Chapter 1: A Party of Parliament

Hayuary 11, 1504 A.D.

Books and Branches Library: Ponyville, Everfree Fief

Twilight just knew that today wasn’t her day.

“Twilight? Talk to me please.”

The lavender alicorn was trying to decide that if she ran now how far she could get.

“Twilight, don’t think that running away is going to solve this.”

Darn it.  She just couldn’t fool the little brother she hatched from an egg.  ‘Wait! I don’t have to run!  I can fly now!’ she thought.

“And Rainbow Dash would love to chase you down.”

Twilight was going to reap her vengeance when she experimented to see if baby dragons could read minds.

She looked down at her number one assistant and gave a weak smile.

“Sorry Spike, I’m just really nervous about all this.  I mean, what if I do something wrong in front of Parliament and embarrass the Princesses?  I’m just not sure if I’m ready for all this.”

Spike looked back up at Twilight, rolled his eyes and waved a claw in dismissal.

“You’re going to do fine.  You practically speak public addresses!  Just imagine that all the representatives have overdue books.  Lecture them.  It’ll be easy as pie!  You’ll see.”

Twilight stopped her thoughts in her tracks and did the calming exercise Cadence had taught her.  She folded her wings as her body and mind calmed down to a more manageable level.

“You’re right Spike.  I just want to make a good impression.  I won’t let Celestia and Luna down!  I can do this.”

Spike nodded in relief.  Whenever she started to panic, he mentally checked down armageddon.  He needed to send Cadence a gift, that calming technique was like a life saver.  He looked down at his feet, or rather where his feet should have been instead of books, and said,

“Now can we finish packing?  A storm is scheduled for today and your guard captain is sending for a royal chariot to pick us up to take us to Canterlot.”

Twilight nodded in affirmation and began levitating more books, quills, and parchment over to the pile before saying,

“You pack your things, I want to try out a new spell I learned.  It’s called a Dimensional Pocket spell, it allows me store anything in my own little pocket.”

Spike straightened in sudden dread and had the sudden urge to pray.

“Please! Please tell me that you will go experiment outside with your spell.  Preferably away from any dragon limbs.”

Twilight thought it over and decided he had a point.  New spells did seem to cause him some kind of pain whenever she tried them out.  She began to walk out her front door before calling back saying,

“Very well, it won’t take but a minute.”

As Twilight shut the door behind her, she took note of Ponyville.  The town looked like its cheerful self except that most ponies had went inside due to the weather and the sky was a patchwork of clouds as the pegasi put them in place for this afternoon’s storm.

Twilight found a rock to try her Dimensional Pocket Spell on and began to concentrate.

‘

Now’ she thought to herself, ‘the energy for this should be very small but the small rip in space will require exponential concentration as to make it big enough to hold this rock without unstabilizing both my magic and the dimensional pocket.’

The alicorn scrunched up her eyes and her horn glowed as she began her spell.

With a loud ‘Pop’ the rock vanished.

‘Good!  Now all I need to do is bring it back out of the pocket and here in front of me.’

Twilight concentrated again and released her magic, expecting to find the rock there in front of her.  But the area was stubbornly rock free.

‘Hmmm.  That’s not right.  I’m sure I brought it back.  Where could it be?’

Before she could pinpoint her error, the front door to the library opened and closed.  She turned around to see what Spike wanted but stopped when she saw him.

The baby dragon was holding an icepack to his head and his other claw had a slightly smoking rock.

Spike looked up at Twilight and said in an bitter voice,

“Even when I’m not there your spells backfire on me.  Not backfire on you.  ME”

Before Twilight could interrupt he continued.

“STOP.  Just stop.  Go inside and pack your things in a bag like a normal pony.  Captain Flash Sentry’s letter said that our chariot would arrive at precisely 1:00.  And everypony knows how precise you like to be.  You would sooner declare war on asparagus than be late.”

One of the reigning princesses of the nation of Equestria surrendered to the dragon’s demands.

“Alright Spike.  You win.”

Twilight teleported up to her bedroom and pulled out her Celestia-sized bags and began filling them with her things.

The girls arrived at the library a few minutes before 1:00 and began their usual chit-chat as they waited outside for the purple princess.

The cyan Pegasus was grumbling about how she had to ride in the chariot instead of fly herself.

“I mean, I know it’s for our benefit.  But I still don’t have to like it.  Twilight can fly so there shouldn’t even be a need for a chariot.”

The white unicorn hummphed at Rainbow Dash as she turned her eyes up to the complaining mare.

“Darling, not all of us can fly you know.  The idea is for us all to go together.  Besides!  We won’t have to carry our own luggage!  I’m sure Twilight’s Arcane Guards would just love to do it for us!”

The apple farmer sidled up to the prissy pony and tipped her Stetson hat before interrupting.

“Now ah know that ya’ll ain’t having this discussion again.   We went over this already Dash.  We’ll all ride t’gether.  And Rarity!  Twilight’s guards aren’t there for ya to dump that wagonload ya call luggage.  Why I bet even Big Mac’ would have trouble carry’n all that!”

“Oh lets please not fight.  Especially in front of the guards.  I can see them coming out of the clouds now.”

The timid yellow mare pointed with a hoof as she hovered above the ground at the sky and continued.

“It’s just a short ride anyway.  You wouldn’t even break a sweat Dash.  Right Angel Bunny?”

A small furry demon popped out of her pink mane and nodded vigorously.  His ears slapping his face as he did so.

Just as the devil in white stopped nodding, there was an explosion of pink and confetti as a pudgy pink mare appeared.

“All I know is that Twilight is getting a PARTY!  She told me that they were throwing one for her after her big speech!  I’m going to redecorate it and hang this banner that says, ‘TWILIGHT LECTURES PARLIAMENT PARTY’ in big purple letters!  I’m going to make punch and cookies and cake and……”

The others tuned Pinkie Pie out as she began to ramble.  They could make out the details of the chariot that was closing in on their position.  It was similar to the one that Twilight had used at her coronation.  It was bigger though so that it could fit everyone and had a luggage bin for their things.  Four white pegasi stallions pulled the carriage while two more pegasi flanked it.  One was the standard white while the other had a golden coat.  As the chariot landed in front of the mares, Spike waddled out of the library with a backpack.

The dragon walked up to the gold armored pegasus with a captain’s badge and said,

“Yo Flash.  What’s up?  I’m digging the new armor.  You sure clean up good now than before you transferred to Twilight’s new Arcane Guard from the Crystal guard.  You didn’t even say hi when you visited with Princess Cadence a couple weeks ago.”

Captain Flash Sentry bent down to the purple dragon and gave him a hoof bump and a smile before replying.

“Yup.  Being a part of the Crystal Guard was temporary as they only needed guards until Prince Shining Armor filled the ranks with Crystal Ponies.  It was a part of a deal between the Crystal Empire and Equestria when it returned.  I am sure glad to be back home.  The promotion was nice too.  I’m sorry I didn’t say hi but it was a drop and go operation.  The princess didn’t want any guards around while she spent the day with her sister-in-law.  Direct order to drop the package and return from Big-Brother-Best-Boss-Forever.  Now it’s almost 1:00.  Where’s the princess?”

Spike checked a watch on his wrist before holding up his other claw and started counting down from,

“3, 2, 1, and….”

With a flash of purple and a sound of magic, the Princess of Magic appeared in the chariot.

“What are you all doing just standing there?  It’s time to go!  The princesses are waiting on us!”

The five mares plus one dragon climbed up into the chariot post-haste.  Before he got back into position, Flash asked,

“Fluttershy?  Is that bunny coming with you?”

The mentioned bunny turned to Flash with a scowl on his face before slapping him and yelling at him with cute bunny noises.

“Oh.  I’m sorry.  Angel is just really anxious to get going and he really doesn’t like it when ponies question him.”

Flash rubbed his armored head with a hoof and turned around into his position as he mumbled something about a certain bunny getting put on the Equestrian terrorist hit-list.

Twilight called out to her guards in her “Prissy Purple Pony Princess Voice” as Spike called it, and said,

“Alright gentlecolts, let’s get going please!”

Flash called out orders and the chariot lurched as it was lifted into the sky towards Canterlot.

Hayuary 12, 1504

Parliament Building, Canterlot

“The nine hundredth and forty-eighth session of the Equestrian Parliament is now in session!  I will call out roll.”

Prime Minister Fancy Pants sat down in his seat at the chairpony’s podium before picking up a list in his magic.  He began to read.

“Prince Blueblood the X, Prince of Unicorns, Head of House Blueblood, and Representative of Canterlot Fief?”

“Here.”  The pompous prince drawled in his snobby voice.

“Lady Fleur Di Lis, Head of House Di Lis, Representative of Prance?”

“Moi is here darling, you know this.”  The prench unicorn replied.

Fancy Pants paused and looked at his wife before saying,

“Yes dear, I do know.  I was just saying it for the record.”

A snigger could be heard coming from a cyan pegasus in the viewing lounge before Fancy Pants continued.

“Lord Bismark, Representative for Germane Fief?”

“Ja, I am here.” The male unicorn said promptly.

“Lady Grace, Representative for the United Maredom Fief?”

“Here.”  The female Pegasus said between sipping from her tea.

“Duke York, Representative for Manehatten Fief?”

“President!  Oh, I mean present.” The male earth pony corrected.

“Duchess Gold Dust, Representative for Los Pegasus Fief?”

“If you find any gold it’s mine!” the possessive pegasus mare yelled

Fancy Pants continued without missing a beat.

“Lord Stuffy Tea, Representative for Trottingham Fief?”

“I prefer Lord Tea actually.”  The male unicorn said.

“Mayor Mare, Representative for Everfree Fief?”

“Here.”  The mayor of Ponyville told Fancy Pants.

“Mayor Cloudy Skies, Representative for Cloudsdale Fief?”

“Here.” The female Pegasus replied, sounding bored and gloomy.

“Marshall Comrade, Representative for Stalliongrad Fief?”

“Dab, I am here and it is too varm here!” the male earth pony complained in his thick accent.

“Mayor North Winds, Representative for Winnieappolis Fief?”

“Here.” The female Pegasus said shortly, her voice muffled as she preened her feathers.

“Sherriff SilverStar, Representative for the Equestrian Frontier Territories?”

“Yup, a’m here!” the earth pony yelled optimistically in his heavy southern accent.

“And finally, Senator Tejas, Representative for the Celestial Fief?”

“Here” the male earth pony said professionally as he leaned back in his chair.

Fancy Pants finished marking his sheet before rolling it up and handing it to a secretary to his right.  He then pulled out another sheet and continued.

“Today’s agenda is as follows; Princess Twilight will address this assembly, followed by discussion, Princess Cadence will also address this assembly, followed by discussion.  After those we will be open to new business.  I now hand the gavel to her royal highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle, princess of magic.”

Fancy pants stepped aside and Twilight took his place at the podium, stepping up quietly on her hooves.  She was wearing her new crown that had replaced the element of magic and her sleek gold slippers over her hooves.  For a regal effect she fanned out her wings behind her before looking out to the members of Parliament.

She remembered what Celestia and Luna told her shortly before coming in here.

Celestia looked down at Twilight with a warm smile gracing her face.

“Now Twilight, I know you have done public addresses before.  I even taught you how to speak in public and control the stress that comes with it.  Just stay calm and speak from your heart.  I’m sure that Parliament will listen respectively and appreciate what you have to say.”

“If all else fails, do what I do.  Use the Voice!”  the dark blue alicorn said helpfully to the frazzled princess.

Celestia looked over at her sister and frowned a bit but couldn’t help the grin that slowly spread across her lips.

“Luna, you and I both know that the Voice is not the proper way to address the extinguished members of Parliament.  There is also the small fact that they have to listen to us!  Imagine if we tried to address problems to a legislature that couldn’t hear us.

Luna looked up at her big sister from where she was lounging on a light blue cushion emblazoned with her cutie mark.  A mischievous smile danced on her face when she replied.

“You’re just grumpy because it works!  Besides, we could pass anything without them rejecting us it they couldn’t hear us in the first place!”

She snickered at her sister to show she was not serious before turning back to Twilight.

“I am sure you will be fine.   So go on in there and knock’em out!”

Twilight looked at both sisters and smiled.  ‘Whatever was I thinking?  They have complete confidence in me!’  She got up and the sisters followed suit.

“You’re both right, it’ll be short and concise but I will speak from my heart what I plan to do for Equestria.”

She paused before she winked at Luna.

“I’ll make sure they can hear me too.”

All three princesses laughed as they trotted out the castle doors and headed towards the Parliament Building.

Twilight zoomed back in on the here and now and began to speak.

“Extinguished members of Parliament, I stand here before you today in order to discuss with you my ascension, and what I hope to do for Equestria.  Let me put any fears you may have to rest.  I do not plan on making many changes as our beautiful land is blessed with plentiful food, happy citizens, and security for our people.  I do hope to ease some of the burden that has fallen on Princess Celestia’s and Princess Luna’s shoulders, and I believe myself ready for the task.  I also plan on helping with our nation’s education system as there is always room for improvement.  Lastly is that I will help with the security for our beloved nation as I have done so in the past and I hope to do it more effectively.  I look forward to working with all of you as we make Equestria a better place.  Thank you.”

Twilight stepped to the side of the podium after she finished.  She looked up and flicked her ears as Parliament stood and applauded her with the thundering of their hooves.  Sheriff SilverStar threw out a good-natured whistle to the amusement of his fellow members.

Twilight smiled at her fellow ponies and waved back as she blushed from the praise.

Fancy Pants stepped back up to the podium and readdressed Parliament.

“Now if any of you have questions, now is the time to ask.”

The applause died down and the members began to mumble as they wondered who would speak first.

“I would as a question of our esteemed princess, Chairpony Fancy Pants.”

Fancy Pants couldn’t quiet hide his scowl as he turned to the pony in question and replied.

“Prince Blueblood, you have the floor.”

The Prince got up from his seat and turned to Twilight with a fake smile adorning his face.  Twilight looked back at the prince and smiled, trying to encourage good sportsponyship.  Blueblood began to speak in his self-righteous voice.

“Now as I am to understand it, you were a unicorn before you ascended correct?”

“Yes.  I was.”  Twilight replied, trying to figure out where he was going with this.

Blueblood continued.

“Now because of that very important fact, will you support the noble unicorn houses above the other nobles?  You were a unicorn yourself, surely we deserve more support from you than the others.  In addition, you are the princess of magic, and nopony is more magical than our great race.”

Many of the members scowled and looked angrily at Blueblood but some unicorns nodded along with him as he spoke.

Twilight was not happy herself but she refused to get angry.  As a wise pony once said, If you get angry in a debate, you just lost.  She then changed her facial expression from one of goodwill to one or neutrality before she answered.

“Prince Blueblood, I am very aware of the unicorn’s contributions to our society.  Also I am glad of my unicorn heritage.  But I will, as I have always have, treat each race fairly and equally as is befitting of being a princess of our nation.”

A majority of the members stopped grumbling and smiled warmly at Twilight’s remarks.  But Blueblood wasn’t finished.

“Of course, only a unicorn that mingles with the common dregs of Ponyville would say that.  That is why you aren’t fit to be royalty.”

There was definitely grumbling originating from the members now.  Twilight could also feel Rarity’s glare coming from the viewing lounge.  If her eyes were bows, Blueblood would be a pin cushion.

Mayor Mare broke in with,  “Objection Chairpony!  He goes too far!”

Fancy Pants lifted the gavel in his magic and rapped it on the podium before turning to Blueblood again, not even attempting to disguise his scowl.

“Prince Blueblood! You will show respect towards Princess Twilight and keep your racists comments to yourself!  This is the Equestrian Parliament!  MY Parliament!  Not one or your Pro-Unicorn rallies!   So long as I am Prime Minister I will not allow any vile slander from you or anypony!”

Quiet laughter could be heard in the chamber.

The members grew silent and looked for where it was coming from.

Twilight grew confused as to why this would cause amusement for somepony.  She couldn’t spot the perpetrator so she looked back behind her at Celestia and Luna.  They were both looking in the member’s booth.  Following their gaze, her purple eyes fell on a brown earth pony.  Searching her memory, she recalled that this stallion was Senator Tejas, the representative for the Celestial Fief.

Tejas leaned back in his chair and stared across the aisle at Blueblood.  He was laughing quietly but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes.

His orbs looked cold, empty, and devoid of any sympathy towards the prince.

“If I may have the floor, Mr. Chairpony?”

“You may Senator.”  Fancy Pants nodded ascent as he spoke and turned his eyes back to Blueblood.

Blueblood looked slightly uncomfortable, like he had made a good joke but nopony was laughing.  He scowled back at the senator and awaited what Tejas had to say.

“Princess Twilight.”  Tejas said, turning to the alicorn.

Twilight looked back, her eyebrow crouching up her forehead towards her horn as if asking, ‘What?’

“I first wish to apologize on behalf of Parliament of the disrespect that some members have shown you.  You have done nothing to deserve their pointless, pompous, and erratic words.  I am sorry.”

Tejas dipped his head in respect towards Twilight before he began speaking again.

“Furthermore, you have shown great dignity, morality, and honesty before the ponies in this chamber.  I thank you for that.”

The mentioned alicorn smiled but tilted her head slightly.  Twilight was very happy with the praise she was receiving but slightly confused as to what he was doing.  Tejas then continued his speech, turning towards the prince.

“It is my belief that you are a good pony Princess Twilight.  One of the best I might say.  And if you are an example of the unicorn race then you have surpassed all other unicorns in you diligence to Equestria.  Thus I clap my hooves for the unicorns providing us with a great princess.”

Tejas clapped his hooves and the rest of the chamber, minus Blueblood, joined him.

Blueblood was livid.  His face had turned redder than one of Applejack’s apples.

Twilight connected the dots.  Tejas had insulted Blueblood by saying that she had surpassed all unicorns, but had phrased it to where Blueblood couldn’t speak out against what he said without insulting the unicorns, which Tejas had praised.

‘That was brilliant’ she thought.  Duke York then stood and addressed Fancy Pants.

“Mr. Chairpony, I believe this line of dialogue has been worn out.  I move to continue with the next item on the agenda.”

“Mr. Chairpony I second the motion.” chimed in Lady Grace.

Fancy Pants smiled and said, “All in favor?”

A chorus of “I” could be heard.

“All opposed?”

Blueblood bleated indignity but he was the only one.

“Very well, Princess Cadence will now address this assembly.”

Twilight jumped in shock.  ‘Oh my goodness! I almost forgot Cadence was here!’  She looked for Cadence as she descended the podium to sit in the Royal Booth with Celestia and Luna.  She hadn’t seen her all day, although Cadence had been in Canterlot for a short time along with her big brother Shining Armor after they made the trip by train from the Crystal Empire.

Cadence showed up from a door in the corner of the room and quickly ascended the podium.  She smiled at Fancy Pants as he stepped aside for her.

Twilight observed her and noticed something wrong.

‘She seems…older for some reason’ she mentally intoned.  ‘She’s definitely Cadence but something is off about her.  What could it be?’  Her train of thought was interrupted as Cadence began to speak.  She snapped her eyes back to her sister-in-law and listened intensely.

Cadence’s voice was like musical honey, charming and sweet.

“Members of Parliament, thank you for allowing me to speak today.  I know that this assembly does not usually listen to foreign heads-of-state but I am glad that you made an exception for me!”

Most of the members nodded and smiled encouraging at her.  After all, Cadence was one of the golden gals of Canterlot.

“It is with great pleasure, after I and my husband discussed it with the Crystal Noble Families, that I bring before you this modest proposal.”

Cadence seemed to pause for dramatic effect.

“The Crystal Empire would like to be unified with Equestria.  Not as part of an alliance, but as full and equal powers.  One nation.”

Parliament had a mixed reaction, some beamed and started clapping their hooves.

Some paled in shock and shook their heads.

A couple looked outraged.

“I know that this is surprising to most of you, as I have not mentioned this with the Equestrian princesses yet, but I hope that you will at least approve today to hear us out and consider our proposal.”  She finished and sat down again, waiting for questions.

Twilight was surprised but delighted, Cadence could become an Equestrian princess alongside her and the Royal Pony Sisters.  It might mean that they would stay here in Canterlot and she would see Cadence and her big brother more often.  She turned to talk with

Celestia and Luna about this exciting turn of events but stopped when she noticed they were looking at each other with intense expressions of worry.

Fancy Pants stood up again and began to speak in his educated voice,

“The motion on the floor is that Equestria will begin talks with the Crystal Empire’s proposal of unification.  Discussion is now open.”

The chamber quitted down again and two ponies raised their hooves, silently pleading for permission to speak.

“Marshall Comrade, you have the floor.”

The stallion of Stalliongrad looked intently at Cadence as he stood up and asked in a thick accent,

“Princess Cadence, iv the Crystal Empire is integrated into Equestvia, do you desire to step down from your voyal position and merely

vepresent the Crystal Empire in Parliament?”

Cadence's smile shrunk slightly as she answered.

“No marshall, we wish for Equestria and the Crystal Empire to have equal standing in a future together.  I would remain a princess.”

Comrade frowned further and said,

“Vould this mean that you vould have equal standing vith our princesses here in Equestria?  Equal in authority, vank, and privilege?”

“Yes.”

“Vould this mean that Equestria’s princesses have the same in the Crystal Empire?”

“….No.”

You could have heard a pin drop.  And Pinkie did, just to make sure.

Comrade spoke dangerously, “Explain please.”

Cadence seemed to pull herself together before she spoke again.

“While I would have equal standing with the triarchy here in Equestria, only I would have authority in the Crystal Empire, such was the deal I ironed out of the Crystal Nobles.  You have to understand that they come from a society that existed a thousand years ago.  They are not as integrated into today’s times as you would think.  Democracy such as you have here in Equestria scares them, and they wish to hold onto some semblance of the monarchy they have always had.  I assure you that the Crystal Ponies will calm down and that power between myself and the triarchy would even out eventually”

As Cadence finished, Comrade sat down and cast his eyes across the aisle at Senator Tejas.  Tejas cleared his throat and asked Fancy Pants if he could have the floor.  After Fancy Pants said yes Tejas got to his hooves and looked around the chamber.

‘He looks nervous’ thought Twilight.  ‘Why would he be nervous?’

“Princess Cadence, if I am to understand this correctly, you would have equal standing with the triarchy, as in the one of you is equal to the three of them?”

Cadence nodded.

“And the triarchy would have no authority in the Crystal Empire itself?”

Cadence nodded again.

“Doesn’t that seem unfair?  And it is very suspicious that your power would increase drastically while the triarchy’s diminished.”

Cadence snapped her head in irritation and asked,

“What do you mean?”

“The Celestial Territories, where I come from, my home, has a long past.  One that is older than the foundation of Equestria itself.  We have a very long memory princess.”

“What are you implying?”

Twilight’s head was spinning.  What was happening?  Why was this such a huge deal?  Cadence was a great princess!  She would never abuse her authority! And like she said, things would even out with time after the Crystal Ponies got used to being a part of Equestria!

“The Celestial Territories does not trust the Crystal Empire, there is bad blood between us.  The Crystal Empire is not to be trusted, nor its rulers.  They have a bad history of stabbing ponies in the back.”

Cadence looked at Tejas in shock and then scowled at him when she nearly yelled.

“If you are referring to King Sombra, I assure you, senator, that his reign and influence are long past.”

“King Sombra was but the last nail in the coffin!  I am talking about far worse ponies than that cretin!”

Cadence paused and looked genuinely confused.

“Then who are you talking about?”

“Queen Broken Heart,” Tejas spat, “the last alicorn ruler before you.”

‘What!?’  Twilight was shocked, ‘another alicorn!?’  She looked back again at Celestia and Luna but they mirrored her own confusion and surprise.

“I have never heard such nonsense!  The Crystal Empire as far back as our history can tell us has been ruled by unicorns!”

Tejas looked at Cadence condescendingly.

“Then your history is incomplete!  Almost all the world’s records of distant times past were wiped out by the reign of Discord!”

“Then where does you mythical mare come from!” Cadence fumed.

Tejas looked back at her with equal fury when he spoke once more.

“Some or our records survived!  And the story of how the Crystal Empire Queen betrayed the Celestial Territories was passed down, generation to generation!”

“And what does an ancient boogie-monster have to do with the Crystal Empire NOW Senator Tejas!!!”

“She’s your ancestor!!!”

‘WHAT!?!?’  Twilight was starting to thing Tejas was off his rocker.

“What proof is there of that!?!” Cadence screamed at the earth pony.

“Your Soul Mark! It tells us that you are descended from the rightful heir to the throne of the Crystal Empire.  Which at one point was Broken Heart.  That, and you were born an alicorn!  Only ponies descended from alicorns could be born as alicorns!”

Twilight gaped at the stallion, ‘That actually makes sense!’

Cadence decided that she had had enough, she was going to bring this argument to a close.

“Well!  Even if you are right, what will you do if the Crystal Empire joins Equestria!”

Tejas visibly sobered as the anger drained from his body and he wilted in sadness.

“Simple princess, the Celestial Territories will leave Equestria.”