The Land Before Us

Chapter 25 - ...An empire

The trip to the castle was made easy by the pegasus chariot, but the tensions between the two tribes has not been quelled yet and as the cart lands Swirl's ears are hit with a stallion's voice.

"State your business." A large white stallion has stepped forwards as he holds a military straight face to the unicorn in the cart.

Swirl gives a light chuckle as he takes his first steps to the ground, "I do not have time to spare for your antics Stonehooves."

The white stallion holds a slightly annoyed smirk to the old stallion as he speaks up, "Why does our mage travel with pegasus?"

The two stallions still attached to the cart turn there heads to the unicorn's sharp tone.

"Stonehooves, I bring good news, there is no war." Swirl holds a smile to the stallion's confusion.

"What?" Stonehooves cocks an eyebrow to the words as he shakes his head, "What do you mean? Commander Hurricane..."

"Was not the stallion we thought him to be...now if you please." Swirl holds his hoof to the closed doors.

Stonehooves hesitates for a moment but calls out to the guard pony next to it, "Sargent, open the door for Mage Swirl."

The younger stallion nods his head as his horn takes on a low blue glow and the doors start to open.

"Thank you." Swirl trots himself inside as Stonehooves follows beside him, "Where is our sunkeeper?"

Stonehooves holds a slight skeptical gaze to Swirl as he talks, "She is with Luna and Princess Platinum preparing to send the human away."

Swril stops his trot as he cocks his eyebrow, "Away?"

"Yes, Celestia has declared the human too dangerous to stay in Equestria." Stonehooves lifts his hoof up as he points down the main hallway, "They are in the throne room now."

Swirl nods his head as he trots himself towards the hallway.

His pace makes the short tips only a moment as he turns to the Three ponies in the room.

"...I shall do the spell when-..." Celestia's voice is stopped as she brings her eyes to the old stallion who has stopped at the threshold of the door.

Swirl nods his head to Luna and Platinum as he traces his eyes around the room to the young kid in a heavy black jacket with his hands in his jean pockets, "Forgive me Celestia I hope I am not interrupting anything important."

The tall white mare gives a smile as she talks, "You have returned Star Swirl!" She trots herself away from her stance near the bright windows as she moves closer to Star Swirl.

Luna watches with a little confusion as her sister's horn stops its gold glow.

The old stallion nods his head as he speaks up, "Yes, but I am afraid the elements of harmony need more time."

Celestia's voice has not stopped its happy tone as she nods her head, "This is wonderful news, I trust you did not have any problems correct?"

"Oh no...But I also have more news-..." His voice is cut off as his words finally trigger a response in the dark mare, "Elements of harmony?" She turns her confused eyes to Celestia as she talks, "I was not told of this?"

Celestia turns her head back to the dark mare as she talks, "That is because it was very important that nopony knew about them."

Luna squints to the comment as her stance straightens up, "Does our sister not think we could have known about this?" Her voice carries her annoyed tone as she waits for the white mare to talk again.

But Celestia's word's are cut off as Platinum trots forwards, Her voice has a slightly over surprised tone but nopony picks up on it as she talks, "Oh, Star Swirl ! You have created a new element of harmony?! Why this-this will help bring peace to the land and stop this war!"

Luna is silent as she turns her gaze to Platinum's words.

Swirl gives a slight cough as he nods, "Yes, but that problem is no longer a concern."

Platinum's voice holds onto it's high pitched surprise as she speaks in a gasp, "Really? And why do you say this?" Her trot has brought her beside Celestia as she pokes her head out impatiently awaiting a response from the old stallion.

"Well Princess Platinum, Emperor Gust and the other pegasus leadership has been deceived."

Platinum brings her hoof to her mouth as she stops his words, "What do you mean?"

"...Commander Hurricane was really a changeling." The rest of Star Swirls words are drafted as Princess Platinum lets out a loud gasp, "A changeling in the pegasus rule?! Why...why that means that no rule is truly safe!"

Celestia holds her own confusion as she speaks over the gasping mare, "Commander Hurricane was a changeling?"

Swirl nods his head.

Platinum adjust the crown on her head as she holds her hoof up with a loud regal voice, "We must show these elements of harmony to the ponies of this land at once! If what you are saying is true then there must be panic in the Pegasus empire, and surely if this gets out all of the land will be panicked."

She brings her tone down a little as she cock an eyebrow to the stallion, "Um, where did you say the elements where Mage Star Swirl?"
The old pony gives a slight laugh as he brings his hoof up, "The elements are safe at my tower." He pauses at his words for a moment as he collects his thoughts, "They...they are not ready but when they are I will bring them to you."

Platinum nods her head as she talks in a lower voice with a smile, "Oh thank you Mage Star Swirl, you have truly made a new way of life possible this day." She turns her head to Celestia as she talks, "I must be excused, I have to go and summon the earth pony leadership."

Celestia is still taking in Star Swirl’s words but she gives an absentminded nod of the head as the white mare in a royal green cloak trots away.

Star Swirl looks to the young kid who has been listening in a little confused, "You must be Matt."

The dark haired kid nods his head as he talks, "y-ya?"

The old pony gives a smile as he talks, "I thank you for the commotion you have stirred up Matt."

Celestia comes out of her thoughts as she listens to the old stallion.

"...If you had not caused such a problem Commander Hurricane may not had come back to the empire so fast." Swirl gives a little cough as he continues, "...and if he didn't do that, well we may not have been able to bring out his real self would we?"

Matt gives a slight smile to the stallion's words, the young kid has never met this stallion before but having this strange pony know his name kind of makes the young kid feel like he actually did something important.

Swirl turns back to Celestia as he talks, "I must return to my tower, I will be back when the magic in the element has settled."

Celestia nods to the old stallion as he trots out of the room. As the old stallion leaves the room she turns her body back to Matt and Luna, "Luna I need you to make sure the guards are at the ready.." Her tone drops to an almost whisper as she talks, "But stay close to the castle...I feel that war may not have been what Discord was seeking."

Luna nods her head as she slowly trots out of the room, but she stops as Celestia's voice picks up again, "Matt, you are to stay in the castle this day...tomorrow we will talk about your departure."

The young kid nods his head as he holds a slight smile to the white mare's words.

End of Chapter 25