> Secrets and Lies (phase one) > by keithsterling > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 28, 2025, 16:30 hrs Equestria Standard time, Presidential Palace, Office of President Luna Silverlight, capital city of Mare Serenitatis, New Lunar Republic. President Luna Silverlight’s office is a huge, lushly carpeted room with dark paneling and subdued lighting that gives off a slight hint of ultimate power. Sitting behind an oak desk, finishing up a conference call, wearing a gray pant suit was President Luna Silverlight. A moment later, the double wooden door opened and in enters a young, handsome 6ft 2in light blue unicorn stallion with a crimson red mane and tail. He was attired in a light gray uniform of a soldier in the New Lunar Republic Military. Upon seeing the stallion President Luna ends the call and stands up to walk over to him. As she approaches, the alicorn mare towers over him by several inches. She gestures for him to wait right there. She walks back over, next to her desk, removes her pumps and walks back over to him. She wraps her arms and wings around him in a loving embrace. “You know you are the only one I can accommodate this way, but I guess that’s the perks of being related to me, isn’t that right, nephew.” Luna comments as she puts her arms behind her back and gestures him with her head to walk beside her so they can talk. This unicorn stallion is Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight and nephew of President Luna Silverlight. After the birth of Celestia’s three foals, many years earlier, in an attempt to maintain a peace treaty with her sister’s New Lunar Republic she sent her only son (when he was old enough) Somnus to live with her. This incredible political maneuver executed by Empress Celestia Silverlight (his mother) solidified the peace treaty between the Solar Empire and the New Lunar Republic. Empress Celestia has done a similar political maneuver with her youngest daughter Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight by sending her to live with her cousin, Princess Cadence Sparkle and her family in the Crystal Empire. Her eldest daughter, Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight travels between all the lands as the ambassador from the Solar Empire. These three foals of Celestia maintain the peace treaty for all the lands “You sent for me auntie?” Somnus said walking beside the barefooted President Luna “That I did, Somnus. Latest intelligence says, an unknown group is planning something during the New Year. My shadow guard has been unable to learn any more about the plot.” Luna said, worried as she hops up onto the balustrade of a balcony, overlooking the courtyard of the presidential palace. “Do you want me to handle it, Auntie?” Somnus suggests leaning against the balustrade beside President Luna as she folds and unfolds her wings on her back. “Not just yet, Somnus, I don’t want to endanger my shadow guard secret agents that are investigating these groups that seem to pop-up every year. I thought I should bring the information to your attention, Somnus besides you’ve been running covert ops for the New Lunar Republic since your mother sent you to live with me as part of maintaining the peace treaty I barely see you around the Presidential manor anymore, I kind of miss, you and I want you to spend New Year’s Eve with me this year.” Luna said, with a hitch in her voice as Somnus leans over and kisses his aunt on her cheek. “All right, Auntie I’ll spend New Year’s Eve with you. Besides, I completed all my covert missions with the intention of surprising you with me attending Mare Serenitatis New Year’s Eve ball that you host every year at the Presidential Manor. Plus, you must give me the first dance with you.” Somnus explains as Luna’s eyes brim with joy at hearing the news. “Oh, of course, Somnus you may have the first dance with me and any other dance you would like with me.” Luna explains as she returns her nephew’s kiss on his cheek. December 28, 2025, 17:30 hrs Equestria standard time, Old Grand Royal Palace, Office of Empress Celestia Silverlight, Capital City of Canterlot, Solar Empire. The Office of Empress Celestia Silverlight is a medium sized room, lushly carpeted with a dark wood paneling. The subdued lighting gives off a hint of power, leaning against the front of her oak desk. Wearing a blue green colored slightly below the knee length dress with gold sporty stacked cork sandals was Empress Celestia Silverlight. To round out her outfit, she was wearing her Imperial’s regalia. Standing in the same room with her, was a beautiful 6ft 4in younger, light blue Alicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. She was attired in a peach color, lace fit and flare dress with light gold heeled sandals. She was also wearing her Princess’s regalia. This younger Alicorn mare is Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight, the eldest daughter of the Solar Empress Celestia. “I am sending you to the Friendship Kingdom for the New Year, Aurora.” Celestia comments as a bothered look appears on Aurora’s face. “What! Mother? You told me that I would have the month of January off to catch up on my royal duties. I have so many appointments during that month that I can’t leave the Solar Empire to go. I was not expected to visit the Friendship Kingdom till sometime in February.” Aurora said indignantly as she shot a frigid stare towards her mother. “Aurora, don’t give your mother that look. Last I checked, I am the Empress of the Solar Empire my word is law and plans can be changed, you, Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight are my subordinate. I have the right to send you anywhere I like. Do I make myself clear.” Celestia said imperious as Aurora storms out of the office fuming. A moment later, from the small balcony, just outside the office, enters a majestic dark blue 6ft 6in imperator alicorn stallion anthro with a crimson red mane and tail. He was attired in a gray striped business suit with black dress boots. Resting against his back, was a pair of gold biomechanical feathery bird wings. This imperator alicorn stallion is Emperor Justice Silverlight, Celestia’s late husband and the father of the Royal Foals. After dying many years earlier, his spirit return to his home in the stars. Over the next few years (which is shorter than anyone thinks for species born from the stars) Justice was reborn into his current form of Golden Paramount. Upon recovering all his lost memories, he seeks out his beloved Princess Celestia and found her still remaining loyal to him. Upon reuniting with him, the broken heart that Celestia had mended and the love between them was rekindled. To keep the existence of his species a secret, he asks his beloved Celestia, not to tell anyone that he’s returned, not even their own foals. “How long have you been standing there Justice?” Celestia inquiries as she walks over to him so she can embrace him. “Long enough, Celestia.” Justice answers as he returns his wife’s hug before placing a kiss on her lips. “Now tell me Celestia, why were you so nasty toward our eldest daughter? That mare is very loyal to you as our other foals are.” Justice comments as his wife takes hold of his hand and walks him over to the sofa in her office to talk. “I wouldn’t have to be so nasty towards any of our foals if they didn’t have some of your personality in them.” Celestia comments, sitting down on the sofa as she reaches down with her hand and unbuckles both her sandals from her sore feet. “Meaning?” Justice inquires as Celestia scoots further down on the sofa (her legs are longer that any other pony breed other than an imperator Alicorn). “Meaning, if you had a lot of royal duties to perform in the giving month would you leave the Empire and go to the Friendship Kingdom. If not ordered by Empress of the Solar Empire.” Celestia comments resting her white plushy bare feet on Justice’s lap. “Probably not, Celestia.” Justice answers as he begins to massage his wife’s sore feet this relaxes her, making her more open to talk about anything. “Point taken, Mr Silverlight.” Celestia said relaxed “There’s more to sending our daughter to the Friendship Kingdom isn’t there, Mrs. Silverlight?” Justice asks probing covertly his wife’s relaxed state of mind, a trick he picked up when he first married her to get her to talk about something she wanted to keep secret. “Our Solar Guard military intelligences intercepted a communiqué from an unknown group saying they are planning something during the New Year and it involves the Friendship Kingdom the transmission stops before they could learn anything else about the plot, Huh!!” Celestia exclaims, realizing that her husband got her to spill the beans why she was sending their daughter to the Friendship Kingdom. “Oh!” Celestia exclaims, as she yanks her feet off Justice’s lap and sits on them, before wrapping her hands around her snout to keep her from laughing. She forgot how good her husband was at getting her to spill the beans by doing something so sweet for her. It always gets her. “You’re so rotten, Justice get me to spill the beans by doing something as innocent as rubbing my feet but that’s one reason I love you so much (planting a kiss on his lips).” Celestia said loving and forgiving as she lies down on the sofa and places her head on to his lap as he floats her imperial tiara onto her desk. With that, the two Alicorns begin to talk as Justice holds his wife’s left hand in his. December 28, 2025, 19:30 hrs Equestria standard time, Crystal Garden of Crystal palace, Crystal Palace, capital city the Crystal City, Crystal Empire. In the Crystal Garden of the Crystal Palace, Princess Cadence Sparkle is attired in a lemon colored top of the knee length dress with light gold gladiator sandals. She observes a light anomaly from a small balcony attached to the palace. Intrigued, Cadence spreads her wings and flies down to the entrance of the Crystal garden to investigate the strange light. ‘My uncle is the only one that knows how to use that signal to get my attention. But he died so long ago taking that secret with him. It could be nothing, but the northern lights’ playing tricks on my eyes but I must know for sure. if the signal is from my late uncle, the answers can be found at the Crystal Statue of Princess Amore, the first ruler of the Crystal Empire’ Cadence thought continuing down the path. As Cadence reached the fountain, standing next to it, with his back turned towards her was her late uncle Justice Silverlight. He was sporting a pair of gold, biomechanical, steel feathery bird wings folded on his back. Upon sensing the approach of his adopted niece Princess Cadence Sparkle, Justice slowly turned around to face her. “I see you have not forgotten about the signal we used when I wanted to speak to you alone, niece.” Justice said friendly as Cadence’s breath quickens in her throat believing this alicorn was not her uncle. “No! you can’t be my uncle Justice he was a unicorn and not an Alicorn. I was present at his funeral when he was buried It took me so long to get over his loss Who are you, using my uncle’s likeness against me!” Cadence said violently as she charged a magic beam and fired it at the Alicorn stallion. Faster than Cadence could perceive the movement, the Alicorn stallion slapped away the magic beam and sent it skyward. Before she could charge a second magic beam, a powerful gust of wind knocked her off her feet. A moment later, magic bindings formed around her curvy figure, locking her arms to her side and her wings on her back. Soon the magic bindings locked her ankles together, making her unable to run. To add more anxiety to her already frayed mind, a magic rope forms around her snout making her unable to scream for help. The Alicorn stallion walks over to her and picks her up off the ground. He sits Cadence down on the edge of the fountain before kneeling down in front of her. “I am truly sorry for this, my dear niece but something tells me until I prove that I am your uncle Justice you will not listen to me.” Justice said sorry as Cadence’s eyes narrowed in contempt toward her captor. For the next few minutes, Justice thought for a long while trying to remember something that only he and Cadence would remember. Then he remembers something. “Last time we had lunch together in Canterlot, the bands on your sandals broke. You didn’t want to walk back to the palace barefooted (blink with surprise), so we stopped at a shoe store to find a new pair for you. You looked at all the displays in the store and found a pair like your old ones (shook her head). You asked the sale pony to see if he had your size in stock. He went into the back to look (shook her head again). As we were waiting for the sales pony to return, I teasingly said how much fun it would be to tickle the feet of the Princess of Love.” Justice explained as tears began running down her cheeks, realizing it was her uncle. “You saw the fear in my eyes because I didn’t know if you would do it In that moment, you promised me you would never do anything like that to me. because you loved me too much and didn’t want to hurt that.” Cadence explains as Justice dispels the magic binding allowing her to hug him. “The shoe store was empty that day so there was no way any pony other than my own uncle would know that story. but that brings up another question. Celestia said you died a week after our last lunch. That’s one reason it took me so long to recover, that day you look so healthy. Then a week later, Celestia informed me of your sudden passing I was devastated because I was in such a hurry to get home I never said ‘good-bye’.” Cadence said guilty as her beautiful face lost all expression. “Now Cadence stop with beating yourself up about it. You had no way of knowing that I would have suddenly died. It was a surprise to me as well plus I felt you said good-bye without saying a word.” Justice said reassuring as Cadence cheered-up. “Thank you uncle I forgot how much you embodied what I represent and I thank you for that.” Cadence said, as she once again, hugged her uncle. “But uncle what happen to you? You were a unicorn when you died. But you returned as an Alicorn.” Cadence ask sitting back on the edge of the fountain, crossing her leg over the other and resting her elbows on her knee. “Nothing happen Cadence, the form you see standing before you is my true form. I am an Imperator Alicorn (raising his hand to stop her from asking the question). All you need to know about an Imperator Alicorn is that we are born from the stars, my species goes back further than Celestia and Luna species does.” Justice explains as Cadence shook her head. “You didn’t come to visit me just to tell me that. Did you uncle?” Cadence comment “You are right, Cadence, I came to give you a warning.” Justice said “A warning? about what?” Cadence ask “Solar Guard Military Intelligences discovered a plot from an unknown group that involves the Friendship Kingdom. It will happen during the New Year and that all I know. Since your Crystal Empire is the closest. I brought you this warning because I don’t want you to get hurt in this plot. I would never forgive myself if you get hurt, Cadence.” Justice explains as Cadence stood on her tip-toes to kiss the much taller Alicorn on his cheek to reassuring him. “I thank you for worrying about this Alicorn, uncle. I’ll be careful.” Cadence say reassuringly as she flew back to the palace. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 1 2026, 09:00 hrs Equestria Standard Time, Automated Self Defense Coastal Battery 101, on the coast of the New Lunar Republic, New Lunar Republic. The Automated Self Defense Coastal Battery 101 is a concrete and steel reinforced large square, missile battery bunker, housing a long-range missile launching system. This automated bunker is one part of the New Lunar Republic Self-defense system. To insure the safety of the installation, only high ranking officers in the NLR military, President Luna Silverlight and her appointed Moon Knight have access codes to the unmanned bunker mainframe computer. At the bunker steel door, an earth pony stallion wearing the uniform of an NLR colonel inputs his access code into the keypad. The steel door slides, open allowing him access to the mainframe computer in the bunker so the targeting system can be reprogrammed. Watching from the other side of a large rock, just outside the chain link fence barrier, was a unicorn stallion attired in the black Special Forces combat body armor of the NLR soldier. This soldier is President Luna Silverlight’s personal knight. Everyone from the lowest to highest ranked soldiers knows if the president dispatches her personal knight it mean trouble is brewing for the Republic. His job is to terminate the offending party as it is an immediate threat against the New Lunar Republic and President Luna Silverlight herself. The soldier presses a single button on his MCV activating the cloaking system built into the armor and proceeds into the installation. In the unmanned coastal self defense bunker, the earth pony stallion, wearing the uniform of the NLR colonel continues to reprogram the missile targeting system with the great skill of a master programmer. Unaware that his life is being forfeited, the soldier in the black body armor is standing in the entrance of the bunker watching him finish the reprogramming of the missile system. “I would suggest you don’t press that enter key and back away from the mainframe computer, Colonel.” the stallion’s voice sends warning. Slowly, the colonel turns around and the soldier in the black body armor reappears holding a custom pulse pistol pointed at him. “I see Madam President dispatched her Moon Knight, we figured one of the lands intercepted one of our communiqué that an inexperienced communication technician forgot to encoded. But we never figured it was the New Lunar Republic.” The NLR Colonel said indignantly, as the lowered visor on the helmet of the Moon Knight prevented the Colonel from seeing the puzzled look on his face. “Maybe your group should hire better personnel to handle your secret communication lines next time, Colonel;So Colonel will you surrender?” The Moon Knight orders holding the pistol trained on him. “Fat chance Sir Knight, It’s over for me now.” The NLR Colonel said as he presses a button on the mainframe computer before falling dead away after biting down on something in his mouth. “Self-destruct mechanism activated. All warheads will self-destruct in less than five minutes.” The computer voice said as the Moon Knight makes a dead run out of the installation. A moment later, the brilliant explosion destroys the whole installation leaving behind a smoking crater. Slowly the soldier dusts himself off and removes his helmet revealing the face of Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight. He quickly dials a number on his holo-phone, a moment later the holographic head of Luna springs to life in front of him. “Are you free Auntie? We need to talk.” Somnus said “All right nephew, Let me quickly clear my agenda for today. I am in my office at the Presidential Palace.” Luna explains “Understood Auntie, on my way back to Mare Serenitatis.” Somnus said as he puts his helmet back on and climbs aboard a hover cycle to head back to the Capital City. January 1, 2026, 11:30 hrs Equestria Standard time, Presidential Palace, Office of President Luna Silverlight, capital city of Mare Serenitatis, New Lunar Republic. After clearing her agenda for today, President Luna removes her pumps from her feet before Somnus arrives so she will not tower over him. Soon the door into her office opens and in enters a very vexed Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight wearing his light gray uniform. As he approaches her desk, she watches him slam his fist into his open hand a few times. She knows that something has got Somnus’s tail in a knot and must proceed delicately from here on. “Somnus dear, please step forward and tell your auntie what is bothering you?” Luna said calmly as Somnus follows her direction. A second later, Luna hops up onto the edge of her desk and sits down on it. Instantly she stretches her long leg and foot towards Somnus. “Grab it Somnus, I will not mind.” Luna said reassuring as Somnus grabs hold of her plushy and smooth dark blue, bare foot with golden yellow nail polish. As Somnus held his aunt’s foot in his hand, she chuckles softly into her hand. “When you were a colt, you tickled my feet, just to hear me laugh. I asked you to grab my foot, because I wanted you to remember no matter what rank I have, that foot still belongs to your Aunt Princess Luna Silverlight, so feel free to speak your mind with me. I am still your aunt.” Luna said reassuring as she gently pulled away her foot and crossed her leg over the other one. “Thank you, Auntie.” Somnus said appreciative as Luna had a smile on her snout. “You are very welcome, nephew. Now tell me why did you want to talk to me?” Luna inquired gesturing with her hand a few times toward Somnus. “We have traitors in the NLR Military, Auntie.” Somnus said coldly as Luna’s eyes widen with alarm. “Traitors! In the NLR Military. How so, nephew?” Luna inquires as her breath catches in her throat. “I just barely stopped an NLR colonel from carrying out a plot. He was reprogramming the targeting system mainframe computer in the Automated Self Defense Coastal Battery 101. But unfortunately, he bit down on something in his mouth that killed him, but before he died, he activated the self-destruct mechanism in the installation.” Somnus explains as Luna’s face becomes a mask of terror. “Somnus! Do you know how stupid that stunt you did was! If you were caught in the explosions of all those warheads, you would have been killed! Your mother put me in charge of you! If you died under my watch, your mother would never forgive me for killing her son!” Luna’s voice explodes out of her as tears stream down her cheeks. Somnus’ ears begin to droop down on top of his head. “Auntie, I am sorry for scaring you.” Somnus’ voice cracked as Luna kneels down in front of him and kisses him on his cheek. “I see you understand where my concern comes from Somnus. Of all my soldiers that work for me, you are the one I most worry about. I know the missions I send you on are dangerous. But you always return to me, so when you told me that the missile battery exploded, all I could see was your broken dead body. Please Somnus, do not ever do that again. Your mother’s heart and mine could never heal if you died that way.” Luna said benevolent, touching the side of his face with her hand as she slowly rose to her feet again. “Somnus, call your mother on her private line. that line shouldn’t be monitored by the NLR communications team. Till we figure out how many traitors there are in the NLR Military, tell no one what happened at the installation.” Luna explains as Somnus begins to dial his mother’s private line on his holo-phone. “Auntie why do you want me to call my mother?” Somnus asks as Luna leans against the front of her desk. “If we have traitors in our Military. There’s a good chance your mother has a traitor in her own military as well.” Luna says as the small hairs in his mane begin to stir, realizing that the traitor could go after his mother pretty easily eventhough she is an Alicorn mare. “Mother.”Somnus said anxious as tears run down his cheeks “Somnus don’t worry about your mother. That’s why I wanted you to call her. I wanted you to tell her to come to the NLR as discreetly as she can. If we tell her what we know, she can begin to ensure her safety. Plus, it’s been awhile since you last visited your mother in the Solar Empire, can you imagine how worried your mother will become after reading about some of the missions you undertook.” Luna explains as the holographic head of Empress Celestia Silverlight (Somnus’s mother) springs to life in front of him. “Huh? Oh, hello, baby. I didn’t expect a phone call from you today. But it’s always a treat to hear from you.” Celestia said happy and relieved to hear from Somnus. “Is something wrong baby, I can see it in your eyes. You can’t hide anything from the eyes of your mother. Tell me what’s wrong, baby?” Celestia inquires caring as she notices the worry in her son’s eyes. “Mother, Can you come to the NLR as discreetly as you can?” Somnus inquires as he tries to hold a brave face in front of his mother’s holographic eyes. “I suppose so, Somnus, but why do you want me to come to the NLR?” Celestia ask innocently as Somnus’ face becomes etched in desperation with his mother. “Mother Please!” Somnus’ voice explodes out of him as the outburst caught Celestia by surprise. She watches as tears begin running down his cheeks right in front of her. “Ok, baby, I’ll come to NLR for you. I should arrive at about 8:30 tonight. Is that ok, baby?” Celestia ask as Luna takes over the call from Somnus. “8:30 tonight should be fine, sister. We will be at the presidential manor at that time. I suggest you pack for a few weeks. You are going to have quite a road trip ahead of you to get to the NLR from the Solar Empire.” Luna explains as she switches the call from Somnus’s MCV over to her MCV. “That I know, sister, but the only way I can be discreet is by driving myself to the NLR from the Solar Empire, the brightside of this situation is that I am doing this for my foal and no pony else.” Celestia explains as Luna continues to relay instructions. January 1, 2026, 22:30 hrs Equestria Standard time, Presidential manor, vestibule of the Presidential manor, capital city of Mare Serenitatis, New Lunar Republic. After numerous delays on her way to the New Lunar Republic from the Solar Empire, Somnus’s mother finally arrives several hours late. She is greeted by her sister Luna in the vestibule of her presidential manor. “I am sorry for being late sister. I had so many delays on my way here, that it seemed that something was trying to prevent me from arriving on time. But I made it (looking around for Somnus) Where’s Somnus? He’s the reason I made this trip here in the first place.” Celestia explains apologetic as she reaches up to untie the scarf on her head that holds her long mane hair in an improvised pony tail so she can pass herself off as a modified pony. “I sent him to bed, sister, Somnus was mentally exhausted after all the events of today.” Luna explains as she gestures Celestia to follow her into the parlor. She follows Luna into an adjacent room just off the vestibule. “I see sister.” Celestia comment anxious as she rubs her left arm up and down with her right hand nervously. She is standing in front of a bay window looking outside into the NLR night sky wondering why her foal wanted her to come. “Sister?” Celestia said apprehensively as Luna pours herself a glass of apple cider on the rocks for her to drink. “We have traitors in our ranks, sister. Somnus uncovered a plot of an NLR Colonel earlier today. He was reprogramming the targeting computer in one of my automated long range self defense missile battery on the coast. Before Somnus could question him further, he killed himself with something in his mouth and activated the self-destruct mechanism in the battery, destroying all traces of tampering of the targeting system.” Luna explains as Celestia’s heart pounds in her chest. “No sister, not all traces. The NLR Colonel was’ probably targeting Princess Twilight Sparkle and her Friendship Kingdom on the island for the missile attack, that’s why he was reprogramming the targeting computer in the coastal battery.” Celestia explains knowing as Luna bolted out of her chair, spilling her drink on the rug beneath her barefeet. “How do know that Celestia?” Luna exclaims as she stands in shock. “My Solar Guard Military intelligence intercepted a communiqué from an unknown group last year, it mentioned a plot that involved the Friendship Kingdom. The communiqué said nothing more about how the plot was going to be carried out or by whom, It just said it would happen during the New Year.” Celestia explains as Luna gives a startled gasp with the info. “What I know might be relevant to the info your Solar Guard gathered. Last year, my Shadow Guards were investigating rumors of a new splinter group making waves around the region. During the course of the investigation into this splinter group, my shadow guard happened onto a plot, my secret agents were unable to learn any more about the plot, all they got was it was going to happen during the New Year.” Luna explains as the two sisters continue to exchange notes from both their intelligence agencies. After talking to her sister till 11:00 PM Celestia return to her hover car to retrieve her luggage from the trunk. With her bags well in hand, she made her way up to the second floor of the Presidential manor where Luna had her household staff make up a room for her which was across the hall from her son’s permanent room. Once Celestia settled into her room, she opens her suitcase and retrieves her nightgown so she can turn in for the night. At midnight, Celestia tossed and turned in her bed. She didn’t want to let on that when Luna told her that the missile battery exploded she knew it could have killed her son. Tears streaked the Alicorn mare’s face as her large bare feet padded out onto a small balcony adjacent to the guest bedroom. She stopped briefly to pull on her robe as this side of the building is much cooler than the other. As she stood on the balcony, her breath become raw in her throat as a light evening breeze played with strands of her mane and tail hair. Soon, an alicorn sized portal opens inside the room. From the opening steps, this alicorn mare’s husband, Emperor Justice Silverlight who was attired in an orange colored robe with slippers on his bare feet. Without a word to him, Celestia turns quickly on her heels and runs into his arms. Once there, she presses her head against his well defined chest and, once again, begin to cry. Justice wraps his muscular arms and metal wings around his distressed wife, before resting his chin on the back of her head. “We, we, we almost lost our son, Justice.” Celestia voice constricted as tears continue to stream down the front of Justice’s robe. “I know Celestia, but he survived, that’s the best outcome for this.” Justice said calmly and reassuring, nuzzling his wife’s ear with his snout trying to soothe her frail emotional state. Slowly, Celestia backs away from her husband’s grasp; the rubbing of her ear took the edge off her anxiety. “How can you be so calm, Justice? I was an emotional wreck. But you come and begin rubbing my ear with your snout. Then I start to feel better and the dark cloud lifts. Is that the power of an Imperator Alicorn?” Celestia inquires as Justice chuckles under his breath before walking over to a sizable bed, big enough for two large Alicorns to sleep together in comfort. “Answer my question, Justice.” Celestia asked insisting as Justice hangs his robe up on a nearby coatrack, ignoring his wife’s query. He sits down on the edge of the bed and slips his feet out of his slippers, before sliding under the covers. “Oh Justice fine, ignore your wife’s query and I am just happy you are here to spend the night with me.” Celestia said annoyed but happy. Celestia hangs her robe on the same coatrack. She slides under the covers and snuggles up close to him before falling fast asleep with her arms wrapped around him. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 1 2026, 0930 hrs Equestria standard time, outside the Castle of Friendship, castle garden, Capital city of Ponyville, Friendship Kingdom In a hidden away area of the garden of the Castle of Friendship, Princess Cadence Sparkle stands talking to her uncle Justice. She is attired in a vermillion colored top of the knee length dress and light gold gladiator sandals with her Princess’ regalia. Despite Justice’s warning to her about the plot targeting the Friendship Kingdom, Cadence traveled from the Crystal Empire by herself to warn her sister-in-law, Princess Twilight Sparkle, about the plot against the Kingdom. “Uncle, I am sorry for going against your wishes. But I would never forgive myself if I didn’t warn Twilight about the plot, she is my sister-in-law you know.” Cadence says apologetic as Justice leans against a rock. “I know that niece, I know that Twilight is your sister-in-law. It’s just that you snuck away from the Crystal Empire without telling me. I worry a great deal about you, Cadence. Like Celestia, you have shown me boundless love. That’s the real reason I wanted to reunite with you, Cadence, in this new form to feel that love again from you.” Justice explains as a tear came to Cadence’s eye. She walks up next to him and gives him a kiss on his cheek, a gesture she forgot to return when he reunited with her in the Crystal Empire. “That should help, uncle.” Cadence says affectionately as Justice took hold of his niece’s hand in his. Suddenly there was a tremendous explosion startling both Justice and Cadence who quickly spread their wings and take to the sky. From their aerial position, the two Alicorns can make out a smoke plume rising from the coast of the New Lunar Republic. Without another word, the two Alicorns speed toward the smoke plume to investigate and render aid (if needed). As they come in range of the NLR coastline, several large explosions continue to go off as the remaining warheads in the battery self-destruct. Justice quickly puts his arm out to prevent Cadence from getting any closer to the unsafe location. He points towards a grove of trees near the shoreline to land and wait for the explosions to subside. “How are you Cadence?” Justice inquiry as he lands in the grove followed closely by Cadence who lands soon after her uncle. “I am fine, uncle, Just had some trouble keeping up with you. It’s hard to believe those metal wings of yours make you faster than my natural wings.” Cadence comments as Justice chuckles softly catching her after a shockwave from the explosion knocks her off her feet. For the next few hours Cadence sits on a large rock with her legs dangling down waiting for the explosions to subside. Down by her feet her uncle waits as he, turns his head toward the rock. He notices through the opening in Cadence’s sandals her toenail polish color. He looks up toward her and she gestures with her head to go ahead and remove her shoe to get a better look at the polish. As he held his niece’s slender and silky light pink bare foot in his hand with teal green colored nail polish he looks back up at her. “This nail polish on your toes, Cadence, complements your pelt color perfectly. Very nice niece.” Justice said complementing her as it caused Cadence to blush a bit. “Thank you uncle, you’re the first stallion to notice my new nail polish that I’ve been wearing for a week on my hands and feet.” Cadence said dejected resting her chin on her chest. “Surely, your husband notices your new polish, Cadence.” Justice comments as he puts her sandal back on her foot and buckles it for her. She opens her wings and flaps down from on top of the rock, landing in front of her uncle. “Uncle can we talk about my personal life later when we get back to the castle, it will make me feel a little bit better talking to you.” Cadence said her voice cracking as Justice agreed to meet her in her room so they can talk. The two Alicorns make their way back to the location after the many explosions had subsided. The first thing they notice was the mangled and twisted remains of the chain link barrier that surrounded whatever this structure was. As Cadence sets foot onto the grounds, she can feel the radiant heat come up out of the ground through the thin soles of her gladiator sandals. This unpleasant sensation causes her to clamp her teeth together. Noticing that his niece was in distress, he quickly spreads his wings and sweeps her off the ground. “What’s wrong Cadence?” Justice inquiry carrying his niece away from the location in his arms. “Uncle, it feels like my feet are burning.” Cadence said as she grimaces. Slowly, the unpleasant sensation subsides as a cool ocean breeze blows through the opening of her sandals, soothing her feet. “How are your feet now, niece?” Justice inquires as Cadence walks about. “They’re ok now uncle, they don’t hurt anymore. After that experience, I don’t think I should set foot on that location without boots.” Cadence explains sadly as her ears drooped on top of her head. She wants to be of some help to her uncle who searches for clues to identify the structure. “It’s ok niece, why don’t you look around out here, those explosions probably tossed fragments from the structure all over the place, see what you can find.” Justice suggests as she begins searching the area. Justice lands back in the location and begin searching around the area; which is strewn with chunks of reinforced concrete and burned pieces of metal. As he moves toward the shoreline, he soon discovers the remains of a large square concrete building. On the remains of an outer wall, Justice notices a small black box with singed buttons on it. A single, small, green LED light remains glowing on the box. Justice figured, at one time, this structure had some kind of a highly secured entrance that needed a pass code. Adjacent to the keypad, was an anthro pony sized opening into the structure. Justice sticks his head into the opening of the interior and notices the structure has collapsed in on itself. Through the rubble, Justice could make out, against one of the walls, were the remains of a mainframe computer system. He figured that it ran the whole structure but for what purpose, he didn’t know. As he turned around to rejoin Cadence outside the chain link barrier, lying on the ground was a twisted steel door. Painted on the door was B-101. With no other clues to be gathered at the location, Justice flies out and finds Cadence looking at a large piece of silver metal with something written on it. “Did you find something niece?” Justice inquiry as Cadence turned toward him with a smile on her snout. “I did uncle, but I don’t know what these letters and numbers mean.” Cadence said puzzled as she hands the piece of silver metal over to her uncle. Justice set it on the ground in front of both of them and knows right a away what it is. (LRM 10) “This writing means Long Range Missile 10. You said you found this out here, niece correct?” Justice said as Cadence pointed towards a light forested area nearby. “Right over there, uncle, with a lot of other metal debris strewn about.” Cadence explains as Justice snuck a kiss on his niece’s cheek causing her to blush. “What was that for, uncle?” Cadence inquiry placing her hands on either side of her face, a little bit embarrassed because she was not ready for her uncle to kiss her on the cheek. “You, my dear niece, might have just solved the mystery of this structure, by finding this vital piece of evidence.” Justice explains as Cadence’s face flushes with happiness. “So what was it?” Cadence inquires “It was an automated self defense long-range missile launching system battery.” Justice explains as they both spread their wings and fly back to the Friendship Kingdom. January 1 2026, 1330 hrs Equestria Standard time, Eternal palace sub-basement level, Capital City of Chimera, Master Command Center, Principality of Dream Valley, Independently owned land in the Solar Empire. The master command center is located in the sub-basement level of the Eternal Palace in the Principality of Dream Valley. It’s independently owned land within the Solar Empire but not under the banner of the Empire. Celestia does have family ties to Dream Valley, being the wife of Marquis Justice Silverlight, the son of Duchess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. The master command center is a huge two floor complex with a huge holographic world map that floats in midair in the center of the room. Below the holographic world map, are many computer work stations. They are linked to a multitude of monitor screens manned by numerous Imperator Alicorns communication technicians. Conducting the controlled chaos of this center was 6ft 10in extraordinary looking dark blue colored imperator alicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. A pair of silver bio-mechanical feathery bird wings rest on her back. Her slender equine figure was attired in an ice blue skirt uniform with a pair of black pumps on her bare feet. This Imperator Alicorn mare was Duchess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. A moment later, Shimmering Diamond was joined in her command pod by a 6ft 11in everlasting, beautiful, morning blue colored Imperator Alicorn mare with a pink mane and tail. A pair of gold bio-mechanical feathery bird wings rest on her back. Her perfect equine figure was attired in an Emerald Green below the knee length dress with a pair of grey strap sandals on her perfect bare feet. To around out her outfit, she was wearing her imperial Princess regalia. This Imperator Alicorn mare was Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight, the ruler of Principality of Dream Valley. “Welcome, Your Imperial Highness.” Shimmering Diamond said annoyingly as the statement irritated Ophelia a bit, till Shimmering Diamond giggled at Ophelia for a little while. “Oh Shimmer! You are just as bad as my own Grandson is, you both relish annoying me with using my formal title in private, when I have told both of you don’t use my formal title unless it’s in an official capacity. I mean in court and public, got it.” Ophelia said irritated as she hissed at her daughter. “But anyway, Shimmer, why did you ask me to come down to command center?” Ophelia inquiry as Shimmer flipped a few switches on her control board causing the huge holographic world in the center of the room to shrink down and reappear in her command pod. The smaller holographic world spun once around before flattening out, and zooming in onto the coast of the New Lunar Republic. On the coast, a large wireframe model formed representing a structure. After the computer analyzed the wireframe model, the results came back. It states that the structure was the New Lunar Republic automated long-range missile launching self defense coastal battery with four heavy explosive missiles. “At 9:30 am this morning, this very structure exploded, destroying the battery, prior to the explosion, our sensors picked-up something.” Shimmer explains as a wireframe figure appears on the screen running from the battery. The computers, once again, analyzing the wireframe model and the results came back. Soon a 3-D image of Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight appeared on the screen with all his vital stats. The most telling was his species. It marked him as hybrid Terran Alicorn and Imperator Alicorn stallion offspring. “By Celestia’s light. Did my great grandson intentionally destroy one of his Aunt Luna’s missile battery?” Ophelia’s voice breaks as tears come to her eyes as she must now kill her great grandson because the eternal magic of his Imperator Alicorn side has started to twist him. “Fortunately mother, he did not, some pony else did.” Shimmer explains as a second figure appears on the screen walking into the battery. The computer, once again, analyzing the wireframe model and the results come back. Soon a 3-D image of a generic earth pony stallion appeared on the screen with all the generic vital stats of the species. “I figured Somnus was trying to stop this other pony from doing something to the missile battery. but could not as the whole thing exploded soon after.” Shimmer said finishing her report to her mother and returns the world back to the center of the room. With that, Ophelia turns on her heels and walks out of the master command center. She walks down the hallway, back to the elevator, to ride it back up to the main floors of Eternal Palace. Once on the main floors of Eternal Palace, Ophelia finds a quiet place away from the main areas of the palace to make a call. She passes her hand a few times over her MCV till the holo-phone appears. She dials a number on her holo-phone and it rings several times before the holographic head of her great grandson Somnus springs to life in front of her. “Hello Great Grandmother Ophelia. Is something wrong?” Somnus said friendly as Ophelia managed to form a smile on her snout. “No Somnus, I just wondered if you have time to talk with this old unicorn mare, that happens to be your great grandmother?” Ophelia said teasing as she got a laugh out of Somnus. “Oh, Great Grandmother Ophelia, you are not old. Mother and Aunt are much older than you.” Somnus said refuting his great grandmother’s claim that she was older than his mother and aunt. “Thank you great grandson, you truly know how to cheer up a unicorn mare. But you didn’t answer my previous query?” Ophelia ask as Somnus chuckled to himself. “Your timing is perfect Great Grandmother. I am in my room at the Presidential manor. Auntie got tied-up at the Presidential palace on business, so she will be coming home late, when she gets here, we are going to have dinner together. So I can talk till Auntie arrives.” Somnus explains as two unicorns begin to talk to each other. Its several hours later, after finally finishing her marathon shift at the Master Command Center in the Eternal Palace, Duchess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight is finally able to return to the Silverlight stable in the Capital City of Chimera to rest and recover. The moment she set foot in the mansion vestibule, she hangs her uniform jacket onto a nearby coatrack. A moment later, she moves from room to room gathering choice items. The first item she grabs from a nearby cabinet was a small plastic rectangular tub. She deposits the tub on the drain board next to the sink. Before heading to a room on the second floor of the mansion, she turns on the water to allow it to slowly warm up. While getting the other items. She soon returns carrying a small bag of Epson salt and two clean towels from the bathroom on the second floor. Before returning to the kitchen, she spreads out one of the towels she was carrying on the floor in front of her favorite chair in the family room. She fills the tub halfway up with warm water and pours the Epson salt into the water stirring it with her hand to mix-it. She carefully carries the plastic tub into the family room and sets it down on the towel in front of her chair. At which time, she carefully pushes the tub forward enough to slide in behind it allowing her to sit in her chair. She reaches down and removes her heels from her feet. She unleashes an audible sigh of relief as her sore feet sink into the warm water solution. “Greetings mother, am I intruding in on your relaxing time?” Justice said worried noticing his mother is soaking her feet. When he was a small colt, his mother would ask him to fetch the tub and Epson salt from the bathroom. After she prepared the solution, she would ask him to go pick out a storybook that he would like her to read to him. “Greetings baby. No, not at all. I just finished up a marathon shift at the command center. Wearing my heels all day really takes a toll on my feet, so I just wanted to soak them and beside I am the one that told you to come at this time. It would be the only time I would be home.” Shimmer said reassuring as Justice lifted his head and looked at his mother’s face. “So baby, what do you have to report on your current mission?” Shimmer inquiry as she sat up in her chair to listen to Justice’s report. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 1, 2026, 21:00 hrs Equestria Standard time, Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight guest bed chamber, Castle of Friendship, Friendship Kingdom, Capital City of Ponyville. Standing on the balcony just outside her bed chamber was an elegant looking young Alicorn mare wrapped in an ivory colored charmeuse robe. Her light blue feathered bird wings hung limp on her back. It was quite a large space for her status as imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight from the Solar Empire. Her normally calm and confident disposition has been replaced with lingering anxiety and worry. Being the oldest of the Silverlight foals, she has taken it on herself to protect her younger siblings, but at the same time, she doesn’t want to be overly protective of them. “Somnus you fool, do you want to give your oldest sister a heart attack, that was such a stupid stunt.” Aurora said as tears stream down her cheek soaking her robe. Earlier today after the colossal explosion off the coast of the New Lunar Republic, Aurora received a holo-phone call from her brother Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight. He was enroute back to the Capital City of Mare Serenitatis to report what happen to their aunt President Luna Silverlight. He informs her of the situation in the New Lunar Republic at the installation as a courtesy to her being the Diplomat from the Solar Empire. He asks her to pass it onto their younger sister Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight. “Huh?” Aurora exclaimed as she hears the door into her bed chamber open softly and close soon after. “Hello ?” Aurora said hesitantly as she pattered back into her bed chamber. In the darken bed chamber, Aurora closes her eyes and slowly reopens them. In doing so, her eyes started to glow a solid white. (After endless pestering of her brother Somnus, Aurora got him to teach her how to uses shadow sight ability that allow him and their aunt to see the unseen and peer into the darkness.) She slowly begins to scan the whole bed chamber with the shadow sight ability, trying to find something that might be hidden from her normal sight. “Huh?” Aurora exclaims as she comes upon the tall oak wardrobe in the room that she used to store her extra clothing in for this trip. She spots a tall translucent figure hiding beside the wardrobe in the room. The luminous figure tries to move to different locations to hide from her, but Aurora easily keeps track of its movements with the special vision. “Come out of your shadows and make yourself known to your Imperial Highness!” Aurora said in a very commanding voice as the translucent figure had no other choice but to comply with her royal command. “I see, since my death, you have learned the shadow sight ability, that your brother and aunt use.” The translucent figure said in a very familiar voice well known to Aurora since she was a very small filly. With a wave of the figure’s hand, the ‘hide in plain sight ability’ of Imperator Alicorn is dispelled instantly and standing before Aurora was her dead father Emperor Justice Silverlight. Before Justice could say anything, his daughter’s eyes rolled back into her head and she collapses to the floor. For the next few minutes, Aurora can feel something cool and damp being pressed against her face and snout, slowly waking her up. As she opens her cobalt blue eyes, she was staring into the light purple eyes of her cousin Princess Cadence Sparkle. “Cousin, what happen to me? Was I dreaming? All I remember is seeing my dead father appear before me and nothing else.” Aurora said very confused lying on her bed still wearing her robe. “No Aurora you were not dreaming. It was your father. but he’s a little bit different than you remember him. Uncle, come out, let your daughter see you.” Cadence said as Justice once again reappears at the foot of his daughter’s bed. Aurora sat in stunned silence on her bed as she looks upon her dead father’s face. A moment later, Cadence stands up and leave the room leaving the two ponies to catch up. In an attempt to break up the stunned silence of the room and having easy access to one of his daughter’s barefeet within arm’s reach, Justice places his finger into the arch of his daughter’s foot and slowly follows the contours of her arch. Aurora unleashes a loud yelp from the ticklish stroke, as Justice hopes to anger her. “I- I- I felt that. So this not a dream, you’re really alive papa?” Aurora said unsure but can’t deny the earlier tickle sensation in her arch. Soon every emotion washes over Justice’s oldest daughter as she kneels on her bed and throws her arms and wings around her father in a loving embrace, overjoyed to have him back in her life again. Slowly Aurora composes herself and dries her tears with the sleeve of her robe. “But how papa?” Aurora said in her soft and gentle voice. “It’s getting late Aurora, even though you are a young mare and can take care of yourself, every Princess needs her beauty sleep. Tomorrow I’ll leave a note on your dresser indicating where you can find me but you must come alone, then we can talk.” Justice explains as he carefully removes Aurora’s robe from her and hangs it up. Before disappearing into thin air, using her shadow sight ability, Aurora scans the whole room seeing if her father was still around. When she was satisfied that he was gone, she rolled out of her bed and walked onto the balcony in her nightgown. The cool evening breeze seems colder than normal through the thin fabric of her nightgown, causing her breasts to stiffen. Not wanting to remain in the cold air for too long, she quickly dials a number on her holo-phone of her MCV. It rings a few times when it’s answered by a very annoyed and sleepy light blue unicorn mare with a messy crimson red mane. “Oh Aurora! Do you know what time it is?” the annoyed unicorn mare comments sharply as she spoke to Aurora. “Little sister, I want you to come to Ponyville in the Friendship Kingdom in the early morning and meet me at the castle. I’ll explain when you get here.” Aurora explains as the unicorn mare looks at her with a scorched look. “No!” the unicorn mare said testily “Fine, you forced me little sister. By royal order of Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight, under the authority of the Solar Empress Celestia Silverlight. You, Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight is here by ordered to come in the morning to Ponyville and the Friendship Kingdom, plan to stay for a week, is that clear your highness.” Aurora said with authority as Blueberry had little recourse but to comply with the royal orders from under her mother’s banner and because her older sister pulled rank on her. “Fine, I will be there in the early morning your Imperial highness. Now let me sleep.” Blueberry replies as she hung up the holo-phone. With one phone call down, she quickly dials the second number before her breasts get any harder from the cold air. It rings a few times, then its answered by a wide awake light blue unicorn stallion with a crimson red mane. “Oh good evening big sister, May I ask why you called me at this time?” The unicorn stallion inquires “Good evening Somnus, can you make it to the Friendship Kingdom and Ponyville by morning. I want you to meet me at the castle and I’ll explain why when you get here.” Aurora explains as Somnus thought for a little while before answering. “Sure Aurora, I can make it to Ponyville and the Friendship Kingdom in the morning. Anyway Auntie gave me a week off from military duties. I have no plan for that week anyway. See you in the morning, big sister.” Somnus said as he hung up holo-phone. With both phone calls finished, Aurora hurries back inside her warm bed chamber to allow her breasts to return to their appropriate size, as she doesn’t mind a larger sized breast it will totally throw off her elegant young Alicorn mare figure. She’s kind of use to it. January 2, 2026, 13:00 hrs Equestria Standard time, Castle garden hidden away area, Castle of Friendship, Friendship Kingdom, Capital City of Ponyville. The area of the Castle garden that Aurora’s father specified in the note he left in his daughter’s bed chamber was surrounded on all four sides by high hedges that hid the Imperator Alicorn stallion from all view allowing him to conserve his eternal magic. In the center of the hedges was a patch of soft green grass and the only way into the area was through a well hidden grotto. In the note that Justice penned for his daughter, it gave her specific instruction on how to find the hidden grotto and how to enter the area where she will be meeting her father. A moment later, through the grotto opening steps Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight attired in heath red, slightly below the knee length dress and light gold heeled sandals. She is without her Princess’s regalia today. “You’re late Aurora.” Justice said pretending to be angry with his daughter’s lateness. The truth of the matter is he, himself, was late. Also he just arrived two minutes before his daughter arrived at the meeting point. “I am sorry father for being late, I got tie up at the castle on business.” Aurora said apologetic in her soft and gentle voice. She knows full well that her father was pretending to be angry at her; this act could work in her favor with her plan. The business she got tied up with was coordinating her plans with her two siblings who arrived earlier this morning by her request or something like her request. “Fine Aurora, your punishment for being late. You must, for the remainder of our meeting be barefooted.” Justice said teasing as he chuckles under his breath, he always enjoyed teasing his oldest foal simply because of her sweet disposition, nothing fazes her. “Yes, father.” Aurora said obedient as Justice’s jaw drops watching his oldest daughter crouch down and begins to unbuckle her sandals. When the bands were loose enough, Aurora simply steps out of her sandals and stood barefooted on the soft green grass like her father told her. “Huh? Aurora I didn’t expect you to do it. Aurora I was just kidding about you remaining barefooted for this meeting, I know how much pride you take in keeping your feet pristine, remaining barefooted is going to ruin them. Please Aurora, put your sandals back on.” Justice concerned as Aurora picked her sandals up and returned to the grotto entrance. Unknown to Justice, Aurora discovered the note he penned for her a few moments after he left it. She follows the instruction on the note and finds the grotto entrance. She went over to the meeting area with a fine tooth comb and soon realized her sibling would never be able to find the entrance to the grotto without the instruction from her father. In order to keep her plan secret from her father, she had to find a way to mark the grotto entrance for them. On her way back to the castle, after visiting the meeting area, a sun beam caught on her gold sandals. The embedded real gold flakes in the bands of her shoes reflect dully in the light. In her bed chamber, Aurora realizes if she shines the embedded real gold flakes up to a high luster, it would be the perfect mark for her sibling to find. So, her father, pretending to punish her for being late by having her stand barefooted was the perfect excuse to allow her to take her sandals off and position them near the grotto entrance so the sun will reflect off real gold flakes on her shoes. “But father, I was late for our meeting. .It’s your right, as the Solar Emperor, to punish, how you see fit, the Imperial Solar Princess, which is me, your daughter Aurora Silverlight.” Aurora said playing with her father trying her best to keep a straight face. Since his death, no one at the old grand royal palace is playful with her because they’re afraid of her and her mother with her siblings assigned to other lands; she gets quite lonely at the palace. To cure her loneliness she travels quite a bit from the Solar Empire. Now with her father back, she might not have to travel as much as before, to cure her loneliness. Suddenly, Justice blinks with surprise as Aurora’s straight face begins to crack, a huge smile spreads across her snout and she can no longer suppress her laughter and unleashes it. “Aurora Sol Silverlight, you knew I was pretending to be angry at you and you played along with me.” Justice said as he walked up to his daughter and kissed her on her cheek to thank her for playing along. “Aurora?” Justice inquiry as Aurora knew what her father wanted to know about. “Since your death, I learned a few new tricks for keeping my feet looking pristine, so having me stand barefooted like this is no big deal, Just give me a day and my feet will be back to looking pristine again.” Aurora explains as she wiggles her toes in the grass. A moment later, coming through the hidden grotto entrance was a young 5ft 8in drop-dead gorgeous light blue unicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. Her athletic figure was encased in a lemon colored below the knee length dress with light gold gladiator sandals. Like Aurora, she is without her Princess’s regalia today. Upon seeing the figure of her late father, tears come to her cobalt blue eyes. This unicorn mare is Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight and Justice’s younger daughter. “Papa!” Blueberry calls as she runs up to him and embraces him. She didn’t believe her older sister that their father was back. “huh? Blueberry.” Justice said surprised as he looked at his younger daughter with her arms wrapped around him. A few moments later, coming through the hidden grotto entrance was young 6ft 2in handsome unicorn stallion with a crimson red mane and tail. His well built figure was encase in a leaf green, short-sleeve dress shirt, timber wolf brown pleated pants and black dress boots. Like his two sisters, he is without his royal regalia today. This unicorn stallion is Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight and Justice’s only son. He was carrying Aurora’s light gold heeled sandals with him. Aurora giggles as her brother slips her sandal on her foot and rebuckled them for her. “Somnus! You brat! How dare you tickle my foot!” Aurora irked as Somnus ran his fingers across the underside of her foot from her heel to her toes causing her to jump from a ticklish assault on her very sensitive feet. “You deserved that Aurora, I told Somnus how you pulled rank on me to get me to come to the Friendship Kingdom and Ponyville.” Blueberry said sharply as Aurora turns her attention toward her little sister, who instigated the ticklish assault on her foot when Somnus was replacing her sandal. “You are just as bad as Somnus is, Blueberry or I should say worse. You are the second most charming of the three of us. With me being the first.” Aurora said with a little bit of pride as a devilish smile formed on her snout. “Plus I know your weakness, Miss Blueberry. Your feet are ten times more sensitive than mine and I know what guest room you are staying in for the week. Sweet dreams little sister.” Aurora said fiendishly as a devilish smile forms on her snout again. A chill runs down Blueberry’s back hearing her big sister’s words to her. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 10, 2026, 16:00 hrs Equestria Standard time, Private sitting room of the White palace, Autocratic Republic of the Drifting sand, Capital City of Valiancy. The Autocratic Republic of the Drifting Sand is largely a sand sea with numerous small towns spread throughout the arid landscape, mostly located over underground fresh water aquifers. The only large city in this arid landscape sitting above a huge reservoir of fresh water is the Capital City of Valiancy which is the seat of power for Drifting Sand territory. After concluding her final court session for today, a very attractive 6ft 3in cocoa brown Alicorn mare with a jet black mane and tail made her way to her private sitting room in the White Palace to relax for the remainder of the day. Her athletic figure was encased in a copper color; elbow sleeve lace fit and flare dress. On her bare feet were black heeled sandals. Resting against her back were her cocoa brown colored, feathered bird wings and on her head, behind her horn was a simple gold crown. This Alicorn mare is Pharaoh Jamila Nebula, the ruler of Drifting Sands territory. After serving herself a glass of soft apple cider from off a nearby table, she walks over to an overstuffed chair in the room and plopped down on it. To make herself more comfortable, she sits sideways, allowing her legs to dangle freely over the armrest. She begins to hum a song to herself as she gently whirls the apple cider in the glass in front of her, taking a sip from the glass. “Huh?” Jamila exclaims as she thought she heard the sound of boots walking into the room. She slowly scans the whole room with her normal vision. When that gained her nothing, she switches over to her thermo vision. Being a disguised Imperator Alicorn mare, her species has the natural ability to see in any light spectrum. It is handy to have as an Imperator Alicorn spends most of their life in the darkness of space with no visible illumination, other than the distant starlight and glows from their star ships. Through her thermo vision, Jamila can see the glow of very recent warm boot prints that started from the door and continue along the floor towards the platform that her overstuffed chair rests on. She knows the prints don’t belong to her because her prints look just like her barefeet. She turns her head towards her feet and in front of them she can see a heat signature of a tall figure. She thinks it belongs to an Imperator Alicorn because on its back are two huge, cold spots from their cold metal wings. “Tee-heeeeee.” Jamila chuckles as she switches back to her normal vision and watches with quite a bit of amusement how everything begins to unfolded. She watches as these unseen fingers unbuckle the strap of her sandal. Soon the loosened sandal is removed from her foot and placed down on the ground. As the same unseen fingers begin working on her other buckle, she floats the empty glass back onto the nearby table. As her other sandal is removed from her foot, she winks out as the shoe falls to the ground with a light thud. She soon winks in behind the unseen figure and wraps her arms and wings around it in an affectionate embrace and places a kiss on invisible figures unseen cheek. “Come out of hiding, nephew. I know it’s you. you are the only one crazy enough to attempt a stunt like that on another Imperator Alicorn that happens to be your aunt.” Jamila said in her powerful but velvety voice as Justice dispels his hide in plain sight ability. “Hello Aunt Jamila.” Justice said fondly as he returns the affectionate embrace of his aunt and kissed her on her cheek. With the family pleasantries finished, Jamila gestures Justice to join her back at her overstuff chair. Jamila gracefully sits back down on her overstuff chair. Justice takes a seat on the ground by his aunt’s feet. Using her telekinesis ability, she lifts a chilled fine bottle of soft apple cider out of the ice bucket and serves herself a drink. She then turns her attention toward her nephew sitting at her feet. “So Justice, why have you come to see your Aunt Jamila?” Jamila inquiry as she takes a sip of soft apple cider from her glass. “Aunt Jamila, did you hear about the explosion off the coast of the New Lunar Republic this far away?” Justice asks as Jamila gently whirl the apple cider in her glass a few times, before answering her nephew’s question. “The New Lunar Republic, that’s the state run by your sister-in-law President Luna Silverlight, correct nephew. Plus from my states intelligence, your wife Empress Celestia Silverlight sent your only son Solar Prince Somnus Silverlight. To live with his Aunt Luna in Mare Serenitatis, to maintain a peace treaty between The New Lunar Republic and Solar Empire.” Jamila explains as Justice’s jaw drops with how accurate the information his aunt knew. A knowing smile forms on Jamila’s snout with the surprised look on her nephew’s face. “You probably have forgotten nephew. I was ship security aboard the large science class vessel that crashed on this planet with us aboard. As Chief of ship Security, I need to know more than any member of the crew, other than mission commander who was your grandmother Ophelia.” Jamila explains as Justice slowly regains his composure. “That I do remember, Aunt Jamila, plus, I remember as Imperator colt you took me under your wing and trained me as a Galactic Knight Special forces operator. That I am very grateful for Auntie.” Justice said as Jamila’s eyes brimmed with joy from the appreciation of her nephew. “You don’t know how long I have been waiting for you to say that to me, nephew.” Jamila said overjoyed as she bent down and kissed Justice on his cheek again. “But you didn’t come all the way out here to just visit me did you, nephew? You have something to ask me.” Jamila said knowing as Justice took a worried interest in the gold nail polish on his aunt’s toes. “My son Somnus unknowingly thwarted the plot involving the missile battery; by a treacherous NLR Colonel, during the exchange, he mentioned to Somnus that he was part of a group, my sister-in-law and wife’s intelligence bureau have been unable to discover the possible name of the group. So I am hoping that you’re small intelligence bureau Aunt Jamila, might know something about the group.” Justice explains as Jamila gestured to him to follow her. The two Alicorns flew through the wide hallways of the White Palace at great speed until they reached the palace motor pool and repair facilities. Jamila’s landed first followed, closely by Justice. He watches his Aunt Jamila move down the rows of hover jeeps parked in the motor pool till she picks one out. She once again gestured Justice to join her at the hover jeep. With a wave of her hand and her eternal magic ability, she creates a set of lightweight robes and hooded cloaks to protect themselves from the harsh sun of Drifting Sands. Before climbing aboard the jeep, Jamila creates herself a pair of flip-flops to wear, so the hot sand doesn’t burn her feet. The Alicorns climb aboard the jeep and drive out of the motor pool. During the drive through the desert, Jamila explains to Justice that her intelligence bureau scouts discover an abandoned village with some very interesting graffiti inside some of the houses. As the hover jeep crests the sand dune below, in a sand valley half buried by the very sand itself, was a one block long, small village that looks abandoned. She drives down the other side of the sand dune and right into the heart of the village. She parks the hover jeep on the shady side of the building in the village to keep it cool. She obtained a small metal flashlight from a steel box in the rear of the Jeep. They both disembark the jeep and walk down the sand choked path of the village. “My scouts discovered this abandoned village about a year ago.” Jamila explains as Justice walked beside her. Her flip-flops slap against the soles of her feet, tossing sand onto her feet. “Have a look at that Justice.” Jamila said pointing with the end of the flashlight toward a short stone wall choked with sand. Justice dug behind the wall to the depth of four feet when he encountered wet sand. “The sand four feet down is wet, Aunt Jamila was that an artesian well?” Justice inquiry as his aunt Jamila walks up to the short stone wall and slips her flip-flop off her right foot. She begins scraping away the sand with the side of her foot from the center of the well, till it begins to bubble-up again. “You are correct Justice, it is an artesian well. My scouts estimate that this source of water could last for a very long time for a village this size. but still this village was abandoned sometime ago. Please continue following me nephew, we are almost to the house I want you to see.” Jamila said as she slips her flip-flop back on her foot and continues down the path for a few more feet followed closely by Justice. Before reaching the opposite end of the village, his Aunt Jamila stops in front of a red sandstone building with a solid wood door. She gestures for her nephew to break down the stuck door. Putting his unnatural Imperator Alicorn strength to use, he rams his shoulder into the door and breaks it down in one swift movement. As the two Alicorns enter the empty building, they discover its half way filled with sand that has blown through the open windows from the numerous sandstorms that roll across the drifting sand region. In the darkened building, Jamila flips on the flashlight in her hand and shines it onto the walls. Like she told her nephew, the inner walls of the building is just covered with graffito. “This graffiti is the one I want you to see, nephew.” Jamila comments shining the light on a picture of a stylized black shooting star and a black asteroid with a black star. “Nephew, do you remember what stylized black shooting star and black asteroid with a black star means?” Jamila query as Justice thought for a little while as his face glazed with shock upon remembering what it means. “The stylized black shooting star is the symbol for Dark Star Section of the Imperator Alicorn space. The black asteroid with a black star on it was the prison that held Daimyo Harmonia Strife after great grandmother banished her from Imperator Alicorn space.” Justice explains as Jamila moved the light down a bit and shines the light onto a picture of the same asteroid crashing into a mountain range on the planet. “Auntie! Are you saying that Daimyo Harmonia Strife is on this planet somewhere?” Justice exclaims as Justice’s mind reels with the news that the evil Imperator Alicorn Harmonia Strife is on this planet. “What ever that treacherous NLR Colonel group was, It’s most likely associated with Daimyo Harmonia Strife group which means the plot your son thwarted is not yet fulfilled. Your son stopping it is only a bump in Harmonia’s overall master plan for this planet.” Jamila explains as the two alicorn head back to White Palace. January 10, 2026, 21:30 hrs Equestria Standard time, Private Royal Bed Chamber of the Solar Emperor and Empress, Old Grand Royal Palace, Capital City of Canterlot, Solar Empire. The private royal bed chamber of the Solar Emperor and Empress is a fairly large room within the Old Grand Royal Palace. This room is the private sanctuary for the royal couple to hide from the general public and the reporter’s eyes. This fact allows the Solar Emperor Justice Silverlight to remain hidden from sight, while enjoying the company of his loyal and dedicated wife Empress Celestia Silverlight. But this evening Emperor Justice’s eyes are haunted by some deep inner anxiety. After returning from the Drifting Sand region where he learned from his Aunt Jamila that Daimyo Harmonia Strife, an evil Imperator Alicorn that his great grandmother banished long ago from Imperator Alicorn space is on this planet, and that she might be behind the plot that his son stopped, has cause Justice to experience temporary insomnia. The graceful soft pitter-patter of mare’s barefeet on the tile floor of the bed chamber is quickly picked-up by the more sensitive hearing of Imperator Alicorn Justice walking up behind him. Before he could turn around, two white arms are inserted under his arms and gently close around his chest in a loving embrace. On the fourth finger of a slender left hand was the slight glint of a finely made gold wedding ring. Soon the snout and face of an alicorn mare appears over his shoulder. She rests her chin on his shoulder followed by a long spiral horn appearing. “What’s wrong Justice? You are not in bed with me?” Celestia said a little bit wistful as she kisses him on his cheek. “I am sorry, Celestia, I have so much on my mind, it caused me a bit of insomnia. If I am keeping you awake my beloved Sun Princess, I’ll leave the bed chamber to let you sleep in peace.” Justice suggests as the blood drains from Celestia’s face. “No! I will never ever let you go again, when you died, it felt like my heart was torn out. Now that you are back, I will never let you go.” Celestia said her voice degenerates to a childish whimper as she tightens her hug on Justice. Slowly Justice reaches up and grabs hold of his wife’s arms, forcing them apart before she could crush his ribs with her earth pony strength. “I know how you felt, Celestia, when I was reborn, all my memories were fractured. I couldn’t make sense of any of my fractured memories. I struggled so hard to fit together all my memories from the bits and pieces, out of all that, I was able to form one memory. It was that memory that kept me going.” Justice explains as Celestia brought her hand to her snout wondering what that memory was. “What was it?” Celestia inquiry fearing that memory that kept Justice going was not her. “The memory that kept me going was the face of a white mare with a blonde mane that I left behind on a planet, every time I would lose hope I would call up that memory and look into the magenta eyes of that mare. Her eyes would encourage me to push forward.” Justice explains as Celestia legs gave-out under her and she sank to the ground and began to sob. “That memory was me, even with your fractured memories you want to return to me, when I buried you, I thought you were going to forget about me. So I never put flowers on your grave or visited it, it was too painful to face. But I now see I was a fool, I lost faith in what my heart told me about everlasting love. No matter the distance or time between us our hearts will always reunite.” Celestia said with reverence as she spread her wings and flew straight at Justice with manageable speed to knock him over without hurting him. The mighty collision sends the two Alicorns flipping head over heels backward till they finally come to a rest and Justice finds himself on his back with his wife sitting on him with a coy smile on her snout. She presses her palms on the floor above his shoulders before bending down and plants a passionate kiss on his lips. When she finishes, Justice reaches around behind his wife’s back and runs his fingers down her exposed feet. “Eek!” Celestia exclaims shooting straight into the air to get her very ticklish feet out of reach of who ever tickled her. As Celestia flaps her wings in the air, she soon figures out the one that tickled her feet was her very own husband. He tries to get her off of him so he could stand back up. Back on his feet, he soon joins her in the air. “I love you Ms Silverlight.” Justice said loving as he flies over to his wife and return her kiss. > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 10, 2026, 21:30 hrs Equestria Standard time, Private Royal Bed Chamber of the Solar Emperor and Empress, Old Grand Royal Palace, Capital City of Canterlot, Solar Empire. “But still Justice. What just happened is not the cause of your insomnia, is it my beloved.” Celestia said, concerned as she lands and folds her white feathered bird wings onto her back. Then she strolls over to a button tufted fabric club chair in the bed chamber to sit down. “You are right Celestia, it’s not the cause of my temporary insomnia it’s something much worse.” Justice said with worry in his voice as he lands and folds his dark blue feathered bird wings onto his back before joining his wife in the small sitting area. He takes the club chair next to his wife. “When I accepted this precious ring on my finger (playing with her wedding ring on her left hand) I not only accepted being Ms Silverlight, but I accepted you as my husband and everything that goes along with it. Please tell me what’s bothering you?” Celestia said encouraging as she rests her hand on top of his. “Before I tell you, Celestia. You must know, I am far older than you in terms of age. This story dates back before you or Luna was ever born about 5 billion years ago, in Imperator Alicorn space, my great grandmother Empress Galaxy Cosmos banished a wicked Imperator Alicorn mare named Harmonia Strife.” Justice explains as Celestia’s face becomes etched in desperation upon hearing the name, Harmonia. “Justice! I am so sorry, I know that name, Harmonia. I’ve had dealing with her when I was younger and during the time you were dead.” Celestia said heartbroken as she began to weep uncontrollably. “What Celestia, you had dealings with Harmonia?” Justice inquiry as Celestia shook her head. “Then Celestia begin explaining ?” Justice listens intently as Celestia nods her head. “After I lost Luna to Nightmare Moon, I fell into a deep depression, guilty about what I did to my little sister, during that time my Equestria was unstable land. Unable to break free of the deep depression I was in, Harmonia appeared before me and offered to restored harmony to my land. But I had to give-up something in exchange for her help. My immortality. At the time, I didn’t know she couldn’t strip me of my immortality. I took her deal and she restore harmony to my land.” Celestia said her voice cracking as Justice stood his wife up and hugged her. “I can only imagine how much pain you were carrying in your heart, Celestia. I am truly bless that you let me see that chink in your armor. It showed me that under that tough exterior beats a heart of a normal mare. It’s that normal mare heart that I fell in love with all those years ago.” Justice said consoling as he wraps his arms around his wife. “You said you had another deal with Harmonia during the time I was dead. Please tell me about that my beloved Sun Princess.” Justice inquiry as Celestia started to cry, remembering the second deal. “It was the continuation of the previous deal she made with me, in exchange for my immortality she would restore harmony. During that time, I marry you and gave birth to our three foals, not wanting to suddenly die and leave our foals without a mother. I demanded Harmonia restore my immortality to me. At first, she laughed at me and said the deal was already done, I set aside my pride and all my strength to beg for my life and the life of our babies. I thought the display of humility would change something, but it only sparked the most humiliating thing that could happen to a Princess mother like me.” Celestia explains as she dissolves into tears. “With a wave of her hand she makes my babies appear in front of us. Aurora, being the oldest was shocked, but she covered it well as she was cradling in her arms her crying baby sister Blueberry, trying to calm her. Somnus, on the other hand, was fascinated with the whole thing being a five year old colt at the time. I raised my hand in the air and told my babies to stay put and not to come near me.” Celestia explains as she pauses momentarily to catch her breath. “I demand to know why Harmonia brought my babies here. That’s when she removed her shoe from her foot and told me if I wanted her to break the deal, I must kiss her foot in front of my precious treasures. My heart broke and I started to cry. But I grabbed hold of her foot and kissed it in front of my babies. Disgusted with myself for showing weakness in front of my babies. I thought about ending my life. Then Aurora passed me my sleeping Blueberry. Looking at her innocent face caused me to cry again. After that, we left together and never spoke again about what transpired.” Celestia explains as she begins to blubber, Justice walks Celestia back over to their bed and wraps his arms around his distressed wife. January 11 2026, 0600 hrs Equestria standard time, Private Royal Bed Chamber of Solar Emperor and Empress, Old Grand Royal Palace, Capital city of Canterlot, Solar Empire. After the worst night any married couple could have in their lifetime the Solar Emperor and Solar Empress barely spoke to each other that morning. Sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a mocha colored below the knee length dress, putting on a gold heeled sandal was Empress Celestia Silverlight. Her face showed visible relief, after holding on to that memory of being humiliated in front of her babies, confronting that painful memory with her husband has healed that long held pain. “Justice please, stop blaming yourself for what happened to me. I gave up my pride and my strength for the survival of our family. It was a painful humiliation to bear. But you blaming yourself makes me feel like what I did was meaningless.” Celestia said her voice was a lifeless monotone as she held back her tears. “I am sorry, Tia. ” Justice said conceding lifting his wife’s chin up with his fingers and planting a fond and tender kiss on her lips. “So where are you off to this morning, Justice?” Celestia inquiry buckling her other sandal on her foot as Justice finishes buttoning his shirt. “After what you told me last night, Tia. I am going to talk to my grandmother and tell her that Daimyo Harmonia Strife is on this planet. If she doesn’t know already. After I tell her, she will send a Hyperwave communications to my Great Grandmother Galaxy to inform her of the threat.” Justice explains as chills run down Celestia’s back, before being replaced with a look of surprise that Justice’s great grandmother is still alive after five billion years. “What? your Great Grandmother Empress Galaxy Cosmos, the original Imperator Alicorn that banished Hamonia is still alive? After five billion years. ” Celestia said with a hitch in her voice as Justice couldn’t help but smile with the dumbfounded look on his wife’s face. “Like you, she’s immortal, granted, she’s gone through several cycles since planting the seeds of my species the Imperator Alicorns in Imperator space. The whole of my species call her All mother: the supreme creator being of the Imperator. But I am proud to call her Great Grandmother. For me, my two sisters, my mother and my aunt are seeds planted by my Grandmother Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight, the Daughter and the Avatar of the All Mother.” Justice speaks with such reverence as a tear comes to his cobalt blue eyes. ‘For as long as I have known him, he has never showed so much emotion. It’s kind of refreshing and reinforces that it was the right decision to follow my heart and wed him.’ Celestia thought as she politely laughs into the back of her hand. Before Justice opens a wormhole portal to travel to the Federation of Dream Valley to talk to his Grandmother Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight, Celestia stands up and kisses him. Then she playfully reprimands him for leaving the Solar Empire without finishing his royal duties, this causes Justice to snicker. He asks his wife for forgiveness about his neglect of his Royal duties. To make it up to her, for one week, he will be her servant, but before she agrees, she must allow him to give her pristine feet a pedicure. Celestia’s face brightening as she enjoys having her large feet pampered and she agrees heartily with her husband’s request. With a wave of his hand, Justice opens a wormhole portal from the Old Grand Royal Palace to the Federation of Dream Valley. As the entrance portal collapses in the Old Grand Royal Palace, Celestia makes her way over to a stone unicorn bust. Affixed to the bust was her imperial tiara and her gold necklace with her sun symbol on it. As she slips her necklace over her head, a sudden magic surge draws her attention behind her. As she turns around, she is confronted by a black exit portal of a wormhole. From inside the tube, she can hear the sound of clicking of heels walking toward the exit. Celestia’s eyes become transfixed with horror as a gorgeous 6 ft even midnight blue imperator Alicorn mare with a rusty red mane and tail step out of the portal. Her plain steel blue bio-mechanical feathery bird wings rest against her back. Her athletic figure was encased in a gray pant suit with black riding boots on her bare feet. Before Celestia could run, all her muscles freeze on her body and her horn becomes magically stasis locked, which rendered her helpless and at the mercy of this imperator Alicorn mare. She knows pretty well with all the lopsided deals she made with her this Imperator Alicorn mare was Daimyo Harmonia Strife. “Daimyo Harmonia Strife what do you want with me?” Celestia said brazenly as her heart pumps spastically in her chest. Harmonia stands flabbergasted; she doesn’t remember ever telling the Sun Princess her last name or what rank she holds in the Imperator Alicorn society. She takes a slow, appraising glance at her helpless terran Alicorn captive wondering how she found out. “It doesn’t make a difference how you came about knowing my last name and my rank in the Imperator Alicorn society. You have something I want Sun Princess Celestia or should I call you Empress Celestia, Ruler of the Solar Empire. I intend to extract that information out of you by any means necessary.” Harmonia said ominously as a sickening wave of terror wells up from Celestia’s belly with the word ‘necessary’. She watches as Harmonia’s horn begins to glow with her eternal magic. A small sphere of magic energy forms in her hand. When it becomes sufficiently sized for her needs, she drops the ball on the ground, bouncing once. Then it begins to form an outline of some kind of object. Before long, Celestia realizes what the object is. It was a large wooden table big enough to accommodate any alicorn her size lying on her back. But what caused the blood to drain from Celestia’s face were the four clamps that formed. Nauseating spurts of adrenaline course through her veins as Harmonia intends to torture her for the information she wants. Before she can get her mind around what would happen, she can feel her frozen muscles begin to loosen, but not quickly enough to make her escape. Celestia has one card left to play from her husband. She reached up and tears the necklace off her neck and slams the necklace on the ground in front of her. The moment the jeweled sun symbol on the necklace shattered, a one way wormhole portal opened underneath her and she fell through. Her husband warns her only use the one way wormhole portal in an extreme emergency because her Terran Alicorn physique couldn’t take the stress of travel through the tube without negative side effects. Being tortured to extract information out of her, most definitely qualifies as an extreme emergency. (Five hours later after using the one way wormhole portal) Slowly the magenta eyes of Empress Celestia Silverlight open up and she finds herself staring into the bright lights of a hospital room. As she tilts her head slightly forward, she finds herself wearing a hospital gown. Sticking out from the end of the gown were her larger sized pristine barefeet with dark red nail polish. She wiggles her five toes a few times. As she turns her head to the right, she blinks with surprise. Sitting on a chair next to her bed asleep was her husband Emperor Justice Silverlight. But what got her attention was the younger Alicorn mare sleeping on the other hospital bed with her back toward her wearing an orange lace fit and flared dress with her feet bare. There was no mistake who that younger Alicorn mare was due to the crimson red mane and tail. It was her oldest daughter Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight. Celestia figured that Justice made himself known to this daughter during the time she was in the Friendship Kingdom. “Hello beloved.” Celestia said softly and tenderly as her eyes met Justice’s eyes when she turned her head back toward her husband. “No Justice, do not wake up our daughter. Let her sleep, since your death she had bad insomnia. This is the first time I have seen our daughter fast a sleep.” Celestia said relieved as she stopped her husband from waking up their daughter. “By the way, my beloved, how long have I been out?” Celestia inquire as she sat up in the bed to talk to her husband. “You have been out for five hours since using the one way wormhole portal to escape from your captor.” Justice explains as Celestia reels with astonishment that her husband correctly guessed why she used the one way wormhole portal. “How did you know I was being held captive, My beloved?” Celestia inquiry as she examined the dark red nail polish on her hands. “When you emerged on this side of the wormhole portal, you were unconscious and your horn was magically stasis locked. I broke the Stasis Lock on your horn.” Justice explains as he noticed a stress line forming on his wife brow. “Did you know Celestia, even unconscious, if you tickle your sensitive feet, you twitch quite a lot. It was quite entertaining and was almost as if you were awake.” Justice said joking as Celestia unleashed a bubbly laughter in response to her husband making her feel better. “Thank you, Justice, your wife needed that. I hate showing weakness to an enemy. But hearing you crack jokes always makes me feel better, It could be the worst thing to happen to me. But you always cheer me up.” Celestia said loving as she plants a kiss on Justice’s lips for cheering her up. Meanwhile in a long abandoned castle somewhere in the Friendship Kingdom Territory periodic screams of mercy echo through the silent halls of this mighty fortress. Followed up by continuous crying all this noise was coming from Princess Twilight Sparkle: the Princess of Friendship. After Harmonia allowed Empress Celestia Silverlight to escape through a one way wormhole portal, she took with her the activation codes for the Solar Empire’s ultimate weapon called ‘The Solar Fury’ very powerful particle beam cannon. Harmonia had to switch tactics to spark a war between all the lands. Her chosen directions lead her to Princess Twilight Sparkle and her Friendship Kingdom. Developed in the upmost secrecy the FKS Harmony the most state of the art dreadnought to sail the sea was created by the brilliant minds of the industrious earth ponies of Ponyville. It married together all the technical advances of all four lands. The armor plating that covers the bulk of this steel juggernaut was developed through the super-tough alloy research and development done by the New Lunar Republic. The impressive armament of this grand ship was developed through the weapon research done by the Solar Empire. The electronics that runs the entire ship was researched and developed by the Crystal Empire. And finally, the micronized energy source and engine that moves this juggernaut was develop by the Friendship Kingdom themselves. > Chapter 7 -last chapter for 2018 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 11, 2026, 11:00 hrs Equestria standard time, long abandoned castle, Friendship Kingdom Territory, Friendship Kingdom During a quiet day at the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville, Harmonia created a distraction that drew the bulk of Twilight’s Royal Guards Forces from the castle to investigate the disturbance in the city. In that split second, Harmonia created her wormhole portal and snatched Princess Twilight Sparkle out of her castle. As she hoped, the system shock caused by Twilight’s terran alicorn physique rendered her unconscious for several hours. This allowed Harmonia to finish preparations for the interrogation of Princess Twilight Sparkle to get her to cough up the location and command codes she needs to activate ‘FKS Harmony’, the ultimate final solution weapon of the Friendship Kingdom. With all the preparations for the interrogation now complete, Harmonia used her telekinesis ability to float the floppy and limp, purple Alicorn Princess onto the table. The four clamps on the table lineup perfectly with the 5ft 5in Alicorn figure of this purple mare, even her wings slotted perfectly into notches cut into the surface of the table. Before waking up the terran alicorn princess, she slides a bar across the wings, locking them in place. Slowly, Harmonia places Twilight’s wrists into each clamp and locks them. Then down by her feet,Harmonia first removes her gold pumps from her small plush and smooth, purple colored feet with mint green colored nail polish and tosses them aside, clamping her ankles. Before she forgets, she casts the stasis lock on Twilight’s horn negating her magic use. With malicious delight on her snout, Harmonia begins to create two small energy balls in both of her hands. When they are complete, she sets them on a table beside Twilight’s feet. After waking up Twilight, she inserts the magic balls into the soles of Twilight’s barefeet. These magic balls will cause Twilight’s feet to become more sensitive to a light stroke, the first step in weakening her resistance to Harmonia’s interrogation and coughing up the information she needs. With a satisfying grin on her snout, Harmonia creates a small bucket of water, sufficient enough to wake her up but not drown her. Before dumping the contents of the bucket on her helpless, victim she activates her 'hide in plain sight ability' to enhance Twilight’s anxiety. (SPLASH) Soon the moderate violet eyes of Princess Twilight Sparkle become saucers. As panic sets in, she can’t move her arms, legs and wings in any direction. She next tries to use her magic to escape but it fizzles out because of the stasis lock on her horn. A few moments later, Princess Twilight Sparkle stops trying to escape and lies down on the table defeated; resigning herself to meek whimpering hoping some pony will come to save her. Five minutes later, Harmonia dispels her 'hide in plain sight ability' and reappears. Upon seeing the other mare, Twilight’s face flushed with happiness. “Please, can you help me?” Twilight asks, as Harmonia, in silence, walks down to her feet and picks up one of the balls. She gently pushes back Twilight’s five toes, making the sole of her foot taut; she pushes the energy ball into her foot and does the same with the other. “What did you do to my feet?!” Twilight said sourly as she felt something being inserted into the taut soles of her feet. With that, Harmonia walks back next to Twilight’s head. “Now we just wait, your highness.” Harmonia said. The spell begins its work inside Twilight’s feet. Like a popped balloon, the magic energy begins coating all the nerve endings in her feet exciting them and making them more sensitive. On the outside, there is no visible change to Twilight’s small purple feet. It’s not until a number of light breezes from a crack in the wall blow across the soles her feet that she quickly bites down on her tongue to keep herself from laughing. Harmonia blinks with surprise, as Twilight begins to recite numerous book passages she has read in her lifetime, trying to block out the horrible tickle sensation happening to her exposed feet. Harmonia points her finger toward the crack and seals it with her magic. This allows Twilight to calm down and begin to catch her breath. Very curious, Harmonia moves back down toward Twilight’s feet. She waits for Twilight to completely compose herself, before testing her hypothesis. She crouches down toward her feet and lightly blows in the center of her right foot. This causes Twilight to arch her back and she screams as loud as she can ‘No’. To make sure it was not a fluke, she blows in the exact same place on her left foot and gets the same results. “Well my-my-my. It looks like this simple spell I was planning to use to weaken you will serve my purposes perfectly.” Harmonia comment “Your purpose?” Twilight says exhausted “What do you want from me?’ Twilight responds with a hoarse voice “Oh nothing, other than the location and command codes to activate ‘FKS Harmony’ your ultimate final solution weapon.” Harmonia explains as Twilight shakes her head. “I will never give you the command codes or location of the ‘FKS Harmony’ no matter what you do to me.” Twilight said bravely, knowing full well that the whole speech is nothing but hot air. As the light tickle on her foot weakens her resistances, it’s only a matter of time before she will cough up the location and command codes. “Shall we get started, your highness, and see how long it will take for you to cough up the location and command codes for me?” Harmonia said ominous as she twists a real white feather between her fingers in full view of Twilight. “NO!!!!” Twilight lets out a strangled cry as Harmonia begins to run the very tip of the feather across Twilight’s hyper sensitive soles. The effect is instant as gales of laughter escape Twilight’s lips, which slowly chip away at her resistance and her strong will. (4 hours later) “Pleeeheeaseee, Stop this, I can’t, take anymore of thissss.” Twilight shouts as Harmonia allows the feather to continue teasing Twilight’s poor feet. “Pleeeheeaseee, Pleeeheeaseee, whatever you want, but Pleeeheeaseee, ceases your tickle torture on my helpless feeeeet!” Twilight cries feeling defeated as tears streak her cheeks. “So your highness, if you want me to stop, location and command codes.” Harmonia asks as the broken Twilight shook her head slightly in agreement. “You must input the command codes in this exact order to activate the ship’s systems. 1. Magic 2. Honesty 3. Kindness 4. Generosity 5. Laughter 6. Loyalty Elements of Harmony execute royal activation.” Twilight explains as the free floating feather continues to tickle her feet, a constant reminder of how weak she is. “FKS Harmony, is located in a hidden cove about a mile from the borders of the Crystal Empire, My sister-in-law Cadence has no idea we stashed our ultimate final solution weapon that close to her borders.” Twilight explains as she passes out from the exhaustion. To add insult to injury, Harmonia creates a second feather to tickle both her feet at the same time, this causes the unconscious Twilight to develop an involuntary twitch as each feather strokes the underside of her feet. January 11, 2026, 15:00 hrs Equestria Standard Time, Half Moon Hidden Cove, Secret Naval Base for the Friendship Kingdom, Friendship Kingdom Territory. After several hours of searching the Half Moon Hidden Cove, Harmonia located the secret Naval Base of the Friendship Kingdom. Berthed at a heavy fortified wharf on the south side of the cove was an 860 ft long, heavily armored, dreadnought with the most formidable armaments known in Equestria. The two most notable armaments were the two Gauss Cannons located on the bow and aft of ship. When fired, the Gauss cannons accelerate the shell to hypersonic speed on impact. It left no doubt that target has suffered tremendous damage, if not destroyed. Walking from bow to aft of the ship on an irregular patrol route were two earth ponies wearing the standard combat body armor and armed with the standard assault pulse rifle. While walking along the pier were a group of four unicorn ponies wearing standard combat body armor and armed with PMP 5. Patrolling the cove were two patrol boats with four pony crews armed with pulse chain guns. After concluding the initial reconnaissance mission, Harmonia set to work figuring out a plan to take the FKS Harmony. She figures she has several days before Twilight’s Royal Guard Forces will locate their missing Princess in the abandoned castle in the Friendship Kingdom territory. January 11, 2026, 16:00 hrs Equestria Standard time, Long abandoned castle Friendship Kingdom Territory, Castle dungeon, Friendship Kingdom Territory, Friendship Kingdom. Meanwhile, flying over the outer territory of Friendship Kingdom was Emperor Justice Silverlight. He was on his way back to the Principality of Dream Valley where his wife, Empress Celestia Silverlight is still recovering in the hospital after using a one way wormhole portal to escape Harmonia in Canterlot. As he passes over the ruins of an ancient castle, a sudden lighting storm kicks up. As metal wings on his back are a wonderful lighting rod, Justice decides it best to land and wait out the storm. Justice comes in for a landing and walks into the ruins to get out of the rain. The interior of the ruins were pitch black so Justice switches over to his thermo sight to navigate his way through the ruins. As he walks through the chilly ruins of this ancient building, the drip drop of raindrops echoes loudly in the empty corridors of this castle. A sudden lighting flash causes Justice to revert back to his normal vision. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of something like gold on the floor. He moves towards the object as a second lightning bolt flashes, lighting up the area. Haphazardly tossed on the floor was a pair of mare’s size 10 gold leather pumps. He activated his unicorn light spell so he could examine the shoes a little bit better. In the glow of the light spell, he sees a pair of shoes that look fairly new. Wondering how the pumps could end-up in the ruins of the castle, Justice begins to search for the owner of the shoes. “Twilight!”, Justice exclaims. His light spell falls on the unconscious figure of the purple alicorn mare lying on the table. She was attired in a green short sleeve sheath dress, still wearing her Princess’s regalia. The only thing missing were her shoes as her bare feet were exposed to the air. Two small feathers continue to stroke her feet causing her to twitch after each stroke. With a wave of his hand, he dispels the magic feathers. He places his ear onto Twilight’s chest and can hear a weak heartbeat. After finding out she’s still alive, Justice begins to remove the clamps holding her to the table. He carefully lifts the unconscious alicorn mare and holds her in his arms. He opens a wormhole portal to Dream Valley to seek immediate medical care as the chill inside the ruins drop Twilight’s body temperature below a normal mare’s temperature. January 11, 2026, 17:00 hrs Equestria standard time, Horsehead Nebula hospital, Princess Twilight Sparkle’s hospital room, Capital City of Chimera, Principality of Dream Valley. In the hospital room of Princess Twilight Sparkle was Solar Empress Celestia Silverlight and her husband Solar Emperor Justice Silverlight. Standing in front of the hospital window looking outside was a glum Celestia. Suddenly a pair of strong dark blue arms slips underneath her arm and close around her underneath her perfect breasts. It feels kinda of strange to Celestia; she normally is the one that tries to make her husband feel better, but this time the roles are reversed as Justice tries to make his wife feel better. He whispers something into his wife’s ear and she nods her head in agreement with his suggestion. In the bright sun of the Capital City of Chimera, exiting the front door of the hospital was Justice. He was attired in a leaf green short-sleeve wrinkle-free oxford dress shirt and timber wolf brown pleated pants with black dress boots. He was holding the hand of his wife Celestia. She was attired in a sapphire blue slightly below knee length dress and gold heeled sandals. Both their wings were folded on their backs as they strolled down the sidewalk of this Capital City. Everywhere the couple walked, the Imperator Alicorn population would show them the upmost respect by bowing and greeting them as friends, an ideal gesture that has been long forgotten after the death of the Tree of Harmony in this new Equestria. In a small park about three miles from the hospital, Celestia sits down on a bench to rest her feet after walking around the Capital City of Chimera for about half an hour with her husband. The terran alicorn mare was waiting for her husband to return with two bottles of water for them to drink from a nearby cart. She is approached by a small group of young Imperator Alicorns, both fillies and colts, who are fascinated by the look of the Terran Alicorn mare sitting in front of them. A comment from one of the colt causes Celestia to blush as he said ‘she looks like a goddess’. The only response Celestia could muster was nervous laughter from the comment. Soon the group breaks up and runs off. Justice returns carrying two bottles of water for them. Celestia unscrews the top of the bottle and takes a good drink of water before turning to Justice to ask him a quick question. “That colt called me a goddess, Justice, But if you look around here, I am nothing special, I look a lot like some of these mares around here, Why did that colt call me a Goddess?” Celestia inquires taking another drink of water from the bottle. “The answer is simple Celestia, you are perfect in form and shape. Most imperator alicorn mare are not as perfect as you.” Justice comment. Before Celestia could respond Justice unbuckles her sandal and tickles the underside of her fairly large foot. She laughs for a few minutes before she able to get her foot away from Justice, who was trying to hold her foot still. “Oh Justice, I am just perfectly ticklish, that’s all I am.” Celestia comments as she rebuckled her sandal back on her foot. “But anyway Justice. You wanted to ask me something, that’s why you suggested this walk.” Celestia inquiry as Justice shook his head. “When I brought Twilight through the wormhole portal to Dream Valley. She kept repeating ‘Harmony’ over and over again as in some kind of a dream. Do you have any idea what that word means, Celestia?” Justice inquiry as Celestia thought for some time until she finally answers the question. “In the old Equestria Twilight was an element of harmony, her element was magic. It’s the only context I can think of for the word ‘Harmony’. But if you are talking about dreams, best go talk to Luna about it. She is the princess of dreams and all things night. That’s my suggestion Justice. Plus, I think it’s about time you reunited with Luna.” Celestia comment as Justice shook his head. > Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 14 2026, 14:30 hrs Equestria standard time, Office of President Luna Silverlight, Presidential Palace, Capital City of Mare Serenitatis, New Lunar Republic. Hovering and watching through an outside window into President Luna Silverlight’s office at the Presidential Palace was Emperor Justice Silverlight who was using his ‘hide in plain sight’ ability. His sister-in-law, Luna, was attired in a black night pant suit and pewter black wedge sandals. Equestria was still whole at the time after a horrible misunderstanding with then Princess Celestia which landed him in the dungeon for several weeks in the Grand Royal Palace after being accused of betrayal by a rival. Justice left the service of the Princess and joined the ranks of Princess Luna’s Night Guard as her Princess’s Protector, or more to the point, the Princess’s companion. During that time, under the command of Princess Luna, the two ponies became close to the point of starting a short term relationship. As the relationship was starting to blossom, it came to an abrupt end when a kidnapping case in Ponyville occurred. Princess Celestia needed the help of her Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight to solve the case and put it to an end. That one event left lingering doubts in both ponies’ minds as to what the future would have been if that event never happened. ‘It had been many years since we ended that relationship between us. Your highness or should I say, Madam President. if that kidnapping case in Ponyville never happened, those foals of Celestia’s would have been yours. I would say a fitting reward for a mare who fought the darkness inside her and won. But I can’t complain, you treated my only son as your own foal.’ Justice thought as he waited for Luna to finish her paperwork for the day. ‘According to Somnus’ agenda for Luna. Between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm she finishes up her paperwork for the day and when she’s done she closes her office door and doesn’t allow anyone in other than Somnus himself. That’s when the two begin discussing important matters. Somnus said, that’s the best time to see Luna. because she is alone in her office.” Justice thought after a brief discussion with the guard outside her office door. Justice flies into the office, still using his ‘hide in plain sight’ ability to remain hidden from Luna. “Sir Silverlight, dispel the ability you are using to stay hidden from my sight. I set this little play up for your benefit. Do you really think I would stick to such an obvious pattern like this. Plus if you cared to ask Somnus about how I dressed he would have told you I never wear dress sandals during the work day. I wear only pumps when I am working.” Luna explains as Justice dispels the hide in plain sight ability reappearing in front of Luna. Suddenly her eyes moist with joy upon seeing Justice. Since Justice’s death, Luna has always regretted writing the Royal dispatch that reassigned Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight back to her sister’s command. But at the time, she did it for the good of her subjects and not for her heart. With no other words, Luna runs up to Justice, wraps her arms and wings around him. It’s been too long since she felt the strong embrace of her former Princess’s companion Justice Silverlight. Soon Luna’s face is etched with sorrow knowing that Justice can no longer be hers, as he is now married to Celestia. “I am sorry my love, but we could never return to the past, your future is with my sister, Celestia. She needs you more than I do. besides your son Somnus has allowed me to see the future I could have had with you. He is as loyal to me as you were.” Luna comments as she strolls back over to her desk and sits down on top of it. “I bet you are wondering how I know, Justice?” Luna inquiries as Justice shook his head. “As I said Somnus is ‘very loyal’ to me. On his return to Mare Serenitatis from the Friendship Kingdom. He spoke to me at the Presidential mansion and told me that his father had been reborn as an Alicorn.” Luna explains as Justice walks up to her and touches the end of her snout with his finger. “You have too much pull on that colt of mine, Luna, But I could not have it any other way or wanted it any other way.” Justice commented as Luna giggles knowing that this is what his parents wanted. “But you didn’t come to reunite with me just for that, did you Justice. How can your Princess help her loyal knight?” Luna asks as it feels a bit strange to refer to herself by her old equestrian royal title. “After I saved Twilight from her captive, she kept repeating in her unconscious state the word ‘Harmony’. I am wondering if it could mean something to do with a dream. Since you are the Princess of Dreams and the Night. I am hoping you have the answer to it, Luna.” Justice asked as Luna thought for some time trying to figure out what the word ‘Harmony’ meant. “You know something Justice, the word ‘Harmony’ might have nothing to do with a dream. (Floating a piece of paper out of her desk drawer) It could have to do with this.” Luna comments as she floats the paper into justice’s hand. In his hand, he held what looked like the plans to build an advanced dreadnought. The name on the paper was ‘FKS Harmony’. “Huh? The FKS Harmony?” Justice said puzzled as Luna figured her sister had no idea that this vessel even existed, which meant that Twilight was keeping the existence of this vessel secret and gathered the rest of the components covertly from each land. “What’s the meaning of this Luna?” Justice questioning as Luna message Somnus to come to her office ASAP. “Let’s wait for Somnus to arrive, Justice. Till then let’s just talk.” Luna suggests as the two Alicorn just have a long conversation together as they wait for Somnus to arrive at the office. It’s an hour later as Somnus arrives in his aunt’s office. Upon his arrival, Somnus sits down on the chair in front of Luna’s desk. Luna hops back up on to her desk again, as Somnus’ father leans against the desk next to Luna. “You sent for me, auntie and Greetings father.” Somnus said politely “Yes, I did Somnus. Could you explain to your father how the NLR came about discovering the ‘FKS Harmony’.” Luna asked as Somnus shook his head. “It was about a year after mother sent me to live with Auntie as I was fairly new to the NLR customs. Auntie appointed me her executive assistant so I could learn the customs of the NLR. During a tour of NLR foundries in the City of Selene, I was handed an invoice for a huge quantity of armor plates the buyer of the armor plates was Princess Twilight Sparkle and the Friendship Kingdom. Because I was her executive assistant, I approved the sale to the Friendship Kingdom. But it seemed strange to me after approving small quantities of the armor plates to the Friendship Kingdom that they would order such a huge amount, so I asked for a copy of the bill of sale.” Somnus explains as Luna takes over the story from Somnus. “That evening Somnus brought me the copy of the bill of sale. He aired his concerns to me and I reassured him I would look into it. To put his mind at ease, I told him I would start in the morning. That morning I looked into the records of past sales to the Friendship Kingdom and like Somnus said it was unusual for the Friendship Kingdom to buy that amount of armor plate for any reason. That evening I brought what I uncovered back to the mansion with me. As I was taking my shoes off, a worried Somnus asked me what I discovered through my investigation, I took him into my study and set out everything I uncovered.” Luna explains as Somnus takes up the story again. “As I feared it was not normal for the Friendship Kingdom to buy that much armor plate from the NLR. Auntie and I continued to discuss what she uncovered through her investigation. That’s when she decided to dispatch her Shadow Guard Secret Agents to the Friendship Kingdom to find out why they ordered that quantity of armor plates the only thing they were able to uncover was the plans for that advanced dreadnought of the ‘FKS Harmony’.” Somnus explains as Justice wondered if the project was started. “Do you know if the project was started?” Justice asks as Luna and Somnus look at each other for awhile. “To be very honest, Justice, we have no idea if the project was started. After receiving those plans from Shadow Guard, everything went quiet in the Friendship Kingdom.” Luna explains rubbing her chin with her hand. “I see, do you mind, if I take these plans with me, Luna?” Justice asks as she looks at Somnus who shrugged his shoulders. “Before I say ‘yes’ Justice, what are your plans for them?” Luna inquiries as he had a smile on his face. “Your armor plate is just one component of this ship, she needs weapons and instruments still. Plus I know who to ask about the weapons.” Justice comment as he looks at Somnus. “You are referring to Aurora, correct father?” Somnus answered as Justice shook his head and left the office. January 14, 2026, 17:00 hrs Equestria Standard Time, Family room: Private living area, Old Grand Royal Palace, Capital City of Canterlot, Solar Empire. Soaking her tired feet in a warm water solution, in the family room, wearing a cardinal red lace fit and flare dress and her Princess’s regalia was Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight. A pair of unbuckled light gold heeled sandals rest next to her chair. With her mother, Solar Empress Celestia Silverlight in the Principality of Dream Valley, waiting for Princess Twilight Sparkle to recover, the Imperial Solar Princess’ has taken over temporary rule of the Solar Empire. ‘By mother’s light, ruling the Solar Empire is exhausting. but I wouldn’t have it any other way, one day I will be the Solar Empress.’Aurora thought as she sank deeper into the comfortable chair, as the wonderful warm water solution works away the soreness of her submerged immaculate feet. “EEK!” Aurora exclaims as her heart pumps spontaneously in her chest as her father instantly appears from a wormhole portal in front of her. “Father! Are you trying to scare the hay out of me? Or worst give me a heart attack?” Aurora said sourly as she placed her hand on her chest trying to get her heart beat under control. “I am sorry Aurora.” Justice said apologetic as he bent down and placed a kiss on his daughter’s cheek. “But I need your help Aurora, does your mother allow you access to past invoices of goods bought from the Solar Empires?” Justice inquiries as Aurora begins to pull her feet out of the small tub on the floor, and begins drying them with a nearby towel. “Yes father, she does, may I ask you why?” Aurora answers drying off her whole foot and between her five toes. “I am looking for huge quantity of weapon components bought by one land.” Justice said as Aurora gets to her feet and padded in her barefeet toward the records room of the Palace with her invisible father followed right behind her. In the records room, from a nearby file cabinet, Aurora brings out a huge ledger of invoices and sets it on a table before pulling a chair in front of it for her to sit down. “Could you tell me the land you are interested in, Father? It will go so much easier if I knew the name of the land.” Aurora inquiry as she places a pair of reading glasses on her snout. “I’d rather not say Aurora, I just want you to see if you come across any unusual number of weapon components bought from the Solar Empire.” Justice explains as she begins to flip through the ledger looking for any unusual activity with weapon sale components. (An hour later) “I am sorry father, but I have found nothing unusual with weapon sale components, except for one thing.” Aurora comments as it gets her father’s attention. “Like what, Aurora?” Justice asks “The Concord Company bought a number of Gauss Cannon components over a number of years.” Aurora comment “A Gauss Cannon?” Justice said confused as Aurora stood up and walked over to the maximum security door toward the far back of the records room. After pressing her thumb onto a glowing box, followed by scanning her eye, the door opens up and she walks in. A moment later, she exits the door carrying a file with her and handed it to her father. In his hand, were the plans for a magnetic acceleration weapon. It had a solid base and two solid rods with two shorter rods sticking out of the base. It could be mounted on an armored vehicle or mounted in a fixed position. “What’s this, Aurora?” Justice asked looking at the file in his hand. “This is Project ‘Magnetic Charge’ or file number 1291GC, A Gauss Cannon. This weapon accelerates a shell to hypersonic speed using magnets this weapon is very deadly when fired. When it hits the target, it cause maximum damage by sending out a shockwave in all directions. But when combined with a highly explosive shell, this weapon can level a whole city block in one or two shots. But this project was a failure after the first shot, the weapon is useless. The Electromagnetic pulse it produces fries all instrumentation. Making it unusable for a weapon.” Aurora explains as Justice continues flipping through the file. “If this project is a failure, why buy the components for the weapon, Aurora?” Justice ask “Pretty simple, father. All the Solar Empire scientists agree by specially designing the instrumentation for that weapon it could be a very viable weapon. But that would cost a lot of time and bits to make that happen. No land wants to spend that much time on fixing a bug that big.” Aurora explains as she picks up the ledger and file, she re-files them where they belong before walking back over to her father. “Now your turn, father. I did as you asked, now I wish to know why?” Aurora comment as she leans against the table. “Indeed Aurora. But do we have a more private place to talk than this file room?” Justice inquiry as Aurora shook her head and gestured her father to follow her again. Its few moments later, Aurora and her father stand in a small office away from the main part of the old Grand Royal Palace. In the room, Justice unrolls the plan for the advanced dreadnought called the ‘FKS Harmony’. Aurora’s face grows haggard with worry as she sets her eyes on the plans for this deadly vessel. Soon her expression switches to furious expression as the name on the plans read ‘Friendship Kingdom’. “What is the meaning of this, father!?” Aurora said acidly slamming her fist on the desk on top of the plans. “Is this vessel operational!?” Aurora said indignantly as her sleek equine muscles tighten to a dangerous level. “Aurora please calms yourself. That is what I am trying to find out.” Justice concerned as he lifted his daughter’s hand off the desk and gently pulled his daughter toward him to hug her. Soon he feels Aurora’s muscles slowly relaxing throughout her whole body. Before letting go, Aurora kisses him on his cheek to thank him for it. “What do you know father?” Aurora ask calmly “What I know right now is, the Friendship Kingdom bought huge quantities of armor plates from NLR. If the pattern holds, they bought the weapon components from the Solar Empire so that only leaves one thing.” Justice comment as Aurora knew what was left. “The instrument components. Those you can buy from the Crystal Empire. So your next stop, father, is with Princess Cadence and Blueberry. I shall keep what I know secret from Mother. Good luck father.” Aurora said honorably as she once again kissed her father on his cheek. > Chapter 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 14, 2026, 19:00 hrs Equestria Standard Time, Private bed chamber of Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight, Crystal Castle, Capital city of Crystal City, Crystal Empire. The Private bed chamber of Solar Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight is in the Crystal Castle and it decorated in a very livable style. Sitting on the edge of a queen sized canopy bed with her legs crossed was a drop dead, gorgeous, light blue unicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. Her 5ft 8in athletic figure was attired in a well made red fit and flare dress. A pair of unbuckled, light gold, gladiator styled sandals sat in front of her oak wardrobe. In the room with her was her father Emperor Justice Silverlight. “Unfortunately, father, I am barred from entering the records room without the presence of Cousin Cadence. As she trusts me unquestionably, most don’t ,because I am a Solar Princess from the Solar Empire most of the Royal Crystal Guards see me as a willing hostage.” Blueberry explains in her well-bred voice as she brushes a piece of lint off her freshly painted baby blue nail polish. “Is their nothing you can do Blueberry? I need to look at the sales invoice for the instrumentation component from the Crystal Empire.” Justice asks as he kneeled in front of his youngest daughter. “There is nothing I can do, father, without endangering my true purpose of being here in the Crystal Empire.” Blueberry said mysteriously as her body slumped forward having to lie to her father. “Your true purpose, Blueberry?” Justice asked as Blueberry shook her head. “I am a Solar Empire intelligence specialist. It’s not that mother doesn’t trust Cousin Cadence or the Crystal Empire. It’s that she wants someone here in the Crystal Empire to keep her abreast of what’s going on around here and the Friendship Kingdom.” Blueberry explains as Justice’s face brightens. “You are a goddess sent, my dear daughter. You might be able to answer my question?” Justice overjoyed as he hands her the plans. Blueberry’s face glazes with shock upon looking at the plans her father gave her. “That’s ‘FKS Harmony’ an advanced dreadnought. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her Friendship Kingdom have just completed building the vessel.” Blueberry explains as she padded quickly barefooted over to her holo computer. In less than a few key strokes, she calls up the Solar Empire spy satellite feed. Floating just above the holo camera was the hologram of the fully build ‘FKS Harmony’ docked in a secret naval base in a hidden cove about a mile from the border of the Crystal Empire. “Do you know Blueberry, if the vessel is operational?” Justice inquiries as Blueberry rubs her chin with her hand. “The information I was able to fish out of Miss Rarity (Justice looking at Blueberry with a dubious expression) Now father! I know how to use interrogation techniques, its part of my training, but I would never use them on Miss Rarity. She has been friends with our family for so long and I respect her.” Blueberry said gruffly crossing her arms in front of her. “Huh?” Justice exclaimed as the hologram blinked for a moment. “Blueberry do you have any other camera view on this vessel?” Justice asked as she called up the live feed from numerous ‘fly-eyes’ surveillance cameras she hid around the secret naval base and hidden cove for surveillance purposes. On every screen, a huge battle rages in the secret naval base and in the hidden cove with the Friendship Kingdom defense forces guarding the ‘FKS Harmony’. A moment later, a soldier in standard combat body armor passes in front of the camera and Justice spots, on his arm, a stylized black shooting star mark. As the battled continues unabated, the ‘fly-eyes’ surveillance cameras begin flicking off around the area, until every screen is blank. Without a word to her father, Blueberry runs over to her wardrobe and grabs her nano-suit, plus a pair of thigh high boots. She exits her bathroom wearing her nano-suit and boots. Justice is taken back by his daughter’s figure; the form-fitting suit shows off just how perfectly formed his foals are, a trait inherited from their mother, an equine morph goddess. Before his daughter could say a word, a snap of his finger transforms the clothes he was wearing into his nano-suit. A second snap of his finger causes heavy combat body armor to form that looks like the armor worn by an ancient warrior known as a samurai. Blueberry’s face glazes with shock, dangling from her father’s left side was a daisho. She knew the longer scabbard contains a long sword called a Katana. The shorter scabbard contains a short sword called a Wakizashi. On his right side a quick draw holster formed containing a custom pulse pistol. A custom pulse assault rifle formed on his back, underneath that on the small of his back, above his tail, was a pulse shotgun. To finish off the armor, a helmet that looked like a samurai great helmet formed on his head. Before long, Blueberry activated her special force’s combat body armor. On her right side, a pulse machine pistol 5 forms along with a holster containing a Special Forces custom pulse pistol. Justice reaches his armored glove out for his youngest daughter to take hold. Once her armored glove grabs hold of her father’s hand, he opens a wormhole portal to the location. January 14, 2026, 19:01 hrs Equestria Standard Time, Half Moon hidden cove, Secret naval base of the Friendship Kingdom, Friendship Kingdom territory. The wormhole portal deposited Justice and Blueberry a mile from the secret naval base in the Friendship Kingdom territory. This was prefect as Blueberry tore her helmet off her head. The moment she exited the portal, her stomach rebelled against her causing her to vomit. The concerned father side of Justice came out as he found a safe place for his younger daughter to recover before continuing with the secret mission. (A few moments later) “How do you feel Blueberry?” Justice asked as the sickly Blueberry sits under a tree in her nano-suit. Because her stomach has not settled from traveling through the wormhole portal that her father created she is concerned that she ruined the mission. “I am sorry, father. but I am still nauseated and my stomach still doesn’t feel right. Go on without me. The mission is the most important thing.” Blueberry said sickly as Justice shook his head. “I am sorry Blueberry. But what kind of father would I be, if I left a sick foal who can’t defend herself here?” Justice replied as Blueberry tried to get up. But quickly slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from throwing up again and sits back down. Her ears droop down on top her head, sadly. “I might know a way to make you feel better, Blueberry. But it means touching something you don’t like being touched.” Justice comment as Blueberry knew what he meant. “You are talking about my foot, right father.” Blueberry answered as Justice shook his head. “If you explain why you need my foot, father, I’ll consider it.” Blueberry comments “Fair enough, Blueberry, newbies to space travel both male and female are inflicted with space sickness its similar to what happened to you. nausea sets in so they put pressure on certain points on the bottom of their feet to ease the space sickness. After one treatment. They are back to normal, I don’t see it not working on you, Blueberry.” Justice explains as she agrees to let her father work on her foot. With that, Justice pulls his daughter’s boot off her leg, exposing her barefoot. He removes his glove and rests his daughter’s heel in his palm. After that, he uses his other hand and his thumb to begin putting pressure on certain points on the bottom of her foot. As he increases the pressure on the certain point, the nausea begins to fade, followed by settling her stomach. “I feel wonderful father, Thank you. Now do we not have a mission to complete?” Blueberry comment as she reactivates her special force combat body armor after putting her boot back on. “Rightly so, my dear daughter. Let’s move out.” Justice said as he reactivated his combat body armor. With that, the two ponies creep their way toward the entrance of the secret naval base for the Friendship Kingdom with their weapons close in combat at the ready. On point, was Galactic Knight Justice Silverlight with his pulse shotgun at the ready. Followed behind him, covering the rear was Intelligence Specialist Blueberry Swirl Silverlight his younger daughter, her pulse machine pistol 5 ready as well. At the entrance, Justice gestures his daughter to crack the lock on the gate so they can get into the bunker as he covers her with his custom pulse assault rifle. As his daughter was working on the lock of the bunker, Justice switches over to his thermo sight and scans the area. Suddenly, his more sensitive hearing picked up a low click near his daughter. Faster than she can perceive his movement, he grabs her and tosses her away from the bunker as an explosive booby-trap goes off, tossing shrapnel everywhere and bathing the area in smoke. “Father!” Blueberry screams as a tear runs down her cheek. Slowly, the smoke begins to clear. Standing in the center of the smoke, with his gold metal wings wrapped around him was her father. Other than a few nicks and scratches across the outsides of his metal wings, he is largely unhurt from the explosion. Blueberry dashes over to him as he refolds his wings on his back and she hugs him. “Father! Don’t ever scare me like that again!” Blueberry said bluntly as she pounds on his chest with her armored fist over and over again Blueberry composes herself, takes a deep breath and examines the collapsed bunker entrance into the secret naval base. “Back to business then, Blueberry.” Justice comment as the two ponies leave the area. For the next few hours, the two ponies’ search for another way into the naval base but is unsuccessful. They decided together to climb up a large hill that overlooks the half moon hidden cove and use the infrared distancing sights built into their helmets to scan the area for the advanced dreadnought. Through the optical enhancement, they find the berth that housed the ‘FKS Harmony’ is now empty. A moment later, the sound of helicopter engines approaching causes Justice and Blueberry to slide down the hill and hide in the bushes. As the flight of helicopters marked with the symbol of the Friendship Kingdom pass overhead, the two ponies reappear. They climb back up the hill, using the conventional binocular sights in their helmet and watch three ponies climb out of a helicopter. The first pony was Applejack, followed closely by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. The three ponies don’t look all that happy as Applejack throws her cowboy hat on the ground. In a hidden campsite, some distance from the secret naval base in Half Moon Cove, Justice and Blueberry sit in front of the campfire. They are wearing their nano-suits speaking about what happened at the cove. “Well father, that confirms what Miss Rarity told me. The Friendship Assembly members know the location of ‘FKS Harmony’ . But probably don’t know the command codes for the vessel. Only Princess Twilight Sparkle knows them.” Blueberry explains as she tosses a freeze dried piece of apple into her mouth. “She probably tickled the information out of her, That’s why I found an unconscious Twilight, barefooted lying clamped to a table in that ruined castle.” Justice comment as Blueberry reels with astonishment about her father’s comments. “What?!” Blueberry exclaimed, missing her mouth completely with a second piece of freeze dried apple from a small package in her hand. “Three days earlier, on my way to the Crystal Empire to talk to Cadence about something, I was forced to land near a ruin castle in the Friendship Kingdom territory. Metal wings and thunder don’t mix, so I landed and went into the castle. Inside the castle, I found Twilight lying on a magic created table, unconscious, she was suffering from hyperthermia because she was not dressed for the chill in the castle and she was barefooted. So I took her to Dream Valley for help.” Justice explains as he floats the second piece of freeze dried apple into his mouth. “Who and why, father?” Blueberry inquiry as she tosses another piece of apple into her mouth. “Any evil Imperator Alicorn named Daimyo Harmonia Strife. Your mother got involved with her when she was a very young Alicorn ruler. As for why Blueberry, Harmonia first target was your mother.” Justice said as the blood drains from Blueberry’s face. “Did she hurt mother?!” Blueberry ask her voice explodes out of her. “No Blueberry, your mother escaped through the one way wormhole portal I made for her in her necklace. I suspect Harmonia was after her activation codes for the ‘Solar Fury’ your mother’s powerful particle beam cannon.” Justice explains as Blueberry’s face turns pale. “Blueberry, would you like to visit your mother in Dream Valley. But that means travel through the wormhole portal again, it got you sick the first time.” Justice explains as Blueberry looked at her father and touches her stomach with her hand. “As much as I wouldn’t like to get sick again. I must see if my mother is safe for myself. Besides, I’ll let you use that same trick on my foot, again to settle my stomach ,if I get sick.” Blueberry explains as her father opens the wormhole portal to Dream Valley to see her mother. (A few moments later) Justice settles his daughter’s stomach with the same trick he did before with her foot. Blueberry runs up to her mother and embraces her, happy to see her safe. As the two mare talk, Justice is soon joined by his own mother, Duchess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight attired in a blue green sheath dress and simple black slip-on shoes. “I think it’s time for Great Grandmother to get involved, mother.” Justice comment as his mother crosses her arms. “There’s no telling what kind of damage that Daimyo Strife can do on this planet with her hands on that advanced dreadnought from the Friendship Kingdom.” Justice explains as his mother shook her head. “Your grandmother is positioning the Hyper wave generator as we speak toward the infinity star sector when it’s ready, she will send a hyper wave message to your Great Grandmother the Empress. Inform her of what’s going on with Daimyo Harmonia Strife. After that, we must wait for a reply from the Empress’ .Till then, you should contact your oldest daughter Imperial Solar Princess Aurora Silverlight, her diplomatic savvy is needed to get the rulers to a meeting with Grandmother.” Shimmer explains as Justice begins to dial his oldest daughter’s personal holo-phone number. > Chapter 10- End of the first phase > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Star date 11426, unknown time, Infinity Star Sector deep space, Infinity Palace, Throne room/ command center Battlesat station one. In an area of space not seen by ponies’ eyes, living on the planet of Sol which orbits the sun was a gigantic metal sphere about the size of a small moon. This sphere is orbiting a space station built by an ancient race of Imperator Alicorns giving life by the Supreme Creator Being called the All Mother. Her children, as she calls them, were created by the very stars that make-up her very own body. The first Imperator Alicorn to be created from a star within the all mother’s own heart was her daughter, Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight. This child of the All Mother was created to be the living embodiment of the All Mother herself. For eons, Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight fulfilled her duties as the avatar of the All Mother and supreme ruler of the Imperator Alicorn race. A despondent Ophelia, sadden that none of the Imperator alicorn created then was her own, Ophelia approached the all mother with tears in her eyes, asking her if she could create her own children. The All Mother granted her daughter’s request. But what surprised her was when her daughter asked for the stars from the All Mother’s heart. So she gave her daughter two stars from her heart. She told her she must nurture these stars herself and she did. The first star to grow to maturity was her oldest daughter Duchess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. Soon after her youngest daughter Duchess Jamila Nebula grew to maturity. Seeing how happy her daughter was raising her own children, the All Mother decided to begin the Great Star Collection. After certain amounts of stars were collected, she would offer the star to other Imperator Alicorn’s who wanted to raise children for their own family. To protect the royal family, the All Mother forbade the collecting of stars from Infinity Star Sector by anyone except for her royal family. Sitting behind a computer terminal in the central communication block of the Infinity Palace was an Imperator Alicorn mare. She was wearing a deep teal colored Space suit and on her head was a head set. ‘Huh? A hyperwave signal!” The Comm tech thought as she tried to triangulate the source of the Hyperwave signal. She was able to trace the signal back to an M-class planet several light years from the Infinity Star Sector. But what got her attention was that the signal was sent vie a Royal pulse from the Imperial Princess. The Comm Tech makes a copy of the signal and flies down the corridor heading towards the command center/ throne room. The Command Center/ Throne Room is a huge area filled with view screens and monitor screens. Various space station functions are monitored here and change continuously over time. Sitting in the command pod in the center of the room was a captivating, ageless, light blue Imperator Alicorn mare with an imperial red mane and tail. Her elegant athletic 6ft 12in figure was encased in a form-fitting mineral green space suit. Resting on her back were the most beautiful jeweled bio-mechanical feathery bird wings of her species. Her emerald green eyes darted from sensor to sensor reading them as her fingers moved at a blurring pace on the holographic keyboard in front of her. Sitting on her head behind her horn was a jeweled imperial tiara. This Imperator Alicorn mare was Empress Galaxy Cosmos, the All Mother of the Imperator Alicorn species and supreme ruler of the Imperator Alicorns. “Your Imperial Majesty, I just received a royal hyperwave transmission.” The Comm Tech mare said on one knee with her head bowed in respect. “You must be mistaken Comm Tech. I have sent no such transmission. There’s no way. I have been working on the internal communications network for a while now.” Galaxy comments not missing a beat as she continued routine maintenance on all the space station systems. “I understand Your Imperial Majesty. but it was not from you.” The Comm Tech said as the comment got Galaxy’s attention from her routine maintenance of the space station systems. “If not from me, then who? It’s forbidden to masquerade as a member of my Royal family and use a Royal Hyperwave signal to send a transmission. It’s punishable by death or prison time for the offender.” Galaxy explains as she finishes the routine maintenance on the systems. She spreads her wings and flies out of the command pod landing in front of a glowing box in front of the pod. She touches the box with her hand; the command pod sinks into the ground as a platform with her gold throne slide over it. A moment later, the pedestal with the glowing box on it sinks into the ground and disappears. “Who then?” Galaxy asked the Comm Tech once again as waves of acid wells up in her belly. “Her Imperial Highness, Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight.” The Comm Tech’s voice said strained as Galaxy gaped in stunned silence with the answer. “This better not be some kind of joke Comm Tech. So help me, I will throw you into the nearest black hole I can find and make you suffer for the joke.” Galaxy said ruthlessly as she lifted the Comm Tech up to her eye level by her collar as she looked at her piercingly. “It was your daughter who gave us Imperator Alicorns born from weak stars a chance to prove ourselves, when no one else would. My loyalty is to Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight and what she stands for, The Avatar of the All Mother. You, Your Imperial Majesty.” The Comm Tech said confident as Galaxy set the mare down on her feet. “Even after my daughter disappears her very name still inspires upmost loyalty in those she assigns to work at the Infinity Palace with her. Hesperia, I believe that’s your name. Were you able to triangulate the source of the transmission?” Galaxy inquiry as Hesperia’s face glazes with shock with the All Mother knowing her name. “Y-Yes that is my name, Your Imperial Majesty and yes, again, I was able to trace transmission back to the source. It originated from an M-Class planet. As I am not sure about it. I think that the planet, the' IAS Wisdom' the large Science class vessel crashed on.” Hesperia explains handing the copy of transmission to Galaxy who dismisses Hesperia and orders her to return to her post. With a copy of the transmission in hand, Galaxy negotiates her way over to her throne and sits down on it. She lifts her arm into the air. With a swipe of her hand, she brings up a holographic view screen in front of her, followed by a holographic keyboard and inputs the transmission code into system. Soon tears come to her emerald green eyes as the face of her missing daughter appears on the screen. But it is soon replaced by a stricken look as the transmission bursts a message, meaning it could have been sent at anytime by the Hyperwaves Generator. “Attention Infinity Palace, the dark Imperator Alicorn Daimyo Harmonia Strife has reawakened. As this message has been sent, I have no idea if she has contacted her Dark Star Section for support.” The burst message from Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight reports as the message ends, a new link appears on the screen. Galaxy presses the new link on the screen with her finger. It switches over to a live feed and in front of her appears her missing daughter. “Ophelia!” Galaxy exclaims as tears once again run down her cheek. “Yes, Mother it’s me, I see you found the embedded live feed link in the burst message.” Ophelia explains as Galaxy wipes away the tears from her cheek with her hand. “Only you could pull off that trick with your extensive knowledge of communications. My dear daughter, the sole survivor of the mission to that M-class planet.” Galaxy comments as Ophelia shook her head. “Huh? No mother, the whole crew survived the accident, we’ve been living on this planet since the accident. Our ships communications were so badly damaged even my knowledge couldn’t fix them. We had to wait for the planet to catch up to our tech or close to it.” Ophelia explains as Galaxy’s eyes widen with shock that her whole family survived. “But, mother, I don’t have the time to catch you up with what happened after the accident, because this planet is in serious danger. Harmonia Strife has reawakened on this planet and has her hands on a dangerous weapon. As I don’t think this weapon poses no threat to Infinity Star Sector. We both know what she will do with that weapon on this planet.” Ophelia said, her voice edged with tension as her mother showed no emotion and gently shakes her head. “She will try to spark a war.” Galaxy said with a matter of fact answer as a despairing look appears on Ophelia’s face with her mother’s answer. “Mother, you have great grandchildren who could get killed if Harmonia sparks this war on this planet.” Ophelia’s voice said quavering as Galaxy’s breathe catches in her throat. “I have Great Grandchildren?” Galaxy said as her jaw drops. “Who are they?” Galaxy asks as she slowly recovers from the shock. “Your Grandson Justice married a terran Alicorn mare name Celestia. On this planet she is the Princess of the Sun the ruler of Equestria. The land we now live in. He and Celestia have the most perfect foals. Two mares and one stallion. You would be so proud of those foals Mother they embody what it means to be an Imperator Alicorn Galactic Knight despite not being a pure Imperator Alicorn.” Ophelia explains as Galaxy forces herself to take hold of her emotions and start thinking like a ruler. “As happy as I am to know I have Great Grandchildren. I must think as the ruler of the Imperator Alicorns and Infinity Star Sector as Harmonia poses no threat to the star sector. We can’t get involved with the affair of that planet. You are on your own, Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight. Please understand my position, my dear daughter.” Galaxy said with a hitch in her voice but calmly. “Understood, Your Imperial Majesty. This is not your war with Harmonia.” Ophelia’s voice is a lifeless monotone as a single tear runs down her cheek, knowing that they will not get any support from their home star sector. January 15, 2026, 0600 hrs Equestria Standard time, Central communication block, Eternal Palace, Principality of Dream Valley, Independently owned land in the Solar Empire territory. The following morning the group reconvenes in the Eternal Palace Central Communication Block after spending the night as the guest of Imperial Princess Ophelia Silverlight in the Principality of Dream Valley. The transmission to the Infinity Star Sector would be an all night waiting game, so at about midnight, planetary time, Empress Galaxy Cosmos sent her reply. It stated that the Infinity Star Sector will not intervene with this planet’s affairs; hence Daimyo Harmonia Strife is their problem. Rightly so, the Terran royalty of Equestria were livid about the decisions of Empress Galaxy Cosmos, the ruler of the star sector will not intervene with the war with Harmonia. The royalty of the star sector were disappointed but not surprised with the decision from their ruler. It was a very long shot for them to intervene. “Justice?” Celestia ask calmly as she follows her husband into the Eternal Palace garden to talk to him alone and find out why it was no surprise to him. “Yes, Tia?” Justice replies standing in front of a fountain as he clasps and unclasps his hands. “I sense that message from your ruler came as no surprise to you, Why?” Celestia ask sitting down on the edge of the fountain in front of her husband as she crosses her long leg over the other. “At best, it was a very long shot it stems from an incident that happen long before I was born.” Justice said sitting down next to his wife on the fountain placing his hand on her knee. “At one time in our history. We Imperator Alicorns did intervene in planetary affairs. During one of those interventions the outcome was disastrous. It cost the lives of millions. We don’t want to repeat what happened.” Justice’s voice breaks as Celestia gasps, soon a single tear comes to her eye. She slowly and gracefully rises to her feet before placing a tender kiss on her husband’s cheek. Justice watches his wife slowly walk down the path towards the Eternal Palace. Once out of sight of her husband, Celestia sunk to her knees and wept. Meanwhile in the Celestial Sea, sitting at the minimum firing distance was ‘FKS Harmony’ the Friendship Kingdom’s advanced dreadnought. On the bridge of the ship in-putting the final firing formula into the targeting computer aboard the dreadnought was Pinkie Pie. At the same time, setting up the broadcast signal at the communication station was Rarity. Monitoring the radar station were both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy for any unauthorized signals. Finally, prepping the shells on deck were Applejack and a few chosen earth ponies sailors. Double checking the data at the command station was Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Is everything set Pinkie?” Twilight inquiry “Okie-dokie-lokie Twilight. Inputting the last values into the computer. Shell one will hit the painted building in block 15 of the Crystal City. Shell two will hit the street in front of that building.” Pinkie Pie explains as she presses the enter key, locking the gauss cannon in place. “Check, Rarity, are the broadcast lines ready. Before the shells are fired we must state our reason for the strike.” Twilight Sparkle said as Rarity signs. “Is this the only way Twilight?” Rarity inquiry “Unfortunately Princess Cadence has been unable to stem the tide of the Shadow of the Sombra group. It’s time to act before Harmony fades.” Twilight said bluntly as Rarity begins activating the broadcast signal. The moment the broadcast signal is activated, Applejack and her deck crew quickly duck into a reinforced bunker on deck. “This is Princess Twilight Sparkle, to preserve harmony we are going to deal a crippling blow to a terrorist group who settled in the Crystal Empire, FIRE!” Twilight orders as the shells are fired toward the Crystal City. As the broadcast ends and the screen goes blank on the bridge of the dreadnought, the image of Princess Twilight Sparkle fades and is replaced with the figure of Daimyo Harmonia Strife with malicious delight on her snout. As the camera pans around the bridge, all the Friendship assembly members transform into Imperator Alicorns. “Now what, My Lady?” the Imperator alicorn manning the gunner station inquiry. “We wait.” Harmonia answer “It’s too bad the shadow of King Sombra group tried to assassinate me as a Terran Alicorn. To further their own agenda. it was their fatal mistake.” Harmonia said venomously as she kicks her shoes off and rests her midnight blue bare five toed feet on the control console. “Boys let’s head back to the Dark Star Kingdom and see what our R&D boys can do with this primitive vessel. Such a primitive vessel, but it packed a wallop. I do like the name ‘Harmony’. Promote harmony through firepower. Love it!” Harmonia said as a triumphant smile forms on her snout.