IX - The Hermit
One Month Later
Most griffons were ambivalent towards ponies. They found them to be curiosities at best, squishy weaklings at worst. Some despised them. A few found them amusing in other ways.
Galdur was one such griffon. To the untrained eye, it might look as if every pony in Griffonstone was a part of some wealthy elite, but watch closely enough, and you'd begin to see those amongst them with frayed clothing, unwashed coats and untreated ailments that screamed desperation. The kind of desperation that could make a pony do just about anything for a handful of coins. Most other griffons thought of Galdur as a degenerate, and he was often inclined to agree. He couldn't remember the last time he'd earned honest coin, and didn't care to. He made his living however he saw fit, and didn't much care for the opinions of others.
Stallions, Mares, it didn't matter. To him, all ponies were the same, and he rarely had the opportunity to be choosy. Foals, on the other hand, were much easier to convince. Usually more desperate, and usually willing to do more for less. Occasionally, he'd just snatch one, knowing full well that even if they had parents, they were unlikely to do anything about it.
His eyes remained transfixed on one particular filly he'd seen wandering the streets of Griffonstone over the past few days. Unlike most, she made little to no effort to disguise her dire circumstances, even going so far as to beg for coins from strangers, usually earning nothing but harsh words from the guards and total disregard from every other creature.
But today was his day to strike. He grew tired of listening to her pathetic begging. Rehearsing his pitch in his mind, he casually sauntered over to the filly and dropped a few coins into the bag she'd laid out in front of her.
The filly stared up at him with a smile, innocent amber eyes brimming with gratitude. "Golly - I mean, thank you so much, sir."
Galdur's smile spread, showing off row after row of cracked, yellow teeth. "Oh, think nothing of it. It just breaks my heart to see a young filly like yourself in such an awful position." His Ponish was perfect. "How long has it been since you've had a warm meal, little filly?"
"A warm... meal..." The filly scrunched up her eyes, as if trying to remember. "I... I don't know..."
"Would you like one?" It was always so easy. He ran his eye down the filly's skin-and-bones frame. "That's a lovely amulet you've got there." If it was genuine unicorn craft, it would fetch a nice price, no doubt. "You can have a shower too. Maybe even some more coin, if you come with me."
The filly didn't look sure, and it showed. "Uhmm... I don't think I should go away with strangers."
"Of course, where are my manners?" He extended a claw. "Galdur. I'm a, uh, community manager. What's your name, little filly?"
The filly hesitated, before reaching out and placing her hoof between his claw. "Sugar Blaze."
"Well, not strangers anymore, are we?" Galdur raised an eyebrow, causing the filly to giggle at his exaggerated expression.
"I.. I guess not." She smiled happily. "I'm really hungry, too. Is it far?"
"Not at all. Come here..." Reaching out, he grabbed the filly in his claws and pulled her to her hooves, taking care not to scratch her as he did so. "That's better. Just a five minute walk. Don't forget your coins!"
The filly knelt and picked the meagre coin pouch up in her mouth, following silently behind Galdur while he continued to wax lyrical about all the things he had in store for her. Privately, the cogs in his head were already beginning to turn, as he wondered how much amusement he might get out of this one. The last filly hadn't been much fun, but he had a good feeling about this one.
It took them less than three minutes to arrive at Galdur's apartment. Pushing the door wide open, he cheerfully gestured for the filly to enter, before silently following her. He turned and slid a bolt across the door, before turning the lock with a key he wore on a tight chain around his neck.
"Now, let's talk about what you can do for me, little filly." He turned around, but the filly was no longer there. Had she gone into the kitchen? "Little filly?" He took a step forward.
The second he did so, he heard something spring out at him from the darkness, realizing far too late that he had been tricked. The filly, who had slunk behind the doorframe the second she'd entered the house, had seized the chain around his neck and was pulling against it with a strength he'd never imagined the scrawny little rat had possessed. As he felt the cold metal cut into his skin and crush against his windpipe, he began to panic and flail wildly, unable to scream for help. Crashing to the ground, he attempted to force her off by fluttering his wings aggressively, only for the filly to snap the bones within them with a well-aimed kick. The world began to slowly ebb red, then black, as his air was slowly cut off and he lost consciousness. Slumping forwards, he went limp.
Cozy collapsed, panting, before quickly pulling herself to her hooves. She didn't know how long she had before Galdur regained consciousness, and she didn't intend to be here when that happened. She wasted no time, rummaging through every shelf, every drawer, every hiding place that could have contained something of value. Slowly, her pouch began to fill with coins and other precious trinkets. As soon as she'd finished, she went into the kitchen and grabbed everything non-perishable, while eating as much of the fresh food as she could.
She didn't feel anything as she worked. Galdur was filth, and deserved everything he was getting, and doubtless worse. As soon as she'd cleared the kitchen, she swept the house once more. Galdur's bedroom contained a small metal box with a combination lock. When brute force failed, she rummaged through his bedside for the key, finding a few loose coins - but no key. Dragging the box to the stairs, she threw it down with as much force as she could muster, smiling with grim satisfaction as the brittle metal shattered open upon impact.
From within the box, she retrieved a handful of coins and a golden pocket watch which looked like it might be worth as much as everything else she'd grabbed together. She was unlikely to get a good price for it, but it was certainly a nice surprise.
Underneath it laid what looked like an oversized leather wallet. It looked worthless, but Cozy Glow's curiosity got the better of her. She turned it over, then flipped it open to find it was a booklet.
More precisely, a photo album.
The coin purse dropped to the floor. Almost on autopilot, she approached Galdur, whose ragged breathing was intercut with painful whimpers, and pulled the chain until his breathing stopped.
Cozy couldn't remember the last time she'd had a meal without meat. Griffons loved the stuff so much, they put it in almost everything. It was a sorry state of affairs when a can of beans or peas was a special treat to her - not to mention the ordeal she'd gone through to get them - but for now, she was content, happy, and had a full stomach, for the first time in over a week.
Despite her hunger and dire condition, she had kept herself alert and well aware of her surroundings, or she probably wouldn't be alive right now. She had known all along Galdur's intentions were anything but innocent - but she'd never guessed he'd been anywhere as bad as he was. It had taken a week of planning before she had been confident enough to strike. She'd had plenty of help, of course.
Shovelling peas into her mouth in an attempt to forget, she began to wonder who she could offload all these trinkets on. Groath would usually give her a good deal, but it might be worth making the trip up to the Equestrian district for some of the more expensive ones. Then again, carrying all that coin at one time might not be a good idea. Maybe she should stash a few of the more expensive items around the city. If Griffonstone had one thing in excess, it was hiding spots for ill-gotten gains.
More than anything, she felt tired. A full stomach weighed her down, and she found herself not wanting to move from the small den she'd taken to in the alley aside a butcher's shop. Catching sight of her reflection in the broken fragment of a mirror she had propped next to her makeshift bed, she couldn't help but grimace. She looked like death.
Her eyes were dark, sunken circles, and her cheeks were hollow and sunken. Her amber mane was ragged and matted, sticking close to her scalp. Luster's charm clearly wasn't designed to hide the effects of exposure and malnutrition. She was almost unrecognizable from a month ago. She could remember, clear as day, the first time she'd slept rough in the Griffon Empire...
The earliest rays of light shone through the myriad cracks lining the thin wooden walls of the barn, causing the filly within to grumble sleepily and roll over, screwing her eyes shut to try and block them out. Around her, chickens began to rise from their slumber and swan around their house, occasionally stopping to inspect the new arrival.
Eventually, the pecking and clucking got to her. Angrily stumbling to her hooves, she lazily swung a hoof around, sending the birds scattering in a flurry of squawks and angry hissing. Blinking rapidly to try and wipe some of the dust from her eyes, she stumbled over to a nearby water trough and briefly shook her head inside to clear the last remnants of sleep away.
She didn't want to think about last night, but it invaded her mind, weighing down her every thought and suffocating her entire mental process. Last night wasn't just a nightmare. It couldn't have been. She'd really died. No nightmare could ever have come close to matching the sheer terror and rage of having her life snuffed out so callously, with such cold, calculating indifference.
What had happened? She waved a hoof in front of her face, then tapped it against the ground. Both seemed perfectly solid. The way the birds had scattered from her suggested she was very much alive and kicking. It made no sense. The last time she'd ever felt anything like this was... was... was when she was petrified. But she didn't want to think about that.
Loading a few loose eggs into her saddlebags, Cozy slipped out of the barn door and hit the road before the griffon owner could discover her trespassing. She didn't know what happened to runaway fillies who stole in the Griffon Empire, and she didn't want to find out.
She had no particular direction, no particular goal, no particular plan. She wanted to put as much distance between her and Discord as possible, of course. Beyond that... she had no idea. She already missed Equestria, but she had a nasty feeling she wouldn't be welcome home anytime soon. If Discord really had been acting on Twilight's orders, she would be in big trouble for running away.
And what about Luster? Surely she wouldn't have agreed to anything like this. The Luster she knew would never, ever have let Discord do that to her.
Stamping the ground and shouting aloud in frustration, Cozy desperately wracked her brains for what to do next. The whole world, in an instant, turned on it's head. Something awful must have happened, she was sure of it. But she wasn't going to find out anything new eating dust. If she wanted any new information, she'd have to go back to Griffonstone. Discord would be long gone by now, and she didn't know anywhere else in the Griffon Empire. As much as the place had disgusted her, travelling alone was ten times worse. She would be safer in a city.
Her stomach groaned in furious hunger. Retrieving an egg from her saddlebag, she grimaced, cracked it open against a rock, and swallowed its innards whole.
Griffonstone loomed over the horizon like a bad memory - which it was. Cozy couldn't help but shudder as the first sight of the chaotic architecture brought back floods of bad memories. The pendant on her neck made her suddenly feel very self-conscious. Swallowing her fears, she pressed on. All too soon, she found herself crossing the city limits.
The stench of meat, smoke and industry was suffocating. Every injustice and cruelty she remembered had remained, only made starker by the shameless way they were conducted in broad daylight. To her relief, the guards not only let her be, they gave her a wide berth, perhaps assuming she was the filly of one of Griffonstone's wealthy elite.
Many griffons were illiterate, so newspapers were hard to come by. There were the occasional street criers, squawking in a language she couldn't name, let alone translate. After twenty minutes of getting nowhere, she changed tactics. Picking the first pony she saw, she trailed behind them, far enough so as not to be noticed, but close enough that she wouldn't lose them.
The pony seemed in a hurry to find themselves somewhere else. After dropping by a few shops and making some expensive-looking purchases, they set off in a fixed direction. Within a few minutes, Cozy Glow began to notice her surroundings change. There were fewer and fewer griffons, and more and more ponies. With few exceptions, they were all unicorns, and their cutie marks indicated they were particularly skilled in magic. The houses, shops, even the roads were markedly more attractive. A few cast inquiring glances her way - a night of sleeping rough had left her feeling, and no doubt looking, rough and dishevelled - but none stopped to quiz her. The few guards she encountered were polite and courteous, and there wasn't a single slaver in sight. It reminded her of Equestria - which was no doubt exactly how it's inhabitants wanted it.
It took her a few more minutes to find a shop selling the Equestrian Times, no doubt imported at significant cost, based on the price tag. Unfolding a copy, she ran her eyes down the main story line.
CLLR. MOONLIGHT ESTABLISHED RULING COUNCIL - AMDR. GALLUS SECOND IN COMMAND
Today, the first signs of unity were seen in the seat of Equestrian power after the shocking murder of Princess Twilight by her former protégé shook the nation. The Captain of the Royal Guard, henceforth renamed the Equestrian Guard in honour of the fallen Princess, today proclaimed the formation of a new council alongside the Admiral Gallus of the Western Fleet. Other members of this ruling council are understood to include General Sprint of the E.U.P. and Bearing Justice, Chief Justiciar of the First Court.
The decision to convene a ruling council without the consent of a ruling monarch has stirred dissent within the nation, but it seems the decision has been met with decidedly more popularity than cynicism. The council claims it will commit itself to the selection of a new Equestrian heir, but critics have already decried many decisions of the council that are seen as being contrary to the wishes of the last ruling Equestrian sovereign, amongst which are the declaration of a state of emergency, the reintroduction of capital punishment, and the destruction of the petrified remains of Queen Chrysalis and Tirek. The Changeling Kingdom, in particular, has decried the act as one of cold-blooded murder.
Continued on page 3...
Cozy turned the page so quickly she almost ripped the paper in two.
Princess Twilight, who was assassinated for reasons unknown by her former pupil Luster Dawn, had no known heir when she passed, though the gifted unicorn Luster Dawn had been touted amongst some members of Canterlot as a potential future successor to the Princess. Luster Dawn should be considered extremely dangerous, and should not be approached under any circumstances. She is known to be adept at a diverse array of magical disciplines. Her motives remain unknown. The reward for information or action leading to her successful capture or death was today raised to five million bits, as well as total amnesty for any prior crimes committed under Equestrian jurisdiction. The infamous filly Cozy Glow is also considered a pony of interest to the Equestrian authorities.
Princess Twilight's twenty-five year reign was marked by an era of peace and prosperity for Equestria unlike any known. Rising from humble origins, she quickly defined herself as a magical prodigy under the close mentorship of Princess Celestia, and before attaining Princesshood was instrumental in numerous events that defined Equestrian history as we know it. In addition, Princess Twilight was one of the revered Elements of Harmony and the founder of the distinguished School of Friendship. All of Equestria joins the Times in mourning the passing of our Princess.
The newspaper fell to the floor, landing gracefully in a puddle of mud. Cozy couldn't think. She didn't know what to think. Her whole world hadn't just turned upside down, it had flipped a cartwheel and blinked out of existence.
Twilight was gone. Dead. Murdered. By Luster. Luster had killed Twilight. The words were right there, in black and white, but they didn't register with her. It was as absurd as reading an article proclaiming the sky to be green. Luster was wanted for murder - no, she was wanted for murder. She would never be free to return home, ever again.
Heart pounding and breath laboured, Cozy grasped the doorway of the shop for support. Her head was swimming, and for a moment she thought she was going to faint. She had never been so glad to be wearing her pendant in all her life. It was perhaps the one reason she wasn't back in a jail cell - or on a chopping block.
As she staggered away, walking around in no particular direction, all of the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. Luster hadn't agreed to any of this. Had Discord been planning to murder her? Was that why Luster had... had...
Was she coming for her? For the first time in days, a bubble of happiness began to swell up in Cozy's chest as the prospect of being reunited with Luster danced before her, pushing all the terror and uncertainty within her aside. Of course she would! Luster would know exactly where she was headed, and it was only a matter of time before she arrived in Griffonstone.
Swallowing the rising lump of apprehension in her throat, Cozy glanced around. It had been a long time since she'd slept rough. In fact, it had been almost five years since she'd run away from the orphanage and slept rough in Ponyville for a week. She knew, deep down, that this didn't remotely compare - but she had no other choice. If she left the city, the Griffon Empire would simply swallow her up. If she returned to Equestria, she'd no doubt be put down just like the statue of Tirek and Chrysalis had been -
The statue! The realization hit her like a tonne of bricks. All those nightmares, those visions of Tirek and Chrysalis - what she'd felt last night - felt so real because it was real. Chrysalis and Tirek's bodies had been destroyed, and whatever fragment or shard or pieces of them that lived in her had reacted just as expected. Did that mean they were gone?
She hoped so.
A month, and no sign of Luster. Was she really coming for her, or was it just a hopeless dream? Would Luster even recognize her like this? A snivelling little street rat living out of a box. She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts as soon as they arose. She couldn't afford to lose hope. Not when hope was all she had left.
Well, except...
"Good job, Cozy Glow."
"I agree. Excellent work. I'm almost proud."
The voices were ethereal, somehow simultaneously less and more than a whisper. She didn't know if they were real, or a figment of her imagination. At some point, she'd stopped caring. Before, she'd tried to ignore them, but then they started to scream, and she hated that.
"Thanks." She dropped her voice to a whisper, not wanting to be overheard talking to herself. "Couldn't have done it without your help."
"Think nothing of it." Tirek's smile grew wider, more pronounced. "All I did was point him out to you."
"Let's not forget my contribution, shall we?" Chrysalis snapped. "I was the one who suggested using the key on his neck against him. Really, how else could a little filly have overpowered a fully grown Griffon?"
"You've both been a huge help." Cozy cut across the pair before they could resume arguing. "Sorry, you two are just a lot to get used to. I'm still not quite sure if you're real or not."
"Of course we are!" Chrysalis sound more scandalized than upset. "We're all that's left. Believe me, this isn't my dream lifestyle either."
"Indeed." Tirek grumbled. "I was once a proud and mighty demon, now look at me! Reduced to a shadow, trapped inside a little filly. I mean, I'm not... It's not like... I'm not inside... GAH! I'm a joke!"
"You can say that again..." Chrysalis did nothing to mask the mocking tone in her voice, causing Tirek's already crimson skin to flush a deeper shade of red.
"You're not in much of a better position yourself, bug."
"How dare you! I am the Queen of the Changeling hive, and I will be respected!"
Cozy closed her eyes and allowed the background argument to slowly burn out into a buzz. Her eyelids drooped. She was tired. So very tired...
"I have to say, I just love what you've done with the place. Excellent taste, your highness."
Discord leaned over in a mock bow, waving his hand in the air in an exaggerated display of obeisance. Moonlight glanced upwards at Gallus, looking for some kind of reaction, but the stone-faced griffon gave nothing away. As Discord rose to full, height, Gallus merely raised an eyebrow.
"Are you here to entertain, or do we have business to discuss?"
"Oh, so serious. I can see my days of running riot through this castle are at an end. Alas!" He swooned, draping a claw over his face. "I'll have to find my new home in a kingdom with as sense of humour. Though there doesn't seem to be many of those, these days."
Gallus's face tightened, and his eyes seemed to bulge with barely supressed rage. He was normally a cool, collected leader, but the unadmitted knowledge that Discord could do whatever he pleased with little to no risk of retaliation was infuriating in a way that escaped definition. The fact that this beast had waited so long to return was just the icing on the cake.
"Where is Cozy Glow?"
Discord's eyes barely flickered. "Dead."
"You have proof?"
"Why, of course. I have her head in my pocket."
Moonlight snarled, losing what little was left of her patience. "Don't play games with us, Discord! You had the filly with you when you left Equestria; what happened to her?"
"She's gone. Swallowed up by the Griffon Empire. Need I say more?" He shrugged. "I had intended to bring her back with me, but it's a moot point now. There's simply no way a teenage filly could survive on her own in that forsaken place. Besides, it looks to me like you have a lot more on your plate than a runaway foal." His eyes gleamed with attentiveness. "The throne suits you, but you appear to be missing your crown."
Gallus stiffened. "You're not the first to make that accusation, Discord. I assure you, I am doing my best to find another Alicorn suitable for the throne. Given we are aware of only two in existence - and given that those two happen to be the Princess and Crown Princess of the Crystal Empire - there may be a considerable search ahead of us." He pointed his claw in the draconequus's direction. "As for you, whatever services you provided to Princess Twilight will not be required under my administration. I don't ever want to see you in this palace again."
"Oh, really?" Discord inquired, voice as sweet as honey. "And pray tell me, good Admiral, how do you intend to enforce that little decision? Going to sic your toy soldiers on little old Discord?"
Gallus's gaze hardened. "Not on you. Your wife will serve just the purpose. You can torture me all you like, but you can't ever bring dear old Fluttershy back."
The grin was gone from Discord's face, replaced by a mild, dispassionate stare. Gallus gripped the corner's of Twilight's throne with such intensity he was certain the tips of the armrests were about to snap off. Every heartbeat pounding in his chest could be his last, if he had miscalculated. Beside him, Moonlight began to slowly back away.
Then, to his utmost relief, Discord visibly relaxed. A hateful expression began to creep it's way onto his face, but he stayed his claw.
"I understand, Admiral. I'll leave you to your fate. I'm sure it'll come to you, soon enough."
"Don't try to bluster with your soothsaying, Discord. Get out of my sight."
With an uncharacteristic plume of smoke, Discord vanished. The throne room slowly fell silent, but for the soft crackling noises of the burning torches that illuminated the columns lining the chamber, and the wind rushing through the shattered panes of glass. Gallus let out a deep sigh of relief.
"I can't believe that worked." His grip on the armrests tightened as he let out a low chuckle, that rose in pitch slowly until it sounded more like the mad giggling of a lunatic. "I... I just... he just..." The giggling continued.
"Admiral?" Moonlight cleared her throat as loudly as she could. "Were you not listening? Cozy is still missing." Gallus stared back at her with wide eyes, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "Should I arrange a team of the Equestrian Guard to handle the situation? If we use an all-griffon force, they could avoid attracting attention - "
"Who cares?" Gallus slumped back into the throne, waving a dismissive claw in the air. "Discord was right. Cozy won't have lasted a week in that cesspit of a country. I grew up there, I should know." He dug his claws into the armrests. "Finding Luster is more important. Every member of the guard we send after Cozy is one whose efforts could be better spent on finding the Princesses' murderer. Given the circumstances, it seems likelier than ever that she had fled to the Griffon Empire. But we can't act until we are sure." Glancing out the window at the shining moon, he sighed once more, rose to his claws, and stretched.
"You're due to give the council's daily report in less than an hour. I can't be there tonight; the Western Fleet is due to depart for another month and it just wouldn't do for me not to be there. I want you to talk about the unreliability of chaos tricksters and how Equestria is stronger without renegades like Discord running the show. Understand?"
"Of course, Admiral. Will you be gone overnight?"
"Possibly longer. With Discord out of the way, there's less to worry about, even with the Changelings beating their war drums. Have Fluttershy placed under house arrest. Tell her she's being assigned a permanent bodyguard, and don't take no for an answer. Do the same for the remaining Elements of Harmony, so it doesn't look suspicious. Chuck whatever rejects you can spare at the others, but I want your best soldiers attached to Fluttershy. Utmost loyalty is paramount. If anything happens to me - or them - then she dies, no matter what. I'm sure we can devise a more permanent solution in time." His eyes gleamed.
"Speaking of sensitive circumstances, a delegation from the Crystal Empire is due to arrive in a day, in advance of Twilight's funeral. It's been delayed far too long already. Her brother and sister-in-law will be arriving with them." He tapped a claw to his chin. "It's already taken this long to ensure Equestria is stable enough to hold such an event. It's a... delicate situation. When I spoke to the ambassador, I got the feeling he expected Cadence to sized up for the throne. Evidently, with Flurry Heart now old enough to take the reigns back home, he expects us to stand aside and let the first Alicorn who saunters up to the palace take the crown. Make sure they understand that isn't happening."
"Yes, Admiral."
At least the pair of them agreed to that.
Chancellor Moonlight stepped up to the podium.
Unlike before, there were no more camera flashes. There was no more squabbling from the reporters - any who tried were promptly ejected and stripped of their press credentials. Gallus had deemed both demeaning to the new administration's public image. Nor was she alone on the platform, flanked on each side by five ponies clad in the uniform of the Equestrian Guard. A few of them were actors, selected for their appearance.
Moonlight coughed lightly into the microphone.
"This is the Equestrian Grand Council's statement for the fifth of Solaris, on the first year of the Age of Vacancy." She coughed again, then took a deep sip of water from a glass that had been waiting for her.
"Today, the council is pleased to announce it has dealt for the final time with the trickster 'god' known as Discord. The draconequus' feeble attempt at threatening the nation of Equestria were met with nothing but fierce resilience and a steel will from the council, and he was quickly sent fleeing from Canterlot with his tail between his legs. Equestria's citizens may rest easy, knowing another existential threat to Equestria has been eliminated."
The more she lied, the easier it became. She had always had a knack for public speaking, and she knew she was quickly becoming the public face of Gallus's administration. Soon, she would be irreplaceable.
"Preparations continue for the funeral of our beloved Princess Twilight, Mother of Equestria. A delegation from the Crystal Empire arrives tomorrow, amongst whom are members of the Crystal Royal Household to whom our Princess was closely related. We will welcome these foreign visitors with open hooves, and strive to continue to build the strong bonds between our two separate nations that have defined our relationship since they were returned to us by none other than Princess Twilight herself."
"As I speak, Admiral Gallus is overseeing the launch of the Western Fleet on a month-long operation designed to project Equestria's naval power across the land, and showcase not just our commitment to world peace, but our preparedness for war should our national sovereignty be threatened - from without or within."
A few coughs. Around the room, various eyes swivelled in the direction of the foreign correspondents from the Changeling Kingdom. Nocreature said anything. They didn't have to.
"The Western Fleet remains the core of the Equestrian Navy, and the most powerful seaborne force on the planet. I, along with all of Equestria, wish them luck and safety on their tour of duty."
"Finally, the search for Luster Dawn has an update." All of a sudden, there was a rustling across the room as journalists scrabbled to grab quills and parchment, eagerly hanging on to her every word. "Before being expelled from our nation, Discord was interrogated by the Equestrian Guard, under the supervision of Admiral Gallus. Cozy Glow is dead."
The words rung across the room like thunder, shattering the mood like glass. None of the faces appeared sympathetic, but they weren't exactly jubilant either. Cozy Glow was an evil piece of work, but she had still been a filly. Those in attendance found it difficult to take any real pleasure in her demise. Moonlight sensed the dour mood and quickly changed track.
"The search for Luster Dawn continues. The net continues to close around the traitor, and the hour of justice draws nearer every day." Possibly the only complete lie she'd told all evening. Luster could be anywhere, and it was becoming increasingly clear to her own lieutenants that catching a pony with the remarkable skills of Luster Dawn would be an arduous and likely fruitless task, and a waste of valuable resources - but the public couldn't be allowed to know.
"This concludes our daily brief. Long live Equestria."
In unison, every Equestrian journalist in the crowd rose and began to clap and stomp their hooves. A small smile formed on Moonlight's face at the bewilderment in the foreign journalist's expressions.
Long live Equestria, indeed.
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Now, let me remind y'all of how canon Discord reacted to Fluttershy being simply captured:
Now this story is a much darker take on the show, as we can see
So Gallus my guy, my dude, do ya really think you can just get away with that threat?
Do you feel in charge?
Is this based off of another story?
I wonder what kind of monster this griffon that 'snatches' fillies and colts is. Oh. That kind. Get him, Coz--oh you already got him. Cool. Now finish--of you're doing that too, nice work.
So the physical forms of T and C are gone, but their mental states still exist within Cozy? Interesting, I wonder if they'll be a bit more vocal now, then.
Jeez Gallus you're kind of an asshole ain't ya? I hope Discord realises what fresh hell he's awakened in the world because of his poor decision making and lack of trust. Also kinda hope he turns that blue bird inside out or something for threatening Fluttershy
Also I can't help but wonder is this some sort of secret prequel to Rekindled Embers? Or am I reading too much into that?
10866526
10866531
This story isn't based off any other story, but Rekindled Embers definitely looks like a worthwhile read!
10866532
It absolutely is, I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Fair dinkum ignore me then
I also have to wonder, tho, have any of Twilight's friends been told the news or did they read about it in the paper. Biiiiiiig oof if the latter.
Yep, Gallus is a terrible person and I get the feeling he’s setting Equestria on a path to ruin.
It's nice to see Cozy still surviving. Given how crafty she is and the other help she's getting, I suppose this is no surprise. Speaking of that other help, I do wonder how those two would/will react to what is happening in Equestria.
So Gallus is turning Equestria into an authoritarian dictatorship. Given all the lies he spoke and everyone he antagonized, this will obviously blow up in his face. Then again, he's an admiral, not a politician so he might not be fit for this position in the first place. Heck, at this rate he will turn literally every other nation against Equestria with the way he's running things.
As much as I hate Discord, even I know just how dangerous he can be. I have no doubt that Gallus will be regretting threatening him like this, especially when he has no magical artifacts or special abilities to rely on. At this point, the best outcome may just be for the two main villains to take each other out.
Apparently Gallus has forgotten who he is talking about.
And another pony that Gallus underestimated. Thinking that Fluttershy will go down that easily in her own home while she's presumably surrounded by many animals. This is a multi-time national hero were talking about, after all. Heck, I'm not sure why Discord doesn't just teleport them away.
So he was lying to Discord about giving over the throne as well. Past Cozy would be proud.
So, the bastard bird and the asshole god are at each other's necks now. No matter who loses, I have a reason to celebrate.
It was nice to see Cozy dispose of that lowlife Galdur, I only wish she had a match or something to light the creep up with. Then again, if he was as filthy physically as morally, he'd probably smell less like fried chicken and more like a dumpster fire.
I wonder how Luster will react to her new "living arrangement" with her old friends? Only time will tell!
What? Celestia and Luna are effectively immortal so they have to be out there somewhere. One of them would be the most logical replacement of Twilight.
What sort of bargaining power does Gallus really have against Discord? Gallus can't harm Fluttershy with Discord around. If by some chance Gallus did, his reign would be a short one. With Discord's power he can be quite "creative" in punishments. Gallus might count himself lucky to merely be a replacement for the Legion of Doom statue!
One small typo:
I think this word should be "was".
Gallus was so close to winning Darwin Award there. Only a fool would make threats to a being for whom "laws of physics" are optional at best.
I have no idea how he can possibly hope to hold that threat over Discord's head. What is stopping the latter from just jumping straight to Fluttershy and taking her on extended vacation to all point nowhere? Or he could remove the threat by just releasing the recording of this conversation to the public. Even if Gallus manages to convince enough ponies to believe him, it will weaken his already precarious position. Not to mention that should anything happen to Fluttershy afterwards, he would be the chief suspect which gives him all the reason not to carry out the assassination.
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It's a problem a lot of stories with Discord face, even in the show - his powers make him difficult to place on either side, given he could just obliterate his enemies with a snap of his fingers.
Much like the Q from Star Trek (whom Discord is based off, and who John de Lancie played a member of), it's usually easier to phrase Discord as an apathetic and monotonous demigod who takes no real sides, and who merely attempts to prolong conflicts in an attempt to amuse himself. Still, I prefer to think of Discord as not omnipotent, but merely immensely powerful. He could try and save Fluttershy, but he can't guarantee she'd be safe, which on it's own would be enough to make him hesitate. Also, if he did, he's condemning her to life as a fugitive, spending her final few decades (which would be substantially shorter on the run) in a state of stress and persecution, instead of peace and retirement.
In the millennia he's been around, he's never found anything like Fluttershy before - would he really be so willing to risk her life or happiness just to settle a petty debate with Gallus that ultimately doesn't really impact him either way?
I thought about this for a bit ... Gallus has one card he can play against Discord. Gallus could threaten to make Fluttershy aware of Discord's actions with Cozy Glow. I doubt Fluttershy would look kindly at Discord dragging a filly off to the Griffon empire and to her demise.
Of course actually doing that might get Gallus turned into a slug and dropped into a salt mine.
Discord's only way of getting out of the accusation would be to show Cozy Glow was actually alive (or perhaps duplicating her in some way).
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Let me take a moment to defend Gallus the griffon.
First off, he doesnt know everything. Here is what he DOES know:
1. Luster took responsibility for Cozy after her release.
2. Cozy and Luster became VERY close.
3. Luster and Twilight had a falling out.
4. Cozy and Discord fled Equestria.
5. Luster broke into the castle and had a battle with Twilight that ended with Twilight's death.
6. Luster fled the scene and left Equestria like Cozy.
How would you expect Gallus, or ANYONE else, to respond to these facts?! There is a clear connection between Luster killing Twilight and Cozy Glow. (And Discord, but Im sure Gallus not trusting him is already a given). Gallus doesnt know that Twilight had Discord kidnap Cozy, and he also doesnt know that Twilight tried to shoot Luster in the back.
I know that Gallus saying to kill Cozy sounds harsh, but Cozy is.menatly an adult at this point. Also, all the evidence point to Cozy influencing Luster into assasdinating Twilight (and in a roundabout way, Cozy is the reason why all this happened)
As for executing Tirek and Chrysalis, this was a damage control. With Twilight Sparkle, hero and element of magic, killed i.n her own castle, all of Equestria must be terrified. Especially wity Cozy and Luster still at large. Destroying the other two threats, who wree quite close to the current threat which caused the death of their beloved ruler, was aan excellent way to reassure the populace that they would still be safe and protected. It's not like anyone would have mourned them. Oh wait, the Changellings are upset and calling it murder. WHY?! Chrysallis abused them under her tyranny for years! They should be celebrating her death like the Munchkins! Ding Dong the Witch is Dead! I wonder what the Centaurs are saying about Tirek.
Finally, as for Gallus threatening Fluttershy: NECESSARY EVIL! Im sure Gallus suspects Discord, but he knows the Spirit of Chaos is untouchable, so holding Fluttershy hostage in a gilded cage is the only thing he can do.
He is a soldier after all. Hes thinking practically for the good of the nation. He doesnt want to kill Fluttershy, but Equestria is in CRISIS. Lives are at stake, and he needs to keep Discord under control. He doesnt know what really happened, so he's doing the best he can with what he knows.
A large part of me cheered when Cozy killed the sick bastard. And although Tirek and Chrysalis won't make for good company, at least they're looking after Cozy and keeping her company in such difficult times.
The other good news is that Discord gave up on his search for Cozy, giving Luster enough chance to take Cozy away once she finds her.
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Don’t give Gallus ideas.
You forget an important point - all the changelings are her children. Heck, can they even reproduce without her?!
A good point.
Btw ... Bigwig6666 and Myrkin ... here is a bit of trivia for you two ... Peter Benchley's Jaws never could get above #2 on the New York Times best seller list because of a novel you may have heard of named Watership Down. Rabbit > Great White Shark
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That has a tiny enough chance of working that it's better to not do, frankly it has more of a chance to do the opposite
Touch a hair on Fluttershy and Discord will turn Gallus' heart into confetti, it's just not worth it.
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I'm not reading all that but I never liked Gallus to begin with.
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tl;dr, Discord cares more about Fluttershy than Equestria.
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An abusive mother is not a mother. Chrysalis lost her right to be called a mother long ago. If any of her children got in her way, she'd kill them. Just ask Thorax. And of course the new Changelimg can habe kids. That would have come up earlier if it wasnt thr case.
I disagree on a lot of your points Matthais Unidostres. However, I don't want to be drawn into a big argument on The Legionnaire story page. Will gladly debate you elsewhere. One point I will respond to which may be relevant to Vanity's story:
There is nothing to back what you say and a LOT of facts against it. Changelings are modeled after communal insects such as ants, bees, wasps, and termites. Guess what they all have in common? One, and only one, fertile female - a queen. All the remaining females are infertile. The fact that Chrysalis was unique is clear - she was the only one with a pupil in her eye and her horn was different. The writers also really made this clear by having all the changelings born at the same time under Chrysalis.
You have no real argument here.
How so? Chrysalis was turned to stone seconds before the end of the next to the last episode.
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Dude just because Chrysalis was there when the eggs hatched that doesn’t mean she was the one who laid all of them. Also just because they have similarities to insects doesn’t mean they actually are insects.
And here’s the biggest thing: Ocellus has been shown to have parents who have appeared in multiple episodes.
Ocellus, due to her age, does make things interesting. The writers by that time were not worried much with backstory (i.e. Cozy Glow) or consistency. Do you recall another changeling in the show her age? I can't recall any myself. Best guess viewing the facts .. maybe her parents fled the hive like Thorax and lived alone? Might be a good story for somebody to tell.
A review of what is presented in the show still supports Chrysalis as the creator of all the adult changelings we are aware of. For example, I cannot recall seeing any "old" ones which would be present if Chrysalis was not the one that laid them. Also, the changelings were all hatching at the same time. Different mothers would likely produce different times of hatching.
Just went back and looked at The Hearth's Warming Club (S8E15) and your definitely right. Reformed changelings are forming families and having children. Good point!
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I meant to reply to the comment about Gallus, not yours