Chapters Dear Diary,
This is no longer a diary. What happens from here on out is the beginning of a new era of Equestria. This is a history book. Something is wrong with Princess Celestia, she's been acting like someone she's not. Ever since Luna's return, I've been seeing these strange changes in her. What they are, I can't tell.
Today is Monday, February 10th. I plan on going out to see Rainbow Dash and asking her what she's doing for the upcoming Winter Wrap Up. I need to get my list in place so I can know exactly what to do. My hands aren't any good at making birds nests or planting seeds, so I'll make a list, use my magic to keep everything under control and in perfect harmony. Hah! Harmony, because I'm part of the Element's of Harmony? I'm getting better at this joking!
I opened my door to the outside world, tired of being stuffed up in the hot, musty library. I love the books, but the body of a being like me, can only handle so much book stench. I closed the door behind me, and looked up at the sun shining through the leaves above me. It was a sunny, yet brutally cold day, perfect for some indoor readi- NO! GET OFF THE IDEA OF READING.
After my brief reading attack episode, and a few deep breaths later, I began the walk off of my porch. It was a strenuous walk, but it had to be done. With sweat perching my brow, I reached the steps and walked down. The ground touched softly at my feet. It felt good to be outside. I smiled, and walked down the cobbled path towards town. I began to think, wondering where Rainbow could be. Her house was made of clouds, so it was obviously in the sky, unless some fog had begun to form. But with the current wind blowing southwest at a speed of sixteen miles per hour, she could only be one place. Above the middle of town.
"Rainbow! Open up!" I screeched at the white house floating haphazardly in the air. "Your house is tilted to the left and it's floating!" The door opened, and Rainbow peaked her head out at me.
"It's always floating you bird-brain! It's made of clouds!" Rainbow yelled back at me. Ahhh, this game.
"Still titled!" I retorted. "Anyways, Rainbow, what's gotten into you this morning? Tank break your Limited Edition Wonderbolts Action Figure?" Geez, I'm being mean now too. Better lay off.
"No! It's perfectly fine! I got a protective case since the last time he got a hold of it!" Rainbow told me, a grin on her lips.
"Good! Come down here Rainbow, I need to ask you some things!"
As Rainbow flew down to answer my questions with a sigh, I thought over my list for the day, 'Talking to Rainbow - Check' and 'Take Spike to the Dentist Appointment - Next Up!' Today was going to be a busy day. With a thump of Rainbow's feet hitting the ground, I looked over at her, and smiled. She returned the smile, "What's up Twilight?"
"Well," I said, "I have some questions about what you're going to do dur-"
"Twilight, what's up with Celestia lately?" Rainbow cut me off.
"Hmm? Oh, she's probably just busy." I answered.
"Really? Because it seems as if she's acting a little weird, I mean she DID restrict the leaving of Equestria without government permission, along with the removal of all nobles." Rainbow said, "It's kind of like she's removing everyone else from power, minus Luna. Also, did you see the mass amounts of guards in town today? There''s a ton of them for some reason." And easily enough, looking around I counted up fifteen uniformed guards patrolling the streets. "And we don't have any special event coordinated for today, so I'm just a little confused." Rainbow finished.
"I don't know Rainbow, I really don't," I responded. As we were talking to each other about the happening of the town and such, a guard walked up behind us and cleared his throat.
"Ma'ams, it is of your best interest to be in home at eight thirty tonight, as a curfew has been placed across Equestria. Please pass along the message to others." He said, and with a tip of his head, walked away.
I looked after the man until he walked to a group of stallions, and repeated the same statement. "That was.. weird." I concluded.
"Weird?!" Rainbow questioned me, "We have a curfew now! In the country that was founded with freedom in mind! Something's up Twilight, I know it."
"Look," I said, "I'm going to go home and read about it, and contact Celestia. I'll figure this out, it's nothing more than a misunderstanding."
I write here to tell of what I found in research. Below is a list of reasons this could be happening.
Terrorism
Surprise Events
But these are the only two that I could think of. Maybe Rainbow is right, and something is up.
I walked back to Rainbow's house, at a quicker pace than before. I had to tell her what I found out. I reached her house, and began the ritual of dragging her out of the house with words. After she came down to the ground to listen to me, she said, "What'd you find out, Twilight?"
I looked at my friend, eager to hear of my findings that would be the cause for this odd activity put into place by our leader. "Well, Rainbow... I have found absolutely nothing." I stuttered out, "There seems to be no rhyme nor reason why Celestia is doing this! Terrorism hasn't been a problem for hundreds of years, and it's nobodies birthday today, so I'm just as confused as you are."
"Twilight, I'm scared. Something is wrong, and you know it. I'm going in now, it's almost 'curfew'." Rainbow told me, using hand apostrophes over 'curfew'. I began to head back to the library, and went inside where I sat down on the couch to do more research in comfort.
"All able bodied earth stallions and mares, magically strong unicorns, and quick pegasi. Join the United Equestrian Military Force. Become one of the fighting forces for your beloved country! Be a hero!" It was Celestia's voice, playing over a commercial on the TV.
Following the voice over were more commercials about the military, what it offers, and what you have to do to be qualified to join. I think I'd rather stay here, in my warm library, than go to a military school though. As I sat on my couch wandering through the book in my lap, I couldn't find anything that would explain Celestia's over zealous behavior. I realized what it was all for in that one moment.
War.
Rainbow says it begins with one thing taken away, like our curfew. She says more will begin to follow, and that we'll be forced into submission by the government with all it's new soldiers. She says it's wrong, demeaning, and thoughtless. She's asking me to help her start a protest force, to protest and petition Celestia's rulings. I love the princess with all my heart, but I am beginning to think, is this really for the best?
The first meeting is on Wednesday. I think I'll go, just to see what Rainbow has planned, and the see if anyone will actually show up. I'm in the middle here, caught between my friendship for Rainbow, and how she'll always be loyal to what's right, and what my mentor and ruler has set up, even deeming it to be wrong. I guess you could say I'm scared. I guess you could say I'm a whimp too for not choosing. But what you can't say is that I'll just let something slide this easy.
-Twilight Sparkle
Dear Diary,
They say the first part is denial. I refuse to believe that, and I know that's not denial speaking.
Today is Wednesday, February 12th. It's as if a sort of spider is waiting, sitting on her web, waiting for the perfect moment to jump, sink her fangs into my soft flesh, and inject her poison into me, causing paralysis so I don't feel the insides being sucked out. She's sitting there, on her softy sticky web, waiting for someone, anyone, me, to fall onto it.
At least, that's what Rainbow is saying. She's so paranoid about this whole curfew thing. She thinks Celestia is some sort of power-hungry being that has been in hiding for years, waiting for the perfect moment to start. After those two statements, the guard stormed into our meeting, and broke everything up. Afterwards, Rainbow asked me to do some digging, see if theres anyone in history who has done the same. So, I guess I'll do that later, but right now, I have other matters needing me.
"Spike!" I yelled out. "Where are you?!" My voice echoed in the tree house, searching diligently for it's target. Finally, a reply came back from my purple and green friend.
"Whaaaat?" Came back the boyish yell, "I was napping!"
"Well it's time to get up, Spike! We have research to do!" In my mind, an Equestrian flag faded into view behind me, with horns blaring, and fireworks exploding above me. I was doing this country a great deed. I don't think spike saw the same thing. He just groaned and walked into the library, with me hot on his feet.
"Okay Spike, we need every book, thesaurus, and encyclopedia that mentions anything about curfews!" I said in a jovial filled passion.
"That's every book in the history section." Spike retorted with a grumble.
What a grump.
"Well.. give me a book of..of.." I fought to think of what may be useful in this scenario, but few things came to mind. "Give me a book of.. past leaders."
The two books slid across the table I sat down at, and I picked up the closest, a red cover adorned with gold crowning and black words spelling out 'Equestrian Leaders'. A name that fit very well, in my opinion. I flipped over the cover, looking for the authors name, "Hmmph." I mumbled out, finding no author's name. Continuing on, I found the table of contents, my favorite type of table ever made. Hahah. I'm really getting good at this! Anyways, back to the table, upon it is written five names. "Rather big book for five people," I say "Twirl Marx... Red Star... Princess Greenstone... and Princess Celestia & Luna.."
Nothing else to do except begin the book, I suppose.
Needless to say, I found some rather.. surprising info in that book, but I'm still not entirely convinced. All I've actually found is info about Twirl Marx, which in itself is rather small. Being the ruler of Equestria in the early years (nobody knows when his rule began) and finally ending as Red Star defeated him and his army in 988, there's very little information to be found out of him. But from what has been written down, he seems to have been a loved ruler, who gave freedom to the mares and stallions regardless of being earth pony, unicorn, or pegasus. Later on it states that Red Star, one of Marx's advisers, began stealing money from the centralized government, and upon being found out, escaped into the northern griffin kingdom to seek asylum. As it turned out, he had stolen more money than the tax-payers were able to repay. The cities began to get unhappy, and riots broke out in the streets. This continued for two years, upon the end of the second year, Red Star returned, and with his small group of trusted thus began the Marxist Uprising.
The Marxist Uprising is very prominent in Equestrian history as the ruler Twirl Marx, began to get uneasy and power hungry. He began sending out ground troops to stabilize the rioting in cities. Red Star began travelling around, promising to the people of Equestria, "Land, Money, Purity!" They rallied at this and began joining his band of followers, known as the Byelfirs. The Byelfirs grew up in numbers until they finally controlled most of the Equestrian population.
What happens next is not well documented, but what is known, is that a civil war ensued, ending with forty-two thousand killed and many, many more wounded, and at the end of it all, Marx stood tall on the mound of bodies. He began what we now know of today as the Bleak Ages. Determined to have nothing like it happen again, he began a reformation of the government.
Starting with curfews.
Just like the next person, I hated telling Rainbow she might be on to something, small though the chances were. But, it had to be done. I walked out into the town square, and found rainbow standing below her house, flanked by two guards. I walked up on the group, who were arguing profusely.
Without thinking, I yelled into the crowd, "RAINBOW LET IT GO!" Which was in hindsight, a pretty bad idea.
"Are you.. one of them, Twilight..?" Rainbow asked me, her eyes showing a mix of anger and betrayal. Oh boy was I in for it.
"These knuckle headed guards are trying to take away my home, Twilight! They say, no single person can live above the rest, be it mentally or physically! Everyone must be equal!"
The anger was pouring out of my friend's pores. This was a level at which no one person wanted to confront Rainbow at, but these guards did it. My suspicion began to double.
"Rainbow, I'm not with them. Just, listen to me here. I read up, like you asked me to do, even though your asking was rather rude, but anyways, I found something. Something I'm surpris-" I was cut off by a guard clamping my mouth shut and the other talking to Rainbow.
"We are taking your house, no matter what. If that means a use of force on you or your friend here, we will do it." He said.
"Haha, you dare to challenge Twilight Sparkle? Princess Celestia's own protege?!" Rainbow mocked. She began laughing her tail off right then and there, but the guards looked unfazed.
"Everyone is equal." They said, and Rainbow's house began to float away.
Rainbow looked on in awe. There's something going on, and we both knew it. "Look.. Rainbow. You can stay with me. I'll tell you about everything when we get home."
The walk was long and quiet.
After telling my best friend about Marx and Red Star, she began to question everything Celestia did. Marx and Celestia both had curfews put into place, but that was no reason to see a pattern. What if this really was just a curfew and equal opportunity to everyone?
Then it hit me. Celestia knew someone would find out about Marx, and how he imposed a Curfew. But would anyone look and see what Red Star did while in the Griffin Kingdoms? What he built? Well, after some searching we found it. Up in the cold area owned by the griffins, he built what we now know as the Crystal Kingdom, and when he left to fight Marx, he left Dark Sombra, his chief adviser in charge. We know him as King Sombra.
They say the second stage is anger.
Dear Diary,
Saying I'm angry is a huge understatement. Saying I'm loathing every movement made by the Equestrian government, is still, an understatement. This anger I'm feeling, is something I've known never before. It's foreign to my body; I just want to sit down and cry, let the toxins of this powerful hate flow right out.
But I can't.
If I so much as let my guard down for just a little bit.. something will go wrong. I need to keep this up. If I don't, then everything could go wrong. No, I know it. Everything WILL go wrong. If I ever let myself go of my purpose, then I'll either lose it, or it will explode right back at me. I have to stay on the ball.
"We have gathered you all here today, to talk about how good our leader Princess Celestia is! The decisions she's making have just been so helpful; to our little quaint community, that-" I heard a door slam closed. "We clear?" A sharp "Yes!" answered back. "Anyways, we have actually gather you here, to talk about the segregation and discrimination our 'Dear Leader' is putting upon us, 'Her Little Ponies'."
Rainbow took a deep breath, preparing for the next rant about the discriminating rules posed upon us. "As a pegasus, I have lost my home, and my job working the weather! Other pegasus have lost more, they've lost their homes, their shops, their freedom. Now, isn't this what Equestria was born upon? Freedom for the three pony tribes?" A low murmur of agreements answered Rainbow's question. "Then why, are we letting it destroy our lives? Now, I have a plan. We number only so many though, at about sixty-three. If this plan is going to work.. we need a lot more people." A glint of anger mixed with power and hatred shined through Rainbow's eye.
Rainbow said she has a plan, and she refuses to tell it to anyone, even her friends. I continued to ask her about it, saying "I'm your first hand!" and "We're the elements! We do everything together!" She turned down Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and I. If she isn't going to be loyal enough to even tell her friends, then she really doesn't want this secret plan of hers getting out. I'm rather scared of what she's concocted, but I guess I'll have to wait to see what it is.
We walked out of the 'Meeting House', also known as Sugarcube Corner, into the bright sunlight. I blinked my eyes, and brushed my black hair out of my eyes. Walking towards Rainbow, she smiled at me coming and asked, "Want to grab some lunch?"
"Sure, I am pretty hungry.." I answered her.
We walked together towards a small cafe known locally as the best hay burgers in town. "Rainbow, you know how I love hay burgers, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I'm actually not really hungry. Something's up."
"I know, Twilight. I feel it too."
I sat down at in a booth, with Rainbow opposite me. We sat there in silence, twiddling our thumbs. Finally, a waitress came upon our table and asked for our drink orders.
"Lemon water, please." I requested.
"And a vanilla cola for me!" Rainbow proudly asked.
The waitress left with our orders, leaving Rainbow and I sitting there alone, nothing to talk about in such a public place. I decided to break the outrageously awkward silence, "So how's the weather been?"
Rainbow looked at me quizzically, before her face turned beet red with anger. "I DON'T KNOW TWILIGHT. I DON'T WORK WITH IT ANYMORE."
I sheltered my face from Rainbow's yelling rage, hoping to spare my last shreds of dignity. "I'm sorry Rainbow.. I forgot. Everything has been so sudden lately."
"Yeah.. yeah. I know. It has been, I'm sorry for pouncing on you like that, it's just.. life has been so hard lately, and you know, the next thing, they'll remove my dining out privileges, or my privilege to integrate with the rest of society! I'm just.. scared. We have to do something, and you know it."
That was the best lunch of my life. Rainbow and I had great hay burgers with fries, and everything was just so...so perfect. I can't help but feel that something else is coming, something bigger than anything we've had yet. Who knows? Maybe a recall of all the orders put upon us recently!
...Or maybe something worse. Something that removes the everyday life of the three tribes, due to somebody's lack of satisfaction in what the pegasus are accomplishing. Deportation. Ghettos. Camps. I can't even bear to think of it! Two of my best friends are pegasus, and everything that's been happening lately is pointed towards them. But.. no, that can't be it. The pegasus still run the Equestrian Air Force. Running them out would destroy our air defense.
Oh dear. I think I figured it out.
I walked inside my library, Rainbow having long departed to go to her temporary home. I took out my keys, and opened the door. On the ground was something I didn't expect. Mail. Written to me directly from Canterlot, but it wasn't from either of the Princesses, so who could it be?
I picked up the letter, and ripped the seal open. I pulled out the yellow paper, and began to read:
Dear Ponyville Citizen,
It is of our utmost concern to you are well protected from the terrors that can attack this country. The zebra nation to the south has issued a decree that "Equestria is a weak, powerless country". Can we stand this? No, the Zebra nation has enough power to severely weaken or destroy our way of civilization with their greedy, savage ways. They only think of themselves, not the lives of any others. Any zebra found within Equestria will be jailed immediately, so we can protect our lovely ponies from their cruel ways. Along that same effect, the Griffin Kingdom has also released a decree that destroys Equestria's image, and we will jail any griffon found within Equestria.
Since we as a nation want to protect our citizens as much as we can, we have sent forth one hundred and fifty guards, give or take a few, to each city, town, and settlement, to help protect from any intruders. Upon this same act, we have removed mayors from power, and are putting our chosen leaders in place. They will act as a leader for the guards and people to protect them. The leader chosen for your town, Ponyville, is Twilight Sparkle. A known protege to myself, I am sure that she will lead the people of Ponyville to the right, and protect the Equestrian way of life. She will make all important decisions, keep curfew in effect, and keep the overall populace in check.
Your Faithful Leader,
Princess Celestia
I couldn't believe what I was reading, over and over again. I was Ponyville's acting leader? This is just too much for me to even bear.. I can't rule this library by myself, let alone a whole town!
I heard a knock upon my door, and I stood up to answer it. Opening it I saw Rainbow Dash, with anger etched all over her face. She held up the letter, presumably the same one I had gotten. "What is this all about, Twilight?!" She roared in anger.
"I.. I have no idea." I managed to stutter out.
Author's Note
I'm finally back at writing this story. Due to my computer dying on me, it took waaay longer than I expected to write again. I realize I'm almost two months out of date, but I can make it back up, don't worry. Everything is about to get just a tad jucier.
Thursday, March 13th
Dear Diary,
A lot has happened today. Let's start with Rainbow's angry visit.
"Twilight.. How could this happen? You've always been on my side.. Yet now, you've gone and become Ponyville's leader?!" Rainbow angrily questioned. "You've been spying on me, haven't you? The secret meetings, having you there was a security breach, wasn't it?!"
I nervously glanced at the floor, not knowing what to say. "Rainbow.. everything that's happening is.. not me. I, I've been keeping my letters to the princesses at a halt, and I w-would never do anything to hurt you or Fluttershy! It's just not me, Dash." I said, barely keeping myself from crying.
"Then what?!" Rainbow screamed at me, tears of anger streaming down her face.
"I-I don't k-know, Dash." I cried.
After her visit, I couldn't control myself from crying. I think tears rolled down my face for hours. It sure felt like it. Yet, all the crying gave me a chance to think: The princesses placed me in this position, because they think I can handle whatever is poised at me; I have no doubts that I could. In fact, if this had all happened sooner, I probably would've taken every action told to me. Luckily, I was able to hear Rainbow's side of the story, how it hurt her, and made her less of a pony. That I don't think I could have ordered.
"Beware of the Zebra Nation," a gray newscaster proclaimed, "After having threatened our beautiful nation with war, the zebras have been coordinating planned attacks on ponies and pony supporters in Equestria, The Gryphon Kingdoms, and even their own lands. Many are calling them radicals. Here's Swift Report with the story."
"Thanks, Notepad. Along the Coltarian Plateau, blood is being shed. Zebras race across the grass with weapons in tow, slicing, stabbing, and killing any pony in their path. Many local militia groups began to militarize, but have had little effect on the zebras, who just keep coming and coming. Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard said,"With the death toll rising over two thousand, the Equestrian Military is ready to send out troops and defeat the Zebras." With current TV ads and increased military funding, many pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies alike have been joining to fight for their country and leader, Princess Celestia. Today in a press conference, Princess Celestia said she'd "like to see an increase in industrial production" along with "more patriotism for the country, so that any foreign power who wishes to attack us, will fall swiftly."
I cringed at the program, and quickly switched over to The Big Hay Theory. A terrible comedy show, but perfect for having a quick snort or two in thirty minutes. I lazily sat and watched the show, barely keeping track of stuck up nerd pony saying stuck up nerdy things to dumb blond pony, when a letter slid under my door. Odd, I thought, I have a mail slot for just such a reason.
I picked up the letter, stamped with blue wax and a familiar crescent moon symbol. Luna. Greedily, I ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter.
Twilight,
We both know I am not the most formal at letters, but at least my grammar has gotten better. You may know this already, and considering the circumstances, I am forced to send this like normal mail. This may arrive too late. You are going to be chosen as the "Mayor" for Ponyville by my sister. You will have a specific set of duties, blah blah blah. What you do not know however, is that you were only chosen because you grew up with Celestia. She taught you. She knows you. She will give you commands to follow out upon your townsfolk. Trust me, you will NOT want to do some of these things.
Regards,
Luna
To say my heart stopped, is probably rather untrue. It exploded, is probably a better thing to say. After I received the letter from Luna, I quickly wrote a note to Rainbow. I asked her to be my Lieutenant Mayor. With her by my side, I plan that nothing that she doesn't like will get past.
Earlier Diary, I said that I knew what Celestia was planning. I think I understand it now too. She's trying to build up our military for a huge invasion of the Zebra lands. The one thing I can't explain though, is why remove the houses of the pegasi? It makes no sense to me, and probably won't if things continue this way.
"Rainbow... I'm so happy you decided to be my Lieutenant." I cheerfully said to my cyan pal. We were walking along a dirt path in a park surrounded by maple trees. They were just starting to get leaves on them again. "With you by me, I hope to make things better for everyone. No matter what Celestia has planned, I know we can get through it."
Dash laughed, "Oh Twilight. You know I can't stay mad at you forever. It's probably nothing, so we'll be fine." She smiled at me, her magenta eyes making me feel warm inside. She always evoked a sense of security in me.
A short amount of walking later, and we arrived at our new office. The Town Hall. Ponies were milling about, not minding us at all. I smiled and took a deep breath of the market air. I turned around and followed Rainbow into the building. Our offices were on the second floor, so we took to a flight of stairs. "I hope we don't have too much paperwork, that'd be lame." Rainbow happily said. I smiled at her.
I sat down behind my desk, and began sifting through the huge mound of paperwork I had. I guess paperwork really was lame. Papers asking for my signature, telling me what procedures to take, old catering menus, and a few letters. One, from Princess Celestia herself. I took the envelope and opened it, revealing the parchment inside. I grabbed the letter and read it aloud to myself, even though Rainbow was also in the room.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, or should I say, Mayor Twilight Sparkle. I'm very proud of you. You have worked very hard to accomplish this far, though I had no doubt you could do it." I smiled at her kind words. Rainbow laughed and called me a sap. "But with your new job comes responsibilities, ones you must abide by, or risk losing your job. I know you will not fail me. A new rule has been enacted by myself, and it must be enforced. It is, respectfully, Law 22.84. Law 22.84 states that 'All ponies not working in farming or metallurgy, are to begin working at factories to produce weapons of war.' I will need to know how many ponies will work in the factories, as I can begin building the Ponyville Factory, which will produce infantry weapons and ammunition. I do not expect you to fail me, Twilight, as this is a rather simple task. Remember, I am very proud of you. Love, Princess Celestia."
I gulped as Dash eyed me and the letter with anger. "What in tartarus?" Rainbow finally managed to strangle out. "Celestia wants us to remove ponies from their lives work, and force them to work in a factory?!"
"That's.. that's exactly it, Dash." I answered back.
Dear Diary ,
Every day, millions of atoms collide together to make substances. Some being acids, solutions, minerals, or even beings. It makes me wonder when and what had to collide to create this hidden evil, the likes of which I have never seen before. I'll be honest, I'm scared. This isn't the Celestia I grew up with. This is something much darker, something much, much darker. Today is the day that Law 22.84 goes into effect. When the clock tower strikes eight in the morning, every pony not working in the fields of in their metal shop will be headed to the Ponyville Factory to build weapons of death. At eight forty-five, the regiment of Royal Guards sent form Canterlot will search the houses of the ones who are supposed to be at the factory, looking for ponies skipping work. The ones who are found will be put into jail for a week. Any secondary offense are to go straight to Celestia.
I sulked along the outside of the library, trying to hide behind the leaves drooping down, hoping to escape the glares of the ponies affected by the recent law I was forced to enact. They walked by slowly, staring at my library home with hatred and defeat in their eyes. Royal Guards stood on every corner eyeing each and every passerby.
"This isn't harmony.. this is disharmony." I said to myself, knowing full well that the pegasus hiding above me on the leaves and the ponie behind me could hear me. "So, you might as well come out you two." I turn around to the exasperated sigh and slowly walking of Applejack behind me. Above me Rainbow Dash struggles to fly out from the leaves, sending her falling down to the ground in front of me. "Well.. I suppose you want to know why you aren't being sent out? I guess come on inside, everyone else is already waiting..." I whispered depressingly. After sending Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy into the library to await the other two, I stood outside listlessly watching.
"Well Twilight, what's this all about?" Rainbow asked me, taking a seat next to Fluttershy. "Why'd you have everypony sent to work EXCEPT us five?"
"Yes, why Twilight? It seems rather unfair to the other ponies that we must not have to work! I'd hate to have a bad reputation spread about me." Rarity spoke.
I sighed, readying myself for a terribly unprepared speech of which I had to give. Breathing deeply, "First off, Applejack is a farmer. She wouldn't have been sent out anyways, but for the rest of you, I personally asked Celestia to let you all off without having to work. It seemed to me that maybe we'd, well... need the elements." All five of my friends looked at me shocked. "What I mean is- I just.." I sighed again. "Something isn't right. I just know it."
"So what you're tellin' us is that you personally asked the Princess to let us NOT work? Well darnit Twilight, you coulda at least asked us first ya' know?" Applejack protested. "I mean, this ain't my first rodeo in this type of situation, but-"
"Oooohh, you've been in a rodeo before Applejack?!" Pinkie Pie happily questioned. "Did it have bulls? Or was it minotaurs? Or was it- Ohhhh, what if it was dictators?!"
"Pinkie!" I yelled, surprising everypony. "We.. we never said she was a dictator. In fact the thought hasn't crossed my mind until now, when you brought it up! Maybe.. maybe the other nations are getting tense with Equestria, and maybe they're building up their militarys? I mean this could just be a big national security thing Celestia is doing. Maybe she doesn't think our nation is quite strong enough?" I sheepishly concocted. Maybe, just maybe...
"As I was saying sugar cube, this isn't my first rodeo. It's been a while since something has happened, but I think I would know if them Princess was planning something. And I just, I just don't feel it Twi'." Applejack shared with me.
"Maybe you're right Applejack.. but I always feel the need to be prepared." I shuddered out. I stood up and walked to the stairs. "Ladies.. I'm not feeling well. If you have any more questions, please ask me now. I may not be out for a few days." I turned and looked at my friends, Pinkie fidgeting with her left hoof, Rainbow looking away from me, Rarity inspecting her hair, Applejack nodding, and Fluttershy sheepishly holding her hoof up.
"Yes, Fluttershy? What is it?" I ask her.
"Wha.. what's going to happen now?"
"..I don't know, Fluttershy." I sighed. "I just hope that something goes our way for once." And with that, I walked up the stairs, defeat plastered on my face. Spike looked at me, noticed my state, and backed away. I trotted over to my bed and plopped down onto it.
Honestly? What the hell am I supposed to say to my friends, Diary? They begin asking me things I have no hope of answering truthfully and fully, and yet.. I feel like I'm the bad pony in all this. I need to contact Shining Armor or something, see what my brother knows. With him as a Prince, information should be given and known easily.. I hope. I love Celestia to death, but.. what if.. no, I can't even think of that, least write it down!
It's.. hard. To say the least. I want to follow Celestia, but I also don't want the whole town turning on me! But... with the Royal Guard I don't suppose they'd do that. Which reminds me, we had twelve ponies skip work duty today. I didn't know any of them personally, but eleven of them were put into jail for a week, and another, what was his name? Oh yes, Free Straits. He worked on the river, using the power to mill cotton and grind wheat for ponies. They found him hiding in the wheel on the river, don't know how, but apparently he put up a fight and almost killed one of the guards. He was put into shackles and then sent to Canterlot to have a meeting with Celestia.. But I know he will be okay. Celestia is a fair and just ruler, she wouldn't do anything monstrous. He will probably get sentenced to jail for his crimes, he won't face.. death.
At least, I don't think he will.