The pegasus, unicorn, and Earth pony tribes have a long way to go to live in harmony.
The myth of Equestria's discovery is well known—it is told and retold each year by Hearth's Warming Eve pageants from Manehattan to Canterlot. The true origins of the nation are, however, far more complicated.
After defeating the Windigoes and forging an alliance between their three tribes, Chancellor Puddinghead, Commander Hurricane, and Princess Platinum—not to mention Smart Cookie, Private Pansy, and Clover the Clever—have an uphill battle to fight before they can convince everypony to stop fighting and live in harmony. Legions led by Hurricane's political opponents plunge the pegasi into civil war, Princess Platinum and her father struggle to maintain control over insurrection-minded unicorn nobles, and Chancellor Puddinghead's hooves are full trying to convince the other Earth pony leaders of the importance of this new alliance.
It's a world of intrigue, war, and disharmony. Before the colonization of the new region of Equestria, the disparate tribes of Ponyland must be brought together—but this may come at a price.
“It’s wonderful to see the two of you again,” the quartermaster said, descending from her perch upon the assembled supplies to land carefully beside them. “Commander Hurricane sends his regards.”
“Nice to see you, too, Private Pansy,” replied Smart Cookie, tossing her damp mane back over her ear. The trek from the domain of Clan Puddinghead to the territory under the control of Commander Hurricane’s legions had been a long one, and the Earth pony had worked up quite a lather over those several days.
“Actually,” spoke Clover the Clever, “I heard that it’s Captain Pansy, now.”
“Well, umm, yeah,” admitted Pansy bashfully, indicating the pile of supplies with the wave of a hoof. “I’m in charge of the supply train for the legions. Commander Hurricane was nice enough to promote me. I’m not really involved in any combat, though...”
The two visitors nodded, remembering well their friend’s lack of a propensity for violence—or physical feats in general, actually. “There’s no shame in that,” Smart Cookie noted.
“Certainly not,” concurred Clover. Looking over her shoulder, she watched the covered wagons roll forward into the pegasus camp. “And we, actually, have brought you additional supplies. One half of King Platinum’s gift to our most excellent allies.”
“Oh, wonderful!” exclaimed Pansy. Giving her friends a hug, she quickly added: “I need to delegate some laborers to unload them! I’ll see you later!”
As the pegasus flew away, Smart Cookie and Clover turned to each other. “Alright, Clover, you’ve been teasing that there’s been something more to the unicorns’ gift than just the supplies. Now, tell me: what else did your king send along with you?”
Nodding towards the covered wagons, Clover gave only one word in reply: “Them.” From several wagons emerged unicorns adorned with gleaming battle armor and robes in many rich hues. They bore no weapons, but certainly carried themselves with an air not dissimilar to that of the militant pegasi.
“What are they?” Smart Cookie asked. The Earth pony had been surprised by the appearance of the unicorn warriors, but figured that they were present to ensure a positive result for Commander Hurricane and the Equestrian League in the coming battle.
“They are the Celestial Guard,” responded Clover. “They are here to support our pegasus allies.”
“The Celestial Guard, huh?” Smart Cookie said, as the unicorns disembarked silently from the covered wagons in which they had been secluded since first departing from King Platinum’s realm.
“Yes. The name comes from an old unicorn word meaning ‘of the heavens’—they are the personal protectors of the royal family,” elaborated Clover. “By the king’s decree, the most magically adept foals are taken at an early age to be trained for this duty. It’s not a practice that I necessarily agree with, but I’m sure you’ll find the results nothing short of remarkable.”
Smart Cookie eyed them curiously, then turned back to her friend. “Really? So they’re the most powerful mages in all of Ponyland?”
“Well, yes, that’s true—save for myself and a scant few others, of course,” Clover explained, qualifying her previous statement. “I consider myself lucky, actually, as Star Swirl the Bearded took me as his apprentice before the Celestial Guard could draft me into their ranks.”
As the unicorns took position behind the phalanx of Commander Hurricane’s pegasi, a tall, tapering stallion who appeared to be their leader trotted up to the imposing winged warlord to discuss tactics. “I’d think you’d have been honored to join them,” observed Smart Cookie. “Judging from what I know of unicorn culture, that is.”
“Oh, it certainly would’ve been a great honor,” admitted Clover. “But, frankly, the thought of joining the military repulses me. I don’t have a martial mind, Smart Cookie—I’d much rather use my magical powers for more scholarly pursuits.”
“I can understand that,” agreed Smart Cookie. “I don’t have much interest in fighting, either. It’s my hope that, one day, ponies can put this era of violence behind them, and live in peace.”
Clover nodded in concurrence. “That’s my hope as well. But, today, I’m afraid it can’t become a reality. For the sake of harmony amongst our peoples, this battle must be fought, and won. Come, let’s find some place where we can hide and wait for the fighting to end.”
The pegasus clans, Commander Hurricane knew, had never failed to rally behind the strongest of their breed as sole and sovereign ruler. The battle to come would, in all likelihood, decide just who that strongest pegasus was. Hurricane was eager for the fighting to commence—he was tired of this state of uncertainty, of being just one amongst several challengers for the leadership of an entire tribe.
Today, either victory or death would end that infuriating existence. Hurricane would earn what he knew to be his birthright, or he would perish by his greatest enemy's hooves.
"You've picked an excellent battlefield, Commander Hurricane," complimented Master Trueheart, a young, earnest stallion who led King Platinum's Celestial Guard. The unicorns had come to support Hurricane as a show of faith in their new alliance, and, though the pegasus doubted his allies' military prowess, he appreciated the gesture.
"I do believe I have, Trueheart," replied the winged warlord frankly. “Dream Valley is one of the best natural defensive positions in all of Ponyland.”
The unicorn nodded. Stepping forward, one of Hurricane‘s subordinates, a blue pegasus named Torrent, added: "Garland and Alouette may have superior numbers, but they will have to concentrate them within the valley’s walls, forcing them to advance along a narrow front.”
“As long as we restrict them vertically, as well, the valley will act as a potent force multiplier for our legions,” concluded Starstrike, the lone mare among Hurricane’s senior officers. Her eyes burned with a passion for battle that Hurricane had often been told that his own possessed, but that he had seen in few others, even amongst pegasi.
“Of course,” the commander agreed, nodding in turn to each of the three ponies that had gathered for this tactical conference. “Torrent, you will lead three legions on the left flank. Starstrike, you shall take the two legions on the right. I shall command the remaining three legions in the center.”
“And the Celestial Guard?” inquired Trueheart, cocking his head.
Commander Hurricane smiled devilishly, gesturing with a contemptuous hoof towards the advancing forces of Generals Garland and Alouette. “Our enemies do not know of your arrival, Trueheart. I believe we’ll give them a rather nasty surprise...”
“Stop worrying, Smart Cookie, and come sit by me,” chided Clover, watching her friend pace hesitantly just within the gaping entrance to the cave. “We’re well removed from the battle. We’re safe!”
“I hope you’re sure about that, Clover,” Smart Cookie growled, peering at the assembled armies as they clashed above the rolling hills of Dream Valley. “Because I don’t want to imagine what will happen if we’re discovered. Pegasi have a reputation, you know—they can’t control their bloodlust in the heat of battle. They go berserk.”
“That’s—just a rumor.” With a heavy sigh, Clover lifted herself to her hooves and joined the Earth pony at the mouth of their shelter. “Seems like somepony has a few issues with trusting our new allies.”
“I don’t have anything against pegasi,” Smart Cookie denied. “Like I told you before, I don’t care much for violence, and the pegasus culture is deeply rooted in war. You know what they did to the griffons.”
As much as Clover hated to admit it, her friend had a point—the griffons of the Great Northern Mountains had been a peaceful tribe until an opportunistic pegasus legion had lain waste to their civilization. “I’m not saying that the pegasi don’t have a tradition of war,” Clover admitted. “But they, like us, have hope for peace. The Equestrian League was established to do away with the old stereotypes and mistrusts and to form a new nation in which Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns can live together in harmony.”
“I know,” Smart Cookie sighed.
“I abhor violence as much as you do, Smart Cookie,” Clover assured her. Gesturing with a hoof towards the distant battle, she continued: “But this is one battle that, for the sake of everypony, must be fought. Garland and Alouette have no interest in cooperating with unicorns or Earth ponies. If we want the Equestrian League to succeed, Commander Hurricane must rule the pegasi.”
“I know,” Smart Cookie repeated.
“Let’s not speak of it any further,” Clover decided, taking her friend by the hoof and leading her deeper into the cave, where they could no longer see what transpired beyond its mouth. “What will be, will be. And I am confident that Commander Hurricane and Master Trueheart will see the Equestrian League through to victory on this day.”
Smart Cookie nodded in agreement. “I’m sure you’re right, Clover. I’ll try to take my mind off of it.”
Smiling, the unicorn sat down on the cool stone of the cave floor, and the Earth pony soon joined her. “Good!” Clover declared. “Now, tell me, Smart Cookie: how is your Chancellor Puddinghead doing these days?”
“Oh, he’s just fine,” Smart Cookie replied, “and quite busy, too. The chancellor is intent upon seeing the other Earth pony clans join the Equestrian League. He’s convened a summit in Hoofbridge to discuss the matter.”
“Wonderful!” Clover said. “And do you expect the summit to be successful?”
“Maybe—sort of.” The Earth pony punctuated her uncertain answer with a noncommittal shrug. “Actually, I can’t really tell you what I expect to happen. Chancellor Puddinghead can be very persuasive, but the other leaders are so staunchly entrenched in the old ways that even the chancellor may have difficulty in convincing them to adapt. Beyond the annual tributes for weather and cosmic balance, few Earth ponies want anything to do with either pegasi or unicorns.”
Clover nodded understandingly. “That’s a sentiment held by far too many, and it’s not just the Earth ponies who are resistant to change. If not for King Platinum’s enlightened leadership, the Assembly of Nobles would have never ratified the alliance between our tribes. And, with the king on his deathbed, I fear revolution may not be long in occurring.”
“Surely Princess Platinum won’t side with them?” Smart Cookie gasped.
Clover smiled gravely and shook her head, her mane tossing about softly with the motion. “No, of course not. The princess is far from perfect, but she recognizes the role the Equestrian League must play in bringing harmony to Ponyland. And, most importantly, she trusts Chancellor Puddinghead and Commander Hurricane implicitly. But she commands no great respect, as her father does. Her reign would be fragile—the nobles could be spurred to act against her.”
“That would be terrible,” moaned Smart Cookie, covering her eyes with her hooves. “If a plutocracy comes to power in Unicornia, that would be the end of our alliance, just the same as if Chancellor Puddinghead was impeached, or if Commander Hurricane were to lose this battle.”
“Exactly,” confirmed Clover. “It’s something I’m terribly afraid of. As soon as possible, the Celestial Guard and I must return to Unicornia to ensure the survival of the Equestrian League.”
“Don’t forget about me, Clover,” Smart Cookie added, laying a comforting hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “No matter what happens between our tribes, we’ll always be friends. And I’ll always be with you.”
The right flank had been forced back nearly to the grassy knoll where Commander Hurricane had established his base. Despite the restricted space between the valley walls, the superior numbers commanded by Garland and Alouette had more than accounted for the greater skill of Hurricane’s legions.
But the pegasus warlord was not troubled in the least by this development. He had been in far more hopeless positions and succeeded. The final heir to the Greywing dynasty of pegasus rulers had believed Hurricane bested when outnumbered on the order of five warriors to one. And yet, at that battle’s conclusion, Hurricane still stood, and the Greywing dynasty was no more than a smear of red along an otherwise unremarkable hill.
“Alouette’s warriors are nearly upon us,” the commander noted nonchalantly to Master Trueheart, whose Celestial Guard had heretofore stood idly by as the battle had progressed.
“That they are, Commander Hurricane,” agreed the unicorn, as the first flashes of the enemy’s distinctive bronzen armor became visible over the knoll behind which the camp had been erected. “I suppose that now we shall be executing Captain Starstrike’s scheme, yes?”
“Of course,” the pegasus confirmed, giving the foreigner another devilish grin. It was not often that Hurricane utilized a plan which he had not crafted himself, but Starstrike had a tactical mind that very nearly rivaled the Hurricane’s own, and he admired the mare for that—among her many other admirable traits. Beckoning a young lieutenant to his side, Hurricane relayed his instructions: “Advise Starstrike that we are prepared to proceed as soon as the enemy has crested the hill.”
Nodding, the colt took several long strides before launching himself into the air in the direction of the failing right flank. Though the valley was thick with hostile warriors, Hurricane had no doubt that his young messenger would reach his destination safely. Starstrike would keep up the appearance of defeat as best she could, but would never severe the lines of communication between her legions and the commander entirely. She was far too intelligent to be so brash.
A tap on the shoulder brought Hurricane back to the here and now, and Trueheart directed the pegasus’s attention to the top of the grassy knoll. “Here they come, commander,” the unicorn intoned, as several hundred of Alouette’s warriors at last succeeded in breaching Hurricane’s lines. Soon, those several hundred became several thousand, as more and more of the enemy’s warriors poured through the gap.
“Wonderful!” snorted Commander Hurricane. “Trueheart, the Celestial Guard may attack at will.”
“Certainly,” growled the unicorn. With a kick of his hind legs, he bounded forward, barking orders at the unicorns assembled upon the loamy ground of Dream Valley. There was an instant’s pause.
And then, without further hesitation, the Celestial Guard coolly forced each and every hostile pegasus from the sky. They were gifted mages, and their training had honed their skills to the extent that they could exert their will over almost anything—even other ponies. In seconds, what might have seemed to Garland and Alouette to be a certain victory became near-total defeat, as ten thousand warriors writhed on the ground in magic-induced agony.
“Remarkable,” whispered Hurricane, with genuine awe. He trotted up beside Master Trueheart and gave the unicorn a respectful nod. “I never imagined your breed could turn the tide of battle in such a way.”
“That’s because the pegasi have never been foolish enough to make war against us,” explained the mage, as he tossed a pair of unconscious, bronze-clad warriors against the rough slope of the valley wall.
“Fair enough,” Hurricane conceded. Near the top of the knoll, the commander sighted many of his enemies attempting to flee the mighty spells cast upon them by the unicorns. Almost instantly, they were beset upon by Starstrike and a full legion of Hurricane’s warriors, which had been sequestered in the caves along the valley’s eastern wall until just that moment. “I sense we have won the day, Trueheart. From this moment forward, no pegasus legion shall raise a hoof in opposition to the Equestrian League.”
“Father, please,” cried Princess Platinum, her cheeks stained with glimmering blue tears, “you’re going to live. It’s too soon for you to die, father—there’s so much that I’m not ready for...”
The dying king gave a soft, mournful chuckle, wiping the tears from his daughter’s face with a trembling hoof. “Yes, dear, forbid me to die,” he groaned. “I’ll obey. I—will try.”
Looking from her father to the small crowd of unicorns gathered to pay the dying monarch their final respects, Platinum raised herself to her hooves and patted her father tenderly on the head. “I know it’s no use, father, but—but I can’t imagine my life without you. I still have so much to learn.” Carefully, she ran her hoof across his ivory mane. It was rough and curly, like dense wool—she remembered it felt much the same years ago, when she was only a filly.
“Your grandfather died when I was hardly more than a foal,” explained King Platinum. His voice was hoarse, and hardly audible. “I am happy—to have been here for you as long as I have. But now—it’s my time. You will learn for yourself what it means to rule Unicornia.”
“Y-yes, father,” Platinum replied, her lower lip quivering. It was all she could do to refrain from blubbering.
“Take my hoof,” her father requested, and the princess immediately clasped it tight against her chest. “Take—my love. Go, with my blessing—you rule over Unicornia now. Be fair—be just. Do all you can to preserve our newfound—our newfound harmony with the pegasi and the Earth ponies.”
“I will,” promised Platinum, bowing her head so that nopony could see the bitter tears form into rivers upon her cheeks. “Of course I will.”
Her father nodded. “Of course you will,” he repeated. Looking at the ornately-decorated ceiling of his bedchamber, the king closed his eyes for the final time. “I’ll go on—to something better. Live long, dear. Rule justly. Be—the great queen which I know you to be...”
Part II, Chapters II-IV: Of Royalty and Revolution
“Of course I’m loyal to you, Tinnie, but I just don’t see what we have to gain from aligning ourselves with these scoundrels and marauders.”
With a heavy sigh, the new monarch of Unicornia turned to her cousin. “Firstly, Stewart,” she began, “I refuse to be called ‘Tinnie’ any longer. That name didn’t amuse me when I was a filly, and it certainly doesn’t amuse me as queen. Now, I won’t demand you address me as ‘Your Highness,’ but I do demand that you address me by my given name.”
“Certainly,” acquiesced Stewart, throwing his hooves upwards in a melodramatic display of surrender. “Please, Platinum—my lovely, darling cousin—explain to me what you believe you are accomplishing with this Equestrian League.”
“That brings me to my next point: I take offense at your characterization of our fellow ponies,” Platinum said sternly. “You call them ‘scoundrels,’ do you? And ‘marauders?’ I’m certain you would be shocked to know what many Earth ponies and pegasi call us unicorns!”
Stewart rolled his eyes. “Dreadful things, I imagine. They’ve never been polite to us, and have never given us a reason to be polite to them.”
“That’s not true!” Platinum retorted. “At least, it isn’t any more. Times are changing, Stewart, and we need this alliance. I refuse to remain aloof and allow Ponyland to fall to pieces all around us! If we want to not only survive, but live peacefully, and happily, we need to get over the petty feuds of the past and learn to be in harmony with the other tribes!” Reaching across the table, she entangled one hoof in her cousin’s fancy collar and dragged him closer. “If you can’t understand that, you are a traitor—not only to me, but to my father’s memory, as well!”
“Please, please!” Stewart pleaded, scrabbling at his collar with both hooves. “Platinum, I understand! But you’ll be committing political suicide if you advocate for this alliance before the Assembly of Nobles!”
“Is that so?” the queen growled, with a skeptical twitch of her brow.
“I assure you, Platinum, that it is!” Stewart gasped. Tiring of his flailing, she released him, allowing him to sink to the table in exhaustion. “You managed to convince your father of the value of this alliance, and nopony dared to contradict him. You must understand that there was never a unicorn in history who commanded as much respect as your father. King Platinum was a hero of mine, and was the same to many, many ponies.”
“I know!” Platinum hissed. “My father was an excellent king. Fair, and wise—and, goodness, Stewart, I miss him so much...” As the tears began to well up in her eyes, the queen flung herself to the floor, hiding her face.
Nodding, Stewart stood, looking down at his cousin sympathetically. “The whole of Unicornia misses him, Platinum,” he replied slowly. “Now, I can’t claim to have known your father all too well, but I believe that he would never want you to give up your throne. And I’m afraid that’s what you will be doing if you pursue this alliance before the Assembly of Nobles. You will go forward, Platinum, and they won’t follow. It will be insurrection. Chaos!”
“Then what do I do?” Platinum cried, staring disconsolately up at Stewart. “Tell me, Stewart, what do I do? There’s still so much I don’t understand about being a queen!”
“At this point, you have a decision to make, and it is a difficult one,” Stewart admitted. “Frankly, I wouldn’t want to be in your position right now. But, as I see it, you must make a decision between your ideals and your crown. And it’s very likely, my dear cousin, that whichever one you do not choose—you will lose. Possibly forever.”
* * * * * * * * * *
They soared just below the clouds, their wings pumping furiously as they circled at ever-quicker speeds. Below them, tens of thousands of prisoners of war were beginning the long march from Dream Valley to the detention camps outside the city of Skysopolis. Commander Hurricane and Starstrike could hardly care what happened to those defeated warriors. With their leaders, Garland and Alouette, dead and captured, respectively, any attempt by them to continue the war would be uncoordinated and easily contained.
"Well, commander, I'd say that this war is finally over," Starstrike commented, sanguinity evident in her voice. "With Garland dead and his legions decimated, Hippocrene is ours for the taking."
"You'd seem to be right, Starstrike," Hurricane agreed. He glanced at his loyal officer, and she returned his gaze affectionately. "It's been a pleasure serving with you, captain. The war might have gone much differently if I didn't have you."
Starstrike scoffed. "Commander Hurricane, you are possessed of the greatest martial mind of any pegasus in history. The presence or absence of a single subordinate officer would've made little difference."
"Still, I'd much rather continue to work closely in the future," Hurricane insisted. "We'll discuss the matter further in time. At this moment, I must attend to our guests."
As the two pegasi landed solidly on the loamy soil before them, Clover and Smart Cookie stiffened, as if they were warriors coming to attention. Hurricane had forgotten how small the two foreigners were, relative to himself—their manes could hardly brush his shoulder. "Clover the Clever. Smart Cookie. Wonderful of you both to pay me a visit here in pegasus territory," he said. "I'm sorry I couldn't greet you properly before the battle began."
"That's alright," Clover assured him. "We understand full well the importance of what you've done here today. And, on behalf of King Platinum, I sincerely thank you."
"Chancellor Puddinghead sends his fond regards, as well," Smart Cookie added, bowing her head.
"Give them both my sincere thanks!" Hurricane requested, receiving assurances that it would be done from both the Earth pony and the unicorn. Pleasantries being taken care of, Hurricane allowed the two to go on their way, and himself returned to the sky, Starstrike in close formation behind him.
* * * * * * * * * *
The mare that returned Platinum's austere gaze from within the depths of the mirror was a vision of beauty and royal authority. She would need to utilize to the fullest her diplomatic wiles and political discretion to see the Equestrian League through this convocation of the Assembly of Nobles intact.
"With quorum established," intoned Duchess Coriander, the moderator of the Assembly of Nobles, "the chair now recognizes our sovereign ruler, Queen Platinum of Unicornia."
Turning from the small mirror beside her throne to the three hundred esteemed unicorns seated beneath her, the young queen answered the moderator's call with a pronounced clearing of her throat. "Loyal subjects," she began, "I thank you for your condolences upon my late father's all too abrupt death, and for the great faith which you have placed in me as I begin the difficulty process of assuming his position as monarch of Unicornia. I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of you."
Her opening remarks earned a resounding round of applause, and Platinum relished the distinctive sound of hooves stomping against the ornate ceramic tile of the Assembly Hall. "Some might call this the dawn of a new era in the history of our tribe," she continued. "I do not. While my father's reign has ended, what he stood for yet survives, and his policies will continue to change Unicornia—and Ponyland as a whole—for decades, if not centuries, to come!"
More applause. While Platinum might have been tempted to take it as a sign of approval from the Assembly of Nobles, she understood that such a response was all too often purely perfunctory—she was still, essentially, surrounded by her political opponents. "I plan to honor my father's memory in the best way I know how—by ruling justly, and abiding by my conscience, just as he always did. And this is why my first act as your queen will be to request the ratification of a comprehensive treaty of alliance between Unicornia and the pegasus and Earth pony tribes."
As expected, a resounding silence dominated the hall. While there were a few members of the Assembly of Nobles who were loyal to their queen—her cousin Stewart perhaps foremost among them—they did not dare to applaud and risk losing stature in the eyes of their peers. "Contrary to what so many unicorns believe, our three tribes have more similarities than differences!" Platinum declared, forging forward with her planned speech. "We cannot lose sight of the fact that we are all ponies, and we all have a fundamental desire to live in harmony. Some have said that the Equestrian League will cause us to forget our past—to allow our proud unicorn culture to fall into obscurity. This will not be the case. The purpose of this alliance is not to merge three tribes into one—rather, it is intended to allow three tribes to resolve the misunderstandings and conflicts that have plagued our relations for centuries, and live together in peace and friendship."
"I implore you, my loyal subjects, to consider the ramifications of your rejecting this alliance. Three generations ago, unicorns fought and died by the tens of thousands against the Earth ponies in what ultimately proved to be a wholly unnecessary war over a next-to-useless parcel of land. Do you want to see your sons and daughters risk their lives in battle? Or would you rather see them grow up without fear, in a Ponyland free of petty bickering and disparate factionalism? The choice lies squarely in your hooves. Honor my father's final wish and secure this alliance now."
Stepping back, Platinum gauged the reaction to her speech in silence. Some faces seemed sympathetic—others were clearly less so. The Equestrian League would face a long, hard slog here in the Assembly of Nobles—a more bitter fight than any fought by Commander Hurricane's legions.
"She's terribly irrational, I'm afraid," complained Duchess Coriander, stirring her tea magically as the other nobles arranged themselves upon the various plush couches populating the salon. "Besides, this Equestrian League couldn't succeed even if we were to ratify her treaty. The cultural divide between us unicorns, the Earth ponies, and the pegasi is far too wide."
"I couldn't agree more, Duchess Coriander," concurred April Showers, a countess from the coastal estate of Hornford. "And I'd like to further state that somepony must do something about our new queen before her idealism proves to be the ruin of Unicornia."
"Agreed," said the duchess, and several of the other privileged unicorns echoed the sentiment. "We hold the advantage in the Assembly of Nobles, but Platinum has just enough support—much of it, of course, out of sympathy, and respect for her late father—to prevent any decisive action from being taken against this ludicrous alliance."
"What do you propose, then, Duchess Coriander?" inquired Gold Standard, a stallion who had sat on the Assembly of Nobles for a longer time than most other unicorns had been alive. "You are, after all, second only to the queen in stature amongst unicorns. I would trust your judgment above that of most any other."
The duchess took a slow sip of her tea before replying. "Fine. I'll say what we all must be thinking: Platinum must be removed as monarch of Unicornia, as promptly as is possible."
If the plot had been formulated mere days before, when King Platinum still ruled over the unicorn tribe, such a declaration would have been met with indignation and disbelief. Instead, each and every noble present in the salon simply nodded solemnly—they were not keen on being complicit in an insurrection against the royal family, but drastic action was necessary to preserve the unicorn tribe from cultural decay at the hooves of the treacherous pegasi and Earth ponies. "Now that it's been said," mused April Showers, "we must decide how we will go about removing her. I fear that a public, seemingly unprovoked coup would not sit well with the citizenry, even if the majority do disagree with the queen's ideals."
"Oh, most certainly," the duchess responded. "This regime change must be veiled from Unicornia at large, at all costs. The more unremarkable it appears, the better."
"Might I also suggest," began Gold Standard, "that we establish a solid rationale for our revolution? We are undertaking this plot for the purpose of preserving our distinctive unicorn traditions, and it could be critical to our success that we firmly ground ourselves in the same."
"An excellent suggestion, my lord," April Showers agreed. "This would not be the first time a monarch of Unicornia was removed from power. How has it been done in the past?"
With a snort, a young mare seated beside April Showers drew the attention of all present to herself. "You truly need to ask that question, mother? Any schoolmare could tell you which monarchs were deposed, when, and how."
"Well, then, May Flowers, if you know so much, why don't you enlighten the rest of us?" April Showers demanded.
"Well, I could spend some time elucidating the finer points of unicorn dynastic succession, mother, but why don't I just describe my plan to remove our most beloved Queen Platinum from her throne?" proposed May Flowers, grinning sinisterly.
"Go ahead, May Flowers," Duchess Coriander said, motioning for her to continue with a wave of her hoof. "We're listening."
"Excellent," May Flowers replied. "Now, tell me, by what right does a monarch rule over Unicornia?"
"By the Sacred Tenet, of course," the duchess replied. "By its very nature, magic is what results from the manipulation of will through intangible means to distort or alter the world around you. A monarch rules by the will of their subjects, as indicated by a natural talent for the magical arts."
"Precisely, Duchess Coriander!" confirmed May Flowers, bounding to the center of the salon excitedly. The eyes of all ponies present followed her. "A monarch is willed to rule, and can therefore manifest immense magical power—far greater than that possessed by an ordinary unicorn. If, however, a certain queen could be demonstrated to be lacking in that regard—"
"—she would lose the respect of her subjects, and the Sacred Tenet could be invoked in deposing her," the duchess interjected, finishing the thought which the young mare had begun. "It's an intriguing notion, I'll give you that, May Flowers. How do you propose we demonstrate Queen Platinum's magical inadequacy?"
"Simple: through a traditional duel of sorcery," May Flowers declared. "I will challenge our queen to try her magical powers against mine in the honorable fashion of our ancestors. It shall be a test of skill, strength, and endurance, to conclude only with a formal surrender from the vanquished contestant."
For a moment, the collected nobles contemplated the plot quietly. Gold Standard broke the silence with a hoarse "It could work."
"You'll surely be pushed nearly to the brink of exhaustion," pointed out April Showers, not content to allow her daughter to take on this responsibility without some prior questioning. "Are you sure you want to be the pony to challenge her, May Flowers? There are several more experienced mages in this very room who could readily take your place in this plot."
"Mother, I have the utmost confidence in my own abilities," replied May Flowers. "I believe that there is nopony more apt to take on this task than myself."
"I would disagree," contradicted April Showers. Mother and daughter shared an antagonistic glance before the duchess rose to her hooves, interposing herself between the two.
"You seem intent upon being the pony to duel the queen," Coriander noted, and May Flowers nodded vigorously. "I sense you're fiercely motivated to take on this challenge, and win. I see no reason we should deny you that which you so obviously desire."
"Thank you, duchess!" May Flowers exclaimed, grinning widely. Her eagerness was intoxicating, and the duchess took a moment to drink in the raw, unbridled energy. "I promise that I'll be victorious. Platinum will learn to respect the sanctity of the unicorn culture..."
"...or else!" cried the filly, flailing fruitlessly against the legs of the tall, robed stallion.
The memory visited May Flowers frequently as she slept. She had attempted to ward it off, through magic and other means, but it inevitably returned. At last, the mare, rather than fighting the specter of her past, embraced it—embraced it and all the hatred that came bundled with it.
"May," breathed her brother, shaking his head slowly. "I've avoided it for long enough. I guess I have to do it."
"No, you don't!" May Flowers wailed, flopping to the ground as another charge at the tall military recruiter met with failure. "I want you to stay here!"
"It's no use fighting it, May Flowers," said her mother, April Showers, standing within the arched doorway of their Hornford manor. "In hindsight, I suppose your father and I could have prepared you for this time better. But the Celestial Guard requires your brother's service, and—"
"Yeah, right!" spat the filly. "They don't require it! The king is old, and strong, and everypony loves him! Why do they need a colt to defend him?"
Her mother and brother only looked at her, sadly. "If I may," spoke the recruiter, cool blue eyes scouring May Flowers's face from beneath an ashen mane.
"Of course, Adept Trueheart," April Showers replied.
Trueheart, May Flowers knew, had been elevated to the rank of Master of the Celestial Guard, now, and currently led Queen Platinum's personal defenders. May Flowers had never forgiven him for what he had done to her, and his high stature only gave her cause to despise him still more.
"You're right, my little pony, regarding the king," Trueheart explained tactfully. "But the king is not the only member of the royal family, and is not the only pony whom the Celestial Guard is sworn to defend. His daughter, for one, is—"
"Daughter?" May Flowers interjected.
"Yes," Trueheart said with a nod. "King Platinum has a daughter—a young filly just about your age, as a matter of fact. In time, she will become our queen, and she will need strong, capable mages such as your brother to defend her."
"Who cares?" May Flowers hollered, jabbing at the recruiter with an accusatory hoof. "Maybe I need my brother to defend me! What if I'm bullied at school? Or need help with homework? I won't let you take him away!"
"May," her brother said, very quietly, "you have to. Let it be."
"No!" she cried.
"May Flowers, that's enough!" her mother snapped. Suddenly, the filly found herself involuntarily returning to her home, dragged along by her mother's magical pull. "You've gone on long enough. Your brother will be fine—there's great honor in joining the Celestial Guard, after all. Say goodbye."
"No! I won't!" May Flowers screamed. Her hooves dragged uselessly along the verdant lawn.
May Flowers woke up in a lather. She had believed herself to have embraced the memory—to have conquered it. But still, she found herself out of breath, twitching nervously—and brimming with a fury that had been cultivated for several long years.
"You can't let them take him!"
She opened up a small box at her bedside, containing remembrances of her brother. A lock of his mane, the letters he had written from the academy, a medallion he had earned upon his elevation to the rank of Adept. She had loved him very, very much. His leaving home had changed her profoundly.
His death, even more so.
They had said that his was an honorable profession—that joining the Celestial Guard was what any great mage aspired to do. But May Flowers saw no honor in dying at the order of some privileged princess on a quest to discover a new land.
The ice sheet had been far too thin to walk upon—when it inevitably collapsed, a dozen unicorns died in the frigid waters. Their sacrifice had not mattered to Princess Platinum, and had not even mattered to her assistant, Clover the Clever—they simply found a different path, and continued on their journey.
Her brother's death had served no purpose. The newly-discovered land to the west—Equestria, they called it—was poor in resources and held little value to Unicornia. And the Equestrian League that had emerged as an alliance between the three pony tribes?
Blasphemy. Heresy. An affront to unicorn history and all of the tribe's traditions. May Flowers refused to allow its permanence. Her brother did not die so that the unicorn culture could wither and rot.
All that was wrong with May Flowers's life centered around one pony—Platinum, former princess and now queen of Unicornia. As much for herself as for the fate of Unicornia, May Flowers had to duel the mare, and emerge victorious.
