Figurehead

by CheshireTwilight

Rating: teen
Tags: Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Other, Nightmare Moon, Princess Cadance, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 17158

Following the banishment of her sister, Celestia forms a legislative assembly to placate her citizens’ fears. One thousand years later, she is left as only a figurehead. Now she must gain the resources to defeat Nightmare Moon once more.

For two weeks—following the banishment of her sister—Celestia is inconsolable. When she emerges from her self-imposed isolation, however, she finds that the country is not the same as it once was. In order to placate the nobles—who fear her following her sister’s path—Celestia forms a Legislative Assembly, with herself given sole executive power. Over the next few centuries, she agrees to further concessions, more than willing to give her little ponies the freedom to decide what they want for themselves.

It has been almost one thousand years since then and she has regretted her agreement to self-determination greatly. Her role now purely symbolic—with her power solely over the Sun, Moon and her school—she finds herself on the sidelines of a highly corrupt bicameral parliamentary system. Foreign relations are tense, resources are squandered, military interventionist policies are rampant, wealth disparity is at an all-time high, and her former subjects are miserable.

Now—with Nightmare Moon soon to return—she is running out of time to get her nation in a state able to defeat her once again. Without the resources of the state capable of finding the Bearers of Harmony, and with only a select few even willing to listen to her at all, it might already be too late.

Reminder - This story uses two systems of dating:
A.D. - After Discord - The years of Luna and Celestia’s rule following the petrification of Discord
C.E. - Celestial Era - The years following Celestia’s banishment of Luna

Published 2014-10-24 18:40:07 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-24 18:40:07 UTC

Prologue I - Loss

Fields outside of Trottingham - 1244 years after the defeat of Discord (A.D.)

It was a warm summer morning; perhaps too warm for the soldiers camped perilously close to the walled town of Trottingham. In their gold plated uniforms, the Royal Guard patrolled the interior of the camp while the less armored militia—with simple spears and leather jerkins—patrolled the outer perimeter. All told, there were over ten thousand troops. Not a significant portion of the Equestrian army but significant for what could be considered a domestic issue. Regardless of their uniform however, the blistering heat was bad, and until noon, it would only get worse.

The Equestrian Army Loyalists were planning how to take Trottingham back from the Lunar Rebels. The rebellion had one stated goal: reform of the aristocracy and better conditions for the working tenants. Still, it didn’t take long for the nobles to spin it into a petty revenge scheme of Luna’s to sate her jealousy for her sister. Luna hadn’t told Celestia of her plans before the conflict, and as such, Celestia had no choice but to side against her. Despite her misgivings, Princess Celestia—at the head of this army—was a problem-solver and she was confident that in the next few hours there would be an answer to this sudden change of events … whether she liked the solution or not. Still, she held out hope that her sister had a plan, that this rebellion genuinely wasn’t a petty power-play.

Trottingham wasn’t the only settlement the rebels had taken, but it was the most significant— especially with their leader present—and a victory here would turn the tide of the conflict decisively in their favor. The skirmishes thus far had been small, but there was no way this siege would be following suit. The Loyalists would have wanted to wait out the Rebels with a siege, but with every day the rebellion lasted, more ponies joined their ranks. It was a war of attrition that they were on the wrong side of.

Celestia stood overtop a table at the center of a large pavilion with the ten highest ranking ponies in the attack force. On the table was a simple map of the town and surrounding area with complex markings noting the latest scouting reports of enemy positions and movements.

Top among the military ponies there was General Halberd. He had been a trusted ally to Celestia throughout the several conflicts with their Griffon and Zebra neighbours for the past ten years. In this conflict especially, the army—following the separation—would have been in complete disarray without his steadfast leadership and loyalty to the solar monarch.

“Have you finalized your plan, Halberd?” Princess Celestia asked him.

The General—a dark grey stallion whose black mane and wide moustache had turned white throughout the years of the prolonged conflict—looked away from his Princess. He seemed to be looking at his Cutie Mark, his eponymous poleaxe. He had earned the mark defending his home from the Zebras in the south. He wasn’t a soldier and didn’t have any training, but with brilliant insight he had devised a weapon anypony could use. It struck a perfect balance for the forms of combat he had encountered and the halberd was now widely used by Equestria’s militia forces. His genius was more than enough to elevate him through the ranks of the militia and then the regular forces. Most importantly—to Celestia—Halberd had been a calm presence of common sense and rationality in a field infested with emotional glory-seekers.

“I would like to say that it is without err … the soldiers of my company seem to believe it so.” The other colonels and lieutenants stared at the stallion, angry at the implication of his emphasis. Halberd then focused his gaze back to the white alicorn. “Nonetheless, it is a daring plan; I have no doubt it will succeed.”

“Still,” Celestia said. As she looking down at the stallion, his gaze once again looked away. She looked at the others in the room. “Leave us,” she said calmly, but in the Royal Voice. The other other high ranking soldiers quickly vacated the tent, leaving only Celestia and Halberd remaining. “We cannot rest while you clearly taint your mind with darkened thoughts. While Honesty be not an Element of Ours, it is still a virtue We value highly in Ourselves and in others. Do you have misgivings of the plan … or mayhap the setting itself?”

Halberd sighed, looking towards the tent door. “Neigh, I have none. The plan does stand upon solid foundation and with the forethought and tactical adjustment of your forces during battle, it will be only a matter of time for it to succeed. Your Highness’ personal magister, Aelia Lulamoon, had relieved me of any anxiety. Her use of the Anima Sanctum to lay waste to the city’s walls, while dangerous, will save the lives of hundreds during the assault. I had found such magic—which tears into one’s very being for the use in fortifying the arcane elements of spellcraft—to be a feat of wicked intent … at first. Indeed, it does take a noble mind to risk what is most important in the preservation of one’s fellow pony.”

“If that be true, then it is not misgivings of the plan, but Our position itself that troubles you. Speak; have We ever punished you for speaking your mind? Oft this Princess is tired of your narrow pity; if that be what hold your tongue.” Celestia’s voice was as serene as always, but her slip into the Royal Voice betrayed her frustration. She had not slept since she had risen the Sun the previous day and her drowsiness was now apparent.

“Neigh … well, I suppose this feeling I have might be pity, for I fear the poison of my mind will turn like venom on my tongue should I move it.”

Celestia grinned. “It would take more than your meager venom, methinks, to taint my immortality.”

He shook his head. “Then I suppose the compendium of my thoughts can be best distilled to a single phrase, although it would not do adequate justice to what plagues me.” He stood upright and focused intently on his Princess, preparing himself for his fate. “Wherefore do we square our brothers and sisters in battle?”

Celestia giggled, but her face betrayed a sense of grief. “Wherefore indeed.” She looked out the small flap in the tent’s side towards the Sun. “It is not a simple answer, as these things oft are not. Our sister’s jealousy, as you surely know from your visits to Our castle, is not the reason, methinks, for this enterprise … this rebellion; whatever the nobles might have Us believe.” She turned back, betraying a slight sadness in her eyes. “She would not risk the lives of her fellow country-ponies in battle to punish Our transgressions, which is but a personal concern. Neigh, Our sister be not that petty. Rather, she had noticed, truthfully, that ponies under Our rule have not been satisfied with its hierarchal nature.

“Our little ponies are fine with Our position at zenith of Equestrian politics, but the Barons, Earls and others—which hold privileged positions—do little to satisfy the wants and needs of the ponies which those foals find ‘beneath’ themselves. Of this We are all in agreement. However, Our sister—as always—is want of immediate action. We, on the other hoof, are willed towards the longer path; that of less risk to the ponies which would benefit from such action. In circumstances such as these, We would traditionally speak Our thoughts like fire; hot, but quick to extinguish with compromise. However, with Our relationship as it is currently, We have spoken less and less. Verily, the anger Our sister expressed as of late has been like an inferno that consumes her. Our wat’ry words had done little to starve her rage. It was too late that We realized: it was not Our noble intentions, but Our narrow concessions which was inadequate.”

The general stroked his moustache and raised an eyebrow. “Then wherefore such brazen acts of treachery? To force such action leaves us with no choice but to defend those very nobles of which she has such scorn?! I am of common birth myself and it is because of the inept nature of their authority that I had to defend my kin against the Zebra aggression at my own doorstep! I have no love for a war in which I slay my fellow pony for values I myself hold dear-”

Celestia held up a hoof and Halberd immediately took to the command of silence. “It would appear that Our words reveal not Our intentions. This war, We suspect, is but a ploy to force Our settlement. Is it not true that the casualties of this war are far lower than expected?”

Halberd nodded his head slowly in agreement. They had only fought three minor skirmishes until now with only four fatalities. Incredibly low considering the massive size of their armies. Still, Halberd looked quizzical. ‘Where is My Princess going with this?’ he thought.

Celestia turned and paced about the tent. “That is because neither of Us wish Our ponies perish. Suppose, then, that their army is thwarted hither, but with minimal casualty. What do you think will befall should such an impasse be reached? We imagine that once Our sister flees Trottingham to her other occupied territories—as she ought—she will make an ultimatum for the nobility, one which We will concur. This conflict has, afterall, embedded in the minds of the commoner the idea of ‘just revolt’. The nobles—with threat of civil war and peasant rebellion over their heads—will be compelled to concede for terms. It is crude, but oft Our sister does take such … effective measures if the ‘ends justify the means’. The reason We are playing Our part—despite Our want of communication with Our sister on this matter—is because it will strengthen her role with the common pony; an issue she hath long resented of Us. We, on the other hoof, will gain rapport with the nobles because of Our defence and quick resolution; which should make such future transactions lead to less … unpleasant action.”

The general paused in thought but nodded. “Then through these subtle maneuvers, this conflict will mend the beaten friendship of Our two Princesses?”

“That be not the only reason!” Celestia admonished, although not in her full Canterlot voice. “Have you not paid Our words heed?! Mistake not Our actions! Our relations with Our sister is but secondary to the troubles of Equestria! It is true, the actors We play have been carefully considered, but this theater We perform is no less vital to the preservation of the state!”

Halberd blanched but stood his ground. He had made a mistake in his wording, but begging forgiveness or hiding away in fear would not change that. Celestia was a mare that wanted intelligent and independent ponies which could challenge her. In the ten years he had known her, Celestia had never punished a pony for speaking their mind, even when she thought they were wrong. At most, she would simply dismiss or ignore them. So despite his fear, he had the courage to continue. “B-be that as it may, would it not be easier to simply remove the nobles from their posts if it be true these aristocrats wrought such unrest?”

Celestia smiled but shook her head. “As entertaining a conceit that may be, their positions are not without meaning. Neigh, it is not that simple matter to fix or We would have done so already. Our sister and We need capable ponies to organize the lands that are not in Our direct control. Aye, We might appear large, but Our attention is naught but of one pony. Without the hierarchy, this nation would be impossible for Our Diarchy alone to manage. We—that is: Our sister, We, and several of Our deepest of mind—had pondered alternatives, but neither Tyranny nor Democracy would improve the common coil but rather increase the common toil. There are not enough moments in the common pony day, nor in Ours, to shift the burden of responsibility further up or down. Mayhap a development in agriculture, in education, or contraption might give Our subjects and Us more time for such civil concerns? For now, though, We can only guide while the nobles act.”

Halberd was more than satisfied now. ‘These political and philosophical concerns are far too lofty and noble a venture for a General of such poor faculties as myself.’

He turned to leave but had a sudden change of heart. He had one last question, one which he was hesitant to even consider. “Then what of your concern? Is Our Night Princess not going too far in her act? Indeed … it is convincing; but I fear without proper communication posthaste, it may well end in tragedy.”

Celestia did not answer and so he left her to her thoughts. The Princess sat in the cold for a few minutes before she collected herself from her melancholy and thought. ‘What is my sister doing? I can rationalize her actions as I much as I deem it warrants, but she should have made her intentions candid when she set off on this rebellion of hers. Leaving on her own is not unusual, but to inform me not at all … it is such gross neglect of her duty-’

Her thoughts were interrupted by one of the Royal Guards entering through the tent entrance. “Your Majesty!” she exclaimed with bated breath before bowing.

“For what cause is this interruption?” she asked politely.

She stood back up. “Your Highness, forgive my intrusion! I have just received word; one of the sentinels of Our Night Princess’ guard has entered the camp. She will speak not her intent save that it is of vital import.”

Her eyes went wide. ‘The Night Guard? For her to send her own personal guard to me ...’

“Take Us to this Night Guard immediately!”

“As you will!” she exclaimed with a salute.

Four Royal Guards were standing around the Night Guard when Celestia entered the tent. All five of them seemed worried Celestia suspected that it wasn’t for the battle—with which they were accustomed—but for their otherwise reserved Princesses making such grandiose gestures like this conflict. They worried for the safety of their nation. Celestia wished she could say their concerns were not valid, but she was believing herself less and less by the hour.

“Is this the messenger then?” Celestia asked the guards.

“Aye,” one of the stallions guards said. “Your Highness, she says that she has a message for your ears only. The guard would say not a word about her Princess’-”

“She is your Princess too, you lumpish half-wit,” the Night Guard spat.

Before he could respond, Celestia glared at them angrily. “Leave at once! This news is of no doubt great import and We wilt not delay its transmission any further!”

The guards turned even whiter than their uniforms made their coats and they all rushed out of the pavilion, wondering what they had said wrong.

Celestia sat down with a stern look. “Now, can you tell Us what message Your Lady deemed warrant such secrecy?”

The Night Guard gulped and looked away. “T-this news is not something that Our Lady told me to give … in fact, I would say that I am betraying the trust Our Lady gives to us by divulging it to you … but it would not be in the best interest of Equestria, nor for her if I keep silent ...”

Celestia’s stern look turned to concern. “You are very brave, then, in doing so. If it would be only true of Our own subjects—to speak against Us for the good of the nation—this conflict might not have been thrust upon Us from the onset.” The bat-pony smiled at this, her fangs slightly exposed. Celestia gave a warm grin herself. “Now relax. Tell Us, what is your name and your message.”

“It is Moonglow, Your Majesty.” Her smile faded. “Princess Luna has secreted herself from town, heading towards the Capital.”

Celestia was mildly concerned, but this was important news. ‘Has the mind of my sister lightened with the rising Sun? Leaving the field of battle; to the capital no less.’ “Did she bring not any guards with her? ”

“Neigh, she brought none! I would not be hither if it were true! We- I just want to protect Our Lady … we are sworn! That being the case ... my orders are in conflict; she had told us to tell no one of this deception. I compose, however, I must tell you. Our Lady will understand, will she not? It is for her safety!”

“We are still confused. What is your reason to tell us? Wherefore is Our sister in danger?”

“She- Our Princess is not well! She has been muttering to herself and is angry all the time. This war … it is not even about her ponies anymore! Our Lady just … she wants to kill! Her Moon … I had heard Our Lady mutter that she desires it eternally in the sky, that all her ponies suffer, so that ‘those foals might better appreciate Us’! She is not sound of mind, she knows not what she says! Prithee, you are Our Lady’s sister. I implore you, seek her out and cure her of her mania! There is no telling what she might do!”

Moonglow burst into tears. “I- I could not! She had magicked herself hence! Even if I had magic I could never hope to catch Our Lady ... but you can! By your leave, I beg of you! I know not what I would do without her!”

Celestia was stunned at the honest devotion. ‘My sister could always bring forth the best in her ponies.’ “Your tears have stifled my vengeful fire. We will leave hence!” She left the tent and brought the guards at the entrance flap to attention. “Guards! Tell the General and his entourage that We will be away. Our sister has fled the field and We must ascertain her plan. Tell them they are to hold position. Have somepony lead this guard back to the city.”

“As you will!” the guards exclaimed, snapping to attention.

Celestia tore through the fabric of the Aether, teleporting in quick succession in chase of her sister. Even for alicorns, they needed several teleports if they hoped to traverse such great distances without draining too much of their power. While it might take two weeks to reach Everfree City from Trottingham by road, it only took mere minutes for Celestia. Still, to Celestia, it was painfully slow given the circumstances. She could sense the disturbance in the Aether caused by her sister’s own multi-teleport spell and Luna had at least an hour lead on her.

‘Please sister! Do not be foalish as has been implied, say it is but a lie! You do not gravely mean to enjoy this war?! Surely it is but a ploy to convince-’ She shook her head. Celestia could lie to others but she couldn’t lie to herself. Luna held the Element of Honesty for a reason, she was a terrible liar; her guard would have caught onto that in an instant. This new information about her mental health—combined with what she already knew about her sudden rebellion—meant that Celestia not only had serious concerns for her sister, but the survival of Equestria itself.

She finally arrived at the edge of the city, only to see the citizens fleeing for their lives. The forest seemed to have a mind of its own, and was overgrowing the walls of the city itself. ‘What is this hysteria I see?! The Everfree is a halcyon lodging! What hath occurred to disturb the balance-’

She already knew the answer. ‘Luna! For even Harmony to reject thee...’ Without continuing her thought, she teleported to the castle gates fearing the worst.

It was far worse than even that.

The two guards which guarded the entrance during her day court, Radiant Armor and Glimmering Shield, lay dead at their posts, a magic blast crushing them against the castle walls. With their armor so heavily compromised, the spell hiding their colors—white coat and blue mane on the former and orange coat and yellow mane on the latter—had failed. To a pony who didn’t know them, however, it would have been almost indistinguishable under the bruising, blood and torn skin.

Celestia collapsed, grasping hold of them, trying to revive them with her magic. “N-no nononono, you cannot do this Radient! I forfend! I-I need you right now! Please, Glimmer, my sister she …” Celestia stopped suddenly. “She did this?”

The idea, the very thought, was so foreign to her that it made her sick. ‘That my sister could wantonly kill and endanger the lives of our subjects ...’ she thought as she stumbled away from the two deceased ponies in disgust, not at their shape, but at her own naivete. ‘I must put an end to this!’

She raced inside and down the halls of the castle, but she didn’t get very far. All around her, the noble-ponies of Equestria lay dead. Their corpses smashed against the walls or in some cases dismembered. Celestia had seen such sights before, she had toured the battlefields against the Griffons or the Zebras and had seen the horrors of war first-hoof, but never had it been so personal.

“Duke Copper … Earl Wheat … Duchess Silver Mane … Missus Honeypot ...”

She named them one-by-one as she stumbled through the castle in an almost trance-like stupor, her mind unable to process the atrocities. She would occasionally stumble and weep, only to get up and move on; somewhere in the back of her mind, determined to find who did this. She barely noticed when she found herself in the throne room and finally away from the carnage.

The throne room was a simple affair, but impressive. A long rectangular room, stone pillars with large horse statues at their peak lined the walls. At the far end, two thrones—one adorned with the Moon, the other the Sun—sat to the left and right of a pulpit in the center. A large stain-glass window was imbedded several meters above the pulpit. Finally, the ceiling was a marvel of engineering, it had been the first ever vaulted ceiling construction in the world.

When she snapped out of her melancholy, she discovered that she was not alone. Sitting calmly on her throne was Princess Luna. She was not wearing her regalia which was surprising since she would never take it off, especially with the protection it gave in such a war-like scenario.

“Good morrow to you, sister!” Princess Luna said cheerily. “It brings Us such gladness that you could be hither! We had told Our thestral guards not to tell you of Our sudden and secret departure, but in hindsight, We know not wherefore the reason!” She stood up from the throne. “You need not worry about their punishment; whoever the guard may be,” she giggled.

Celestia was stunned by her sister’s positive demeanor and all but forgot about the horrors she had just witnessed. Her shock turned to relief in an instant. ‘Mayhap this is all a horrible misunderstanding! Of course! It was foalish to even contemplate the connection my sister could have in this sordid affair! I would not be surprised if she came hither to defeat whatever evil has caused this! She is impulsive after all.’ Celestia giggled, only to further gag in shock at what she was laughing about. She shook herself. ‘Nevertheless, my sister be perfectly fine, in fact, her demeanor has even exceeded my expectations!’

“Oh sister, you had Us worried so! We feared that you had been stricken ill or that you had killed all the assembled nobles here; but forget that, we must hurry! There is something here that has killed all of Our friends and is affecting the balance of-”

Luna’s demeanor changed in an instant. Her face contorted into a thing which could only be described as pure hate. “Friends, friends! Those vermin art no friends of mine! That self-serving, parasitic, abscess of Our nation serves a more practical purpose as they art; crimson adornments for our castle!” She smiled darkly.

Tears fell from Celestia’s wide eyes. “W-wha- w-why Luna?! Not just the nobles, but the guards too! I even saw a maid or … or two. Oh by Harmony no …” She staggered, a hoof to her forehead in an attempt to recover. She sputtered and gagged, unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Why thou ask?” Her face glaring at her sister with unbridled rage. “They humiliated me! Every night, the same insults, the same accusations. ‘Wherefore does an emotional incompetent like Our Night Princess even rule?’ ‘Wherefore do we even have a Diarchy if it be that only one of the sisters actually makes the decisions?’ !“ Luna spat the quotes in a demeaning a tone as possible. “They were the incompetent ones! Those tapeworms deserved their slaughter! And if others got in the way ... those foals deserveth their death as well!”

Luna’s anger once again subsided into a warm smile. “Now our subjects can live with the freedom they deserve!” she stated serenely. “We know you agree. We have had our differences in the past, but it is clear that killing all the nobles is the only way we can set this country on its righteous path! Then everypony wilt love Us and Our Moon; the signs of their salvation!”

“No.” Celestia admonished coldly. Her face was now like stone, but behind her mask were so many blinding emotions that her brain could not comprehend them. Instead, cold fury won out. “Thou wilt seek the forgiveness of the families thou hast slain from, thou wilt leave this nation and thou wilt return not ... until I can even ponder forgiving thee for thy insanity! Thou threatened the intellectual and cultural heritage of Equestria ... for … for petty personal gain! Thou hast killed my friends; indeed, my family!”

Luna did not seem to be paying the words much attention. She turned away and mumbled something to herself. Then she grinned and nodded her head. “That is right! It was not they who hated me, but it was thou who turnest the weak gutless nobility against me!” She pointed an accusatory hoof at her sister. “Thou! With thy scheming … it hath always been thee! Our nation doesn’t desire a Princess like thee!”

Celestia stepped towards her sister and glared with a mixture of sadness and rage. Luna flew back behind her throne, when she came out wearing her regalia.Turning back to Celestia, Luna stared back in equal fury. “Not. Another. Step.”

Celestia was about to retort, but she stopped when she noticed something different about the regalia. Unlike the usual silver chest-piece and crown—which complemented the gold of her own—this set was black; darker, yet shinier than any metal she had seen produced. This delay gave her sister time to move to the pulpit between the two thrones. She continued, “Did thou really expect me to sit idly by whilst they all basked in thy precious light?! In Equestria, thither can be only one princess! And that princess … wilt be me!” Luna smashed the pulpit in front of her with her forehooves, sending cracks up along the wall behind her, breaking the central window above it and showing the mid-morning Sun still high in the sky.

However, it wouldn’t be for long.

Luna raised her forehooves; slowly bringing herself to a hover above the ground. As she did so, the Moon, which had been on the other side of the planet, quickly found its resting place in front of the Sun. The eclipse shone with a burst of light, then crippling darkness, before finally bringing on the night; but this wasn’t the worst of it.

Celestia watched on in horror as the sister she had know for over one thousand years transformed before her eyes. She was enveloped in a fiery, yet blackened glow; like she was being consumed by the fires of Tartarus itself. When she emerged, her mane became more translucent, her coat turned pitch-black, her regalia turned closer to a lighter—almost translucent—blue, and her teeth elongated into sharpened fangs. What shocked Celestia the most, however, was her eyes. Luna’s turquoise irises still glared angrily at her, but they now consumed her pupil, creating a thin black slit which bisected them. She now looked at her like a wild cat, which had found its prey.

She cackled menacingly before threatening her sister with a burst of magic, littering some debris before her. This snapped Celestia out of her consternation and she flew into the air, only to be attacked again by this her ‘sister’s’ magic. She deftly dodged, resulting in another hole in the ceiling.

“Luna,” Celestia cried, “I will not fight you! You must lower the Moon! It is your duty!” She said the words, but she couldn’t believe them; deep down, she knew this had gone too far.

“Luna? I am …” She thought for a moment before leveling her glare once more. “... Nightmare Moon! I have but one royal duty now: to destroy thee!” She finished off the sentence with another attack.

Again Celestia dodged, this time escaping the throne room through the new hole in the ceiling.

“And where doth thou think thee art going?” Nightmare Moon demanded with a grin before taking off herself.

As she followed her sister, she fired several attacks, all dodged closely by Celestia. To the white alicorn’s dismay, however, each dodge only resulted a a piece of Everfree City being struck in her stead. Seeing the futility of flight, she tried to flee back into the chamber; there was still a secret weapon she could try to fix everything. ‘I know not if you still subsist thither Luna, but prithee, be alright. If there is any way to cure you of this evil, it is with the Elements of Harmony!’

Her moment’s hesitation, however, was too long and she was struck by one of Nightmare Moon’s blue magic bolts. Luckily it mostly connected with the regalia’s natural warding charm and she was left relatively unaffected. It was still powerful enough, however, to cause her to fall roughly on the throne room floor, the magic backlash temporarily paralysing her wings. She hadn’t realized it until now, but the constant use of magic in teleporting back to the Castle had left her substantially drained.

It took her a few moments to get up, but luckily her sister had only used this opportunity to laugh maniacally.

“Oh, dear sister,” Celestia said to herself. “I am sorry, but you have given me no other choice but to use these!”

With the last word, she summoned her magic on a seamless panel on the floor. Suddenly, the ground opened as a complex rotating mechanism—which acted as the thaumaturgic shield, protecting the Elements from discovery—rose out from the hole. With its spinning arms finally resting, Celestia grabbed—in her magic—the crystals levitating on each of the mechanism’s five pedestals. She took careful care to also phase a star-shaped crystal from within a stone sphere at the mechanism’s peak. The Elements now surrounding her, she spun them in a vortex around herself. ‘I have no idea if this will work,’ Celestia thought. The conflicted feelings in her spilling out into tears. ‘I may die, or my sister … but I have little choice! If I am to have any chance to save her—and more importantly, to save Equestria—I will have to do it alone!’

She rose to the sky and faced down her ‘sister’ once more. Nightmare Moon was no longer laughing. Seeing her glowing from the magic of the Elements, the night mare’s eyes glowed white and both alicorns horns lit in preparation. ‘I love you Luna,’ was all Celestia thought before she lined up the Elements and fired.

They both released their magic simultaneously, the blue magic from Nightmare Moon, the Rainbow magic from the Elements—now arrayed in front of Celestia—glowing gold as it mixed with the Solar energy from her own magic. The energies collided, but it wasn’t long before the gold overpowered the blue.

“Nooooooo!” Nightmare Moon cried as she was completely enveloped.

Pushed along by the magic, she flew into the sky, the beam slowly fading as it went further and further away. It eventually found its way to the Moon where a new crater pattern formed on the surface: large, black craters forming the visage of a black mare.

Prologue II - Prophecy

“Nooooooo!” Celestia cried, sitting up on her bed in a cold sweat. She looked at the calendar, fearing illogically that she was still in the past. It read simply: August 14th, 981 years after Luna’s Banishment (Celestial Era, C.E.).

She was back in her bedroom in Canterlot.

These royal chambers were a cozy affair. A hearth and roaring fire kept the room warm year-round while the various tapestries and textiles kept the heat in. At one end, were the bed, a simple armoire and a walk-in closet filled with various formal and informal wear, at the other end, a simple pillow (one large enough to for the seven foot princess) lay in front of the fireplace.

“Princess Celestia!” a beige earth pony mare gasped as she ran to her from just outside the door. The mare had an orange mane and a teapot cutie mark and wore the frilled gown of the castle maids. “Are you alright! I-I heard screaming and-”

Celestia raised a hoof to the maid. “Yes, Orange Pekoe, I am alright; it was just a bad dream.”

“Dream, dream?! That sounded like a most horrific nightmare!” she cried.

Celestia put a hoof on Orange’s withers and smiled. “I am fine, forsooth- I mean, it is true. I am sure I will be all better after a nice cup of tea.”

Pekoe’s look of concern immediately vanished into one of determination. “Of course, I have this crisp, floral darjeeling that I know will calm you right down!” With that, she left the room in a hurry.

Celestia tried to get her attention again, but the mare left too quickly. She groaned, ‘I actually could really use some strong ‘pick-me-up tea’, rather than ‘calming’ one at the moment ...’

As she got out of bed, a bell was silently triggered several rooms down by the shift in weight. Immediately, her secretary, a white unicorn mare with a grey and black swirling mane, an ink pot mark, and a black-and-white business suit rushed down the hall and entered the room. “Your Highness, would you like me to go over the plans for today?” she asked, heading into the bedroom’s walk-in closet.

“Yes, Fine Quill, that would be fine,” Celestia replied before entering the shower in the bathroom on the other opposite side of the closet.

“Of course,” Quill replied, pulling out Celestia’s gold chest-piece, boots and crown as well as a white and gold dress with a flowing train. She made the bed and then placed the clothes carefully on it while she waited for the Princess to finish her grooming. When Celestia exited the washroom, Quill fitted the clothes onto the tall alicorn, using a small step ladder for the crown. Quill talked as she did so, “After breakfast with the staff, there will be meeting with the Trottingham Elementary Student Choir which will be singing at this year’s Grand Galloping Gala. Following that is your monthly meeting with the Equestrian Cultural Society, lunch, and finally a private meeting with sponsors of the Manehattan Recreational Development Project ending in dinner.”

“Nothing after dinner?”

“Not today, Your Highness,” she confirmed. That wasn’t surprising since it was a weekend and so government functions were closed. Quill tightening the clipping the final clasp on the dress. “All set! Are you ready to go?”

Celestia simply nodded her head, wanting to move on with the day as quickly as possible to get her mind of the nightmare. Following Fine Measure out into the hall and down a flight of stairs, they entered the dining room where Orange Pekoe had just finished setting the her tea down for breakfast.

The long dining room was flanked on one side by large floor-to-ceiling windows which opened to a stone balcony and the other by the doors leading to the kitchen. At the far end was the door leading to the hall and the rest of the castle while the exit the Princess came from at the bottom of the stairs sat her larger chair and some assorted drapery and a tapestry signifying its station as the “royal seat”.

The other members of the staff were also present: butlers, maids, plumbers, carpenters, tour guides, anypony who was working at the Castle was always invited to complimentary meals in this dining room. Another dining hall was used for more formal functions, but Celestia rarely found use for it except in treating foreign dignitaries. For some of the ponies seated, this would be their first time seeing the Princess and sat in awe as she made her way to the end of the long table. After several hundred years of similar looks, however, Celestia was not phased at all by the stares.

Before she sat down, Celestia looked out at the night sky still outside and—with a quick twist of her head—started the Celestial process to lower the Moon and raise the Sun. As she did so, she looked down at the city.

Canterlot was a beautiful city, for a certain definition of beauty. The upper-city on the mountain was exactly as it always had been since it was first completed, a place where the rich met and high society held their functions. Gardens, white marble, and gold dominated the streets. A fresh-water river coming from higher up the mountain cut the city in two and provided a stunning waterfall. It was a rich city for the rich government officials and the new money made by Equestria’s capitalistic society.

The lower city, safely tucked away from view at the foot of the mountain, however, truly showed the wealth divide. Large industrial manufacturing facilities and coal-fed smoke stacks dominated the skyline. In between, houses were crammed together as tight as possible. The beautiful waterfall, coincidentally, made living conditions worse. The water dissipated over the city, mixing with the heat from the smoke and greatly increased the humidity. Luckily, thanks to Equestrian weather services, the air was mostly clean and the humidity didn’t build-up from day to day. Still, when it rained, the water was toxic with soot.

Celestia hated what the city had become. The lower valley used to be a simple stopping point, a place for the farmers to sell their produce. After the democracy took over where the Celestia’s old advisory council left off, great “progress” had been made in energy production, textiles and agriculture which saw an explosion in population. Celestia at the time was blinded by the improvement in the quality of life of the average pony and gave more and more power to industry and government. She had hoped that her little ponies would bring about levels of prosperity that she couldn’t imagine, but it seemed that prosperity came at a price.

The look of anger showing on Celestia’s face was more than enough to tell Pekoe and Quill to leave her alone to her thoughts. Celestia eventually sat at the head of the table and ate quietly. Nopony made an effort to talk to her and—while she would normally relish the opportunity to chat with the staff—preferred that this time; she had a lot on her mind.

‘It has been almost one hundred years since I last had that dream,’ Celestia thought. ‘To think that after all this time, it would come back … and so emotionally.’ Celestia had had that dream many times before, but never since she that first night had it been so strong. After the meal, she got up to leave when she was confronted by the Royal Guard Captain. The castle guard still wore the traditional golden suits of armor, however the captain never walked around armed like the others.

Celetia rose an eyebrow in concern. “Captain Rough Cut, what do I owe the pleasure?”

His natural colors were obscured behind the white coat all pegasi Royal Guards had in disguise, but the spell didn’t hide the scars his face received in the repeat combat throughout his long career as a soldier. Despite its deceptive rank, the Captain of the Royal Guard was almost exclusively held by Brigadier Generals, and was typically used as a way of informally retiring older career soldiers. They were given a better pension and reduced pay, but were still kept in the chain of command to chair military meetings, gave their opinions on strategic decisions, and acted as liaison between the government and military for ceremonial events. Since they only commanded the 186 Royal Guards of the Canterlot Castle Grounds, however, the position was still only officially in charge of a company-sized outfit expected of a captain.

The Captain gave her a quick salute before producing a small envelope from his uniform. “I was given this by the castle postmaster. I know that you normally receive your letters in the evening, but this had your seal and was marked ‘URGENT’.”

Celestia’s eyes went wide and she thought, ‘That is what the dream was about?!’ She immediately knew exactly what the message would contain and her suspicions were confirmed once she finished reading it:

The sixth star is in the sky, please confirm the ‘prophecy’ at your earliest convenience,

Stellar Gaze Ph.D, Professor of Astronomy, Canterlot University

“I appreciate this Captain,” Celestia replied. He saluted and marched away. She turned to her secretary, Fine Measure who had just come out from down the hall and shook her head. “I am so sorry, Ms. Quill, but I will have to cancel all further activities for the day. Something urgent has come up.”

The poor mare look stunned, she looked down remorsefully at her list. “Even the elementary school choir, Your Highness.”

Celestia thought hard and eventually sighed. ‘Not even the fate of the world could reconcile the guilt of disappointing a class of innocent foals,’ she thought. “Alright … I guess the stars can wait an hour or so …”

She made it to the Canterlot University Observatory—just outside the city limits—around noon. It seemed whether she liked it or not, she could not tear herself away from the endless: questions, stories and piggyback rides the foals demanded. ‘Honestly, they are almost worse than the politicians,’ she mused.

“Princess! It is so good to see you again!” Stellar Gaze exclaimed, meeting Celestia in the lobby of the Observatory.

“I apologize for the delay, I was … otherwise engaged,” Celestia replied. It wasn’t a lie.

“Oh, no problem at all! I’m sure whatever it was was important. This is only as urgent as you want it to be.”

Stellar Gaze was a blue unicorn mare with a teal mane and in a simple lab coat with a shooting star cutie mark embroidered on the flank, hiding the genuine article. She led Celestia up a flight of stairs, past the enormous telescope and into a small dark room off to the side. The red glow obscured the many photographs hung to dry on various strings.

“Now obviously we can’t actually see the stars at the moment since it’s day now … unless you want to fix that,” she winked. Not getting a response, she coughed and continued, “Anyway … I took a few photographs of the phenomenon.” She took several of the large film sheets from the string and brought them over to Celestia in her magic. She pointed her hoof to two in particular. “As you can see, the night before there was five stars around the Moon here, but now there are six. This is completely independent of what I would expect.” The film was a little grainy, but the stark black-and-white contrast made it clear that there were indeed six small dots surrounding the Moon.

Celestia studied the pictures carefully. “Yes, that does appear to be correct. I thank you for your time, Stellar Gaze, and as always, keep the news of my interest in this a secret, if you will.”

Stellar Gaze nodded, although with a slightly confused expression. “Oh course, your highness. After all, it was thanks to you that we even have a night sky after all!” That statement brought a slight frown to the alicorns lips. “Still, with you controlling the sky, should this even be possible … or is this some sort of test? Not that I-”

Celestia patted her on the withers. “Your part to play in this is over, I am afraid. It is not something I could—in good conscience—get you involved with. I am sorry.”

Gaze only nodded her head in acceptance. “It’s alright, I understand. I’m just glad I could help out with whatever it is.”

Celestia smiled. “Your career is only beginning, knowing about what I am doing would only needlessly put that at risk ... for something you cannot do much more to help. You will do big things, I know it, but it need not be this.” Without saying another word she turned and left. After all, Gaze would soon be getting a letter of recommendation from the Equestrian Cosmological Society in the coming weeks; but that would have to wait until Celestia had tea with the Chief of Research first, of course.

Celestia walked into the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters, deep in the Everfree Forest.

She was reminded, once again, of the battle she fought. This time, however, she was more pressed to remember the moments afterwards. She passed through the front entrance and through the ruined courtyard; the small gravestones she had made for the ponies lost in Nightmare Moon’s massacre were completely faded away now. One thousand years was a long time. She walked towards the throne room; much of the hallways now crumbled in disrepair. Further away, she could still feel the protective wards she had placed on the library and on a few of the traps to keep thieves away. There had been a surprising lack of need for the old knowledge and she had felt that it was likely safer in an abandoned castle in the middle of a dangerous forest surrounded by traps than an archive at the castle in Canterlot. She made her way through the throne room and up a flight of stairs to her old bedroom. Like everything else in the castle, it was ruined, save for one small picture sitting on the bedside table. She lifted it up feeling the old tingle of the protective ward she had placed on it. It was the only one like it now to exist.

A picture of Luna.

Everfree Castle, Solar Bedchamber, 0 C.E.

Celestia had never left her room once since she had banished her sister.

The only sight before her in the moonlit night was the small painting of her sister that had sat on her bedside table, now clutched in her forehooves as she lay, rocking steadily on the bedsheets. Her tears were all dried up now, but she still wallowed in self-pity and shame.

“... I am so sorry, dear sister … I never loved you enough … I should have listened … I should have been there for you … I could not protect you … I love you … I wish I could take it all back ... I miss you ... ”

Again and again she muttered similar phrases. Occasionally she would walk around the room, and pound her forehooves on the floor in frustration before settling back into bed to grieve once more. At other times, she would gallop throughout the castle, attacking the vines and plants that tried to invade the grounds. She told herself at the time that she did it to protect the graves that she had freshly made for the staff and friends who had lost their lives to the Nightmare, but it was really just a petty excuse to vent her frustrations. Eventually, the corruption of the forest slowed and the vegetation ceased its encroachment. She would go through these phases over and over: anger, disappointment, relief, frustration, sadness, self-pity and then anger again.

Every morning and night, however, she raised and lowered both the Sun and the Moon.

Despite her emotional state and the sudden trauma she had witnessed, she vowed she would do it every day, in spite of the incredible toll it placed on her. She rationalized it first as her duty, then as penance, before finally as remembrance for the sister she involuntarily missed less and less as the days went on. Now, a fortnight later, she had already forgotten her voice; the picture in her hooves being the only thing keeping her from forgetting her face.

Suddenly, a loud crack could be heard from the distant forest. Celestia could hear the sound of howling animals and then the sound of ponies in conflict.

‘Ponies are in danger!’ she thought.

Celestia jumped up, placing the picture back beside her bed, before racing through the air towards the sounds. However, the battle was over before she arrived. Over four hundred soldiers had fought their way through the now chaotic forest towards the capital. Their golden armor glistened in the sunlight, easily allowing Celestia to differentiate the soldiers from the rest of the thick foliage. She then noticed the red-plumed helmet of a General in the crowd and landed beside the soldier.

As she landed, she immediately recognized him as General Halberd. “Our Princess!” he gasped, immediately going into a deep bow. “You are alive! We dared to hope that it might be true; the Sun and Moon had continued their celestial motions after all. Still, we were anxious that you might have somehow succumbed to the madness that infected this forest. We had not heard of any news … we suspected the worst!” He looked up in glee, but immediately frowned at the clear face of tired indifference on his Princess’ face.

“T-The fates may not have felt fit to doom Equestria completely,” Celestia responded, her gaze to the Moon in the sky, “but for Us … Tartarus itself would be welcome distraction.”

“What happened, Your Highness?”

“Of this ... We must speak, without fear of inquiring ears,” Celestia stated, motioning the other soldiers which had gathered around away. She found an isolated spot away from the rest of the army before she explained everything to him. Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, killed the nobles and staff at the castle, and the resulting disharmony has caused chaos in the Everfree. Celestia skimmed over most of the details—she still couldn’t stomach discussing the corpses or the level of damage done—but emphasising that Luna was corrupted by some curse or external force, that she wasn’t sound of mind.

After hearing all this Halberd—perhaps for the first time in his life—was stunned in silence. For a few moments he stroked his beard contemplatively, collecting his thoughts. “Then is the Everfree lost? I had hoped that the forest creatures gone wild were maddened by a temporary illness, but if it be true that the reestablishment of order has not occurred, even two weeks hence … a city cannot survive surrounded by these ravenous beasts; agriculture—yet alone trade—would be impossible!”

Celestia’s face showed clearly her distress. “I know … How are the affairs of state? Where are the Everfree citizens now, and what of the other nobles? We have been neglectful in Our duty-”

“Speak nothing of it Your Highness!” he replied in shock. “A week or two to recover from such ordeals is only to be expected! Not only that, but you have defended the castle while everypony else had fled! If what you say be true—and, of course, you have no reason to lie about such solemn affairs as these—then you have done this nation the greatest service it could ask! To trade your sister for us?” He took off his helmet and bowed, “If nopony else says it, I will always be forever grateful. Forsooth, with the power to eclipse the Sun and bring forth eternal darkness, Equestria would have been destroyed if not for you!”

Celestia didn’t answer away, instead the tears on her face were all the words he could ever need. ‘Thank you,’ Celestia thought, ‘I-I needed to hear that.’

He rose and replaced his helmet again, a calm expression appearing on his rugged features. “Now, in regard to the state of affairs of the citizens and nobles, they are fine. The Everfree civilians were relocated to makeshift structures near the village of Canterlot. It is temporary, but Canterlot had just finished the summer harvest so there should be no food scarcity and the town have a spring which flows from a mountain near thither; it should last for some time if necessity warrant it. The nobles … those ponies have formed a coalition of sorts, ‘The Federation’ or some such name. The aristocracy were confused and afeared of foreign invasion; at least, that is my take on it. With both Princesses gone and the Thestrals ...’

“What is this about the Thestrals, General?” the alicorn asked, leveling a stern glare that said “Thou wilt hide nothing from me!”

“T-they are gone,” he stated flatly, looking away.

“Gone?”

“Truly ... Knowing now what has transpired to Our Night Princess; it only makes sense. From what I had heard, they complained of sudden lack of accomplishment; that they had somehow failed. Most of them scattered in search of their Lady, others … were self-slain-”

“No …,” Celestia trailed off. She thought back to what Moonglow had told her.

“I know not what I would do without her!”

‘Did their connection run so deep?’ she thought. ‘I knew that their devotion was strong, but to be as … fanatical as this-’ She stomped her hoof and shook her head, startling Halberd. ‘No, they were loyal to the end … it just shows how much my sister meant to those closest to her.’

Celestia composed herself again. ‘I will conquer this self-pity.’

“What of the rebellion?” she asked. “We are ashamed that We left the field—as Our sister did—with little hint toward a course for your engagement.”

Halberd was about to say something comforting, but noticing the determined expression on his Princess’ face, he decided against it. ‘The fate of Equestria is still in peril. She would not want frivolous succor now,’ he thought. “I did what I could. Without the words of a proper leader to calm them, they thought that we had infected the Night Guard with a poison and—without their own leadership—they ignored our words of surrender. Even with their walls completely compromised by the colossal attack your magister conceived, and our superior force, they fought desperately. It is to my bitter recollection that well over one thousand were slain before we could maintain order.”

Celestia sobbed, turning her head away in shame. ‘Wherefore does tragedy stampede unimpeded,’ she thought. ‘Is my sister not enough?! Must everypony die before my oversight is vindicated?!” She sniffed loudly and got control of herself again. ‘I cannot think like that anymore. If I had not waited all this time, I could have travelled back and saved them myself. I will not be worthy of forgiveness if I commit such failures hence.’

Watching all of this, Halberd wondered if he made a mistake. “My Princess, do you-”

“Thank you,” Celestia stated calmly, blinking back her tears. Now a mask of fierce determination was on her face. “We will not make such a grave misstep henceforth … you might absolve my misdeed, but it will be far longer before We can forgive Ourselves.” Celestia made a sweeping motion with her wings, asking Halberd to walk with her and moving the discussion forward. “Tell me,” Celestia asked, “in your opinion, what are the most immediate courses of action necessary?”

Halberd didn’t hesitate to answer, he had been thinking about that for the past week. “I imagine that you should meet with the nobles and take reign of the government again. There are still several rebel movements throughout Equestria, and with our forces on the borders trying to put forth a facade of unity towards our neighbors, we have little to quell the internal turmoil. Not only that ... but I fear the type of drastic action that our nobles might do with their new coalition.

“Still, I would suppose that this forest hither be foremost on our agenda. It would be to our considerable advantage if we could remove the pestilence that pollutes this place. I imagine that might help in showing those nobles that you have everything under control if you could restore order hither and return everypony home.” He finished that last statement off with a smarmy grin.

Celestia hadn’t thought of that, in all honesty; she had subconsciously assumed that the forest was too far gone. She considered it again, ‘If the Everfree has gone mad for the same reason as my sister, then mayhap it can be ... solved the same way.’ The words bore heavily on her mind. The fact that she had to use the Elements on her own sister rocked her understanding of the world to its foundation. If her sister could be corrupted in such a way, who was safe?

Nonetheless, she had to try again.

“We understand what you say, Halberd. You and your ponies should wait hither while we do what We can. We have no doubt that your troops must be exhausted. The bridge was destroyed in the attack, so the pegasi would be the only ones able to aid me anyway. Rest here the night. We will depart with you on the morrow … whether We have a solution or not.”

With the soldiers now camped outside the forest, she entered the throne room again. In her despair, she had not returned here in the entire time since the banishment. Every time she felt like she could, she had this irrational fear that the Nightmare would be back and so she would turn away. This time, she had the future of Equestria weighing down on her; she would not turn back now.

The room was exactly how it had been left following the battle. The first vaulted ceiling ever constructed now lay half demolished on the ground, debris strewn throughout. The pulpit at the far end was still smashed and a large hole showed the full Moon; the black mare icon portrayed on it’s face was the only thing keeping flashbacks of that day from bubbling to the surface of Celestia’s mind.

Shaking herself out of these needless worries, she looked about the room, “To where have the Elements of Harmony situated themselves?” she mumbled.

She searched throughout, looking amidst the rubble, but couldn’t find the six gems. She thought back, “After I … banished Nightmare Moon, I remember floating above the castle for several moments … when finally I resolution to move, the elements were no longer with me. If that is the context, then they must be somewhere-”

It was then that she noticed five, perfectly circular holes in the ceiling; just in front of the hole Nightmare Moon had made in her second attack. “There! The Elements must have fallen through the canopy!” she exclaimed as she rushed to the holes before preceding to lower herself directly underneath the breaches. She wouldn’t have though the small gems could make such an impact, but they often worked in mysterious ways; the fact that there were five similar-looking holes couldn’t be coincidence. She searched the area.

“There is nothing here!” she yelled angrily, finally finishing her fruitless search. “The only thing strange are the- these five stones …” She noticed the identical, perfectly spherical stones had an icon engraved on them. She levitated the stones in her magic, twisting them all around so she could see the picture.

A simple hexagonal diamond shape extruded out from the face of each one. “Just like the Elements,” she whispered.

“What could this mean?! Wherefore do these stones remain and where is the sixth Element!” she yelled, stomping her forehooves in frustration.

She thought deeply for a few minutes, realizing that she honestly didn’t know that much about the Elements. There was only one place she could get answers: the Tree of Harmony. She placed the five stones on the She flew quickly out the hole in the roof and down the side of the castle into the valley below. Much of the valley floor was covered in plant-covered ruins and rubble that fell from the castle above.

She waded her way through the debris and found the cave that held the tree. It sat its regal splendor, completely unaffected by the events that had occurred. Celestia sighed in relief, ‘If the Tree is safe, Harmony has yet to surrender, and neither will We,’ she thought.

As she moved towards the Tree, she felt a familiar warmth; a soothing feeling that melted all of one’s worries away, that everything would be okay. The feeling intensified as she stood directly in front of the tree. “You had spoken to me before … you said that so long as Harmony remains here, that you could contain all that grows here, but what now?” She put her forehooves to the base on the tree and lowered her horn to it, flowing her magic into it, ‘What say you now?’

Suddenly her eyes shone with a brilliant white and words suddenly filled her mind:

This night, among the stars, a sister sleeps;

and in her chambers dost her sister weeps.

When travelling lamp o’erhead returns its course,

and thousand years the calendar endorse,

the mare of night will from her sleep awake;

the land Equestria now hers to take.

But mare of light is capable to end

this curse; her sister’s mind from Nightmare mend.

When seen six stars beyond control align,

make haste and from this Tree further divine.

Her eyes returned to normal as she stumbled backwards, falling on her rump as she tried to process what the Tree had told her. She tried push her magic into the Tree again, hoping to get more information, but nothing happened. “Satisfied” that there was nothing more it would say, she thought for a moment on what it had said.

“So ...,” she spoke aloud in her contemplation. “So Nightmare Moon nor my sister are dead?! She will return and, furthermore, she … she can be cured!” She sat up in glee before suddenly becoming overcome with dread. “Wait, but this prophecy said that it would be one thousand years from now…”

She was suddenly overwhelmed with anger. She blasted some of the debris outside the cave with her magic. “Wherefore these circumstances though?! How will Nightmare Moon return? Wherefore can I not control the Elements?! Where did they go?! Wherefore must … must I wait …”

She was about to cry again but steeled herself. “No. This will be Our fate. We will remain steadfast and observe Our duty as well as that of Our sister, until such time as she returns. Nothing will stand in the way … one thousand years or one million? We will see our sister again, We will cure her, and there will be peace in Equestria once more!”

The Tree of Harmony, 981 C.E.

Celestia was here once more. One thousand years had almost come to pass, but the six stars had finally aligned. It had happened so suddenly. She had always ensured that the Equestrian Cosmological Society had funding, under the pretext of “cosmic maintenance” to verify that the stars she moved throughout the night had moved as expected. In truth, she could care less about the movement—it was trivial after only one hundred years to keep the night sky the exact same every night—but the lack of movement that the Tree’s prophecy hinted at was vital. Suddenly, only a year prior, stars one-by-one would cease to move, staying next to the Moon.

‘With six stars now outside of my control, this Tree will ‘further divine’. It must ...’

Just as before, she placed her forehooves on the tree and lowered her horn. ‘Please … give me hope to cling to … anything that I can do to save my sister ... to save Equestria from her return!’

Her eyes shone white again and words filled her mind just as before:

This night a child now born the final mare.

Six prophecies: the Elements to bear.

Their destinies are mark’d when in the sky,

rings of Loyalty’s rainbow hues sail by.

When Light o'er hears a sound beyond a sound,

is when their marks of destiny are found.

To tower high you seek for Magic glow’s

results; adult from hatchling, dragon grows.

Of Magic’s fear you must alone sedate,

lest seal thy nation and thy sister’s fate;

as leader, Magic of this meager troupe;

without thy aid, her duty she wilt droop.

The six’s friendship, together once concealed

together brought, sixth Element revealed,

but in ignorance the six mares must be,

for without which does fail this prophecy.

Stars of prophecy, did this Tree reshape

a path, now made to aid in her escape.

Now on the Celebration of the Sun,

will night eternal reign, or be undone?

For these six mares, the night alone resist,

as mare of light, now sealed, cannot assist.

Celestia thought that it had finished and was about to release her horn when the Tree continued:

A warning now this Tree feels has for spake:

a perfect end cannot this treatise make.

Equestria, its destiny to fall,

from mare of night, or political cabal,

control of griffons ‘cross the sea desire,

and Chaos from its stone prison conspire.

One from these fates, the mare of light must choose,

the Elements alone cannot diffuse.

Celestia had thought she was mentally prepared this time, but once again found herself falling to the floor, unable to fully process the words that had flooded her mind. There was so much to consider. It took her quite a bit of time before she could finally patch what she felt was possible to “translate.”

“The elements will be held by six bearers, and these bearers are now all born? One of them was born today? There will be some ‘rainbow ring’ event—a sound beyond a sound—which will trigger all of them receiving their Cutie Marks simultaneously? The bearer of Magic I will find somewhere in some tower … with a dragon. Loyalty will have rainbow colors somehow associated with them? Can the Tree be any more confusing?!

“Ignoring the bearers for now, Nightmare Moon will make her escape—using the stars somehow— and will appear on the Summer Sun Celebration? If the previous prophecy still applies, that means … nineteen years next month! But the stars … does that mean in order to fulfill the prophecy, the Tree also aided in the return of Nightmare Moon?!

“Forgetting that—since my sister returning sooner should really be considered a good thing—what’s most worrisome is the end ... I will not be able to assist in the defeat of the thing that possesses my sister? Not to mention I cannot even tell the bearers that they must be together in harmony for the sixth element of Magic is revealed?! Moreover, I will have to choose how Equestria will fall? What nonsense is this?! Still … I cannot simply ignore everything this prophecy says … it was not wrong about the stars …”

She refocused. “Let me think this through ... ultimately, none of this will work unless the Elements of Harmony are working again. That means the bearers must be found. The only clues the Tree has given me are that one of them was born today and that they will all get their Cutie Marks at the exact same time. That means a list of all ponies getting their cutie marks on the same day as this ‘rainbow event’ will need to be tracked down. That means…” She groaned.

“That means I will need to ask the government for help.”

Chapter 1 - Bureaucracy

Canterlot Town Hall, 0 C.E.

Celestia gathered all the leaders of the nobles into the interim capital’s town hall. Following the banishment of her sister, the Everfree had overgrown the old capital and so—temporarily—all national-level administration would be done in the cramped municipal building until a new castle could be constructed. Still, comfort was the last of Celestia’s concern; with the nobles banding together and foreign interests noticing the change in Equestria’s global posture, Celestia had little time to consider such frivolous issues.

She stood at the podium on one end of the long, wooden, rectangular room; looking out at the hundred-or-so ponies now seated before her. “This assembly of nobles from across Equestria here today has been called by Us to discuss the grave circumstances which have occurred not three weeks prior in the Everfree. Paramount in this deliberation will be what this means for Us—as a nation—going forward.” She spoke with a calm and clear tone, not betraying her continued despair over her personal loss.

The nobles had created a coalition in their fear that both Princesses had perished in the two weeks they had been absent. This had been a good thing temporarily, as it had allowed Equestria to still remain a solidified nation to the Griffons and Zebras which were posturing for an invasion at any time. The problem with this ‘Federation of Nobles,’ however, was that it was only a matter of time before infighting began. They remained unified until now because many of the noble family leaders had been massacred by Nightmare Moon in Everfree Castle on the day she was banished. Their shared grief, fear and uncertainty prevented them from making any drastic action.

Celestia needed to keep it that way.

“Princess Luna has been … lastingly displaced,” Celestia confirmed which brought a collective gasp throughout the audience. “Our Night Princess was … corrupted by an as-yet-unknown magical sapience which twisted her mind into an evil mare of darkness, calling itself Nightmare Moon. This creature rampaged wantonly throughout the castle and slaying many of the ponies inhabiting thither. Many of these noble individuals were known personally by those seated here today. As many of you had likely expected, the ponies which had not made it here … will not.”

Celestia stopped for a moment of silence. “This was something that We could not abide. We used the Elements of Harmony to seal this ‘Nightmare Moon’ away in that eponymous place … because this phantasm had possessed the form of Our Princess Luna, however ... that also meant that Our sister was taken away with it. This will be an enduring banishment … but not eternal. We speculate that it will not return for one thousand years … only then will there be some chance of redemption for Our … former, Night Princess.”

After she had finished, a young noble in the back sat up, exclaiming, “What kind of answer is that! My father is dead and all you can say is that?! Where is the proof! I want the perpetrator brought here and put to justice!” Many of the nobles nodded their head.

“Enough!” Celestia cried out, instantly silencing the room. ‘Do these nobles not understand! This is my sister they are talking about!’ she thought as she looked intensely at the accuser. “What need for further proof is there?! Our sister is gone, the Thestrals—her servants—are scattered. We personally stood vigil over the graves of your father and others for two weeks before a battalion of Royal Guards-ponies finally came to investigate! Nightmare Moon was more powerful than either Princess Luna or Ourselves. If We had not defeated her, make no mistake that Equestria would have been thrown into Eternal Darkness, just as she had done with her eclipse of the Sun.”

The nobles were stunned to silence. They had known that the eclipse was some sort of sign, but that this “Nightmare Moon” had the ability to do so against the will of their all-powerful ruler gave them cause for alarm.

“We understand your grief in your hearts,” Celestia continued in a somber tone. “We all lost ponies dear to us that day, but the needs of the many outweigh the those of the few. This government must stand strong, especially in this time of great peril. With the Everfree now a lost cause and the Griffon and Zebra forces on our borders, such mindless feuds will only result in the collapse of this nation!” She slammed a forehoof on the podium in front of her to emphasize her point.

None of the nobles could respond immediately, however, a certain General spoke up from the back.“What of these rebellions?” Halberd asked. “What are we doing to stifle them?”

Celestia nodded in appreciation. ‘Thank Harmony at least somepony can ask constructive questions,’ she thought. She answered, “We will stamp them out personally. We will travel to each: hold, village and city in unrest and quell their anger. Equestria, unfortunately, does not have the troops nor the time to adequately do so otherwise.”

Another noble stood up, this one she noticed immediately as the new Archduke, Redblood. He had changed his name when he learned that he had lost his father and all his siblings in the massacre. His family, formerly the Brows, were still prominent, as he was the only noble to assert his position during the crisis, giving him a significant edge. Celestia noted that of all the ponies, he likely had the greatest grudge and the greatest influence. “Might I remind this assembly, that this ‘quelling of anger’ would not have been necessary had Our Princess returned and given orders to our esteemed General Halberd? Two weeks she ‘kept vigil,’ but in reality what was needed was order and stability! We did not know of even the most vague details for an entire week!”

Another noble stood up, one who had not lost anypony during the assault. “What hypocrisy is this?! You yourself disappeared for a week, and you did not even do battle with a mouse yet along a Princess! To blame the recovery of Our Princess in such a way is tantamount to treason!”

“I need not listen to such Ad Hominem,” he waved off with a forehood. “The argument stands. I do not hold it against Our Princess, but this only proves that—despite her perfection—measures should be put in place! Should the Princess be unavailable to rule, this nation still needs government and order! This is only more imperative now that only one Princess rules.”

Celestia watched on silently, unable to retort. She was seething in anger and she noticed that several of the members in the front row were beginning to sweat from the heat she radiated. Still, what could she say? She had been away. Equestria had been put in jeopardy. She didn’t have any leverage to make; the nobles would have to be appeased or she would be unable to make any headway with reconstruction and reorganization. Many of the nobles were already jealous and angry with their families weakened by this tragedy.

Concessions would have to be made.

“What do you propose … Redblood?” Celestia asked, still uncomfortable with the new name.

“A legislature,” Redblood replied simply. “An assembly like this one where the nobles meet to discuss civil and political issues. We, of course, would have no political power while you reign, but we could give council and—should Your Highness find herself in a position that limits her abilities to rule—it provides a safe means from which power can be transferred, either temporarily or permanently. In this way, power would not be usurped, but the events of two weeks prior would not have been cause for such fear and rash action.”

Celestia was shocked. High Brow, Redblood’s father, had never been so insightful, nor had he ever thought so far ahead. ‘I have no reason to deny such a price,’ Celestia grimaced. ‘Forsooth. My power is maintained, I save face for my failure, and yet Redblood and the nobles would be able to consolidate their power and keep their positions with little fear of reprisal. It is a win-win … still, there is one concern.’

“That sounds like a brilliant and well thought out plan, Redblood,” Celestia replied, feeding his ego slightly. Most of the nobles—even the one which had accused him of hypocrisy earlier—nodded in agreement. “There is one issue, however,” Celestia added, which quickly wiped the grin off of Redblood’s face.

“What could that be, Your Majesty?” he asked hesitantly.

“A noble council will, indeed, be able to govern the country should the unexpected occur. However, I fear that an oligarchical council such as this can only function if it is adequately representative of the nation.”

“I concur, Your Highness,” he said proudly. “It must consist of representatives from all the houses ... in proportion of the ponies under them, of course.”

‘And there is the rub,’ Celestia mused. ‘With most of the ponies under his direct supervision, he would greatly increase his power should I fall. To put myself in such a dangerous position … especially with his grudge; only my dominion of the Sun and Moon would shield me from his significant gains should I find myself facing … an untimely demise. No, I know what you are planning Redblood, and I will not allow it to work!’

“That is not what I mean, Redblood,” Celestia smiled. “A council of nobles could only serve noble interest. What is needed in an effective oligarchy is a council of nobles, along with elected civil servants and professionals capable of representing the wider spheres of common and industrial concerns.”

Celestia smirked slightly, ‘That look on of rage on the face of the Archduke is priceless,’ she thought.

Redblood was fuming. “W-what are you saying Your Highness! Are you genuinely implying that we of the nobility do not appreciate the interests of the pony below us?!”

‘It is because you think of their interests as ‘below you’ that you do not you foal ...’ Celestia sighed to herself.

“Of course you appreciate them,” she lied, “but what is needed is ponies that know them. Tell me, what is a chief concern in the blacksmithing industry today?”

The nobles looked to their neighbors, some were muttering to each other. For several minutes they discussed, occasionally speaking up, only to provide an incorrect or even an outrageous answer. ‘Wherefore do these nobles think paint could even be considered a blacksmithing concern,’ Celestia groaned at one of the answers.

However, it was a rough looking stallion in the back that answered, looking just about fed-up at the comedy playing before him, “O’ fer Celestia’s sake, the fuel! The coal we blacksmith’s ‘ave ta purchase since ya banned the burnin’ o’ wood fer charcoal is so doggone awful it takes twice as long and twice as much ta make the same piece o’ metal! It ‘as been runnin’ the lot o’ us outta business!”

Celestia smiled, “What that stallion said is absolutely correct. Indeed, this is not only a concern, but the concern facing blacksmithing today. For the past ten years, the Diarch- …” Celestia frowned in silence for a moment but continued, “The government has been working closely with the preeminent alchemists of this nation in order to find an alternative fuel for the charcoal which had caused widespread deforestation from its collection. The coal from Equestrian mines, however, contains excessive amounts of brimstone which-”

“What!” Redblood yelled slamming a forehoof to the wood floor. “Are you seriously saying that because we rightly do not know about some stupid coal, we cannot govern?!”.

“No,” Celestia replied with no lack of annoyance in her voice. “It is because of your pride and your ignorance that you cannot. If even one of the nobles present hither had the forethought to delegate this dilemma to one of the commoners in the audience, We might have reconsidered ... but you could not even inconvenience yourselves for a simple question! The fact that those assembled here are collectively oblivious to such a vital concern to this nation is, quite sincerely, appalling.”

Redblood snarled, “I request, respectively, for you to reconsider!”

She then backed away slightly from the podium before tapping it intently with her forehoof like a gavel. “We will grant your request with Our caveat, as intended. You have said nothing to sway Our opinion in this regard. It is an excellent idea and, with confidence, such issues of governance will not affirm themselves henceforth. We see no problems; the nobles are poised, hence, solely to gain.”

The amassed nobles were now split. Several looked at one another in shame, while others seemed to be doing their best to try and ignore the proceedings altogether, while a few—such as Redblood—were seething in rage.

“Mark my words Celestia!” he cried as he and his compatriots stormed out of the hall. “You will regret this decision! When the plebs take over this sacred institution, you will find that we nobles will not be around to save you!”

The Canterlot Archives, 981 C.E.

Celestia woke up startled, although she didn't remember enough of the dream to know why.

She was seated in the archives at a small desk; deep in the heart of Canterlot Castle. Research here was one of the few privileges Celestia had anymore and she used it often. A large stack of books detailing the statistical information of Equestrian demographics, births and other traits as well as several larger books on Cutie Marks, history and political philosophy lay scattered before her.

She had spent the whole night researching what she had learned from the Tree of Harmony’s prophecies. Specifically regarding these six “Bearers of Harmony,” it was extremely unlikely that she would be able to find them on her own, as she had surmised. Over four thousand ponies were born in Equestria on any given day, just as many would get their Cutie Marks.

The records of the Cutie Mark Registry were only logged at the parent’s earliest convenience and so might be upwards of a month away from the time when the foal actually received their mark. Furthermore, the records didn’t list the cause of that mark. For Celestia to visit hundreds of thousands of foals and question them individually simply be far far too impractical without help.

Fortunately, births were recorded to the minute so she would be able to find maybe a dozen foals that were born the exact moment the star had stopped in the sky. She wouldn’t have any way of differentiating them, but she would pay careful attention to these ponies in the future. She was especially shocked to see the daughter of her close friend, Flora Lulamoon, was on the list.

She felt a tingling sensation and turned to see that her secretary, Fine Quill, had just walked in. The tingling had come from her sensing Quill’s magic, the pale blue glow illuminating the darkened section of the library Celestia was in. Upon seeing each other, Quill extinguished the flame, instead pulling out a schedule seemingly from nowhere. “There you are Princess!” she exclaimed. “You had me worried, I was looking for you everywhere!”

“I am sure you did,” Celestia groaned, still drowsy and aching from sleeping on a hard wooden chair for the night.

“Don’t you know what time it is?! The Sun should have been up fifteen minutes ago! Not only that, but even if you spend only half your usual time eating and grooming, you will still be late for your first appointment!”

Celestia went wide-eyed for a moment, as she confirmed it was, in fact, seven am. Immediately, she went about starting the celestial motions and ensuring that the Sun was at its proper height in the sky. With that taken care of, she got out of the chair and tested her range of motion, groaning, and occasionally letting out a sickening-yet-satisfying crack of her wings and spine. The white unicorn mare beckoned her to follow her back to Celestia’s bedroom and Celestia complied.

“Cancel my nine o’clock with Professor Bulb, I’ll have to reschedule,” Celestia said as she walked. She thought about how she would have to reschedule this week after this sudden development. “Also, I’ll need an extra two hours a day for the foreseeable future to talk to some of my various contacts regarding … a new development. I’ll have to ask that you reschedule as many of my current appointments as possible.”

Fine Quill didn’t bother to ask what this “new development” was, but instead nodded curtly. Still, it was apparent that she was gritting her teeth slightly at the sudden work. “Will these two hour slots need to be at the same time each day, Your Highness?” she asked passive-aggressively.

Celestia gave her a sympathetic look but replied, “Just this week, immediately after my volunteer work. After that, so long as you let me know, those two hours can be can be anywhere in the schedule.”

“Right …,” Quill replied with a slight groan.

“While I’m getting ready with all this, could you wire the Minister of Education and book a meeting with me this morning? Also, I’ll need to spend time at the General Registrars Building for some … statistical affairs I would like addressed.”

“That would likely cut into all of your appointments this morning, should I move those as well?” the unicorn asked as they arrived in front of the Royal Bedchambers.

“Yes, I would like to get this done as soon as possible,” Celestia replied as she entered the bathroom.

“What should I tell the Education Minister the meeting is about?” Quill said, her voice now muffled by the closed bathroom door.

“Tell her ‘If she doesn’t come, I’ll tell her mother!’ ” Celestia giggled.

Summer Orange—Minister of Education for the Equestrian United Federation—came into Celestia’s study punctually at nine o’clock. She was an earth pony with a pale orange coat and a darker orange mane tied elegantly into a bun. She wore a simple black business suit with a blue tie that matched her eyes and an ornate gold necklace which hinted at the extravagant wealth she had accrued from years in the social circles of Manehattan. They were really the crème de la crème of Manehattan; new money developed from their parents joining businesses and sweeping the orange market. Luckily for Celestia, she had noticed this early on and had “invested” with her business contacts. Even now—as the Oranges moved out of business and into politics—they still kept close ties.

“You know,” Summer Orange said in a distinctly upper class way, “it is quite contemptuous of you to treat a good friend this way, you know what my mother would say if I denied such a sojourn from our most royal benefactor.”

Celestia giggled, “Well I know how busy you are, I felt that if I had not done so, you would not have come!”

“Oh please, you sell yourself far too short Your Highness,” Summer guffawed. “Still, I would like to make it to the Legislature at eleven … it is quite a chore being a new ministry.” She frowned in mock displeasure. “I have to be my own secretary and address the house, can you imagine! Copper, the Treasury Minister never has to deal with the legislature!”

“Still, it cannot be worse than the cabinet,” Celestia quipped.

“Oh goodness no!” Summer laughed. “I would take a hundred sittings of the house over just one cabinet meeting any day!”

Celestia grinned, “I might take you up on that offer.”

Summer Orange then frowned, completely removing the air of sarcasm in their discussion. “I really do wish there was something I could do. For the government to just take away your position on the cabinet? I was not in the cabinet at the time, of course, but from what I have heard from the older members, it was far more productive then it is now … not like it could get less productive now … even when the position was only ceremonial.”

Celestia smiled warmly. “That obviously was not your fault. You know how the republicans are about special privileges. I’m lucky I still have my library card!” Celestia giggled.

Summer didn’t grin. “That is not really the point though. Even I agree that there should not be undeserved privileges, but if anypony deserves a special place in this country, it is you! You never have personal promotion on your mind, and if you ever had a motto, it would be ‘Equestria First!’ I just cannot bear to see you put in such a diminished position when you have so much talent to bring to the benefit of this nation.”

‘It is good to know I at least have some friends left in the government,’ Celestia mused. “That brings me to the point of this little visit,” Celestia replied, her tone becoming a little more authoritative. “The fact is, there has been a prophecy.”

Summer didn’t roll her eyes at this, but rather her face turned dead-serious. Prophecies were serious business in the magical world. There was an entire branch of Thaumaturgy and well over one hundred unicorns in various academic institutions with government funding dedicated to it. ‘If there is only one thing absolutely certain about prophecy,’ Summer thought, ‘it is that the stronger the magic user, the more important the prophecy … and Celestia is the strongest practitioner of magic there is!’

Without any interruption from Summer, Celestia decided to continue. “It seems that there will be need of the Elements of Harmony to defeat a new evil in the near future. It has been prophesied that six mares will wield them, six mares alive somewhere in Equestria.”

“The Elements of Harmony? Those are ancient artifacts of great power if I remember my history.”

“Yes,” Celestia replied. “It had often proved vital in removing the ancient evils that plagued Equestria in the past. I can personally attest that the evil that will threaten Equestria soon will be a similar threat.”

”Surely there is more to these ‘bearers’ than that!” Summer gasped. “We must find these ponies!”

“That is the rub,” Celestia sighed. “The truth is, the prophecy only mentioned that the six will get their marks all at the same time due to some ‘rainbow event’. That means that finding them will rely on the Cutie Mark Registry.”

Summer groaned. “Oh goodness gracious! If there ever was a bureaucracy in the Federation, the General Registrar’s Office would have to be it. Still, I am not at all familiar with the details of how the CMR works, what needs to be done?”

“Well, giving your approval would help, I would imagine. Just say I am helping you out with Cutie Marks and their effects on education.”

“I’ll get it done. To be completely fair, I have had many petitioners from the academic community for more funding into alternative teaching styles and education reform. I suppose now is as good of a time as any to give them a bone.”

“Excellent! To be honest, from what I’ve seen the CMR needs a bit of modernizing. There is currently no description on how the marks are found or even an accurate drawing of what they look like! Of all the things that have been better since I founded the Federation, I would not have thought something as simple as that would get worse.”

Summer grinned and sat back a little, looking a little less posh than before. “Well, you know how it is, anything the government touches turns to manure faster than grass in a grazing cow … if you pardon the slang.”

Celestia didn’t smile at that. “It is more than a little distressing to hear that, from a Minister no less.”

Summer shrugged, “I’m just repeating the rhetoric of my party. It’s all about ‘small government’ and ‘deregulation’ now. Despite that, though, why can’t you simply ask the rest of the politicians about this. I doubt they would simply brush off a prophecy from you.”

Celestia sighed. “It isn’t so much that I fear they will not believe me—which I am not confident they will since prophecies come notoriously without proof—but rather that they will believe me. I fear what they might do once they find the bearers. They might remove their rights and make them into some sort of weapon. I might … consider that, if it was for the good of Equestria, but the key to the Elements function is that the ponies are in harmony and so they, at the very least, would need to be friends with eachother. That’s something that can’t be manufactured.”

Summer groaned in response. “You’re right, as usual. If there is one thing you won’t find in politics, it is friendship.” She looked at her watch on her forehoof. “Well as much as I would like to keep this up, I need to prepare for the sitting. You will be there, of course?”

Celestia smirked, “They would not start without me!”

With a letter of approval from Summer Orange in hoof, Celestia made her way to the last building any pony wants to enter. Indeed, ponies might even wish their enemies to “Go to the General Registrar’s Office!” as a far worse alternative to Tartarus. The reason for its reputation was simple: every legal document in Equestria had to have a copy in the GRO. This meant that every individual, corporation or government, public or private, foreign or domestic had to have some method of both collecting and depositing their legal papers. It was a bureaucrat's dream and a civil nightmare.

Even the building itself screamed “bureaucracy”. It was an enormous, grey, concrete cube with small simple metal windows strewn uniformly throughout. Simple columns also supported the base where larger windows illuminated the first and second floors, giving the building some semblance of character. This hope of individuality was crushed, however, by the dead looks the ponies inside carried. Many sat in the small waiting area on the metal and plastic chairs that had been provided, waiting for their number so that they could, hopefully, quickly leave and get back to their normal life. Despite the look of dread on these ponies, the worst looks came from the employees themselves. All the joy and fun in life seemed to have been sucked out of them, leaving them with only bitter resentment … if they even had any emotion left at all.

It was here that Celestia found herself. While the ponies in the waiting area seemed shocked, and in some cases happy, to see her; for the employees, such a description couldn’t be further from the truth as Celestia stepped towards one of the receptionists at the desk.

“Name?” the green pegasus mare asked in a startlingly somber monotone.

“Celestia Sol Invictus,” she replied handing the receptionist her diplomatic passport. “Princess of Equestria.”

The receptionist didn’t bat an eye, instead writing the information on a small card that was then placed in a small cabinet out of sight. “Please take a number.”

Celestia tore one of the small numbered strips of paper from the machine next at the end of the row of desks and took a seat in the waiting area. Several of the ponies there just sat in awe, but nopony dared talk to her. ‘Just once, I would like to have a simple, pleasant, conversation,’ Celestia thought, sighing. ‘One would think that after having most of my political power taken by the democratic process, I would be more approachable.’

Only twenty minutes passed before her number was called. It was unfortunate, but often a pony would see the receptionist for only a minute before being turned back because their affairs weren’t in order. Many have to come eight or more times to get a single thing accomplished due to the incredibly strict rules on paper and form types and in which order requests can be given. This made the process unbearable for most, but fast and efficient.

Celestia approached the open booth where an elderly yellow earth pony mare sat. Unlike the receptionist, however, her eyes were like fire. She enjoyed the bureaucratic process. “Name?” she asked in as neutral a monotone as could be made.

Like with the receptionist, Celestia handed her passport over and said her name.

“What is the request the petitioner wants to make?” the mare asked, not looking up at the Princess.

Celestia, luckily, had an upper hoof in bureaucratic matters. She wrote the book on bureaucracy. It had first been a game she played in the court to bypass several of the arbitrary rules the nobles had designed to keep her out of their affairs, but it turned out that strictly codifying every procedure done in government did have its uses in ensuring proper regulation was followed. Under normal circumstances, making strange requests like access to documents outside your regulatory power would be impossible to accomplish … for a normal pony, but it was these same strict guidelines that made it possible for a pony with the knowhow to bypass substantial red-tape, even if it meant not following the intent of policy.

“The petitioner requests access to the birth records of ponies born 9:18pm, two days prior to today. I have a B402.1.4-32 Type C form signed by the Minister of Education giving express permission in releasing this information as possible candidates for academic scholarships as per the regulations put forth by the ‘Scholastic Support Strategy of 944 C.E.’ “ Celestia handed the mare the form she had Summer sign. Celestia had, ironically, been against the SSS for this very reason. It offered little in the way of privacy if an educational representative wanted access to your personal information and the representative didn’t need to justify asking for it.

The mare looked over the form. “This also requires counter-authorization by third party government employee using form B402.2.8-13A.”

“Right, of course, here you go,” Celestia replied cheerfully, giving another piece of paper she herself had signed.

Normally this couldn’t be done, but Celestia wasn’t normal; in fact under the law, she was technically two individuals in Equestria, the “Princess” and the “Citizen”. This came from the fact that Celestia had several of her rights as a citizen restricted as a Princess. The main cause of this was in 688 C.E. when her dissention at government policy swayed public opinion of the government so badly that it had caused a democratic election. The government was rocked to its core. The new representatives quickly realized that she could technically control government policy indirectly through the her support. In fear, they had hastily limited her freedom of speech on political issues. Since this would have caused Celestia to be either deemed “less than a citizen” or would have caused all citizens to be given this restriction—as part of recent equality laws at the time—lawmakers had to make her two different ponies. While the “citizen” Celestia could make political allegations, the “Princess” Celestia could not.

Celestia would be the first to agree: politics can be almost pointlessly arbitrary and cumbersome sometimes.

Still, in this particular circumstance, it proved useful. Only a few minutes later, the mare had cross-checked the records she approved of the request. This was Celestia’s least favorite part of the bureaucracy; no matter how arbitrary or silly the past governments’ policies were, they would always follow them. It would have been humorous if it wasn’t so sad. “Is there anything else you would like to request?” the elderly mare asked.

“The petitioner would also wish to make a request to be given ‘reviewer status’ of statistical information in the Cutie Mark Registry as per the ‘National Records Act of 892 C.E.,’ ” Celestia replied, somewhat hesitantly. Unlike the birth records, there were very few guidelines around the Cutie Mark registry so it would be much harder to access. Since Cutie Marks happened much later in life, they weren’t used as identification except for expatriates since birth certificates were much more reliable. As such, the CMR was a strictly statistical repository.

“The Cutie Mark Registry no longer provides ‘reviewer status’ for statistical analysis under the auspices of the ‘Records Act’ due to due to its revision in 971 C.E. The only way to view those documents is for you to be given direct approval from the Chief Registrar.”

‘This mare knows her stuff,’ Celestia thought. ‘It’s just as well. Even with access to the records, I wouldn’t be able to do anything until the bearers earn their Cutie Marks. There will be other opportunities.’ Celestia nodded. “Alright, that will be all then.”

“Fine,” she replied before stamping a card and giving it to her. “The certificates will be available to you in room 133B, give that to the pony at the door. Next!”

Celestia took the card, walked down the hall to the room, gave it to the pony at the door and sat at the small desk. It took about five minutes, but she was eventually given a small manila envelope which contained four pieces of paper, each representing a foal born. ‘Huh,’ Celestia thought, ‘I wasn’t sure what to expect, but to think that every minute around four foals are born ...’

These four foals were: the pegasus colt Free Wind of Manehatten, the earth pony colt Dust Cloud of Dodge Junction, and the two unicorns fillies Twilight Sparkle and Beatrix Lulamoon of Canterlot. The Lulamoons had always remained loyal to her, even in the modern political climate. ‘To think that Flora Lulamoon’s newborn daughter would be related to this …,’ she thought while writing down the names and addresses on a piece of paper. ‘I guess I will have to visit Flora’s orphanage as soon as possible now. I had thought to do so in a month, but there’s no sense delaying if I can avoid it.’

She gave the envelope to the pony at the door and left the building. It was 10:30am now and she would have to rush in order to make it to the legislature for the Sitting of the Equestrian House of Commons by eleven. If she was lucky, her little political maneuvering would slip right under their noses.