Queen Platinum was perched at her throne ready for the defiance against the new pact set in motion. She sat on a large stone throne on an elevated floor with steps that lead to the rest of the room. The large stone chambers surrounding her were lit with columns of torches and the light cleverly reflected around with the use of large well place diamonds, used to display power and wealth as well as useful for lighting up the room when night falls and only the moon and stars peer through the stain-glass windows high above the ground. A red carpet was laid in front of her, but despite it's bright color contrasting the marble floor, it was swallowed up in the sea of muttering ponies before her.

Lined up by her sides was her personal contingent of guards provided by her friends in Manehattan and Cloudsdale , though the armor could not mask their anxiety. They could feel the hostility in the air, making them even more on edge. Outside in the halls however, the Pegasus and Earth Pony guards patrolled, though most made their rounds short so they would pass the grand hall doors should anything go wrong tonight, when the rabble she's invited in were openly speaking words of treasonous intent.

They were talking ill of her. Of course they were. It didn't take a genius to guess why they were whispering among themselves. She tried to not let it get to her. To not make her nervous. To not second guess herself. But she there was no return. She knew this was how it was suppose to be. Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead have made their move, Clover the Clever had crunched the numbers, and Starswirl has chosen to follow with them. It's been two weeks since her meeting with the Pact of the Three Tribes in Manehattan and a week since her return. There was so much time to prepare, but no amount of time can prepare for the dawn of a new era, whether she tries to fight it or not. The only option she, the Queen of Unicornia, could choose was to side with this new pact in place as to preserve as much Unicorn prestige as possible, but of course the noble families would not take things as peacefully as she would. This hard decision making was one of the reasons why she was given this responsibility over her siblings in the first place.

Queen Platinum's attire was rather reserved this night. Usually she would wear elaborate gold, silk dresses and her favorite, lavish diamond and silver crown as to compliment her snow white fur and her beautiful, soft grey mane, but tonight she stuck to a simple tastes with her old purple robes and gem encrusted platinum crown.

She looked to her aides for comfort in such dire moments. Close to her right side was Clover the Clever looking as stoic as possible, even in those gaudy, commoner robes despite her best efforts. His dark blue fur and green mane made him a sore sight for her eyes, but she's become more complacent with his unattractive appearances, for she had convinced herself that underneath his unsightly exterior was a diamond in the rough. He may not have been born with prestige, but he did like to act noble when troubles were closing in. She regained her proper posture. Of course if that bumpkin from nowhere could act strong in times of strife, surely she was capable of five times the mettle. The in her heart was relit. He always did this to her. It's the biggest reason she kept him around for so long despite always grinding her with hard questions.

She looked to her left and saw Star Swirls' uncaring demeanor as he stood slouched. That stallion. It wouldn't have killed him to at least own up to this. He did put more than a small hoof in these matters, he could at least acted like he cared. But of course that old recluses' displeasure for Equestrian society would have him look anything but dour and miserable in all matters when he's not being locked up in his shack in the middle of nowhere. At least he decided to show up for all it's worth. He really should thank her for giving him Clover and his two best disciples, Blue Moon and Sunny Days, but he's too stubborn for that.

Then there was the contingent of her personal guards all spread out among the premises, with the new Earth Pony and Pegasi additions she added. That's what the whispers were for. In front of her were the gathered families from all of Canterlot's nobility, guild heads, and their entourage. Among them, there were the family of Helios, stallions and mares wore red capes gilded with gold treads and shiny, steel ceremonial armor meant only for the rarest occasions. They displayed a rich royal and righteous front to all those who beheld their sight. Their power laid with the sun and thus they've garnered more of a personality resonating to the identity in their magic, a bluntness of raw magical force and virtue. Their real power though is linked to their connection with the Harmony Gems. These relics were made from pieces of gemstone said to be blessed by Faust herself, and thus they guard it with their lives and use these powers to do her bidding. Their zealotry is the center for all ponies and beings, as they act with extreme predjeduce and act rather high and mighty.

Then there were the Lulamoon's fashioned in their regular dapper black and blue dresses and suits. They prided themselves on dignity and decorum. Tasked with the movements of the moon, they rule during the night. Their power in the darkness also has been rumored to the nature of their affliction. It has been commonly spread they were vamponies; beasts that devoured the blood of fellow ponies to fuel a demonic power and give them enhanced physical strength. And by all accounts those rumors were correct. However, despite how unpleasant having these blood suckers are, there has been a pact in place for the longest of times to keep a symbiotic relationship between their clan and Unicornia's interest. If lesser rumors were to be believed, the pegasi were working with something similar, however those suspicions have not been confirmed yet.

If it weren't for the Stardust Clan they'd have the night completely to themselves. The Stardust Clan were the third of the nobility trio. For most of the families in Canterlot, they cared about royal blood, authentic lineages, and formal treaties, while the Stardust Clan couldn't care less. No, they were the odd ones who could care less about title and luxury. Instead they praised eugenics. They were more concerned about breeding a more powerful offsprings with a higher magical capability, supposedly making every generation more powerful than the next, even going as far as to pool in peasant unicorns. They were odd, maybe even dangerous, but their meticulous mastery over charting the stars was unmatched. Maybe an Earth Pony, a Pegasus, or even peasant Unicorn might not see the importance of where the stars are, but for the Canterlot unicorns it meant the world. Which way stars aligned could give a unicorn strength and power with the right set-up at the right time. These Cosmic Leylines are secure the unicorn dominance over their Unicornia and the Crystal Empire, and since stars naturally fall out of place everyday and couldn't be straightened back into the same place for too long, they took up the mantle to configure a new star formation each week and maintain it.

Of course she expected this sort of response, though she couldn't expect such a rapid response with all of the families and guilds already rallied. Not only a week since the ratification of the testament of the six companions and the courts were outraged. She was rather pleased to have Clover here as well as her own private forces for such an occurrence. Two hundred ponies strong and yet she was still felt outnumbered and outgunned against the ranks of the rowdy company.

And finally the leaders of this excursion stepped forward from the masses. Head of the Helios Clan, Fiery Skies stood tall and proud amongst his kin. Then, Moon Dancer, the Mistress of the Night for the Lulamoons, stepped forward in her lacy, black dress. Though shorter in stature compared to most stallions, she was known to have a venomous anger that would lash out blindly, though luckily she seemed more fair-minded mood now. It was a strange calm air around her though, which wasn't comforting as Queen Platinum would like. Finally, Star Mapper, Bright Shadows, the noble mage. The only among a group of mad sorcerers who had a modicum of respect for social pleasantries, not that it means much when he condones, or as she's heard, outright leads some of those dark experiments, but for what it's worth, he is the only connection to that blasted family that she can hold a conversation with. These three together made up the Sky Council, a group that was formed to represent the queen as well as step up to the queen. They're combined weight should be enough to overpower her authority, though this had only been theoretical up until now.

Fiery Skies spoke first, not even willing to hide the anger in his voice, "We cannot condone this sort of... madness, Queen Platinum. What this Harmony Alliance of yours proposes is wholly unacceptable. And what more unacceptable is you not even fighting back against this."

Queen Platinum was prepared for that one, "The Alliance was formed in a state of emergency, when not only could the Earth ponies not grow food, but the Pegasi could not control the clouds and the Unicorn could not sustain heat in the freezing winter. It was matter of disaster not for any one tribe, but for all ponies, and thus banding together has made us stronger. Strong enough even to disband the windigoes' hold on the elements and combat them out of our lands forever."

"However, it is not enough to work together when we are a hairsbreadth away from disaster that we act in unison. This tribalism must come to an end. We must set aside our rites and tradition in order to step forward into a more balanced world. Commander Hurricane and Chancellor Puddinghead have already made it clear, that from their standpoint Unicorns hold the most sway in all matters without condition. Their concerns are that, without any way to control the sun they are still pray to our whims. Their concerns I feel have some merit."

The outrage of the crowd became audible as a low murmur started to rise up, the queen had to raise her voice above the crowd, "We are giving thought to a plan that shall let the new alicorns-"

The nobles cries of disapproval bursted again, letting lose even louder cries of disapproval, "some degree of control over the sun, moon, and stars-"

Queen Platinum was practically yelling over the cacophony of anger, "in order to keep an impartial keeper of order-"

"Heresy!" Yelled Fiery Skies, "this is heresy against all that Unicornia stands for! We have been give a duty by Mother Faust to uphold the balance of day and night. As long as Unicorns have trotted the plains, we have had our horn pointed to the sky. It is not a privilege to participate in the rise and fall of the sun, but our place in the cosmic order."

"We still have some control over the day and night, it is only that we share this power with the alicorns, so-"

The disdain in Fiery Skies voice dripped with venom, "That they might rip our hold out from under us as soon your council of inferiors sees fit. We can see the writing on the wall."

Queen Platinum leveled her eyes and locked them with her opposition, "The pegasi and earth ponies see Canterlot as nothing, but a cornerstone of oppression. If we do not alleviate some of our powers, we might find it harder to keep the friends we have."

It was then that Moon Dancer moved forward, her chilling calm voice called attention to all in the room, "Let us not forget what happens should anypony, or anycreature neglect it's duties. We have seen how the Diamond Dogs have lost their connection with the earth or how the gryphons have lost control over their clouds. Their greed and warmongering respectively have left their elements' call in neglect, and thus, the elements have neglected their calls in turn. The power that allows Earth Ponies tend to fields and Pegasi push clouds is not an ancient one. The original ponies have never been as powerful as we are today and it is only because we have taken the mantle of caretakers. Should we neglect our duties, then we mind as well write out that we are severing ourselves from them wholly."

Fiery Skies chimed in behind her, "And I'd rather die killing a hundred crows and cattle, then to give up the sun."

The guards of the Six Companions tightened their grip on their spears. The Captain of the Guard and Star Swirl took their leave outside the room to gather all the ponies in the halls to ready themselves if it got worse. Queen Platinum herself could see the tension rising as murmurs of agreement were starting to stand against her. She was losing them. She looked to Bright Shadow who has been quiet the entire time. He noticed her glance with an even gaze. Before he could even open his mouth, she already knew where he stood. The Stardust Clan had nothing to gain in this. That was the end of the story for them. That was the end of the story for all of them.

"I would never trust the Stars with anypony outside of my family. I assume the same of my family."

She was desperate. Perhaps a bargain may work to their sensibilities would work, she thought. She offered aloud, "But, if the alicorns could be your family as well? Have they not already been initiated during their stay here?"

Bright Shadows looked between his companions and then back to the Queen, "Perhaps they have received some schooling, a bit of research, but will never fully be family if they also pawns of your Alliance."

"Then perhaps the world will see a day without our guidance."

There was a pause, before Moon Dancer grimly spat out, "You are treading very thin ice here. Do not press that avenue of thought."

"No, we might be facing a time where we are cornered in and if we do not adjust, we will not survive. Not unlike the windigoes, but this time from our very own kind. We are on the verge of crisis, and you all haven't treated it as such."

"Oh, we are very aware of the danger this poses on Unicornia. It is a threat of war on society itself, if not on the very being of what it is to be a unicorn."

Bright Shadows spoke up to follow the pace of his peers, "Now Princess we all know where we stand, but what will you do now? You've negotiated and talked with the Alliance as well as the Sky Council. Where does the Princess of Unicornia stand?"

Queen Platinum took a deep, shakey breath before she said on a very shallow facade of confidence, "It is with a heavy heart for the greater good of our children and children's children to give them a feasible future than any illusions of glory."

Fiery Skies rose up onto his hind hooves to stand above the crowd, "Then you have condemned yourself to never see the fruits of our labor."

As he pointed one hoof out, time slowed to crawl. His foreleg slowly ascended with great force, but despite the effort, it was a snails pace in Queen Platinum's eyes. His face was frozen in a expression of rage and defiance, if not given the circumstances, his stance might have been seen heroic at one point and time, but now, only the abrupt stillness of time could stop her muscles from shaking from the intensity. All behind him, she could see the families take stance to charge, a few not even bothering to reach for their swords and went straight to charging their horns. They all looked prepared, perhaps before they even walked in they planned a coup. It was a very real possibility with the severity of these negotiations, but now it was reality.

Maybe it was impossible to compromise from the beginning. Too much religious importance, too much political power at risk, and every Unicorn born in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire was told from birth that the stars, the moon, and the sun was their heritage, perhaps it was foolish from the start. Her guards seized up and muscles tensed ready to spring out and defend her, though for some it was already too late to save their own lives. Clover seemed to be conjuring something, though her magical knowledge was not expansive enough to read whatever intricate spell he was manifesting into his translucent aether ring gathering at his horn. The Queen's eyes moved again to scan the room and looked once more before the carnage began. The mighty righteous anger from the clan leader of Helois, the sudden burst of draconic frenzy from the Lulamoon matriarch, had Queen Platinum trying to gasp for breath. An animal part of her screamed fear into every one of her senses demanding to flee for her life, but before she could succumb to panic, she managed to register one detail out of incoming carnage. Bright Shadow's as well as his small entourages calm demeanor. He had only brought a few of his clan's best to represent themselves, but that shouldn't mean much. While his companions were at least ready to fight, Bright Shadow merely stood still staring back at her very soul with listless eyes, as if her life didn't matter. Her, the queen of Unicornia and member of the Harmony Alliance and Six Companions, didn't matter. If she could guess that their fore-planning this series of events would happen and her escaping mean nothing, then what could... her eyes dilated. Though Lulamoons were quite literally a cold, blood sucking demon with a weak spot for bloodlust, they always had a respect for the Stardust Clan's immaculate ability to be cold, calculating monsters to anyone outside their pack.

Time returned back to Queen Platinum. Fiery Skies forehoof leveled parallel to the ground, he gave a deep bellow, crying out his order. "Seize her!" He yelled, leaping forward into the fray of guards moving to intercept him before he could reach the matriarch. Then the crowd exploded into a cacophony of magical chaos. The magically charged nobles let off a flurry of spells all at once. Lightning, pillars of fire and ice, all rained down on the poor stallion guards in their immediate vicinity, killing some instantaneously. Some were left a charred, molten hole splitting their face, others were impaled from the spine, and others dropped dead on sight; the testament to the swift reckoning of Unicornian might.

"Right once again, Commander Hurricane. The saying still holds true today," Queen Platinum whispered in her awe, "Unicorns always strike first."

Those not dead and had the nerve to still charge, let off a roar to push back the crowd and form a line between the Queen and her usurpers, and then those behind them held fast behind them to support. Earth Pony guards stood strong with high towershields they carried on their back and built a makeshift wall in front of them. Pegasi crossbow bolts showered in from the clerestory, shattering the windows and raining down on the crowd, killing the few in the crowd not swift enough to conjure a magical barrier above themselves. A few unicorns were about to return fire through their magical barriers when a sudden purple fog descended upon the room from the ceiling, though it had no physical origin. The outraged crowd's energy was slightly drained, the stomping was less harsh, and the yelling, though loud was slightly duller.

Clover was beading sweat focusing intently on gassing the chamber with some sort of sleeping formula. Queen Platinum was impressed with his quick performance and clever reaction, but the apprentice of the wisest unicorn alive was still out of his league. As if struck on the head the green unicorn was thrown back onto his haunches. She looked down on the crowd, through her wall of soldiers and saw Bright Shadow's condescending look. He whipped his head around and cut back into the crowd to disappear. Finally, the queen was set into motion to act fast or else all is for naught.

She yelled out to a shaken Clover, demanding he follow her. Quickly, she ran out the door, soon with her friend in tow, to leave the fighting to the guards. The two raced away as Earth Pony and Pegasi soldiers continue to rush past them to help with the conflict, but soon she found herself with contingent of stray guards in tow following her. She didn't address them even if she did know they were there.

"What are we doing? Shouldn't we quell the rebellion back there?" Clover asked frantically his adreniline running high.

"The battle is already lost," Platinum relied coldly, "We are too grossly outmatched even with all this horsepower. What the brave stallions in the throne room are doing is buying us precious time to escape."

"Then what are we doing here. This corridor leads..." His sentance drifting off.

"To Blue Moon and Sunny Rays."

Author's Note

To be continued eventually