“Friends, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of a beloved pony. Rarity Belle had a special place in all of our hearts,” Spike spoke softly from a podium in front of about a hundred ponies. “To some, she was an incredible friend who was always there when you needed her. To a certain somepony…” Spike looked at Twilight, who still had tears streaming down her face, “…she was the love of your life who you wished to spend the rest of your days with.”

Spike took a deep breath and looked at Rarity’s emotionless face that peeked out of an open casket behind him. She looked beautiful, even in death, with a crown of daisies atop her head. It was still agonizing for both him and Twilight. Not a moment went by that they were on the verge of tears and crushing sadness. He turned back to face the crowd.

“We have lost many loved ones over the course of this war. We have sacrificed so much to ensure that a war like this never occurs again. Today, we celebrate Rarity’s sacrifice, though she has passed from this world. She has shown that she was far braver than the vast majority of us. She stood up directly to the Queen of the Changelings and, though we are not sure if she succeeded in her mission, Rarity fought valiantly to the end…”

Spike couldn’t have known that for sure, but he felt that it was true. He knew Rarity, and he knew she would have given her all.

“Let us now bow our heads in silence and remember all of the joy Rarity Belle brought to our lives…” he finished and bowed his head.

The crowd, which included the sister Princesses in the back, all bowed their heads. Princess Twilight had closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight off the flood of tears, but to no avail. They dropped to the ground, and she could not help but softly whimper. She knew that one day she would be reunited with her love, but this was too soon. Life was such a cruel thing to her. The thing she loved most in the world…snatched from her, not to be seen again until her own life was ended, which would never happen since she is an immortal.

For the briefest of moments, the thought of descending to normal ponyhood and taking her own life passed through her mind, but she dismissed the idea. To do such a thing would be a selfish act. The loss of Rarity was painful enough on everyone, but Twilight wouldn’t dare worsen their suffering by trying to ease her own. No…others had to suffer…those responsible for her wife’s death had to suffer…

Twilight bit her lip and angrily stared at the ground, her tears still falling and her face becoming hot with anger. She felt a pat on her shoulder and looked up. It was the goddess of the sun.

“I am so very sorry for your loss, dear Twilight,” Celestia whispered sympathetically.

Twilight couldn’t look away from the ground. She didn’t want the other Princess to see the rage slowly growing more and more apparent on her face.

“If there is anything, anything you need, please tell me, and I will do my best to make it so,” Celestia whispered and hugged lavender alicorn tightly.

“Make…them…suffer…” Twilight muttered quietly.

Celestia blinked a few times, unsure if she had heard her former student correctly.

“I want them…to feel my pain…” Twilight said, still staring at the now-moist ground.

“Twilight…I…we…I would be putting other ponies’ lives at risk…I can’t just throw them away to make you feel better. Too many have already died attempting to…remove their race. Besides, would it really make you feel better to attack them?” Celestia tried to explain.

“No…I guess not…” Twilight quietly answered.

“I’m happy to hear you understand. I hope you come to feel better, Twilight. I must get back to my castle and perform my duties and so do you. Farewell,” Celestia hugged the silent mare and walked off to her nearby chariot with Luna.

Twilight continued to stare at the ground. Ponies occasionally stopped by to extend their sympathies, to which Twilight simply replied with a distant “thank you.” Eventually she felt Spike gently place a claw on her shoulder. Twilight looked up to see him, eyes just as watery as hers. Out of her peripheral, she could see that all of the other ponies had left. Twilight stood and, with her former assistant at her side, she approached Rarity’s casket.

The two of them stood for a long time, just staring at the pony who meant the world to them and more. Spike broke the silence.

“It’s my fault…I should have stayed behind and helped her…”

“No…you did as you were told…I just wish you did what felt right…”

“Twilight …I’m sorry…but I think you know as well as I do that it can’t end like this…”

“The other Princesses refuse to act, hiding in the shadows and waiting to make a move…”

“You know, Twilight…there are others who know your pain…others who have lost loved ones to the Changelings…others who are not under military jurisdiction…and since you are a princess yourself…”

“I know, Spike, and I think it’s about time the civilians of Equestria take matters into their own hooves…”

=====

Soulweeper returned from his short bathroom break. He observed the other guards before he looked at Davros. His small body slowly rose and fell with each deep breath, and his emotionless features remained frozen. With a small smile, he informed the other guards it was time to put Davros back into his casing before leaving his room. Returning to the throne room, he awaited for the daily report. The other Changeling stood at attention in front of the Imperial, his chest in a cast due to being present during the assassination.

“I hope you’re feeling better, Guard…uh…what is your name?” Soulweeper asked. He had decided to try to learn the names of the changelings below him in rank. Both the hope for salvation that Davros had delivered to the Empire and the death of Queen Chrysalis had a drastic effect on his personality. He used to be a stricter soldier, who was actually feared by many subordinates, that making friends would only lead to pain. He was right of course, but he had realized that it is forth it. He also realized that if you don’t cherish others around you, you will loose something that could have been great. Chrysalis’ stubborn pride and cruelty were the reason his race had nearly been wiped from the world, and he would not become something like that.

“Oh…my name is Thornwaver sir. The sages have told me that my ribs will be healed in about two days. But my health does not mat—”

“Of course your health matters, Thornwaver. Every changeling life means something, never forget that,” the Imperial interrupted.

“S…Sir …I deeply apologize for my failure to defend the queen against the assassin—”

“Do not blame yourself, Thornwaver. We all failed to protect the queen and there is nothing we can do about it. I only ask that you do not fail to be more aware next time,” Soulweeper said sternly.

“I swear to you, Sir, that mistake will never happen again.”

“Excellent. Now then, the daily report?”

“Oh, yes. Ahhhm…the farmers have informed me that the storm resulted in excess growth of crops. We have enough surplus food to last two months in an emergency. Economically, we are doing fairly well. The recent morale boost generated by our victory in battle has caused citizens to spend more on necessities, as well as comfort items, even though that has been rendered greatly following the assassination. They can afford these things now that currency is circulating again. Our military has completely finished reorganizing itself according to Lo…King Davros’ new war doctrines and recruitment rates have tripled. As it stands, our military consists of eight Millennii, six Senturies, and five Alturs. Half of those troops are stationed here in defense of the capital. Most of the other half are split between two outposts, Fort Ash and Fort Storm, the latter of which was named after the weather during our victory. Fort Ash was recently erected in the shadow of the dormant volcano, Blackspire. We have two Senturies camped along the Ebony Coast between the capital and the Equestrian-occupied city of Vineheart,” Soulweeper spoke as he read from a long scroll.

“Good, good. We will begin preparations to retake Vineheart as soon as Lord Davros awakens. Dismissed, Gu…Thornwaver,” Soulweeper stated, turning around to return to other duties.

=====

“How many are there, Spike?” Twilight asked the small dragon who stood next to her on a stage in a large, dimly-lit cellar.

“A little over a hundred,” he answered, his claws clasped together behind his back, facing a crowd of whispering ponies in front of the stage.

“Ahem,” Twilight cleared her throat loudly and every pony in the room was hushed.

“I thank you all for coming to this meeting. I trust none of you will speak a word of it to anypony that isn’t already here. It has become apparent to me, and I assume the rest of you as well, that the Princesses are not willing to openly engage the Changeling Empire due to our military’s recent defeat. I know that all of you share my pain, having lost a military-spouse to those evil beasts. I know that all of you share my anger, wanting but not receiving justice. And I know that all of you share my desire for revenge…” Twilight spoke softly, but very seriously and clearly. Every pony in the room silently nodded in agreement.

“Therefore…I have a proposition…” she paused for a moment to look at the crowd.

“I propose that we create our own band of free soldiers…free of military jurisdiction…free to do what should have already been done five years ago. We will strike at the heart of the Changeling Empire and slaughter every last one of them. We will make them know true suffering, and we will avenge our fallen loves in the name of justice. If you do not wish to join my crusade, leave now. I merely ask that you do not speak of what you have heard here. If you do wish to join me on this grand undertaking, raise your hoof…”

Slowly but surely, every single pony in the room lifted their hooves. No pony even took a step towards the door. Twilight and Spike both grinned. They would avenge every pony that Queen Chrysalis and her Changelings had ever murdered…

Author's Note

It looks like the ponies don't know that the queen is dead. Davros should return to the waking world soon.