sewn in. A second set was sitting on the couch next to Rarity.
It made Emberglow feel good to know they had something to keep the non-combatants safer.
She made her way to the back of the car, where there was a small privacy curtain and a crate containing her armor. It had been a while since she’d worn it. Wordlessly she changed, listening to the sounds of ponies moving about on the other side of the curtain. She could make out muffled voices, but conversation was thin; everypony felt the tension of impending battle.
Just as she was finishing buckling her gauntlet on and parting the curtain, Emberglow heard the door of the car open. A crystal empire soldier, a changeling, rushed inside, kneeling on one hoof to the Princess.
“Highness. Scout report. We may have been spotted.”
“Tartarus,” the princess swore, her brow furrowing. “Did they know we were coming? Or was it coincidence?”
“I don’t know, but—"
The rest of the scout’s words were lost. A blinding flash of light cut across the night sky, and the train rocked, lurching sideways so hard that Emberglow was thrown against the far wall.
“Rarity!” She screamed, spreading her wings to try and gain some sort of bearing in the chaos. Furniture flew everywhere, lights flickered, screams and thuds echoed around the car as everything twisted, jerking sideways.
And then the enchanted lights shut off, bathing them all in darkness.
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Here we go. The beginning of the end has finally begun.
And the first salvo is fired.
All I can think is, "did they nuke them?" Bright flash followed by a shockwave sure sounds like that.
I'm just wondering how the Dirarchy responded so quickly, and in that area. In the last chapter we saw that multiple fronts were about to open up, not only that but if the timing is right, then when the shield fell that is when the border outpost was attacked and cut off, so how did the one knight get far enough away to get a warning to New Canterlot and for northern troops to even react?
So many questions and I look forward to the answers!
11223178
Maybe it was Sunset waking up, realizing she was about to miss the party, then drunk teleported into the side of the train?
11223188
Heartwing did say it would be chaotic when she woke up
Hmm. I think... oh yeah that's... that's definitely a polite ruh roh.
Y'know, I'm reminded of a quote from, of all things, a mod for Half Life 2.
"There will be pain. And then there will be darkness. We will see you up ahead."
All plans fail at first contact with the enemy
The climax is right up ahead. Let's see how they would fare against the the Diarchy.
11223188
Nah, sunset is better suited for a "winged hussars arrive" moment.
Get it, because she's a horse. With wings. And a lance (horn).
Who could have guessed a vehicle that moves along a set track, is incredibly loud, vibrates the tracks for miles around, and assuming this is the kind I'm thinking of, belches smoke and steam constantly, would be ambushed.
Bruh
I found this story tuesday, and i've been reading till friday
Its sooo good
Well, this plan’s officially made contact with the enemy…
Really running the emotional gamut with this chapter. Hope for the future has to be tempered with acknowledging that it’ll be a hard fight to secure that future. Though the Empire certainly has allies both within and without the Diarchy. We’ll see how it goes from here
This story gives me the same vibes as This Album by 4Everfreebrony.
Yeah.... writing this on May 5th. Kinda scared we are going to see something very similar to the Diarchy in the US very soon....
Oh dear, I started reading this story a week ago, and now I only have an interlude and one chapter left... I'm a bit afraid to finish this story...
Driving a train deep into enemy territory sounded like a really bad plan to begin with.
“Don’t worry grandpa! We’ll be home by Hearth’s Warming!”
I feel The Drawer needs to be capitalized.