Conflict of Interests

The dark red earth pony was laying alone in front of a chimney fire. The room was dark, only lit by the dancing lights of the blaze. His expression was one of worry.

A white alicorn entered the room and lay down silently beside the other pony. The fire crackled while the two remained silent for several minutes.

''I'm a bit worried about you sweetheart.'' The alicorn finally spoke. ''You've been awfully silent these last days.'' She looked at her husband. The pony kept staring into the flames.

''I know about the clans...'' He finally said, emotionless.

The alicorn's eyes widened in shock. The pony accusing eyes turned to meet her own. She tried to utter a word but only her mouth obeyed, she remained silent.

''How could you do this Celestia ?'' his voice broke while pronouncing the name.

The alicorn turned her sight away from her husband, unable to bear the guilt. She struggled for words.

''I- I had no choice Red. The situation was getting out of hand..'' she sputtered.

''The were MY FAMILY !'' the stallion shouted, his voice resonated in the hallway beyond the open door. Celestia closed her eyes, trying to refrain her emotions.

''They were a danger for all of the settlements around. They killed many travelers, the population was growing wary, I had to do something.'' her voice was breaking, pleading for forgiveness.

''So you had them killed ?'' Red added accusingly, each word lacerating at Celestia's soul.

''It degenerated ! They wouldn't stop the massacres nor relocalize.'' Celestia was sobbing under her closed eyes. ''You know we can't afford another civil war.'' Her voice was now but a whisper. The stallion stood up. Pacing around, trying to contain his anger.

''Why didn't you tell me ?'' his voice lowered. ''I could have gone and talk to them, convince them to go away !''

Celestia finally opened her eyes and looked at her defying husband through the blur of the tears.

''They exiled you Red. They exiled you because you were not like them, because you didn't believe in the violence they preached. What makes you think you could have reasoned with them ?''

The alicorn tried to stand up but her muscles were paralyzed. There were no easy way out of this. She did something that couldn't be undone, and nothing she would say mattered. Be it for security or political reasons, in the end she had a whole clan wiped out.

''I had no choice Red..'' she pleaded one last time. The stallion looked down at her.

''Maybe you're right, maybe you had no choice.'' his voice was cold and emotionless. ''But I do.. And I chose to go..'' he sighted while finishing his sentence.

Turning away from Celestia the stallion marched out of the door.

''I'm so sorry Red'' The alicorn whispered almost to herself, breaking into tears.

The sounds of the hooves in the hallway became more and more distant, the echo slowly dying out. Soon, there was only the sound of the fire and Celestia's own sobbing.

''I'm so sorry..''