LEGACY: The Binds

An ocean of ponies-perhaps thousands-churned and surged around in the plaza in front of the City Hall. Luna could see a very long line of dozens of blue-armoured military police officers with riot shields and visors pulled down, forming a defensive barrier across the face of the building. It was a protest: not exactly a mass riot, given the population of Las Pegasus, but it wasn't a welcoming committee for the Queen of Equestria Proper, either. Judging by the position of the police lines, there appeared to be two hostile factions yelling abuse at each other. Pro-Confederate versus the Pro-Kingdom lobby.

Luna could hear a chant taken up by thousands of voices.

"The Nightmare's back! The Nightmare's Back! The Nightmare's Back!"

It was hard to tell whether they meant that this feeling of fear was back or were they referring to her past life. Perhas it was both. She could barely hear any chant in favour of the Kingdom and a firm government.

"Pity I couldn't stay in the front line, your highness," said Flash Sentry, grinning. Luna and Flash Sentry spotted Bridge Stone, Shining Armor's successor as . "That's the worst thing about command. Anchors you to a desk."

"I'll remain hands-on for as long as I can," Luna said. "I'd like to show my face on the blockade line. Good for morale."

"You have an office in mind, then .. ."

"Don't worry. Not yours."

"And I note that you haven't gone back to wearing Jedi robes."

Luna dusted a speck of lint from his black GAG uniform. "I don't see any point in provoking Uncle Luke or the Jedi council. I know they don't enjoy being identified with my actions."

"Ironic, seeing as the Public Affairs Office says polls indicate the popularity of the Jedi council has increased a little."

"Jedi are supposed to be beyond populism, Admiral."

As Niathal's staff airspeeder slowed to skirt the crowd, Jacen glanced out of the window and noted the new mix of species and allegiances forming the army of protesters. "Well, we rounded up the Corellians, and now their places are being filled by others." He identified various nationalities by clothing, hairstyles, snatches of language. "Look, isn't that a couple of Rodians?"

"As long as you don't see any Mandalorians ..."

The closer to the lobby that the speeder edged, the uglier the mood of the crowd appeared to become. A group of CSF officers drove back the crowd with none-too-gentle shoves emphasized with batons to let the speeder through. Jacen and Niathal got out, and he took the precaution of throwing up a Force-shield around them.

Jacen almost didn't feel danger now, not in the sense he always had. He merely took account of circumstances and reacted accordingly. As they stepped out of the speeder, a hail of stones, old food containers, bottles, and other debris flew at them. All of it bounced back from the Force-barrier, some of it hitting the upturned riot shields.

Luna turned and stepped forward into the crowd: he didn't enjoy displaying her magic powers in such a vulgar way, but there were times when they could make a point. She lit up her horn, closed her eyes, and pressed outward with her mind.

Nothing violent. Mustn't cause a crush, or a stampede. Innocent people will be hurt.

The crowd closest to her fell back a few paces, some of them looking around frantically to see what was pushing them back. More missiles rained from farther back in the press of bodies, accompanied by shouting and shoving, but they simply bounced off the bubble shield Bridge Stone set up, and Luna stood calmly staring back into the mass of people. A breathless silence spread from the line nearest to him like a fast tide engulfing a shore. Even some of the armoured officers seemed frozen to the spot.

Everyone knew about Luna, but very few outside of Canterlot had ever saw her in action-or let alone seen her in person.

"Go home," said Luna. "Just break it up and go home before I have to do something about it."

They didn't run, of course, but she had made his point; the respite gave the security forces a chance to push the rival groups apart again. Luna walked up the stairs to meet Captain Bridge Stone on top. He took off his helmet, and dispersed his shield, now that the protesters' missiles were out of range from their position.

"Thank you, your highness." He bowed, before lifting his head back up. "

" and Luna followed into the Senate Building and up to the Chief of State's office.

Luke Skywalker was already there, Mara sitting beside him, and he didn't look pleased to see Jacen.

"We are still not at war," Omas insisted, staring out the window at the crowds. "Does the council still support the blockade?"

"As the only alternative to full-scale war or backing down on disarmament, yes." Luke wasn't looking at Omas. His gaze was on Jacen. "How much impact is the blockade having?"

Niathal looked up from her datapad. Jacen wasn't sure how she regarded Luke; his uncle didn't feature in their conversations. "We've intercepted or turned back around seventy percent of vessels trying to enter or leave the two exclusion rings, but in terms of volume of cargo and personnel, that's nearer ninety percent. We're stopping the big vessels but losing some of the small ones. All in all-it's biting already."

"Should we revise our policy on stopping traffic movements around the shipyards?"

"Nonviolent way of leaning on the civilian population," said Jacen. "When dad doesn't come home when he's due back from the yards, it focuses families, and families lean on governments."

Luke stood up and watched from the window with Omas. "And what about these people, Jacen? You've cracked down on the Corellians. What about all the non-Corellians I see down there?"

Mara gave Jacen a careful, don't-take-the-bait look. He could feel the tension between her and Luke, and he knew it was more about Ben than about politics or personal rights. "If any other national group or species threatens the security of Coruscant or the Alliance, then I'll deal with that, too."