It's the morning, and the first sun rays are illuminating the plains of ponyville, and the surrounding countryside. On a house, there, everybody's sleeping. Fluttershy's on her bed with Angel. Discord's there, sleeping like a cat, and on the floor, RainbowDash's on her couch, sleeping too in front of a game console and a TV. The only noises that could be heard so far is the wind through the leaves and the birds singing.
There, destroying this peaceful ambiance, someone's knocking at the door, resonating through all the house.
Fluttershy wakes up, groggy, checks the clock. 6:42
Discord's getting up and stretching.
“Morning Fluttershy, stay here, I'm going to check~
-Thank you!”
He opens the door, and observe a purple unicorn with bad hairs and eyes about to get out of its cranium.
“Oh, i thought the zombie apocalypse was planned for Friday..
-Discord?
-Oh, Twilight Sparkle! Good morning er, you look beautiful today!
-I need to talk to Fluttershy, it's important. And have you seen RainbowDash?
-Er... Maybe... Wait a second would you?”
He's closing the door and goes wake up Fluttershy.
“Miss Sparkle seems to have an important thing to discuss with you, should I take care of her?
-It'll be fine, thank you, I'm awake now. Could you prepare us some breakfast?
-My pleasure”
Discord teleports himself and opens the door
“Oh please do come in, make yourself at home~” and he teleports into the kitchen.
“Ah, Rainbowdash, you're here!”
“-That pony I talked with couldn't tell me more but gave me this book, if i wanted to know what's she's planning i should have known first who was our leader, and this is very, very scary. It's accusing Celestia and all the aristocracy of Canterlot since centuries to manipulate and control the country”
Rainbow Dash is yawning
“Does it says anything we don't already know?
-How come did Celestia reached the power? What's the first things she did when she came to power and why? You want to know? She killed King Cosmo, the founder of Equestria, and her own mother too, the Queen. This divided the country and led to a civil war, the army attacked Canterlot, the separatists were executed, and she muffled a people's revolution by many times! Isn't this scary?”
Discord picked the book from Twilight and took a look at it
“Yeah. Hehe... Hohooh, good one. ...Hm that's false I did it, whatever. Hah, excellent! That's so true, that's totally my Celestia ! Is that her autobiography”
Fluttershy questioned
“What does it says about what Celestia wants to do today exactly?”
“-She's still working on a complete domination of the world; because according to this, it's in her nature, and it's happening since centuries! If this is real, and if her intentions are what i believe they are... we'll enter into a new era of dark ages under the zabernism of Celestia.”
Twilight concluded on this dramatic explanation but she got followed by Discord and his unequaled knowledge on what's evil; being still evil himself.
“Of course she wants the world at her knees, isn't that what we all want? Don't you, Twilight?
I always admired this woman for this in particular, her envy. But that saddens me a bit, that makes her more evil than I could ever be” He throws the book away “Bah! This is bullshit, it doesn't even cite an author, you're torturing your own brain, Miss Sparkle!” Twilight catches it on the fly
“that's why I want to know. If people tried to ban this book there's a reason, and the recent turns in Celestia's politics makes me want to know what's going on. I'd go investigate on Canterlot!”
“Everybody have their up and downs, even Celestia, i think.” Discord offers her a cup of coffee “There, I'm sure you'll get better after this.”
-T...Thank you!”
Twilight will never get used on how friendly Discord actually is with her. She drinks the cup, and at her surprise nothing really bad happens.
“Yeah well I just know we're going to make 80 kilometers to Canterlot this morning.
-To verify a theory. Ponies have died probably for possessing this book! Do you still think it's a joke?”
Rainbowdash is reading it too.
“Am not! if we could call this a book, that's more like a bunch of reports, journals and excerpts of news compiled but it's interesting. Some things are on a blur anyways, and i doubt such a thing would even qualify being illegal. There's an entire chapter that's about the ruling of King Cosmos, yet describing it like a tyrannical regime. The other one about the skinny demon-troll things... look, so many cults have started out of nothing and managed to get a lot of people convicted that what they read is the truth.
Take sects and other churches outside Equestria, like in Canida, where many are devoting some cult of personality for their holy Renamon like she ever existed !
-Don't be so nihilist Rainbow, there's a lot of things that happen and you can't explain it. Pinkie's got like a sixth sense and she's not into magic or even a unicorn.
-I'm realist, and I know even if she can get sometimes crazy Celestia is anything but a dictator or whatever that paper wants you to believe! I mean, ...You, it's been almost a decade you know her personally, you're not going to tell me now she's evil !”
Discord approves “Yeah she just traps critters as statues and send who she don't like on the moon, nothing really bad. Except maybe Bananas.”
Fluttershy's laughing and Twilight continued
“I know but there's some troubling accuracies there. The paintings, and
[Fluttershy interrupts her] Say, Twilight, Have you even slept last night?
-You want to know? No; I was on my library verifying every detail with my encyclopedias, and even the most underground and anarchic, like the most loyal-to-Celestia writer, all points to the same thing, either the one who wrote this is a maniac, and has the equivalent of my library and sources, and has decided to write a political troll to speed up the fall of the system, or it is the truth.
-That's impressive.
-..I... I know. So, who's with me? Rarity's overwhelmed with work, Pinkie's in charge of opening the bakery today, and i'm not talking about Applejack.
-Cool we all three have one thing in common, we're officially jobless! Let's go to Canterlot and start a protest ! I'd like to have a status as saving lives in Ponyville!
-And I'd like to get one too as professional for caring about wildlife animals! Discord, could you take care about Angel?
-you can count on me, an hey!”
he summons three first class train tickets for Canterlot out of nowhere. “Bon voyage !”
Later, on the wagon, Twilight's asleep, laid on two couch, Fluttershy's reading the book she mentioned. Rainbowdash pulled out her walkman and get up from her seat, stretching her legs and wings.
“Y'know what? I'm gonna get some drink or something. didn't had a solid breakfast. care for a coffe, a coke or something Fluttershy ?
-Hmm... A hot chocolate would be welcome, thank you !
-I'll bring you that ! Twilight? aw..”
Rainbowdash walks through the wagon in direction of the bistro-bar wagon, that was at this moment devoid of any personnel and unfortunately closed, with a few flickering light making her quest harder.
“Oh come on, i didn't took my breakfast this morning... There must be something around that's comestible... ah, that will be perfect”
Behind her, she heard something scratching on a door. As through the little window she notice an orange muzzle she's knowing pretty well, leaving a mist on it. The darkness of the room gave a very oppressive atmosphere and she knew she had to hide. Dash jumped behind the bar right before Scootaloo enters into the wagon, followed by Sweetie Belle. The only source of light on them was some flickering red advertisement panel making the two fillies looks like demons coming straight from hell. Rainbowdash discovered a sensation there by watching them coming and wandering on this place, it was something she couldn't explain. It was called fear.
The filly's looking around in her quest for food, to satisfy her most primitive needs. She jumps on the bar and humming the air trying to find what's she's looking for, groaning silently. Both are advancing slowly towards the shelf Dashie's hiding behind, doing her best, staying silent as she could, holding her breath. The fridge's door she were peeking into was left open and a can of soda or two fall from it, rolling on the floor, distracting the two fillies who rushed on it like velociraptors on a prey, biting it and exploding the can, spraying the fillies by its content. They're screeching in anger while the other one bucks on a door freeing a bag of CheezyPuffs. They tear apart the bag like lions would be skinning a A good diversion to allow Dashie to run as fast as she can to the door, making some noise unfortunately. The fillies who noticed something moving on the darkness between two tables chased on it, yelling some “KYAAARRRRH~”. Scootaloo was very fast, jumping on a table and on another, and Rainbowdash just had the time to close the door behind her and lock it with the help of an emergency brakes's lever as the fillies slam on the door. She made it with Fluttershy's request and a can of coke, alive, and sweating, but at least is assured she didn't got spotted. Dashie also locked the second door and came back to her seat.
“There you go! I really encourage you to not go on the minibar. Ever.
-Oh thanks darling.. you look terrified.
-I am. Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle are here. In this train. Aren't they supposed to be in school?
-Well, Rarity told me they'd be visiting canterlot this week!
-..I should've picked a bottle of whisky instead.”
Once out of the bus and in the streets of Canterlot, Twilight 's trotting nervously, looking right in front of her yet not caring about bumping other ponies walking in front of her, not caring at all, focused and determined ; at a point Rainbowdash and Fluttershy are having some bad time trying not to lost her track.
She's nervous and bitter like she never been, lost in her thoughts but she wants to know. Because for Twilight, knowledge's more important than everything, even her own life perhaps, and if something had to happen, that's the price she's ready to put. It's like a drug and she's in need for her fix.
“-Conspiracy theories are often fake, some are true, and all needs to be demonstrated by experiences, and I'm the one who will fulfill this experience today. That's science, nothing less and that's how it works. Even if it's a pile of lies it brought me to questions i've always wanted answers, nopony really knows anything about Queen Galaxia and King Cosmo.
-That's been a thousand years, darlin' back ago they didn't had a lot of writers and even a free press, today everything's on the media, true facts or complete horseshit.
-[Twilight stares into Fluttershy] That book, slapped confidential and highly illegal to possess puts back in question everything about Equestria and its History! That's
-Disturbing. Yeah. Activate the super drama collider at full power and see if it makes a big mushroom. You read hundreds and hundreds of book, from fiction to facts and analysis, and more controversial novels yet you focused on that one at a point you're ready to create drama with the head of the state for a thousand years, this alone is awesome!
-RainbowDash if you could be a bit more quiet about it... You, and Fluttershy, if you could stay around here while I perform the little investigations I need to perform, you know, that'd be of help.”
Fluttershy is smiling at her
“-You can count on us, I know how to make you leave the psychiatric hospital! I'll just become your new caretaker
-Hey!”
Dash followed “-Do you have like, at least a PLAN or something? You know where you're entering right? You know what are the risks, I'm not supermare...
-I exactly know what I'm doing. If it's a pile of made up stories I will know it, if it's not I will too, the answer's in this castle.
-So, If that journal is real?
-I'll retrieve the Elements of Harmony and we get out of here, then have a serious discussion to get this sorted out. And then...
-Twilight, go find out by yourself.
-[She takes a deep breath]Thanks Fluttershy! I won't be long!”
Twilight has stopped to a souvenirs boutique where she picked a talking Celestia toy sold one bit.
She's approaching the security gate, with two guards blocking it.
“-Sorry ma'am, Canterlot Palace's officially closed to visitors on Her Majesty's request today.
-Hi, I know, I'm a little late; I'm Twilight Sparkle, I'm with the group of kids today and ”
Then another royal guard replied “Ah It's ok, come in!” and Twilight grinned happily “Thanks!” picking her Celestia toy using magic, activating it accidentally with a buggy robotic voice “Let's fly to theuuuuuuuu caaastle!” “Wow, it can talk!”
As she's walking through the palace, she's sneaking incognito to not being seen by any other official who would inform as usual that she's here or notice Celestia about her presence here. Then she's crossing Cheerilee about to enter the official library of Canterlot, a room that covers about 40 acres of walls covered of shelves. Better idea is to act like all of this is planned.
“Ah, you found it! Welcome the temple of the knowledge and philosophy!” she shouted.
“Twilight!” replied Applebloom
“Hi girls! How are you doing this morning?”
Cheerilee turned back and noticed her “Oh! Hey kids! Twilight Sparkle's with us ! What a coincidence! How are you doing?”
Twilight grinned, a bit preoccupied but confident the acoustics of the giant room was designed to keep the place silent. “I thought that'd be interesting if I'd join you... discretely! I'm documenting myself from times to times here and Rarity told me you organized that visit, that's a good idea!
-Thanks, well it's just to change from the theoretical things they learn; you know. I'm supposed to work on something else right now but I decided to took a day and change my ideas.
-[Cheerilee's winking] I see, hehe. no problem I haven't seen you there at all!”
A brief flash of light occurred right behind her; she turns to see what it was and see Diamond Tiara, the one and only filly who could ruin everything, and she was carrying a shiny compact Neighcon camera as a necklace. Twilight was screaming internally, visualizing herself crushing Diamond Tiara with a steamroller in her mind.
“-Hey Twilight! I didn't knew you was coming here !”
Twilight was grinning nervously but replied “Well let's say I'm the guest, yeah, I'm taking some holidays today. Like I said with your teach..”
“Do you know any book about unicorn magic? I'd like to”
“Absolutely, go check on that direction there's all the books and literature on the subject
-yay; thanks Twilight!
-[to Tiara running on the other side of the football-field sized room] yeees on the back of aisle C-4 there, it will keep you busy for decades to read all that, and don't forget to grow yourself a horn while you're at it ! Phew. Now back in business; The archives..”
Twilight takes another direction, straight to a dark corridor, sneaking silently out of sight of a stallion guarding the entry of a part of the library containing a lot of ancient archives. Most books and folders stored there are centuries old, and need a special authorization to be consulted even for the members of the high society. Actually only Celestia, Luna and a few equines are allowed there, even the horse in charge of securing the door was certainly not allowed to move from it.
Twilight herself always knew the existence of this place, known by a few ponies since her childhood. This giant database was documenting everything about what happens in the country including the privacy of the citizens, financial informations, and Celestia knows what kind of little or big secrets, and today a certain bookworm decided to sneak into that place. She could know everything and who knows, get the world under her control.
The mountain of dust covering these also screams how nobody checked them for centuries until this day. Twilight's illuminating the dark alley of the Government of Equestria's archives with a touch of magic, going through different names of it through the eras, organized like a tree's crust in different layers, reflecting the changes through the time. “The First Principalty of Canterlot's archives”“Equestria Imperium” “Republic of Equestria” in hope to find what she was looking for. Everything here was labeled “Secrets of State” “Confidential” then nothing in particular. Most were barely relevant administrative and regional maps, listings, going further in the past however gets the same kind of content until she reach a place with shelves devoid of just blank paper. The oldest official archives are about 800 years, confirming what she read on the mysterious books.
“HEY YOU! GUARDS !”
As she heard these words surrounding and echoing in the darkness, she understood she got spotted by the old horse behind his desk calling for the security. She needs to run, find and escape, anything but be caught here, not even Celestia could help her, and even if all that story was bullshit, she ruined her access to that library forever. She hears the guards trotting on the aisle towards her shouting “Come out of here and everything will be fine.” “You have entered on a strictly unauthorized area. Legal consequences will ensure if you abide now!” “This is your last warning!!”
At her surprise, one little pink filly slowly came out of one of the aisles right behind the one where Twilight was standing. Diamond Tiara, is escorted by two guards out of the library. She was following Twilight there, still hiding in the shelves, shaking, with an increased heartbit as the old horse was yelling at the pink little pony. Twilight's monologuing silently...
“Shut up. Keep your mouth shut you bitch! She's looking in my direction she saw me. She's going to tell them she saw me there oh all is lost!!! What will I say for my defense? They will confiscate her overpriced toy, check the photos and figure out I'm on it. Did she took a pic of me HERE ? What is this little prick up to again, probably telling them she saw me entering this area like that... Alright I'll have to deal with these guys the hard way. Two plus one behind his desk... Oh great now the hall is filled with guards, I won't make it. Come on move a little more so I can teleport far away from here. Is that guy going to check everywhere already? Oh here's Cheerilee coming to pick her. Good riddance. Time to go now.”
Twilight can finally teleport herself discretely back to the entry door of the forbidden area. Rushes out of the archives's corridor back to the entry hall and takes a deep breath, hanging after some statue as behind her, Cheerilee and her classroom are being evicted by the guards and the staff closed the doors of the giant library for the rest of the day.
“I'm sorry miss Cheerilee, I didn't meant to create problems today.”
Cheerilee was sitting there, low, and in despair
“But there's a sign that says 'DO NOT ENTER', if you can't read this then what are you doing on a library?” Sweetiebelle spoken so but got corrected by her teacher.
-It's not her fault. I can't be a cop and be behind all of you all the time, preventing things like Snips drawing penises on the books of the collection”[ponies are laughing]“Let's go check the gallery of paintings, then we go back to ponyville.”
Celestia and Luna are observing the visitors wandering in the castle from a windowed bay.
“I wonder how Cheerilee can keep doing that job. Look at her, she's at the verge of a nervous breakdown holding all the angst about a generation of kids like that. Not counting the thought of having failed at her task.”
On the castle, some fillies are posing, taking pictures, grimacing with the royal guards holding their positions. One of them is drawing flowers on one of the Castle's paintings whenever the guards aren't paying attention.
A stallion in uniform with a talkie walkie's asking
“-Majesty, perhaps we shall ask them to
-No worries these are prints. The original is on my bedroom.
-Here goes the Legacy...” Luna shrugged. On these words Celestia remained silent, but certainly pensive.
“Managing such a classroom must be a real pain. She's not even a teacher and she probably don't know much about Canterlot Palace than the kids she's with. That's a job I'd offer to Twilight eventually. Most of the horses and ponies in this country are like her in a sense. Trying to do something with their life, trying to keep everything under control.
-Being responsible of the education? Our little bookworm's dream job.
-What else is she good with? Twilight's stuff is magic but once the new defense protocols enabled we'll no longer need the elements of harmony or even magic. All these advancements in order to protect these ponies and their habits. Until Chrysalis or any of our enemies or who knows, current allies decide to attack us, it was about time we needed an upgrade in this hostile world, for the empire. This is a permanent state of war since centuries, and on a more personal note I don't think Peace will ever be possible...
-There's something different with you lately, Tia.
-You think?
-That's my impression.
-I couldn't sleep last night.
-It's been a couple of days you disappear, leave the throne, and I don't really follow you, we have to talk, really. If Some thing's going on, we should talk about it you know.
-[Celestia's watching her sister with a smile] Everything's fine, really. Might be that meeting this afternoon.
-Oh i see.
Twilight was around and Cheerilee came to her, with a worried look “I'm really sorry about this incident, Twilight. Luna allowed us to come visit the museum and library today despite the fact it's closed to the public and there, we manage to get in trouble anyways..
-It's okay, told you I have read most of these already and I don't think curiosity's a bad thing. Hey, look at that painting by example. What's the message or what's the hidden message ?”
The two poniesd are staring in front of a giant, wall sized canvas depicting a black alicorn in armor fighting against a two legged anthropomorphic demon
“-...Chaos defeating Cosmos by Chawal. A classic.
-That's a masterpiece isn't it?
-it's symbolizing the new equestrian empire about the war that occurred a thousand years ago...What led Celestia when she was young to fight back, and deliver a merciless vengeance. repelling the invader out of Equestria, leading to the independence of the country.
-That's right.
-You know, Lyra has a theory about this painting, the creature killing Cosmos could be an artist's depiction of an human. There's a lot of mysteries about his works.
-Or just being a painting out of the imagination of the artist, or what he got told to illustrate, since he was born 130 years later after these events.
-All those pictures aren't an accurate representation of the History, myself I know what I'm teaching to these scoundrels isn't the most accurate facts, but based on books. But they remain masterpieces. That's what Art is about. Tortured, violent with abstractness. It's a global vision of past events, even if the characters here might not be the same as they were. You'll never know the truth because those who knows are now dead today.
-All but one.”
The two mares are watching another classic painting depicting Celestia, victoriously dominant over Tirek, a blood thirsty minotaur or mythical creature. Twilight was taking notes on her sheet of paper about the Sun Symbolism Chawal depicted on the paintings and the correlations with the writings of the Anonymous author; and on her bench, like staring at its 700 years old and her modern representation, a cute plastic toy with oversized eyes.
Twilight kept walking inside the castle looking for items that suits the description of her book, symbols left by the ancients who lived in this place before and finally encounters with Luna.
“-Twilight Sparkle! What a surprise!
-Princess Luna!”
Twilight's hesitating about entering on such a serious discussion regarding her parents, her sister and things she's suspecting, and could do nothing but stare at the alicorn, hiding how she is embarrassed.
-You..
-In fact I was lurking around, I'm with a class from Ponyville, they're visiting the Old Canterlot today as you heard
-Ah ok, something wrong?
-No, nothing special. I'd just love to have a discussion just us two, whenever you got time. There's a few things i wanted to know 'bout er; your history, your parents, you know, not the 'official' version
[Luna's smiling]- Oh well.. Perhaps after the meeting, you know, we have a lot of work on the table with the ministries and officials, representatives and all that so I'm being the little princess as usual.
-That'd be something more private in fact
-Fine, if you want I'll pay you a visit at your library tomorrow, is that important?
-[She took a serious look]Yes.”
They stared at each other silently. Luna took a look around with a concerned look.
“-We're going to have a lot of negotiations today concerning the security of the Kingdom of Equestria here in Canterlot, and for the evolution of it. lot of officials and representatives will be there. I'll meet you whenever I got time, tonight at eleven in your home, is that alright?”
-alright!
As Twilight goes away due to a hurry, not wanting to get spotted there, Black Cars are entering the palace, with members of the council for the reunion under an heavy escort of guards. The national guard and the army actually. Everything looks so synchronized like a clockwork. Procedural and very organized. Ambassadors and representatives from the Crystal Empire, Germaneigh and other countries from the continent were present, including Prince Blueblood. She looked at all these people bowing before Luna, greeting them back before being invited to enter the conference room. Luna also knew that meeting would have its importance just as the level of security has been increased in Canterlot Palace this day, and the headache the classroom in this place gave to the secret services in charge of the security of both the princess and the heads of the state.
From her hideout, Twilight was watching all these people reunited, fueling by the way her interest into that conference, and enjoyed the luck or opportunity her status offers to her.
She had an idea. “a dumb one but if it works it's gonna be worth it.” thus we have Twilight stalking two Royal guards to their locker room and coming out of it dressed using the Royal Guard's uniform. There she finds an helmet, an armor and everything at her size. Actually something very different than the traditional armors.
Some male unicorn shouted at Twilight “Hey you!” and again she knew in what kind of trouble she got into.
“-Me?
-What are you do...Oh.. The demo's starting in less than ten minutes, as you know, we can't get the guests waiting!”
Twilight didn't knew what to do right now but she noticed her uniform was an Air Commodore according to the insignia, while the unicorn was of a lower rank. She don't know exactly.
“-Wait I'm...
-An unicorn pilot, I see. I was wondering where your wingma...”
A blue and yellow-maned pegasus is rushing in the locker room too, picking a similar helmet on the nearby locker,
“fucking shit OH S.. SORRY SIR IM LATE” He stops and salutes both Twilight and the unicorn.
-Commander! Lieutenant! I'm sorry for being.. Late, traffick in Canterlot's a nightmare...
-SORRY FOR BEING LATE? OFFICER, IF IT WAS ABOUT ME I'D KICK Y”
Twilight cut the yelling unicorn
“-Get yourself ready Officer. Lieutenant Coleman, instead of stressing my coworker, we have some work to do. While we're getting ready, could you please sum up again today's operations?
-Alright, you're going to perform a demonstration of the new generation of Equestria's Her Majesty's ship, you'll take off with a Wyvern helicopter and have to shoot some targets on the sector Tango Oscar, ma... Menoavernabitly, tragetting... take off and landing, and
-Did you mean maneuvrability?
-Yes, that's it, the other is just, well the routine training things, I'm not an expert about helicopters in any way, I'm just here to
-You should read more often, Coleman. Let's go, Arès !”
She's followed by the young pegasus as she puts her helmet on, covering her face and mane.
“My name's Thorn by the way”
Twilight couldn't have expected a better disguise. As she walks on the garden, she notice Princess Celestia, Luna, and Prince Blueblood with a lot of serious ponies observing them, sitting on the balcony with a glass of champagne.
“And now your majesty, ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce you Comm. Thunderlane and Officer Tornado”Thorn” Willis of the Shadowbolts, who will be in a minute demonstrating the capabilities of the new Wyvern stealthly air combat helicopter, the apex of the Equestrian technology at the service of the defense.”
The public applauses, Twi and Thorn salutes the crowd, assured but still couldn't believe how exactly she got there. Celestia seemed not to care at all, being bored and chatting around, but Luna was staring at the purple unicorn in a pilot suit, out of speech.
“Oh shit Twily..Act neutral. Neutral. Don't look back... Oh yeah there's an helicopter here right for us, it's perfect ! I have no idea how this thing really works... What would Rainbowdash do... Or fluttershy.. That's not even Oh yeah smile and grin at the crowd!”
Twilight closes the door, tries to remember the few things she read about flying machines, and her knowledge on how to get a balloon to take off.
“Excuse me commander but... you're not the commander Thunderlane this is obvious..
-I'm Twilight Sparkle, i'm replacing him obviously. Do you know how to fly this thing?
-Sorry Commander Twilight It's my first time on a Wyvern. Go ahead you're on the commands. If your intention is to steal this weapon, i just have one button to presss and we're both ejecting together.
-That's absolutely not my intention Thorn ! Now what would Rainbowdash do...
-Hehe, i was kidding you. i like how this thing has all the equipments in series. Sportscar seats, ABS, park assist, radar, video, guns... if you're familiar with a bicycle that's about the same, with the addition of up and down.”
The copilot from the shadowbolts wasn't worrying, waiting for Twi to figure out how to operate the machine. Eventually, she's turns as many switches as she ca to on, pulls up a thrust lever and the blades of the rotor finally begins to move. Equipments on her helmet displayed an infrared vision, allowing her to zoom as she points it in direction of Princess Celestia. She were visibly discussing with a mysterious pony Twilight hasn't seen before in Canterlot Palace or anywhere, yet the more disturbing detail was that her princess's tint was different than other ponies and guests, significantly more cold than her sister and other member around, it's almost like she's barely visible on the camera.
“Er, Twilight, is everything alright?
-...Yes, er. ..Yes I was just testing the stuff and whatnot...
-Hm I saw something weird, too, nevermind.
-Me too, I'm gonna tell you all that later, okay?
-Okay, let's open the fireworks. I'd have brought some classic music but this thing only has a cassette player.
She moves on, takes off and she's heading on what used to be a golf terrain, shooting cardboard targets on the floor shaped like monsters and dragons of all sorts, all of this seemed like some videogame.
“For how long are you in the shadowbolts Thorn?
-Couple of years from now. I used to be into the rainbow factory before but decided to get another job, so, joined the shadowbolts.
-Oh I see..”
She takes some altitude. Enters in a cloud..
[BONK!]
Some alarm is beeping on the helicopter.
“What's that again?”
As she gets out of the cloud, there's Rainbowdash's face and hooves sticking on the windshield.
“URGH YOU MANIAC, CAN'T YOU WATCH... Twilight? W...What are you doing with that thing?
-AUGH! Rainbowdash! I'm sorry buyt can you like; go somewhere else!? I'm trying to drive!
-Huh But I thought you were investigating and now you robbed a plane!
-It's a long story, it's a Wyvern helicopter and I'm not robbing it.
-Of course...
-just don't be around, Okay?
-[Leaving]Okay.
-Sorry Thorn are you okay there?
-We ... Did we just hit Rainbowdash !?
-[Twilight mumbles] Yes... Say, what's your opinion about the leadership of this country?
-Well... it's fine... You know I don't have a real idea about what's the political turn Celestia decided these past days.
-Explain.
-No, I'm not against, you know, but
-Do tell, I'm not always following the news
-Hah that's not on the news. Ever, and that's strictly confidential but Princess Celestia seems to be making agreements with other countries around, there's a lot of rumors. As you can see it's about some global defense project. No one else has much info.
-Cadance isn't there?
-Oh er, no. I have no idea but I don't think the Crystal Empire's involved.
-You saw that stallion Celestia was discussing with, who is he?
-Er... I, now you mention it, I gotta say I don't know, really. That's strange.”
Twilight's getting on her nerves, and she is shooting at some statues and trees now, being out of cardboard.
“WOAH hey, holy shit you just cut the woods!
-I'm sure she's preparing something. I'm certain about it.
-Who are you talking about? The Princess? Like a new budget cut or new taxes?
-If only I could know what they're discussing about...
-Oh, You turn on silent mode, and put audio on the camera. It can do it, But ..Oh er not sure if that's reeeally legal, but I won't tell anyone.”
She shoots at one of Celestia's statue standing on the garden, and grins.
“-Whoops, I meant the one marked 'amp' on it
-I know that.”
The helicopter's engine revs down until it becomes silent but remaining static. The screen displays an 'Audio enhance' message while the video camera's locked on Celestia. Ponies in the crowd are laughing like horses at the fireworks and other improved destructions on the garden; and Twilight can now follow what she wanted, watching her and the mystery stallion through as they discretely move away from the crowd for privacy.
Celestia looked rather neutral or natural as always but the fat orange stallion walking with her seemed pretty much enthusiastic.
-[scratches]benefits of the operations would be one of our greatest achievement, don't you think?
-As you wanted it will be done faster than you could imagine.
-Very good.
-And of course we'll get a complete control of their natural resources. Minerals, gold, everything we could exploit from this land. You certainly have a project for the population of course.
-That's not an issue at all. The council has already approved our strategy, you and your associates will get your part.”
-There's nothing like a good war to boost the economy and your trust! And when we know what we can win by performing it, and expand the Equestrian Union to the space it needs...”
Thorn was listening too, worried to be caught in something he didn't expect.
“-A war? What are they talkin'bout?”
[twilight turns the volume higher]-Shadap n'listen!
-Trust me, everything will work as planned.
-What about your sister? You have to get her out of the chain of command you know. She will never
-...Don't worry about her, she won't be longer a problem. I just need to speed up things up and you'll be free to play your role. Tomorrow will be a new day! Hahahahaa”
The stallion was also laughing. His cutie mark is covered by his vest but Twilight has now the further proof she was looking for, ironically using some equipment funded by Her Majesty. she does her best to land the helico more or less safely, in front of the public applauding and laughing, more congratulating them for ruining Canterlot's Garden.
[Luna to Blueblood]“I swear I thought she was Twilight Sparkle!”
“Thorn...
-Commodore?
-What you listened here right now is now covered secret defense, you could get killed or cause people to die by simply repeating what you heard here by repeating it to anybody, do you understand?
-Yes ma'am... ”
They both get out together, proudly waving their hooves at the spectators and quickly escape towards the lockers. and there, encounters again the unicorn they met one hour ago.
“Ah you're back! Good show, congratulations, but you're not Commander Thunderlane !”
Twilight's taking a look around before removing her helmet, warrant of her anonimity during the entire show
“-Are you Captain Obvious now?
-I just had a report as Commander Thunderlane had an accident one hour ago and could not be in this royal meeting! Please follow me, these are the orders”
Twilight frowned and took a mugging expression, while Thorn took a more suspicious expression hearing this new.
“The orders? Really?” she said. “Coleman, I'm not Commander, that's not my suit. I'm Twilight S. Sparkel, Marshal in chief on the Royal Army, and we're both on Her Majesty's Secret Services. I got the info before it comes there, we're both sorry about 'Lane and decided to assure the show anyway, do you understand?”
The unicorn was speechless
“Urgh, Actually I'm going to check your commander immediately. You've been told to leave us alone more than once.
-Wait, it's alright I just wanted to relay you.. the info.
-Thank you; Coleman.
[Coleman salutes them both]-Sorry Madam
[Sigh]-I'm not a Madam, lieutenant Coleman!”
The unicorn is finally leaving as fast as he came, and two other guards wandering around are doing so to avoid pissing off the pretended status of Twilight. Thorn looks at her with a smile. “-Wow... Marshal in Chief of Her Majesty's Secret Services? I never heard that one !
-Not bad, heh? Say, Can you help me unzipping that thing? I think it's jammed or something...
-Oh... Of course Marshal,”
He's blushing as she's holding her mane, grabbing the tip of her vest and unzipping it slowly down her hips.
“You've got a beautiful...”
Twilight's looking at him
“Cutie mark, really.
-Thanks... I'm glad you like it, really”
This is the most improbable situation that could ever happen for Twilight and a random pegasus pony to end up alone on the luxury of Canterlot Palace's
“I don't know why but I think we've met somewhere once, didn't we? I feel like I have seen you with Rainbowdash, but it was years ago.”
Twilight's using her magic and unzips Thorn's shadowbolts suit the same way, throwing it the other side of the room, exposing his body and he couldn't help but his wings got fully deployed.
“Wingboner ? Am I really doing this effect on you?
-I... I'm sorry, really ah dunno what to say.
-Nothing.”
Twilight's still admiring the body of the winged creature in every detail, as she rarely had the opportunity to examine a living male pegasus, whose anatomy's different from unicorns and earth ponies.
Despite her lack of energy, Twilight's entire body was carving for him, and she couldn't help but embrace him and give him a deep kiss. Thorn; him, couldn't longer resist to kiss her back, wrapping his wings around her. Twilight never felt such a sensation before, she may have knew other ponies but nothing like this, it's like nothing else exist around. She could feel his heart beating faster on her chest. For Thorn it's the same kind of experience. As Twilight's magic has some kind of impact directly on him, he could feel an energy from her going through his body, and knew suddenly everything about her intentions, her past, remembered every single detail where they met first, the present; why twilight is here, and why in the future she may need someone like him. But Thorn was confused by this kind of brain hacking she just performed on him, and enjoying it.
“...how in tarnation did you do that?”
“i'm into magic, but you gotta go, i know. Once all that will be done i swear, i'll pay you a visit !” she replied.
Once everybody have left, leaving nobody but guards, Luna's looking into Canterlot Palace for her sister who obviously vanished again. She wanted to know why Twilight was here and didn't want to see her first. Did she do something wrong she couldn't tell Celestia? Does she need an advice? What was it about...
“...There's something not right.”
Luna's climbing to the dungeon, a place where Celestia isn't usually going but noticed people she never met leaving it. Once she reached it she founds her sister there, contemplating the view with a mischievious look.
“-Celestia! I've been looking for you...”
The white mare was surprised to see her on this place, and smiled.
“-Yes darling, what is it about?
-You don't have an idea? I'd like to know a few things and ask you, what's going on here already ? Is there something you know and don't want to tell me? You're never in the castle, I did raise the Sun this morning. Also who were these guys you've been talking with?
-Important decisions have to be taken about this country you know. I'm doing my job and I'm assigning you a new role.
-A new role?
-To never interfere with my decisions, i don't think you're going to agree.
-I don't. I'm the co-ruler of Equestria, and the holder of the constitution as you know it. That's the role our parents gave to us, keep this in mind, alright?
-Oh, Luna...
-By the way I'd like to discuss more about them, we never really did talk about it but I was a foal when they died. Do you remember how this happened?”
Celestia remained silent for a long minute, looking into Luna's eyes.
“What I'm going to tell you right now will certainly not bring them back and neither make your life better or feel better about yourself or myself. Our father, King Cosmo was a tyrant. The Equestrian Empire was shining and countless wars destroyed the surrounding countries. Entire villages of ponies have been devastated. He also ordered to destroy the ruins of the ancient civilizations in order to keep the myth of the ponykind being the chosen one, with nothing preceding it.”
She's marking a pause, being silent..
“I admired his work when I was young, it was fascinating but one day I realized that the people were suffering from it, and I had to stop him.
-Do tell.
-The protocol to access the throne of Equestria is only by defeating the one who's holding the place by the force, and acquire eternal life by this way. One day I came in front of him, asked him to fight in a duel. He accepted the challenge knowing if I won, I will be the one to reign. It could've been you but you were just a filly.”
Luna is visualizing herself kicking her sister, through the window, shouting “THIS IS EQUESTRIA!” but instead, she contained her rage, knowing that now Celestia was more or less making up this story. She's sighing.
“-Do continue.
-Sooo... I charged him like this, and planted my horn in his heart directly. He laughed and told me that it's now my role to take the power as he died, he also told me to take care of you and the kingdom.
-...
-I would develop further on his personality, but he was really not considering the Equestrians like I do, and I decided to act differently than he did, and build a new world united through friendship and
-Enough.”
Luna closed her eyes, stopped listening.
“You're telling me what I want to hear, or not or making this shit up, and nothing more. I expected something more sincere. You don't play dices, you have a plan and i know it. I want Equestria to remain united too, not you to take every major decisions regarding it and its people, even against their consent. if you plan to attack the Changelings, you need my approval. If you're creating alliances with some obscure groups, you need my approval. Every secret you have should be mine, i have none for you.
-I'm not...
-You think I'm blind? You really believe I didn't notice your concilliabule with notorious warmongers ? Some of them who are currently under heavy investigation for frauds or manipulation lately?
I don't recognize you. You're different. You're preparing something important in secret, always and now I want to know. Prince Blueblood and the members of the congress wants to know. They're questioning me a lot recently but you're always away. There's a mountain of letters from your student on your desk since days.”
Celestia's remaining stoical, walking in the room with a disgruntled expression, she didn't expect that coming from her sister.
“You're asking too many questions, Luna, and i was kidding, you will have an important role in there. you'll be informed of the progress, but from now I can't tell you more than i know myself, I'm sorry.
-Whatever. If you fail, and seeing how you do things, you will. i won't endorse what you will do.”
Celestia's sitting on a chair, opening herself a bottle of wine.
“You know, This world has changed a lot since you were gone, and I did my best to keep it this way, to guarantee our people to remain free, our independence. One day you'll get it, anyways i'm not putting you out of the course. In fact you'll have an important role for the future. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. You still hate me and will hate me forever for sending you to the moon, and I will always regret this, but again this was for your own safety and the safety of this world. Isn't that what we're all carving for? A happy life, friendship. Don't you like it? Oh i'm sure you do. You know...”
As Celestia was being excessively inaloquent, Luna was looking away, not caring anymore, whatever topic she tried to open led to the same kind of answers.
She's picking a glass and get a drink too; Better talk to a wall. She knew something was not right with her sister and she would soon be obliged to take radical measures. She's thinking “As soon as this conversation will end, i'm going to require the Secret Services and even Twilight to investigate in deep about her activities, bring it to the Lords, and put a term to this. Oh you're not gonna like it, sis but you'll better get down from your little cloud.”
Celestia was explaining how for centuries unicorns fought against pegasus and other ponies, dragons, often laughing at stories she probably made herself.
On a second she was distracted, Celestia rushed straight into her, horn pointing at her sister's chest. That was fast, unexpected and Luna couldn't see it coming. As she fell on her, it was too late, she got stabbed by the white mare, caught on the floor and unable to move.
“Goodbye, Luna.”
“What the... What are you doing, are you crazy? Help! HYAAAAA!”
By survival instinct she did her best to kick her sister away but Celestia's literally anchored to her yet also manages to break her sister's horn by slamming her head on the floor, ensuring she couldn't fight back with magic. That was cruel but definitively calculated and planned; as Luna was crying and moaning in pain.
“Something you may not enjoy” she happily replied to Luna, as some blood was splattering her face, while Luna was screaming; kicking and trying to escape.
Panic reached the floor and the screams of help got the guards to force the doors and step inside, contemplating the two mares fighting, knowing they are not allowed legally to interfere against any decision from the princess ; which is irrevocable. A red unicorn decided to charge on Celestia, yelling “YOU'RE BUT A TRAITOR !” two others followed him.
Her eye saw him coming and an invisible force she summoned broke him on his course, leading him to suffocate. He falls on the floor, inanimate. Another guard came to rescue him and tried to reason the alicorn
“Princess Celestia, i beg of you, you, it's not too late, stop!” he sweated and knew he could be the next.
Celestia shout, “Guards! Keep off, this is an order!” while Luna was screaming for help but choking and coughing blood, and moaning.
“You.. Nah mah shistaRRRRR!”
Celestia sent energy impulses into Luna's body in an attempt to either kill her faster or at least make sure she remains silent. Luna was however still resisting and fighting for her life, until Celestia charged her magic energy, and discharged it all straight into her severely damaged sister, paralyzing her before she manages to get her horn out of her body like a rapist, leaving her victim on the floor.
Celestia's standing in front of her, not saying a word and observing, licking the blood dripping from her smoking horn flowing all the way from her forehead to her muzzle. The room remains now disturbingly silent, left alone Luna coughing and moaning in a bloodbath, as the co-rulers of Equestria around observed the scene. she's coughing blood yet with an infinite hate in her eyes looking at her sister.
"You're ...a whore Celestia... you're but a fucking .. ..whore i .. i always knew it! Why... "
Celestia's breathing loudly, gaining back her forces after using so many energy.
"And you're still alive? You're really hard to kill definitely."
Guards in the room remains there, not doing anything but witnessing powerless but abiding Celestia's orders all according to the protocol that defines every action she does as legal, yet immoral and cruel.
Celestia gets back up,
“See? I don't know one single kingdom that has a princess, because we were 'equal'... however, look. look at my empire, look at all the lands i've conquered, what our parents would fail to do ! all this is mine ! three hundred millions screaming fanatics can't be wrong, this is my conquest and you, you never was interested, you remained a dreamer, a children, an immature creature devoid of any ambitions ! It's better like this, really.”
Luna knew she was dying, loosing too many blood, facing to the creature that she once thought being her sister.
“When i was on the moon, i... have been watching this blue planet... this world [cough] This world cannot be yours. I've been thinking it would be better... one day.. but you're just the dumbest creature on that planet. you should have been on the moon and look at it once from there, it would have maybe made you think otherwise.. how small your kingdom is from there. ...you'd understand that you're alone, too. Your end is neigh and you know it...”
Celestia ignores her, and sips a glass of wine left on a table.
"Hm. You were just never made for taking this power anyways . Look at you, and look at me ! i guess you've inherited the genes of your father in a way I thank nature who protected me to become like you!"
Luna's lying on her own carpet of blood, finally on a coma and no longer moaning, deaf and free from all her sister's words.
An horse was staring at the scene, not knowing why exactly this happened. “What in the name of Celest... your honor can you explain what you have done here? Guards ! This is a ...”
The guards remained silent.
“Carson, i was expecting you, take note. I'm doing what I should have done years ago. Luna asked me to kill her before she turns into Nightmare Moon again. That was cruel but I made it.”
The pegasus and other equines in the place had that more or less terrified and heinous stare at the alicorn with the face covered in blood.
“That's impossible...”
Twilight just made it on the dungeon, but knew she came too late, looking at that scene and trying hard to not scream as the red pony was evacuated by two of his teammates.
“Generals, please take note that in this day of January 1384 of our era, I, Princess Celestia of Canterlot the First am the only one and legitimate ruler of Equestria, who has defeated Nightmare Moon to ensure the long term security and prosperity of the State. I assume the entire control and role and title as the Eternal Queen of Equestria after eliminating the last threat to the Crown.”
The stallions in the room nodded, but not showing a tear or any feeling regarding what they just saw. Disapproval for most but without any power toward the situation, but despite this, all of them shouts altogether:
“HAIL TO THE QUEEN CELESTIA !”
Celestia's laughing in an evil way, looking over Canterlot from the large windows as a crew takes away the body of Luna out of the room.
“Gentlemen, we will have a lot of work to do tonight. We'll establish a crisis reunion, we need to establish...”
She's interrupted, and here comes one young unicorn walking slowly in the corridor as Celestia was leaving the room.
“Dear Princess Celestia, today I've learned that I was a blind and deaf little filly, listening to a so called superior being for most of my life. a being i devoted my entire life to please with honesty, loyalty, pride, and protect everything she established. I've been your faithful student for a couple of years now and i really trusted in the values you brought... friendship and love
-Oh, Twilight ! come in please, don't be afraid !” Celestia said with a big smile.
“-Shut up Celestia!
-...
-I know everything, you've gone too far. you killed your parents for the throne and now your own sister, you transformed and reduced many legitimate opponents and any hope from the vision your parents had for this oppressive regime, you've built this little paradise ran by your elite not caring about the suffering ones around and now you're switching to the next level...”
Celestia remains static and looks at her, responds in a calm and cold voice.
“-Twi... i'm disappointed ! I'm sorry but I'm putting you a... one out of ten for this one. This is not your business, so; goodbye. Guards, please, take this foal out of my sight and make sure she'll never get out !”
Guards are surrounding Twilight, pointing their sparrows at her. naturally Twilight's using her levitation power to neutralize them with ease, crashing them on every side of the corridor.
“Not as much I am, Celestia. What are your plans now? The population is discovering the truth today, and you know it, you signed yourself the end of your reign today by assassinating your own sister and trying to start a war, thus getting this country under your most absolute control. That's your plan, and all of you are going to let her do?”
“Hohoho... so you think you're badass now girl ? Guards, don't do anything it's gonna be between her.. and me!”
The stallions present around are moving away from the two equines, face to face, obeying their leader's orders, not really thinking it's a good or bad idea.
“Hey Twily I have a mission for you, like, try to keep your breathe for a few months on the Moon! You know, for studying their history; Humans once ago sent people there for less, and they even were thankful to their leader for it !”
Twi however took a more aggressive stance, being now confident in herself, knowing the situation and having thought about it during the whole night ; both feeling violated by Celestia's trust yet otherwise knew what to do to put a flaw into Celestia's plan and She teleports right behind her.
“I'm sure you got quite a lot of tricks in this genre, on the moon, i had quite a good teacher on this domain, i admit but you don't know me well enough!”
The alicorn flipped back to Twilight and her horn was glowing red but as she shoots in Twilight's directions, she vanished.
“You're such a prick Twilight, really ! but you're right, I made you ! You think your cute and happy morals could intimidate me like I've never seen enough during my whole life? You're not the first and last I'll have to deal with!
-Oh i bet. But I won't be of the ones you could defeat easily.”
Celestia's looking in the giant living room for her.
“Now if you think you can defeat me, bring it on and let's fight this once and for all ! Spoilers : you die! And none of your phenakisms will help you there!”
Twilight teleports herself again right in front of the door containing the elements of harmony this time. she closes her eyes, put her horn inside the lock like she always seen Celestia doing, and use her magic to perform some kind of bruteforce attack in order to unlock the door.
4, 8, 16, 32 and up to 4096 numbers forming one line in her mind. it took less than two seconds to perform what Celestia thought it was the highest form of security, maybe 10 years for a supercomputer, but two seconds for one brain. The door opens exposing the box where the Elements of Harmony are kept secure.
“What do you think you're doing here Twilight Sparkle ? Are you for real ?”
Celestia can't believe the little unicorn broke into it. She turns to her guards, yelling “The elements must NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM. STOP HER!” and charges the unicorn. “ oh you're doing the mistake of your life, Twilight!”
The stallions and horses brings out their swords, some brings out their automatic gun while Twilight's escaping with the container of the Elements but gets one shot of energy from one of the guards, but manages to escape. One of the horses behind shouts to close the exits.
Celestia's landing right in front of Twilight blocking the only way she has to escape through the window. Twilight tries to fight Celestia but her lack of sleep plus exaggerated efforts doesn't help anything in her balance; which is like fighting against a dinosaur like Celestia, even though the guards are nothing but a joke following a simple principle of combat and how to deal with them.
'Arrows or ammunition reaches their target at a limited subsonic or supersonic speed. Magic interaction travels at c.(speed of light)'
Reminding her also running is useless now she's hit, and have to focus on her probabilistic teleportation spell. She need a strategy to get out with the elements using her intelligence and save her energy. But Celestia is right, she's being amused seeing Twilight trying to escape or attack, blocking her energy beams before she could ever reach her.
“Your magic is weak. I'm even ashamed to have to fight against you and should let you recover. Admit it, you're alone here. You can't even target or break through my shield !”
Twilight knew she was right, she told RainbowDash and Fluttershy to stay outside and she would be back, if only. She's looking into Celestia's eyes, like paralyzed, seeing her gathering an energy beam that will sure kill her quickly. The radiation generated by Celestia's energy's leaving her with a disgusting metallic taste in her mouth, a taste of death.
“Hey Princess Cuntlestia!”
Such words broke the silence resonating in the room, distracted celestia for one second to look behind her when an energy beam hit her right on the face right, making her miss Twilight, and yell out of pain. Right there was a pink unicorn, standing in front of the white mare, surrounded by an army of stallions.
“Twilight ! RUN!!!”
The guards runs after Twilight who's enjoying the unexpected situation to escape, finding suddenly a lot of motivation back to fight, and found out who did this.
“Diamond Tiara? what are you doing here ?”
Tiara's charging another attack in an attempt to cover Twilight's escape
“I'll explain later, i got lost on that castle! She's evil, she killed Princess Luna! I'm gonna make her taste some magic!
-She's still dangerous! We need to find a way out!”
Twilight is now rushing into another guard, and puts him KO with a double-kick on the face.
Celestia however was still blinded, raging.
“I'm going to kill you!”
and she's shooting a beam of energy at the little foal who tried to run away, using her remaining senses hitting her. And by the way another of the stallions working for her, The blast exploded the windows of the castle; defenestrating Twilight who immediately caught the threshold of the window, the only thing keeping her from a deadly pit. Other guards didn't had this chance and fell down from the mountain.
Celestia's barely recovering her vision and walks towards the pink filly while Twilight was trying to get back inside, sliding with the shattered glass.
“TIARA!!!”
Celestia's standing up right in front of her. “Oh well, it's ... It's gonna splatter a bit!” as she shouts, grinning and about to crush Diamond Tiara.
Behind her, two visible dots are approaching the castle at high speed. Rainbowdash rushed straight into Celestia, punching her straight on the face which sent her flying to the other part of the building.
“Howdy!”
“Rainbowdash!”
“Hold a second Twi! I'm coming!”
Guards are now escorting Celestia away from the conflict zone, another crew is attacking Rainbowdash, who easily got rid of them them all, then rush to Twilight about to fall.
“Gotcha!”
“Wait, there's Tiara in there!”
“I'm on it!” Fluttershy replied and rushed inside, enjoying the little diversion occurring by the escape of Twilight and RainbowDash while the Imperial Guards are throwing spears at them.
On the middle of the battlefield she finds Tiara's the floor, inanimate. “Y...You're alive ! Hang on!” Once she notice being spotted on, Fluttershy takes the filly with her and rushes out of the castle.
As she watch them escaping, Celestia's shouting in anger
“Track them, retrieve the elements and make sure they are dead.
-Your desires are your orders your majesty.
-And clean me up this mess already !”
Rainbow's asking
“-What the buck happened in there? Twilight, you're bleeding ! I'm taking you to the E.R !
-No we gotta go I'll be fine, really. We have to run away as far as we can, Celestia killed Luna... I swear! Her own sister, and she's planning something evil. We can't stay here!” Fluttershy just came back from the Palace.
“-Diamond Tia's in a critical state, I'm taking her to ponyville's hospital if it's not too late!”
-Do you know how far it is from wait... what? Tiara? That prick was an unicorn all along?
-Hey! She saved my life! And I told her to look into some magic books in the library... GAH all of this is my fauuult!
-Twilight come on...”
Fluttershy's on a hurry and is flying faster than she never did, leaving Rainbow and Twilight behind her, letting them hear nothing but a distant, typical double boom.
Tiara's emerging in her arms, trying to open one eye, she's flying above the clouds at speed she never reached before and the first thing that comes in her mind is being dead. “Y..You're taking me to my Mom?” “My godness you're awake, hold on!” She's reaching the clinic of Ponyville straight to the ER. slamming the doors and breaking in.“Quick an emergency here COME OVER!” Medical staff is hurrying with a stretcher as Fluttershy called for help. “We're on it! what happened to her?
-[she's panting] Ce..Celestia.. she attacked, magic, hit by a beam of energy minutes ago.
-Alright we have a radiation poisoning accompanied with several degree burn on the left flank. Severe trauma, she need oxygen supply, wide spectrum intravenous antibiotics. probably having several vital organs damaged, hemorrhage and anemia. get the block ready!
-It's gonna be okay Tiara, you're a strong girl!!
Tiara's crying in pain as doctors are taking blood samples, ECG, IV lines, and gets her ready for the block. Fluttershy wanted to stay with her before a crew asks her to stay outside the emergency. she's sitting on the floor next to the door, and falls in tears, hoping she did her best, holding the pocket camera Tiara had as a necklace, with blood on it.
Meanwhile at Applejack's barn, Twilight explains everything she found, more about how the entire place was founded thousand years ago, the truth about the death of King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia being in fact a coup d'état from Celestia while Rarity's suturing one of her wounds.
Applejack looked very concerned too.
“we need a strategy and keep it secret. That thing's a real bomb and many people in this country will want ya dead, y'know?”
Dash jumped“ Nah nope nope nope, if we do, we'll always be fugitives. every pony need to know the truth and get ready for the next step which is, ...Celestia knows what!
-but you can't just contact a media being the enemy of the state and go like, HI WE COULD START A REVOLUTION CELESTIA IS A TRAITOR AND MANIPULATIVE!
-...Yeah if we weren't alone.”
Rarity's wondering
“Hold on your horses! Are you even sure it was really Celestia who killed Luna and not another fake or a changeling? Are you even sure she's dead did you have seen it all?
-I saw horses in the place carrying her body away..I hurried up when I heard screams up there but the guards went there faster, and i was hiding trying to sneak in, it was horrible. Yes, She killed her, cold blood and when I came there was nothing to do... I could have prevented this...”
Minutes pass as the ponies are thinking of what strategy to go with when suddenly some rumbling noise could be heard outside. There was some pegasus landing around the barn, examining the place, and one of them knocks at the door. “Hello? Anyone here?”
“And here they come...”
“ah luv ya girls, it's been awesome to have been with y'all !”
“Luv ya, sis'”
A few pegasus slams the door of the barn and gets inside, facing the ponies.
“Rainbow Dash ! Twilight Sparkle ! Finally. we have received the orders to arrest you from the highest authority...”
Dashie snarls, standing in attack position, followed by Applejack, nodding at her, and Big Mac.
both Twilight and Rarity gets ready to fight, charging their magic but she didn't do anything but look at that character and voice which looked familiar.
“...But we can't do this and you know it, Rainbowdash.
-What exactly do you want from us!?”
The pegasus removed her helmet and Rainbow immediately recognized her.
“-Lighting Dust?
-yeah. It's been a while isn't it ?
-I don't know what to say.. whew! You're with the shadowbolts now ? That's AWESOME! But ... I don't understand why are you here?
-We'll discuss about it later on the base, but basically we need you.”
Another pegasus continued
“we'll ensure your security and that you're not getting caught by the Royal Guard, so you and your friends better pack what you need”
Twilight recognized who it was.
“Thorn?”
he smiled “Hey Marshal, I knew I could do something for you so...”
Rainbowdash continued
“-Actually... How can we trust you?
-You can't, but I owe you that, Rainbow. Anyway time's runing against us now and you girls better pack what you need, it's dangerous around here!”
Applejack shaked her head.
“-Nope, go ahead I have to stay here.
-And what about Sweetiebelle? No i just can't leave her in ponyville alone!”
Big Mac replied:
“Ah'm gonna take care of the farm, don't worry.”
“Any news from Fluttershy and PinkiePie?”
“She's in ponyville hospital with a filly.”
a TV screen showing a cartoon involving little humans got interrupted.
NEWS FLASH.
"this is a news flash to announce you that about one hour earlier the Canterlot Palace has been attacked by a group of terrorists during a royal reunion to discuss strategic and defense program of Equestria. i repeat, the castle has been attacked, we can confirm her majesty Princess Celestia is wounded but safe, and will be interviewed, however it is reported that Luna is dead along two other generals on the meeting, that's horrible, it's even more dramatic than the attacks we had but we can confirm Luna has been assassinated. We have more informations on the terrorists, it's about a group of students led by Twilight Sparkle, a sorceress and student from Ponyville helped by a young children who have sneaked through the safety during a school visit to Canterlot"
"we're now getting live pictures from the Office of Her Majesty Celestia about to give a speech conference"
The press and reporters are all around Celestia, and a big silence occurs.
"Citizens of Equestria, today has been a tragic day that will stay in our memories for centuries. Indeed, this morning a group of well trained, innocent-looking unicorns infiltrated the Castle and assassinated the vice secretary of Defense and the general of civil security... and my beloved sister Luna. And they also tried to assassinate me. These were two unicorns, especially one I trusted for years. they used their magic to break into the castle's securities and by the way betrayed my trust.
I am saddened by the loss of my sister and would have preferred to endorse the role of Queen of Equestria under better, normal circumstances. But I shall ensure your protection by managing all the aspects of the citizen's security. Martial law has been just approved in Canterlot by the Equestrian council and in a few cities. this emergency state is legal in a case of terrorist threat. all our services are mobilized to avoid the civil war , so carry on and pray for me ! I, Queen Celestia will do everything necessary to keep order and safety in the kingdom, and get these murderers and their organization arrested, trialled and executed. Not necessarily in that order.
You messed with me!"
“On a related news, it seems that Twilight Sparkle is the sister of the Prince of the Crystal Empire. where the Princess Cadance refused to recognize the official title and position of Queen Celestia, and is expecting a lot more transparency and investigations on today's attacks before bringing her support...”
Fluttershy wasn't even paying attention to the news on TV, but a few ponies looked at the screen with a worried expression. “gosh it's horrriiible!”
That gets Fluttershy even more nervous to know, from a minute to another the staff will find out they're researched, and she's alone this time.
“Excuse me, can i borrow your phone?” Fluttershy asked at the desk on the hallway of the hospital, and the nurse there was rather surprised.
“-Phone? That gray thing that's often making noise is a phone ? No wonder i can't calculate the fees correctly with that thing ! Of course you can have it !”
Fluttershy just realized that mare used to work here for years and probably never dared responding one single call. She needed to know how to contact Tiara's father and had her idea, calling her secretary.
“-Richard Richman and associates, what can i do for you?
-Hello madam I'd like to talk to Mr. Filthly, it's very important.
-Sorry madam, Mr. Filthly isn't available right now.
-Tell him his daughter's with me at the hospital.
-Oh my ... I'm putting you on his cell immediately please hold a moment!
[beep]-Filthly Rich here.
-Hello sir, I'm Fluttershy, i'm calling to tell you Diamond Tiara was on the castle when Celestia attacked her, and I wanted to tell you she's alive, and I took her to the emergency as fast as I could.
[he's taking a deep breathe] -Ah, Look, Scrooge... I'm really sorry old chap but I can't talk with you right now, i'm just not in the mood, I just learned that my daughter certainly died in Canterlot today, and i got the visit of the police today asking me a lot of things about that, but oh, do tell.
-..She did fought back after siding with Twilight Sparkle and now she's badly hurt, so doctors admitted her in the block. I wonder when she will be out.
-Thanks. Thanks a lot. So far that's the only good new for today. I'm sorry I'd love to invite you for dinner you and your wife, but we already have a lot of guests today at home, you understand...
-I see.. You can't talk and they're waiting for us.
-Absolutely! Meanwhile, you could take some holidays until things get better. One last thing, could you just promise me something?
-Yes of course.
-To Take care of her, she's the most precious thing ever. And.. that's all!
-I... I promise I will do my best!
-See you next Monday !”
Fluttershy hangs the phone, even more paranoid than ever. The nurse picks the set again and starts talking to it “Phone please; one more thing. stop making your stressful noises randomly or i swear i'm taking the axe and i explode you! You're a terrible clock, you're a worthless calculator and you're only a few crazy people's friend! Do you hear me phone ? Phone? Hmph.” She hangs it.
“Am i sure this is a general hospital and not an asylum?” mutters fluttershy.
A black mare coming out of the room with a white coat covered with blood almost made her lost consciousness or vanish. “Miss Fluttershy i presume?
-eeeeee...
-Yeah... She will survive but
-Oh thank you thank yo thank you!! Can I see her ?
-I'm afraid she need rest right now since we had to remove one burned kidney and a partial splenectomy... I'm not guaranteeing any good survival rate at this point but we did our best.”
Fluttershy was trying to look away, not saying anything but as she looked outside, she noticed on the parking of the hospital a patrol of four royal guards, two of them entering the building. She knew why they were here, and her instinct told her to escape. Fluttershy stared into the door she waited in front of, and rushed into the ER's corridor, bumping away the personnel. One of them yelled at her “no. NO NO! Hey! I said you cannot enter here!”
And indeed it was preferable for no healthy pony to ever enter that part of the hospital; which looked more like a butchery or a slaughterhouse than a clean room. Tables covered with blood, bits of flesh, needles, organs on bowls and even members of various colors lying on garbage cans were lying around. Inside her she fought her phobia, gathering all the strength to not let anyone in front of her way focusing on rescuing Tiara. After going through a couple of other rooms, and encountering two young ponies trying to get their cutie marks as surgeons. She finally finds Tiara on a bed with band-aids.
“There you are! Your ECG looks normal, you can breathe normally...
-iz...that.. you.. Fluttshhy ?
-Yes, and you're even awake, You've been very courageous, we just can't stay here.”
Tiara smiled happily. Fluttershy's carefully unplugging the IV and other sensors from the filly and grabs her.
There's doors slamming on the other side of the building, The nurse who was running after Fluttershy is now trying to stop two armed stallions from entering the sector with some sharp object. In vain, she got punched in the face by one of them.
“They're here guys ! Secure the exits we need them dead or alive!”
Fluttershy didn't give up. She looked around the room for an exit, looked at the ceiling, mostly made of a giant windowed bay, but waits one second or two while the two dudes advances further. She can look at them in the eyes finally, and said
“Hey. Stay off my shed.”
she kicks a table filled of very sharp objects as hard as she could, sending it straight in the direction of the two muscled stallions. It bumped on a door's corner and shattered every single instrument standing on it into them, leaving the thugs scorched and unable to do anything. As she was holding Tiara, she took off, went through the windowed bay and escape successfully from this chaos.
On the other side of the town, a squadron of pegasus are on flight over the forest. Thorn's flying with Twilight, Rainbowdash's carrying Applebloom, Silverwing's in charge of Applejack. Other pegasus are flying around trying to find Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.
They're landing in front of an old farm lost in the middle of the countryside, far from any road. There, Lighting Dust said proudly
“and welcome to the base of Whitetail”
Rainbowdash stared at the old barn
“...Secret base? Well, that's better than nothing. Hehe, really.
-Y...Yeah, you know, once all that will be over me and Big Mac could give you a little hoof to fix the roof and doors, but it still has some charm anyway ain't it? Er...”
Twilight looked at the place in a suspicious way
“That's a trap isn't it? You're not from the shadowbolts, right?”
Lighting dust invited the ponies to enter the old house, they pass through what looks like a grandma's living house, and there, a brown pegasus reading a newspaper, with a rifle next to him.
“Welcome back home Ma'am!”
“Hi Wenstrom, we're waiting four more guests soon, Fluttershy, PinkiePie, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, they're with us”
“No problem.” he presses a button on his remote control, and a walls reveals a lift's door.
“After you!
-You installed a lift! Now that's original
-and you haven't seen it all.”
The lift's going down for almost one minute, then the door opens on a very large hallway, with a lot of pegasus wandering around reveals, with the shadowbolts insigna engraved on the entry hall.
One of them cheers her up with a “Welcome back, Lieutenant!”. None of the guests expected something that big under their hooves. There's even enough room for a very ancient flying machine with a star on its wings.
“Well, that's.. how to say... Kickass” Rainbowdash made a glee face. How is that place called?
-Just Smokey Mountain AFB 104. it's actually older than the barn we use as an entry gate, at least no enemy forces could suspect; but the equipments like radars, screens and all are at the top of the tech you could have.”
As they walk into a dark room with a lot of ponies at work, Twilight was amazed “I've seen computers before but that's so many!” Thorn broke into her speech “we're going to talk about it later if you prefer, but i'd like to show you what Twilight filmed this afternoon when we were on flight, i think that's serious.”
More pegasus stallions are entering the room, some are moving from their computer to watch the video. They see Princess Celestia with a stallion.
“We need to gather the intel in there to check if we can identify this pony.”
Thorn got interrupted by an unicorn with glasses in the room.
“Wait, pause. Are you filming Princess Celestia?
-Yes that's her,
-So she should have a cutie mark, no? All cutie marks are visible on this infrared camera, unless it's something little fillies paint themselves, but not hers. That critter, whatever she is she's not Princess Celestia.”
“-Damn Scott you're right !
-She's an imposter! Rarity was right, that's another strike from Chrysalis!”
Twilight was at the verge of tears as she knew more
“Nah I don't think so. I know what changeling looks like. Thorn, can you rewind a few seconds, wait, just gimme that remote okay ?”
Thorn gives him the remote, and Scott pans on the mysterious alicorn.
“I know I'm on this bunker almost all the time but on this season, the weather's rather hot, no? that tint means she's like coming out of a refrigerator, even Luna on that video looks less dark! And... what's that, did she had some make-up accident?”
He's zooming on the alicorn's face, revealing a more scary aspect of her.
“Holy shit.”
“That, that's what i didn't understood when we were on the helicopter. That's not usual!”
There ,the creature many pony would think being Celestia appears with black eyes on the video. Dash couldn't believe it, most ponies felt uncomfortable toward something that was clearly not an artifact. Applebloom was terrified by this picture and rushed to her sister. What they have discovered isn't something usual, and should put in reconsideration the legitimacy of whoever or whatever is at the head of Equestria.
