Author's Note

Last update for a good long while my faithful readers. Sorry but College calls and I must answer!

Chapter Nine: Coping With Death, in Each Their Own Way

Chapter Nine: Coping With Death, in Each Their Own Way

Yesterday morning The NLR and the SE were at peace, and while we were still at peace with each other… I sighed it seemed life would never be kind to me, the Element of Kindness, ever again… I watched as Celestia walked up the path to my small hut listening to Twilight talk and seemingly beg something of her. The closer they got the more I heard and understood, and tears started to well in my eyes, Twilight was already in a relationship with Celestia… How could I ever compete with her? Choking back a sob I heard Twilight yell at Celestia.

“I am very disappointed in you Twilight, you could have told me in a letter that you were falling for another mare.” Said Celestia and Twilight yelled back at her in response.

“How am I supposed to tell you then? Dragon fire? Mail? No matter how I told you would have told me you were upset at me! The only time I come out on top is in the bedroom!”

“Eep!”

“I am very disappointed in you Twilight, you could have told me in a letter that you were falling for another mare.” Said Celestia and I gritted my teeth

“How am I supposed to tell you then? Dragon fire? Mail? No matter how I told you would have told me you were upset at me! The only time I come out on top is in the bedroom!” I yelled not even thinking and Celestia looked at me in shock and hearing an “Eep” behind the door of Fluttershy’s door, I could tell Fluttershy was in surprised at my response…

“How am I supposed to tell you then? Dragon fire? Mail? No matter how I told you would have told me you were upset at me! The only time I come out on top is in the bedroom!” Twilight yelled and I looked at her in shock, surprised that she would say that aloud. The “Eep” from behind the door telling me that she had not said that in front of Fluttershy either. Still my shocked looked shifted into an embarrassed one as the yellow pegasus opened the door slightly to look out, at least I thought it was her until I did not see her at the door but rather he small white rabbit who was actually glaring at me, thumping his foot angrily causing Twilight and I to blush bashfully.

“I am sorry, Twilight, I did not mean to make you feel like you could never come to me about something like this. I should have known that no matter how you feel about me, you would still fall for someone closer to your own age. I will understand if-” I never got to finish as I felt Twilight’s lips against mine for a brief moment before she sashayed into young Fluttershy’s home with a small wink at me…

I watched as Twilight walked into the house with a sway of her flank. Celestia seemingly hypnotized by the sight which made me smile slightly even if it made my chest clench at the sight.

“Hello Princ—I mean Empress…” I managed say towards Celestia, in a polite voice, even if I wanted her to just disappear as I wanted Twilight as my mare, but then again, I also wanted her happy so I would be willing to not be with her, or even share her in a herd if that was what she wanted…

“Hello Princ—I mean Empress…” Said Fluttershy catching herself, at least that was how it looked to me and I shrugged.

“Hey Fluttershy, I wanted to tell you two something…” I managed to squeeze out as I bit my lip. I knew this was not going to be easy, technically I cheated on Celestia since Fluttershy wasn't part of our herd, but I wasn't going to lose either of them if I could help it.

“Greetings Fluttershy… Twilight told me about what happened at the hospital.” Said Celestia making me flinch slightly…

I stood there watching Luna—who was sitting on her bed and me on a chair on the other side of her room, likely the one Moonlit sat on while watched over her—as Moonlit walked outside to take care of some rounds as per usual for his duty as the head of her guard.

“Rainbow Dash, tell me, what do you think about Moonlit?” Luna spoke up surprising me and at first all I could do is sputter that I thought he was a fine stallion and Luna smiled lightly and moved over beside me bringing the chair from the desk in her room over. “You know, you don’t have to worry about how I will respond if you don’t like him, or even if you do, Rainbow. After all I am the one who was trying to get you two to hit it off.” She said and I blushed remembering that fact.

“I know, Luna, I just am not used to this, I have never been in a relationship before, at least not like this. I am not used to the hype. I mean apparently I am a celebrity and so are you two. I mean have you seen the tabloids? They started talking about you two, calling the two of you an item and started calling me a jealous mare trying to break you apart. It’s so weird…” I rambled and Luna laughed at what I said.

“Do not worry about what these tabloids say, after all I am obviously in the know about your relationship and more than approve. So anything these tabloids say, it obviously is not true. Well the fact Moonlit and I are in a relationship is, but other than that…” Luna trailed off not upset just growing lost in thought.

I looked at Rainbow Dash who sat there watching me and I decided to speak up to see how far hers and Moonlit’s relationship has developed.

“Rainbow Dash, tell me, what do you think about Moonlit?” Rainbow looked at me surprised before she started stuttering and fumbling her words, I just smiled at her and moved over to where she was sitting bringing a chair over from my desk over. “You know, you don’t have to worry about how I will respond if you don’t like him, or even if you do, Rainbow. After all I am the one who was trying to get you two to hit it off.” I said and I saw Rainbow blush and I was about to laugh when she spoke up.

“I know, Luna, I just am not used to this, I have never been in a relationship before, at least not like this. I am not used to the hype. I mean apparently I am a celebrity, and so are you two. I mean have you seen the tabloids? They are starting to talk about you two, calling the two of you an item and calling me a jealous mare trying to break you apart. It’s so weird…” Rainbow rambled and I laughed lightly.

“Do not worry about whatever these ‘tabloids’ say, after all I am obviously in the know about your relationship and more than approve. So anything these tabloids say, it is obviously not true. Well the fact Moonlit and I are in a relationship is, but other than that…” I trailed off as I thought about how quickly these ‘tabloids’ picked up on mine and Moonlit’s relationship, granted we were no longer hiding it, but they seem to have pounced on it faster than a Chimera on its prey…

“I want you both” I spat out suddenly and both Fluttershy and Celestia turned to me with a slightly shocked expression and I blushed heavily at my outburst. Celestia was the first to get over her shock and gave me a small knowing smile, Fluttershy calming down soon after and just gave me a loving smile at my comment.

“I don’t mind sharing you, Twilight” Fluttershy said as she looked all cute and such. Her reply however was a little shocking coming from the shy pegasus.

“I suppose that it would be advantageous for you to have a mare here in Ponyville. After all, my dear Twilight, I can’t be coming here every single time you need to deal with the stress of being a diplomat” Celestia said with a serious voice, but when I looked at her she had a small smile on her face. Oh that troll. I narrowed my eyes at her before pouncing on her knocking her over, ending up straddling her waist, Celestia had a superior smirk on her face but I leaned down and kissed her full on the lips and out of the corner of my eye I saw Fluttershy start to become aroused, if the state of her wings, which were slowly extending, were anything to go by…

“Luna, do I really have your blessing to pursue Moonlit?” I asked and the Consul laughed nodding and pressed her lips to my cheek.

“Rainbow Dash, my dear, dear pony, I would be more than happy if you would pursue him. I want you too, I want you two to hit it off and for you to join our small herd.” Said Luna as she smiled at me and the door to her room opened and Moonlit walked in.

“Sorry if I am interrupting, but Consul, there are some ponies here to see you, the… The family members of the Evening Armada members that died” said the Unicorn and I hung my head as Luna sighed sadly.

“Bring them to the old throne room, Moonlit”

I sat there slowly becoming aroused at the sight of Twilight kissing Celestia watching them as their kiss deepened and their hands roamed each other’s bodies. I couldn’t believe that they were doing this in front of me, knowingly in fact.

“Feel free to jump in Fluttershy” Twilight said pulling away a strand of saliva still connecting her to Celestia as she turned to wink at me. I was bright red and my wings shot out straight as they locked into place, “I think she’s turned on, Tia” she added and I mumbled something about sexy unicorns and promptly passed out…

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Swifthoof…” I managed to choke out, after talking to the previous three families, my façade of calm was slipping, it almost slipped during the entrance of the first family, I had hoped that getting them all done at once would allow me to keep my composure better than I would have taking them separately. However as more and more family members, and the very special someponies, of these fallen soldiers filled the old throne room my composure slipped and by the time the fifth family walked in I had broken down into sobs. How could anyone justify their loss? And yet here I was about to try to do exactly that.

“If you could take your seats Mr. and Mrs. Heartpelt, Ms. Greens…” Moonlit spoke up his ever stoic visage shattered at the sight of me breaking down…

I watched at several more family members and/or very special someponies walked into the room, and as always I kept an eye on Luna, but at that moment I wish I had not as I saw her break down right in front of the families.

“If you could take your seats Mr. and Mrs. Heartpelt, Ms. Greens…” I managed to say with a steady enough voice, but my calm was gone, replaced by an overwhelming sadness as I watched Luna break down, Rainbow not doing much better as she said greeted the family of the fallen Shadowbolt, whom, like all of the Shadowbolts, were hoof picked by her, worse was the family member she had to greet…

“Hey, Squirt…” said Rainbow Dash as she looked at Scootaloo sadness reverberating in every letter.

“Why did he die Rainbow Dash? I thought you said he was one of the best! If he was so good why did he die?” asked Scootaloo and tears ran down both Rainbow’s and her face, I looked at them sadly. Everyone knew how much Scootaloo looked up to Rainbow Dash and now she had lost her one living family member, her older brother.

“Scoots, he died trying to protect the Consul, she did her best to try and keep everypony safe but…” Rainbow collapsed down to Scootaloo’s level and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I’m so, so sorry…”

“I-if I could have all of your attentions, presenting, Consul Luna” said a recent recruit into the Lunar Guard, the timing could not be worse for her, even if she was already a shoe in for the position excelling in every test given to her including the psych evaluations.

“Thank you little one” I said as I took my place on the remaining throne, which remained despite my objections. “I know nothing I can ever say will lessen the pain you are all feeling, and not even the promise of revenge will be enough to-” I stumbled, “To help you heal the hole that is now in all of your hearts. What I can tell you is we were attacked-”

“By who?” said one of the ponies

“Is it the Solar Empire?” said another

“I thought we gave them a thorough trouncing already!” interjected yet another

“All of you be quiet the Consul is trying to speak!” snapped Moonlit and I gave him a grateful glance.

“As I was saying we were attacked by an enemy my sister and I thought we had defeated long ago. Creatures known as the Sarti and Gritu, elementals of shadows and light respectfully. The Solar Empire was also attack by the same enemy, and invoked the Defense Pact we made with them, so unless the senate decides to outright invalidate the claim, the NLR is now at war with an enemy that we have no clue where their base of operations is nor whom they can impersonate., the Sarti are the worst as they can take the shape of any creature, not unlike that of a Changeling. These are the creatures that killed your loved ones. They attacked us with the intent to kill not only me and my sister but also the diplomat from the Solar Empire, Twilight Sparkle…” I stopped to take a breath and realized I was giving a briefing not a eulogy and I sighed, “I am sorry, I was never one to speak to the families of the fallen, no matter how much it hurt me to see their deaths. My sister was always better at this than I was and now I know why, I am the warrior, she was the gentle ruler, but I do know this, they fought our enemy with their last breath, and made the enemy pay for every inch lost, and even more for every inch gained. I am proud to have called them my soldiers, and I hope that the day I one day join them, that I can meet their eyes, having lived up to the reputation they gave me.”

I watched as Luna started strong and then fall before she talked to the families in a way she was more comfortable with.

“I am sorry that they lost their lives, someone is playing with dangerous magicks calling the Gritu and Sarti to our plane once more.” She said and I smiled sadly.

“I worked closely with some of the fallen soldiers, I can say with the utmost confidence that they would not want us to mourn them” I spoke up remembering that, in their off time, the two guards that were flat out killed loved to joke around and I had often been the butt of their jokes. Remembering that brought a small smile to my face…

“Squirt…” I started but Scootaloo just continued to cry into my shoulder and I looked at Luna and Moonlit for some help when one of the parents of a fallen guard walked up, a sympathetic look on their weathered faces.

“Tell me about…”

“Her brother” I said and their looks grew softer and sadder if possible

“Tell us about your brother?” asked the mare and Scootaloo stopped crying out right…

“As much as I am enjoying this, Twilight, I have to go back to Canterlot soon.” Said Celestia and I groaned, I had hoped to have Fluttershy join us but after she passed out we took great care to carry her to her bed and sit with each other and comfort each other. Celestia especially needing comfort, after I heard about how the Sarti attacked her and the people of Canterlot I held her close as she started crying recounting how they had mercilessly killed them…