The Rise of the Two Sistersby Da lVlanChaptersPrologue1) Opportunity2) Hopeful FuturesPrologueThe Queen had no other place to go for help. Not that this was a bad choice, but it was a bad situation. She was waiting for the very pony she had known for most of her life, her trusted adviser and friend. She was nervous as to what she was about to ask him to do, but the other choice was to do nothing. She knew that if she was to do that, she might as well have handed the throne over to a tyrant. This wasn’t an option. Action had to be taken to save her little ponies. A stalwart white Pegasus with a blond mane marched into the room and knelt before the Queen. He was dressed in a white uniform and a cape that seemed to split light. “What is it Your Majesty desires?” he asked in a solemn tone. The Queen was even more regal. A unicorn with a mane of black like a raven feather that also seemed to glitter every color of the rainbow. Her dress started as a dark blue at the hems, changed to a white and reaching gold at the neckline. Her headdress was an intricate weave of black and white. He already knows, the Queen thought as she turned to her adviser. “Arise, Astaral, I am in need of your opinion.” He rose and they both sat down at the table in the room. “I have my doubts concerning the direction the king wishes to take the kingdom.” The look of shock was obvious on the face of her adviser, and she could see a question starting to form. “The reason I have asked for you is to see what we can do to curb the new direction and keep it far safer for everypony.” The stallion regained his composure quickly, bringing his hooves together to form a peak. “Permission to speak freely, Your Majesty?” Being a former military adviser from when the Queen ran the kingdom alone came with its habits. “Permission granted.” “From what I have heard, the king isn’t threatening the country, he’s threatening you.” The Queen sighed. “Yes, but that isn’t what I have called you for, and it has not escaped my memory so soon.” “But why do you tolerate it?” “Because he wants me to get some distance away from him, and if I do that, he will have even more control. I cannot allow that yet.” “’Yet,’ Your Majesty?” “That is why I’m asking for your advice.” It was the advisers turn to sigh. “As long as you are willing to take action to look after yourself, I’m willing to lay my life down for you.” “I know you are, but what I’m going to ask you to do is much harder than dying for me.” The look on his face made it clear that he wasn’t going to shrink from his duties. “You know my devotion is not just loyalty based. I won’t let anything happen to you that you don’t want to happen.” “You say that now, and you say that every time I ask you to do anything. What do you mean by it?” At this point the royal adviser looked away, flushing. “I have dedicated my life to you, and in my family, there is a saying, ‘If you serve someone with all your heart, you will learn to love all that they are.’ You have served your people nonstop for your entire life. You have learned to care for every stallion, mare and foal that has ever lived. I have learned to stand by your side and stand with every step you have ever made, even when I disagreed with it, because of my devotion. I know I could never have made the right choices all the time, but you did.” He looked up and into the eyes of his leader. “But you’re asking for the source of my devotion. It is because I don’t just think you’re a better leader than I. It is because I love all that you are, Aurora.” A quick intake of breath was all the hint she gave that she was surprised. The Queen suspected this for some time now, but it was an entirely different thing to hear it from the pony you held in the same regard. Still, if she let her emotions rule her, she would never find a way to stop the king. “Then we may proceed with the meeting. Just know that, in that moment of sincerity, you held my heart and inspired me to do more for my people.” She continued in a more solemn voice. “You are what I value most in this world.” * * * “Your plan is…” he paused trying to find a more respectful word, but failing, he proceeded, ”crazy.” The speaker was a politician with a brown coat and a thinning silver mane. It was several years from that fateful night, and things hadn’t gone well in the kingdom. The Queen was with child. Astaral was in a meeting with several members of parliament in his estate. The topic was opposition to a recently enforced law that was to help water wells be dug, but it actually made it more difficult. Simply the latest point of the monarch’s idea of reaching the utopia he had been painting for the last 6 years, and all it did was add a hoop to jump. “If you really think that this plan will make it to the front of parliament, you have another think coming. Everypony here knows that the head of parliament is in the king's back pocket, and the pauper down the street knows that he sets the agenda for the whole parliament.” “That doesn’t change our obligation to the people” Astaral responded. Turning to address the entire group, he started the speech he had written for just this opposition. “As you all know the queen has been trying to do everything she can to keep this country from falling into anarchy and an absolute monarchy.” Making eye contact with each of the filly and gentlecolts present, he continued. “This is a near impossible feat with our current configuration of government. The king has final say on all issues, but can’t make a decision outside of what’s presented to him. The parliament brings forth the points that the citizens want to be heard, but have no real say at large what happens. Finally the veneration branch looks for anything that could help the current order of things, including military might, and brings issues to the king. It is the Queen's line that inherits the throne, but as queen, she is allowed to only advise the king, and over rule him if he is seen to be fighting the people. This helps protect the people from a full dictatorship because the king can’t create and pass things without the will of the people being consulted. But lately, the veneration branch has been infringing on more and more of our business. Things aren’t fully right in Equestrea, and you know it. Now, I’m not calling any one coward; by all that’s good, we have done all we can, but we need to continue to stand up for all...” “Daddy?” Astaral immediately turned to the door. Standing there is a small, young, white, unicorn foal dressed in a nightgown, and a pink and messy mane going down her back. She even had her mother’s eyes of light purple. At the moment, however, her face looked like she was a little frightened. Astaral turned to the others gathered together and excused himself for a short period of time. He knew that the speech's effectiveness would be neutralized by the pause, but knew that his daughter’s composure was rarely shaken, even by this much. He approached his daughter, knelt down to eye level, and in a soft caring tone addresses her. “What is it dear?” “I dreamed about her again,” she says meekly. He smiled. She had never seen this Pony, but she had created an image of this mare in her imagination, and every once and a while, she would have a dream about her. “How is she tonight?” he asked. “She said good bye,” she responded. With tears in her eyes, she looked up, directly into his eyes. “But I don’t want her to go. She told me that she loved me and she was going to do what had to be done, but I don’t want her to go!” “oh, hush sh sh.” Picking her up and pulling his cape over her in an embrace he calmly carried her out of the room and started going up the stairs with her. ”She will never leave you; she loves you far too much for that to happen.” “But she said goodbye!” the young girl cried. “Honey, listen to me.” Astaral said as he opened her bedroom door. “She will never abandon you; she may go away for a little while, or a long while. But nopony would ever abandon someone that they love.” The young unicorn climbed into bed, got under the sheets, and looked back at her father as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “Now I have a question for you. Does she love you?” She took a moment to think then nodded her head. “Then she will never abandon you and you will always be able to feel her love right here.” He said as he nudged her chest. She giggled, sniffed, and then smiled. He smiled back as he got off the side of the bed. Heading to the door he heard his daughter say, “Dad. Who is the lady I keep on dreaming about?” He turned back to look at a drawing on the wall of the mare, one of her favorite drawings. The way she described this pony as kind and benevolent. He has an almost sad look on his face. Turning to face his daughter he forced a smile. “Well, if you let her be, she will become you.” He walked back over to her and kissed her forehead. “I will see you in the morning.” He said as he left the room, closing the door behind him. He started heading back to the meeting. When he entered the room, everypony was standing up and was arguing back and forth, trying not to yell, but trying to be heard over the rest of the ponies present. Knowing that the speech was worthless now, he cleared his throat, preparing to regain their attention, when his royal insignia ring started to heat up. A simple messaging magic, that was as old as the first spell. A heat like this told him that he was wanted, so he called an end to the meeting to depart for the palace. Author's Note Okay, got myself an editor, so we will see if I can make this actually take off this time. By the way, just as a heads up, I am writing this at my pace. I will not be able to provide regular updates, but I can keep those interested in the story up to date with what I am doing with the story. click to fallow me, and I will make an effort to keep people posted on my work. 1) OpportunitySteadfast blinked. Waking was always a little disconcerting for him. He always felt that he was leaving a world that he had no ability to predict then react to, and returned to a world that he had some idea as to what every pony could and would do. He rolled out of bed and started to walk to the kitchen, glancing at himself in the looking glass. He was a very simple earth pony with a coat of a light brown and a main of coal. From a distance he looked like nothing special. It was his eyes that made the statement; Piercing honey mustard yellow that glinted slightly in the right light. His cutie mark was what looked like an eye with a swirl green iris. Upon leaving his room, he started to notice small things out of place. He lived alone, so this was an indicator of an intruder. However the nature of the things indicated a casual thing and not malicious. A book off of a shelf here, an empty glass there, but most noticeably a smell of waffles. Before he even entered the kitchen he said, “Hi, Lancer, make any for me?” As he made the turn, he saw his friend sitting at the table, mouth full and reading the newspaper. “Nope bland one, you slept in,” was Lancers response. He was a colt with a white gray coat and mane of red in a spiky style. He did have an uncharacteristically long unicorn horn. “You know I wake up same time every morning, just because some of us have an uncanny ability to stay awake almost indefinitely doesn't mean the rest of us don't still need it,” Steadfast said, going for a glass of orange juice and making some oatmeal before continuing in a playful tone. “But please, help yourself to my home and food, it's not like you haven't gotten away with this before.” “Thank you, I think I will.” A short pause as Lancer continued to read and Steadfast gets some water on to boil “So why are you here anyways?” Steadfast asks as he turned back to his friend. “To bring in your paper,” he magicked it over to Stead for him to read, still open to the comics, “and to invite you to join me and feather brain for a night out. Who knows, we may find a special somepony to spend our evening with.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Steadfast. Steadfast laughed and shook his head. “Sorry, but the last time you used that line on me I was glad to have said no. Drinking that much cider, and talking to that lady like that was not a good idea.” He proceeded to look at the head line that read ‘Search for the Missing Queen Continues.’ So once again, nothing new. Lancer blushed a little. “Yeaa... but my dad was big enough to get me out of trouble, and I didn't mean anything by it.” Steadfast's smile dropped as he turned to add the oats. “Honestly the way you throw your family's weight around is appalling to me. Don't you care about your family's name?” Lancer shruged as he takes another bight. “Hey, its my family's name that's making me such a big target for the authorities. Besides I have a reputation of my own to consider. I'm celebrating my newly launched line of instruments, and let me tell you, it's gonna be big! Its gonna transform music as we know it!” Steadfast poured himself some oatmeal, and then after getting the pot out of his mouth, murmured sarcastically “I don't doubt that.” He takes his bowl and goes to the table. “So this is a celebration more than just a night out?” “I knew you would want to come.” Lancer says. “Hold on, I didn't say that.” “But you will come anyways, right?” At this Steadfast smiled. “I'll tell you what, I'll join you tonight if I have something happen today that takes me by surprise.” Lancer huffed, “If you know all the ponies involved, you are never surprised. You need to stop living for your dad's job and get out on your own a little.” “Well when my dad is head of Parliament and I am a member of said parliament, it's natural for me to do all I can to help him.” “Your loyalty to your family is ridiculous, but I suppose if you weren't so loyal, you would only be half the friend you are to me.” “Amen to that.” Just as Steadfast was about to take his first bite, his front door started to get an assault from a heavy hoof. He grumbled as he got up to answer it, but the pony at the door didn't wait for him and opened it himself. “Steadfast! Where are you?” Steadfast rolled his eyes before sitting back down. “In the kitchen, Dad.” His father is a heavy built pony with much evidence of a hearty diet and low activity life style showing thru his cream cote. His graying brown locks of main is immaculate as always and his clothing showed his status as the ranking official in Parliament. “Good, now get up and come with me.” Steadfast jumped up again and started to go for his coat, leaving his oats untouched. “What's the rush Dad? I haven't even eaten breakfast yet.” His father puffed out his chest in pride. “I'll explain on the way, but to sum it up you have been summoned by the King.” At this, Steadfast stumbled and looked back at his father. “WHAT?” “I know! You're going for an interview with the King! You may be able to join in on his inner circle if you do well!” “WHA!” “YES. Now hurry! We don't have all day!” Steadfast's father started pushing his stunned son to the door, but before he is able to leave he heard his friend shout from the kitchen. “THIS COUNTS AS BEING SUPRISED!” * * * “Okay, so you have questions, now is the time to ask them.” His father said sitting across from him. In his father’s carriage, Steadfast was still reeling from his snatch and grab by his father. But now that he was sitting still, he was able to start to come up with questions that consisted of more than one word. “Well, I would like to know what brought this on, why is this happening out of the blue?” “As you are aware, the Queen is missing, and the people want that branch of power filled until the princess is of age, or the Queens return. They also want to have things set up so if this happens again, it isn’t a crises.” His father continued. “Well, the parliament is in the works of coming up with this modification as we speak and it is due to come to a vote and be sent to the King.” “You know I will vote to have it pass, so why the sudden summoning from the King? What’s the connection?” “I was getting to that. The King is starting the interview screening process. He is looking for some ponies that he can count on to be loyal to him and the new office.” A small pause as Steadfast waits a few seconds for his father to continue, only realizing what his father was implying. “Oh, well… I’m willing to do it, but… How? How does the King even know about me, and why me?” His father smiles, “He obviously knows about you through me. I have been in talks with the King for some time now. In our passing conversation I have mentioned you and your efforts to make my efforts go over smoothly. This is exactly what he needs and has asked me to retrieve you for the interviewing process.” A moment of silence and Steadfast asked a final question. “Do you want me to do this?” His father sighed still smiling slightly. “I know you wouldn’t ever do anything against this family. Your loyalty has never failed to come threw for our cause and our needs before all else. Your votes have always been in our favor, you're skilled in your speeches and debate, and never once have you taken a bribe to do anything against us. Granted, I was worried when you started to be friends with that Lancer fellow, even his father says he has been trouble, but even in your private life, you have maximized our cause by being a dutiful friend to an ally’s son. ” This made Steadfast go numb out of shock at first, never having realized he had done that much for his family. This feeling was then replaced with a swell of pride. He had stood with and for his family without fail, no matter the adversity, But more than that, his father wanted him to do this for the cause, and he wasn’t about to start to fail in this calling, not when his own father wished him to try. It was Steadfast's turn to smile, and smile he did. “Then I will do everything within my power to get that position.” His father nods and smiles just as broadly. “That’s the spirit, and it looks like we are here.” * * * Alas, all things worth having are things that are worked for… or waited on. This was proving to exceptionally true for Steadfast. The waiting for the King is something everypony does. After all, he is the King. When you are that important, and many ponies need your attention, you tend to need some time to yourself if your not busy with some other pony. This doesn’t mean that Steadfast was happy with the wait, he still hadn’t had breakfast yet, and it was an hour before noon. He was just about to ask one of the standing servant ponies to fetch him something to munch on when he was summoned. “Steadfast,” the pony said as soon as he entered the door. “That is me.” The proper pony said as he stood. “Follow me.” Steadfast did as he was told and fell into step behind the pony he assumed would be bringing him before the King. He followed the pony out of the room and down a hall of stained glass windows. Here they displays of Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddenhead and Princess Platinum bickering and giving the wendigos strength. There where also another set of windows displaying Clover the Cleaver, Secretary Smart Cookie, and Private Pansy all banishing the wendigos. This story had little fascination to Steadfast, but his father had made sure he had learned it; not to teach the common associated moral of get along with everypony, but to make it clear that working with the right ponies could make power far bigger than others power. In short the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The windows weren’t the significant part, it was what was on the other side of the hallway that was significant. “Isn’t this the way to the palace gardens?” Steadfast asked the pony he was following. “Yes it is, sir.” the pony quickly replies still leading the way. There was a short silence as Steadfast waited for the pony to explain why, and after receiving no hint as to an explanation, he decided to inquire. “Does the King wish to hold this official visit in the garden?” “Yes sir.” Another short pause. Getting information from this guy is like squeezing blood from a turnip. The dull pony led him to a set of doors that have guards posted at them. As they approached, the guards open the door for them and let them pass without making them pause. Steadfast walked into a beautiful garden and looks around. There he sees the King levitating a teacup as he looks around the serenity that is the garden. The pond and waterfall within the lush landscape send up a therapeutic sound, and the flowers were as full of color and overflowing with fragrance. The King was obviously relaxing and in a state of peace as he sipped and sighed. He was wearing a loose cotton shirt and a ringlet around his head. He was a gray unicorn with black mane, gray muzzle and a strong build, not to mention the air of authority he gave off. Steadfast walked forward and bowed before the King. “Your Majesty sent for me?” “Rise, Steadfast, I have no need to be formal here in my garden. As long as you are here, we can talk as equals.” The King remained as he was, enjoying the moment of quiet. Steadfast was taken slightly aback, the King wasn’t known for his wishes to treat others as equals, but here he was requesting to be talked to as an equal. What was Steadfast suppose to do but get up and stand by his side? Steadfast didn’t wish to bring the King out of this moment of peace, but he couldn’t keep from Fidgeting a little due to how anxious he was about the interview, not to mention his hunger was not far from his mind. The King finished his tea and turned to Steadfast. “You at least know how to respect serenity, even if you don’t try to enjoy it. What is on your mind Steadfast?” This took Steadfast back again. It could be that the King dropped his title at the door, but not having even heard of this side of the King before was making it very strange to deal with the royalty standing before him. “I heard you are looking for a pony to fill a new office, and that you had asked for me directly for an interview. I want to know why.” “You do want to know that,” the King said as he turned to the pavilion in the distance and motioned Steadfast to walk with him, “but there is no interview happening” Steadfast fell into step behind the King. “I am... confused. I was under the impression that I was here for an interview for the new position.” “Then you have been mislead. I very much doubt it is intentional, after all I was the one who told your father I was interested in having you fill the position.” “Then why have me come out here if you already have the position filled?” The King turned to Steadfast, and looked him in the eye. “This isn’t an interview, this is an orientation.” Steadfast took a small step back at this. He was having no control over today, and he wasn’t liking the lack of control, things were starting to get out of hoof. He needed to sit. The King noticed this lack of assurance, and replaced his confidence with a look of concern. “Is something the matter with my offer?” Steadfast closed his eyes and places a hoof over them. “Sorry, but I just haven’t had enough time to process this. I heard of the new office less than a couple of hours ago, I don’t know what the duties would entail, and yet, here I am being told that whatever it is that the position is, it's mine? This just feels like it's moving way too fast. if I wasn’t so hungry, I would think I was asleep.” The King smiled, “And that is why we are here.” The King leads the way into the pavilion where the now potent smell of lunch resides. “So, shall we discuss your future over lunch?” Author's Note So, yea. I know you may be a little lost as to what is going on. just know that the prologue wasn't to introduce the characters, but the plot and the premise of the story. 2) Hopeful FuturesThe time spent sitting there hearing the king talk was enthralling to say the least. The king wasn’t boring him with legislation, he was talking about the larger picture of the entire empire, and what a vision he had. “No pony should ever be a victim, no pony should worry about where his next meal will come from, never should a filly sleep out on the street.” The king gave him such a speech that Steadfast forgot about his hunger long enough to be excited about the prospect of working along side the king. Food quite forgotten at the moment, Steadfast sat there waiting to the vary end. “But as you know, a king needs to stand strong and be unquestioned if he is to bring this dream to fruition. I need the queen's role filled to placate the masses, but why not place someone in to the position to do more? I understand you have several younger siblings?” Steadfast almost missed his hint at a response needed. “Oh. Ah, yes your highness.” “Then you know how to teach fillies a thing or two as well. On top of holding this position, I'm hoping you will teach the princess her up and coming role and help her in her decisions. After all, the purpose of this entire role is to build something that will help all of Equestria for many years to come.” A moment of confusion meets this news. “Is it not Star Swirl the Bearded's job to teach the filly?” At this question the king stiffened, and there was almost a sense of rage that one can see in the kings eyes, but only for a moment. “The Archmage has many official duties, watching over the young of the princess isn't one of them. Besides, I feel an obligation to the queen's line. I need to make sure that the princess will be taught in regards to law. The Archmage is under no obligation to do this; you will be.” “Oh, come now you silly pony, you cant legislate someones desire to serve.” Steadfast heard from behind the king. The king turns immediately towards the speaker. Standing in the door way is an old pony with a pointed hat and a robe all decked out in bells. This had Stead very surprised considering there was no way the old pony should be able to make it this close without being heard across half the court yard. The smile the King had on his face is strained. “Mr. Swirl, I don't remember sending for you.” “I knew you wouldn't send for me, so I made it a point to show up, and even if I seem to be late, I was in the gardens since before you where... or is it will be in the garden before you? I do seem to be losing track of time.” The king had nothing to respond to this, so he replied with a direct question. “What has brought you here?” “You mean other than the excellent cranberry scones, picking up my favorite tea cup...” he said as he brushes crumbs from his beard, levitating an empty tea cup that looked like the rest of the others. “And bringing a wombat to the gardens?” The tick in the kings eye was visible as he calmly responded “Yes, other than those things.” “Oh, nothing immediately important. Just wanted to meet the poor, naive patsy you have chosen to fill the board to serve under the queen.” “I had asked for a single position,” the King said with anger just at the edges of his voice. “You had made the request, but I felt that this position was so important that I implored the masses to ask for an immediate vote. As it turns out, one vote was absent that would have passed the bill as it was, but to fix that some changes were made.” Steadfast then realized he had missed the emergency vote. The king calmed down instantly, and continued in a calm tone. “You interfered once again. That was the last time. You remember what I told you would happen the next time you interfered?” “Yes, but you got ninety-five percent of the original bill through, and with a seventy-eight percent majority, and you are now more popular than the Peanut-butter and jelly sandwich having acted so swiftly. Now how would it look if you fired me over something that was so beneficial?” With that, the mage smiled and brushed past the king, who is now obviously twitching his eye. The sound of bells makes his walk comical, but the speed he moved for his age was impressive. He pressed the flat of his face right against Steadfast's. Steadfast was very surprised and pulled back, but the strange old unicorn just pressed back in place. Eyes locked, steadfast sees the lavender eyes get a light hint of a dark blue aura. “Well well.” Steadfast thought in the voice of the strange pony. “I see you aren't the kind of pony I had thought would be here. I wonder if the king understands you as well as he thinks.” “Wait, why am I thinking in his tone of voice?” “You're not, I am.” “You're talking to me in your mind?” “No, I'm talking to you in your mind.” At this, Steadfast would have raised an eyebrow or backed away again, yet he felt as if his body wasn't working properly. “Relax, I'm using my magic to make it so we are communicating at the speed of thought. This way we aren't seen staring at each others eyes dreamily for very long. Not that I don't like your eyes, you do have beautiful eyes, they remind me of melting butter on a summers day... or mustard... or butter mustard.” “You're doing what?” “I am touching your mind with my specially developed brand of mind magic.” “Okay... you know earth ponies aren't supposed to be aided by magic, right?” “By what law?” “Well, its not illegal, its just not normal.” “You will soon find that what passes for normal around here involves secrets, back stabbing, and sitting still for hours to get a self portrait done.” Steadfast didn't even know what to think in response. So he decided to get on a new topic. “What do you want?” “It's not what I want, it's what you will want and what you wish to accomplish within your new office, but knowing what I now know, I can see that I may have made a tactical error.” “Look... sir... I have no idea what your talking about, and you are confusing me more than helping, so can you get to the point? “Ah, the point, the point isn't what I'm here for. I am here to give you a place to retreat to when you realize that your role here isn't what you think it is. When you need someone to talk to, then say my name. I will lend you an ear when you need one, and advice when you ask, but only if you let me...” Steadfast just stood waiting for him to continue until he realized the old pony wasn't going to continue. “Oh, uh... okay.” The next thing he is aware of is the the old pony saying out lowed “perfect” and a small sharp pain is in Stead's head as he is forced to go cross eyed. Then he heard the jingle of bells as he walked back behind him and said “I will see you in the counsel chamber when you present the possible candidates.” Steadfast shook his head and cleared it of all the weird stuff that just happened. When the King just stood there looking at where the strange unicorn went, Steadfast cleared his throat and the king looked at him. He could tell the king was angry, and decided to keep his mouth shut. “That pony is so insufferable I cant stand him! He intervenes when it's the least convenient, and messes up all of my carefully laid out plans. I'm sorry, but it looks as if you aren't going to have to serve the role alone.” “If you wish, I can see if I can find a way to interpret the law to get what you want.” The king looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “You are an ambitious one aren't you?” Steadfast looked down and just stays quiet. As the king circled the table and sat back down, he regally said “Very well, you may have your look, and compare it to the original, see what you can do to make it as close to the original as possible. Now go, I need to get ahead of this fiasco.” And with that, Steadfast was dismissed, and he got up and started walking out of the garden and out of the castle. Only when he has left the building with a copy of the new bill in hoof does he realize that he hadn't managed to eat anything in the garden, and was starving. First things first. He was going to be of no use to the king or his family if he was not able to concentrate due to a lack of food, and with that he decided to ask Bright Scale out for lunch. Author's Note the prologue and the last two chapters have been nothing but setup. Now that all of that is out of the way, time to get to a little action.
PrologueThe Queen had no other place to go for help. Not that this was a bad choice, but it was a bad situation. She was waiting for the very pony she had known for most of her life, her trusted adviser and friend. She was nervous as to what she was about to ask him to do, but the other choice was to do nothing. She knew that if she was to do that, she might as well have handed the throne over to a tyrant. This wasn’t an option. Action had to be taken to save her little ponies. A stalwart white Pegasus with a blond mane marched into the room and knelt before the Queen. He was dressed in a white uniform and a cape that seemed to split light. “What is it Your Majesty desires?” he asked in a solemn tone. The Queen was even more regal. A unicorn with a mane of black like a raven feather that also seemed to glitter every color of the rainbow. Her dress started as a dark blue at the hems, changed to a white and reaching gold at the neckline. Her headdress was an intricate weave of black and white. He already knows, the Queen thought as she turned to her adviser. “Arise, Astaral, I am in need of your opinion.” He rose and they both sat down at the table in the room. “I have my doubts concerning the direction the king wishes to take the kingdom.” The look of shock was obvious on the face of her adviser, and she could see a question starting to form. “The reason I have asked for you is to see what we can do to curb the new direction and keep it far safer for everypony.” The stallion regained his composure quickly, bringing his hooves together to form a peak. “Permission to speak freely, Your Majesty?” Being a former military adviser from when the Queen ran the kingdom alone came with its habits. “Permission granted.” “From what I have heard, the king isn’t threatening the country, he’s threatening you.” The Queen sighed. “Yes, but that isn’t what I have called you for, and it has not escaped my memory so soon.” “But why do you tolerate it?” “Because he wants me to get some distance away from him, and if I do that, he will have even more control. I cannot allow that yet.” “’Yet,’ Your Majesty?” “That is why I’m asking for your advice.” It was the advisers turn to sigh. “As long as you are willing to take action to look after yourself, I’m willing to lay my life down for you.” “I know you are, but what I’m going to ask you to do is much harder than dying for me.” The look on his face made it clear that he wasn’t going to shrink from his duties. “You know my devotion is not just loyalty based. I won’t let anything happen to you that you don’t want to happen.” “You say that now, and you say that every time I ask you to do anything. What do you mean by it?” At this point the royal adviser looked away, flushing. “I have dedicated my life to you, and in my family, there is a saying, ‘If you serve someone with all your heart, you will learn to love all that they are.’ You have served your people nonstop for your entire life. You have learned to care for every stallion, mare and foal that has ever lived. I have learned to stand by your side and stand with every step you have ever made, even when I disagreed with it, because of my devotion. I know I could never have made the right choices all the time, but you did.” He looked up and into the eyes of his leader. “But you’re asking for the source of my devotion. It is because I don’t just think you’re a better leader than I. It is because I love all that you are, Aurora.” A quick intake of breath was all the hint she gave that she was surprised. The Queen suspected this for some time now, but it was an entirely different thing to hear it from the pony you held in the same regard. Still, if she let her emotions rule her, she would never find a way to stop the king. “Then we may proceed with the meeting. Just know that, in that moment of sincerity, you held my heart and inspired me to do more for my people.” She continued in a more solemn voice. “You are what I value most in this world.” * * * “Your plan is…” he paused trying to find a more respectful word, but failing, he proceeded, ”crazy.” The speaker was a politician with a brown coat and a thinning silver mane. It was several years from that fateful night, and things hadn’t gone well in the kingdom. The Queen was with child. Astaral was in a meeting with several members of parliament in his estate. The topic was opposition to a recently enforced law that was to help water wells be dug, but it actually made it more difficult. Simply the latest point of the monarch’s idea of reaching the utopia he had been painting for the last 6 years, and all it did was add a hoop to jump. “If you really think that this plan will make it to the front of parliament, you have another think coming. Everypony here knows that the head of parliament is in the king's back pocket, and the pauper down the street knows that he sets the agenda for the whole parliament.” “That doesn’t change our obligation to the people” Astaral responded. Turning to address the entire group, he started the speech he had written for just this opposition. “As you all know the queen has been trying to do everything she can to keep this country from falling into anarchy and an absolute monarchy.” Making eye contact with each of the filly and gentlecolts present, he continued. “This is a near impossible feat with our current configuration of government. The king has final say on all issues, but can’t make a decision outside of what’s presented to him. The parliament brings forth the points that the citizens want to be heard, but have no real say at large what happens. Finally the veneration branch looks for anything that could help the current order of things, including military might, and brings issues to the king. It is the Queen's line that inherits the throne, but as queen, she is allowed to only advise the king, and over rule him if he is seen to be fighting the people. This helps protect the people from a full dictatorship because the king can’t create and pass things without the will of the people being consulted. But lately, the veneration branch has been infringing on more and more of our business. Things aren’t fully right in Equestrea, and you know it. Now, I’m not calling any one coward; by all that’s good, we have done all we can, but we need to continue to stand up for all...” “Daddy?” Astaral immediately turned to the door. Standing there is a small, young, white, unicorn foal dressed in a nightgown, and a pink and messy mane going down her back. She even had her mother’s eyes of light purple. At the moment, however, her face looked like she was a little frightened. Astaral turned to the others gathered together and excused himself for a short period of time. He knew that the speech's effectiveness would be neutralized by the pause, but knew that his daughter’s composure was rarely shaken, even by this much. He approached his daughter, knelt down to eye level, and in a soft caring tone addresses her. “What is it dear?” “I dreamed about her again,” she says meekly. He smiled. She had never seen this Pony, but she had created an image of this mare in her imagination, and every once and a while, she would have a dream about her. “How is she tonight?” he asked. “She said good bye,” she responded. With tears in her eyes, she looked up, directly into his eyes. “But I don’t want her to go. She told me that she loved me and she was going to do what had to be done, but I don’t want her to go!” “oh, hush sh sh.” Picking her up and pulling his cape over her in an embrace he calmly carried her out of the room and started going up the stairs with her. ”She will never leave you; she loves you far too much for that to happen.” “But she said goodbye!” the young girl cried. “Honey, listen to me.” Astaral said as he opened her bedroom door. “She will never abandon you; she may go away for a little while, or a long while. But nopony would ever abandon someone that they love.” The young unicorn climbed into bed, got under the sheets, and looked back at her father as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “Now I have a question for you. Does she love you?” She took a moment to think then nodded her head. “Then she will never abandon you and you will always be able to feel her love right here.” He said as he nudged her chest. She giggled, sniffed, and then smiled. He smiled back as he got off the side of the bed. Heading to the door he heard his daughter say, “Dad. Who is the lady I keep on dreaming about?” He turned back to look at a drawing on the wall of the mare, one of her favorite drawings. The way she described this pony as kind and benevolent. He has an almost sad look on his face. Turning to face his daughter he forced a smile. “Well, if you let her be, she will become you.” He walked back over to her and kissed her forehead. “I will see you in the morning.” He said as he left the room, closing the door behind him. He started heading back to the meeting. When he entered the room, everypony was standing up and was arguing back and forth, trying not to yell, but trying to be heard over the rest of the ponies present. Knowing that the speech was worthless now, he cleared his throat, preparing to regain their attention, when his royal insignia ring started to heat up. A simple messaging magic, that was as old as the first spell. A heat like this told him that he was wanted, so he called an end to the meeting to depart for the palace. Author's Note Okay, got myself an editor, so we will see if I can make this actually take off this time. By the way, just as a heads up, I am writing this at my pace. I will not be able to provide regular updates, but I can keep those interested in the story up to date with what I am doing with the story. click to fallow me, and I will make an effort to keep people posted on my work.
1) OpportunitySteadfast blinked. Waking was always a little disconcerting for him. He always felt that he was leaving a world that he had no ability to predict then react to, and returned to a world that he had some idea as to what every pony could and would do. He rolled out of bed and started to walk to the kitchen, glancing at himself in the looking glass. He was a very simple earth pony with a coat of a light brown and a main of coal. From a distance he looked like nothing special. It was his eyes that made the statement; Piercing honey mustard yellow that glinted slightly in the right light. His cutie mark was what looked like an eye with a swirl green iris. Upon leaving his room, he started to notice small things out of place. He lived alone, so this was an indicator of an intruder. However the nature of the things indicated a casual thing and not malicious. A book off of a shelf here, an empty glass there, but most noticeably a smell of waffles. Before he even entered the kitchen he said, “Hi, Lancer, make any for me?” As he made the turn, he saw his friend sitting at the table, mouth full and reading the newspaper. “Nope bland one, you slept in,” was Lancers response. He was a colt with a white gray coat and mane of red in a spiky style. He did have an uncharacteristically long unicorn horn. “You know I wake up same time every morning, just because some of us have an uncanny ability to stay awake almost indefinitely doesn't mean the rest of us don't still need it,” Steadfast said, going for a glass of orange juice and making some oatmeal before continuing in a playful tone. “But please, help yourself to my home and food, it's not like you haven't gotten away with this before.” “Thank you, I think I will.” A short pause as Lancer continued to read and Steadfast gets some water on to boil “So why are you here anyways?” Steadfast asks as he turned back to his friend. “To bring in your paper,” he magicked it over to Stead for him to read, still open to the comics, “and to invite you to join me and feather brain for a night out. Who knows, we may find a special somepony to spend our evening with.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Steadfast. Steadfast laughed and shook his head. “Sorry, but the last time you used that line on me I was glad to have said no. Drinking that much cider, and talking to that lady like that was not a good idea.” He proceeded to look at the head line that read ‘Search for the Missing Queen Continues.’ So once again, nothing new. Lancer blushed a little. “Yeaa... but my dad was big enough to get me out of trouble, and I didn't mean anything by it.” Steadfast's smile dropped as he turned to add the oats. “Honestly the way you throw your family's weight around is appalling to me. Don't you care about your family's name?” Lancer shruged as he takes another bight. “Hey, its my family's name that's making me such a big target for the authorities. Besides I have a reputation of my own to consider. I'm celebrating my newly launched line of instruments, and let me tell you, it's gonna be big! Its gonna transform music as we know it!” Steadfast poured himself some oatmeal, and then after getting the pot out of his mouth, murmured sarcastically “I don't doubt that.” He takes his bowl and goes to the table. “So this is a celebration more than just a night out?” “I knew you would want to come.” Lancer says. “Hold on, I didn't say that.” “But you will come anyways, right?” At this Steadfast smiled. “I'll tell you what, I'll join you tonight if I have something happen today that takes me by surprise.” Lancer huffed, “If you know all the ponies involved, you are never surprised. You need to stop living for your dad's job and get out on your own a little.” “Well when my dad is head of Parliament and I am a member of said parliament, it's natural for me to do all I can to help him.” “Your loyalty to your family is ridiculous, but I suppose if you weren't so loyal, you would only be half the friend you are to me.” “Amen to that.” Just as Steadfast was about to take his first bite, his front door started to get an assault from a heavy hoof. He grumbled as he got up to answer it, but the pony at the door didn't wait for him and opened it himself. “Steadfast! Where are you?” Steadfast rolled his eyes before sitting back down. “In the kitchen, Dad.” His father is a heavy built pony with much evidence of a hearty diet and low activity life style showing thru his cream cote. His graying brown locks of main is immaculate as always and his clothing showed his status as the ranking official in Parliament. “Good, now get up and come with me.” Steadfast jumped up again and started to go for his coat, leaving his oats untouched. “What's the rush Dad? I haven't even eaten breakfast yet.” His father puffed out his chest in pride. “I'll explain on the way, but to sum it up you have been summoned by the King.” At this, Steadfast stumbled and looked back at his father. “WHAT?” “I know! You're going for an interview with the King! You may be able to join in on his inner circle if you do well!” “WHA!” “YES. Now hurry! We don't have all day!” Steadfast's father started pushing his stunned son to the door, but before he is able to leave he heard his friend shout from the kitchen. “THIS COUNTS AS BEING SUPRISED!” * * * “Okay, so you have questions, now is the time to ask them.” His father said sitting across from him. In his father’s carriage, Steadfast was still reeling from his snatch and grab by his father. But now that he was sitting still, he was able to start to come up with questions that consisted of more than one word. “Well, I would like to know what brought this on, why is this happening out of the blue?” “As you are aware, the Queen is missing, and the people want that branch of power filled until the princess is of age, or the Queens return. They also want to have things set up so if this happens again, it isn’t a crises.” His father continued. “Well, the parliament is in the works of coming up with this modification as we speak and it is due to come to a vote and be sent to the King.” “You know I will vote to have it pass, so why the sudden summoning from the King? What’s the connection?” “I was getting to that. The King is starting the interview screening process. He is looking for some ponies that he can count on to be loyal to him and the new office.” A small pause as Steadfast waits a few seconds for his father to continue, only realizing what his father was implying. “Oh, well… I’m willing to do it, but… How? How does the King even know about me, and why me?” His father smiles, “He obviously knows about you through me. I have been in talks with the King for some time now. In our passing conversation I have mentioned you and your efforts to make my efforts go over smoothly. This is exactly what he needs and has asked me to retrieve you for the interviewing process.” A moment of silence and Steadfast asked a final question. “Do you want me to do this?” His father sighed still smiling slightly. “I know you wouldn’t ever do anything against this family. Your loyalty has never failed to come threw for our cause and our needs before all else. Your votes have always been in our favor, you're skilled in your speeches and debate, and never once have you taken a bribe to do anything against us. Granted, I was worried when you started to be friends with that Lancer fellow, even his father says he has been trouble, but even in your private life, you have maximized our cause by being a dutiful friend to an ally’s son. ” This made Steadfast go numb out of shock at first, never having realized he had done that much for his family. This feeling was then replaced with a swell of pride. He had stood with and for his family without fail, no matter the adversity, But more than that, his father wanted him to do this for the cause, and he wasn’t about to start to fail in this calling, not when his own father wished him to try. It was Steadfast's turn to smile, and smile he did. “Then I will do everything within my power to get that position.” His father nods and smiles just as broadly. “That’s the spirit, and it looks like we are here.” * * * Alas, all things worth having are things that are worked for… or waited on. This was proving to exceptionally true for Steadfast. The waiting for the King is something everypony does. After all, he is the King. When you are that important, and many ponies need your attention, you tend to need some time to yourself if your not busy with some other pony. This doesn’t mean that Steadfast was happy with the wait, he still hadn’t had breakfast yet, and it was an hour before noon. He was just about to ask one of the standing servant ponies to fetch him something to munch on when he was summoned. “Steadfast,” the pony said as soon as he entered the door. “That is me.” The proper pony said as he stood. “Follow me.” Steadfast did as he was told and fell into step behind the pony he assumed would be bringing him before the King. He followed the pony out of the room and down a hall of stained glass windows. Here they displays of Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Puddenhead and Princess Platinum bickering and giving the wendigos strength. There where also another set of windows displaying Clover the Cleaver, Secretary Smart Cookie, and Private Pansy all banishing the wendigos. This story had little fascination to Steadfast, but his father had made sure he had learned it; not to teach the common associated moral of get along with everypony, but to make it clear that working with the right ponies could make power far bigger than others power. In short the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The windows weren’t the significant part, it was what was on the other side of the hallway that was significant. “Isn’t this the way to the palace gardens?” Steadfast asked the pony he was following. “Yes it is, sir.” the pony quickly replies still leading the way. There was a short silence as Steadfast waited for the pony to explain why, and after receiving no hint as to an explanation, he decided to inquire. “Does the King wish to hold this official visit in the garden?” “Yes sir.” Another short pause. Getting information from this guy is like squeezing blood from a turnip. The dull pony led him to a set of doors that have guards posted at them. As they approached, the guards open the door for them and let them pass without making them pause. Steadfast walked into a beautiful garden and looks around. There he sees the King levitating a teacup as he looks around the serenity that is the garden. The pond and waterfall within the lush landscape send up a therapeutic sound, and the flowers were as full of color and overflowing with fragrance. The King was obviously relaxing and in a state of peace as he sipped and sighed. He was wearing a loose cotton shirt and a ringlet around his head. He was a gray unicorn with black mane, gray muzzle and a strong build, not to mention the air of authority he gave off. Steadfast walked forward and bowed before the King. “Your Majesty sent for me?” “Rise, Steadfast, I have no need to be formal here in my garden. As long as you are here, we can talk as equals.” The King remained as he was, enjoying the moment of quiet. Steadfast was taken slightly aback, the King wasn’t known for his wishes to treat others as equals, but here he was requesting to be talked to as an equal. What was Steadfast suppose to do but get up and stand by his side? Steadfast didn’t wish to bring the King out of this moment of peace, but he couldn’t keep from Fidgeting a little due to how anxious he was about the interview, not to mention his hunger was not far from his mind. The King finished his tea and turned to Steadfast. “You at least know how to respect serenity, even if you don’t try to enjoy it. What is on your mind Steadfast?” This took Steadfast back again. It could be that the King dropped his title at the door, but not having even heard of this side of the King before was making it very strange to deal with the royalty standing before him. “I heard you are looking for a pony to fill a new office, and that you had asked for me directly for an interview. I want to know why.” “You do want to know that,” the King said as he turned to the pavilion in the distance and motioned Steadfast to walk with him, “but there is no interview happening” Steadfast fell into step behind the King. “I am... confused. I was under the impression that I was here for an interview for the new position.” “Then you have been mislead. I very much doubt it is intentional, after all I was the one who told your father I was interested in having you fill the position.” “Then why have me come out here if you already have the position filled?” The King turned to Steadfast, and looked him in the eye. “This isn’t an interview, this is an orientation.” Steadfast took a small step back at this. He was having no control over today, and he wasn’t liking the lack of control, things were starting to get out of hoof. He needed to sit. The King noticed this lack of assurance, and replaced his confidence with a look of concern. “Is something the matter with my offer?” Steadfast closed his eyes and places a hoof over them. “Sorry, but I just haven’t had enough time to process this. I heard of the new office less than a couple of hours ago, I don’t know what the duties would entail, and yet, here I am being told that whatever it is that the position is, it's mine? This just feels like it's moving way too fast. if I wasn’t so hungry, I would think I was asleep.” The King smiled, “And that is why we are here.” The King leads the way into the pavilion where the now potent smell of lunch resides. “So, shall we discuss your future over lunch?” Author's Note So, yea. I know you may be a little lost as to what is going on. just know that the prologue wasn't to introduce the characters, but the plot and the premise of the story.
2) Hopeful FuturesThe time spent sitting there hearing the king talk was enthralling to say the least. The king wasn’t boring him with legislation, he was talking about the larger picture of the entire empire, and what a vision he had. “No pony should ever be a victim, no pony should worry about where his next meal will come from, never should a filly sleep out on the street.” The king gave him such a speech that Steadfast forgot about his hunger long enough to be excited about the prospect of working along side the king. Food quite forgotten at the moment, Steadfast sat there waiting to the vary end. “But as you know, a king needs to stand strong and be unquestioned if he is to bring this dream to fruition. I need the queen's role filled to placate the masses, but why not place someone in to the position to do more? I understand you have several younger siblings?” Steadfast almost missed his hint at a response needed. “Oh. Ah, yes your highness.” “Then you know how to teach fillies a thing or two as well. On top of holding this position, I'm hoping you will teach the princess her up and coming role and help her in her decisions. After all, the purpose of this entire role is to build something that will help all of Equestria for many years to come.” A moment of confusion meets this news. “Is it not Star Swirl the Bearded's job to teach the filly?” At this question the king stiffened, and there was almost a sense of rage that one can see in the kings eyes, but only for a moment. “The Archmage has many official duties, watching over the young of the princess isn't one of them. Besides, I feel an obligation to the queen's line. I need to make sure that the princess will be taught in regards to law. The Archmage is under no obligation to do this; you will be.” “Oh, come now you silly pony, you cant legislate someones desire to serve.” Steadfast heard from behind the king. The king turns immediately towards the speaker. Standing in the door way is an old pony with a pointed hat and a robe all decked out in bells. This had Stead very surprised considering there was no way the old pony should be able to make it this close without being heard across half the court yard. The smile the King had on his face is strained. “Mr. Swirl, I don't remember sending for you.” “I knew you wouldn't send for me, so I made it a point to show up, and even if I seem to be late, I was in the gardens since before you where... or is it will be in the garden before you? I do seem to be losing track of time.” The king had nothing to respond to this, so he replied with a direct question. “What has brought you here?” “You mean other than the excellent cranberry scones, picking up my favorite tea cup...” he said as he brushes crumbs from his beard, levitating an empty tea cup that looked like the rest of the others. “And bringing a wombat to the gardens?” The tick in the kings eye was visible as he calmly responded “Yes, other than those things.” “Oh, nothing immediately important. Just wanted to meet the poor, naive patsy you have chosen to fill the board to serve under the queen.” “I had asked for a single position,” the King said with anger just at the edges of his voice. “You had made the request, but I felt that this position was so important that I implored the masses to ask for an immediate vote. As it turns out, one vote was absent that would have passed the bill as it was, but to fix that some changes were made.” Steadfast then realized he had missed the emergency vote. The king calmed down instantly, and continued in a calm tone. “You interfered once again. That was the last time. You remember what I told you would happen the next time you interfered?” “Yes, but you got ninety-five percent of the original bill through, and with a seventy-eight percent majority, and you are now more popular than the Peanut-butter and jelly sandwich having acted so swiftly. Now how would it look if you fired me over something that was so beneficial?” With that, the mage smiled and brushed past the king, who is now obviously twitching his eye. The sound of bells makes his walk comical, but the speed he moved for his age was impressive. He pressed the flat of his face right against Steadfast's. Steadfast was very surprised and pulled back, but the strange old unicorn just pressed back in place. Eyes locked, steadfast sees the lavender eyes get a light hint of a dark blue aura. “Well well.” Steadfast thought in the voice of the strange pony. “I see you aren't the kind of pony I had thought would be here. I wonder if the king understands you as well as he thinks.” “Wait, why am I thinking in his tone of voice?” “You're not, I am.” “You're talking to me in your mind?” “No, I'm talking to you in your mind.” At this, Steadfast would have raised an eyebrow or backed away again, yet he felt as if his body wasn't working properly. “Relax, I'm using my magic to make it so we are communicating at the speed of thought. This way we aren't seen staring at each others eyes dreamily for very long. Not that I don't like your eyes, you do have beautiful eyes, they remind me of melting butter on a summers day... or mustard... or butter mustard.” “You're doing what?” “I am touching your mind with my specially developed brand of mind magic.” “Okay... you know earth ponies aren't supposed to be aided by magic, right?” “By what law?” “Well, its not illegal, its just not normal.” “You will soon find that what passes for normal around here involves secrets, back stabbing, and sitting still for hours to get a self portrait done.” Steadfast didn't even know what to think in response. So he decided to get on a new topic. “What do you want?” “It's not what I want, it's what you will want and what you wish to accomplish within your new office, but knowing what I now know, I can see that I may have made a tactical error.” “Look... sir... I have no idea what your talking about, and you are confusing me more than helping, so can you get to the point? “Ah, the point, the point isn't what I'm here for. I am here to give you a place to retreat to when you realize that your role here isn't what you think it is. When you need someone to talk to, then say my name. I will lend you an ear when you need one, and advice when you ask, but only if you let me...” Steadfast just stood waiting for him to continue until he realized the old pony wasn't going to continue. “Oh, uh... okay.” The next thing he is aware of is the the old pony saying out lowed “perfect” and a small sharp pain is in Stead's head as he is forced to go cross eyed. Then he heard the jingle of bells as he walked back behind him and said “I will see you in the counsel chamber when you present the possible candidates.” Steadfast shook his head and cleared it of all the weird stuff that just happened. When the King just stood there looking at where the strange unicorn went, Steadfast cleared his throat and the king looked at him. He could tell the king was angry, and decided to keep his mouth shut. “That pony is so insufferable I cant stand him! He intervenes when it's the least convenient, and messes up all of my carefully laid out plans. I'm sorry, but it looks as if you aren't going to have to serve the role alone.” “If you wish, I can see if I can find a way to interpret the law to get what you want.” The king looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “You are an ambitious one aren't you?” Steadfast looked down and just stays quiet. As the king circled the table and sat back down, he regally said “Very well, you may have your look, and compare it to the original, see what you can do to make it as close to the original as possible. Now go, I need to get ahead of this fiasco.” And with that, Steadfast was dismissed, and he got up and started walking out of the garden and out of the castle. Only when he has left the building with a copy of the new bill in hoof does he realize that he hadn't managed to eat anything in the garden, and was starving. First things first. He was going to be of no use to the king or his family if he was not able to concentrate due to a lack of food, and with that he decided to ask Bright Scale out for lunch. Author's Note the prologue and the last two chapters have been nothing but setup. Now that all of that is out of the way, time to get to a little action.
