A Twinkle of Hope

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 16

Manehattan; the great center of commerce and culture. The mighty city of a grandeur surpassed only by the shimmering capital of Canterlot. Once ponies from all across Equestria came to engage in business and tourism, saturating the trains and subways, and congesting streets. Lines would form around the blocks, with ponies waiting to meet their favorite authors or sample the latest baked goods from a cafe.

Skyscrapers dwarfed the wilderness around the city, hosting the great banks and the tycoons of industry, such as Triple-Crown Industries' Manehattan branch. Anypony, from every walk of life and every corner of Equestria, could not help but stare in awe at the massive scale of the urban jewel.

Until the war came.

Now once towering buildings are but piles of rubble, still being removed and cleaned up. The fancy high rises have been torn down, replaced with factories and garrison posts. The fall of the city ushered in a new era of Republican rule. Martial law, long enacted, ensured the colorful nightlife was stopped. Ponies needed to be safe. Safety and equality was first. All else came second, including freedom. Freedom is a dangerous thing.

Somewhere in the streets that remained, there slowly walked a yellow pegasus. Flying was illegal. It risked rousing uproar from "less-advantaged ponies." He kept blowing his orange mane from his face. He should get it cut. As the pony passed the long-dead neon signs and the ruins of Equestria Financial, he sighed, silently lamenting the poor state of his beloved Manehattan.

A zoo came into his sights. Perhaps on his day off he would take his three children to see the animals. A flier blew into his face, advertising the newest addition to the city zoo; a small purple dragon. What was its name? Splinter? Talon? It wasn't important.

He walked up the steps to his apartment door. It was humble, and slightly aged, but it was home. Before the war he hoped to save enough money to buy a lovely house in the suburbs. Dreams can die. His wife looked towards the door, greeting her husband.

"Oh welcome home dear!." She trotted up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. "How was work?"

Placing his coat on a hanger, the pegasus began. "You know same ol' same ol'. We got another order for those big bombs."

"Simply dreadful. When will they have you back making furniture? You're so good at that." The stallion turned and looked at his flank. A wooden rocking chair was superimposed over it.

Sighing, he continued to the dining table. "Is dinner almost ready, dear?"

"Yes, yes. Call down the kids, would you please?"

He cleared his throat. "Ahem...kids! Dinner!"

Three little ponies gallop down the stairs, all yelling in unison, "Daddy!!!!"

They tackled him so hard he nearly fell back in his chair. “Woah...hey kids! What have I told you about running down the stairs?"

Again all at once the children responded, "To not to...."

"That's right. Now take a seat. We're about to enjoy the wonderful meal your mother has prepared for us."

One skimpy meal later, the children returned to their rooms, the sound of hooves clopping on stairs likely annoying the neighbors.

The pegasus gathered the dishes and prepared to wash them. His wife looked at him with a worried look.

"I'm sorry we had such a small dinner, honey...the market was pretty bare."

"Those military brutes need all the food they can get...and I'm sorry I can't make more money. I know you wanted better. Those idealists in Canterlot feel they know what's best. Look what they've done to Manehattan...and how they've destroyed the very things that can rebuild it."

"You know I've never cared for politics." She chuckled, wrapping her forelegs around her stallion.

"Yes I know. Thanks for dinner, dear." He leaned in to kiss her, and retired to his chair. The thirty minutes of television that was allotted to his household entertained his wife and three foals. Afterwards, the yellow pegasus walked out onto his balcony, looking up at the empty sky. (Not that he could ever see any stars past the city lights in his youth) Still, he longed to fly up and feel the wind in his mane. He sighed, before noticing a glow reflecting from a metal sheet across the street. To his left he saw a truly wondrous sight.

"Everypony! Come out here! There's something wonderful outside!"

No sooner had he called his family did they oblige. To their absolute amazement, none more than the stallion, the clan stared up at the night sky. Far more bright than the "nightlights", there placed above Equestria was a brilliant full moon.

Celestia was still awake, all of her cellmates long in slumber. In her near-cataonic state, she found it difficult to do anything, strangely including sleeping. They gave her just enough food to prevent a hunger-induced coma, but she still looked emaciated and overly gaunt, even for somepony as tall and gangly as Celestia.

She heard the faint sounds of...bursts. That's the best she could describe the noise. Faint orange flashes lightly glowed against the hard stone grey of the windowsill. Celestia weakly stood up, trying to investigate. They were do to come soon. Would this distract them? Her self-labeled "selfish" thoughts were quickly banished from her mind as she looked at her dear student and the other Elements of Harmony. Those terrible ponies channeled their sick energies into Celestia, sparing the five other mares. It was awful, but a necessary sacrifice to protect those she loved; for however long she could.

Again the once-regal alicorn turned towards the window. Her eyes were filled with the great sight of an object rising. It brought tears to her eyes, tears of joy. She instantly knew what the "burst" were. She sat in her cell now, and waited to see what the night would bring.

"Thank you, Luna. Thank you. Soon we may have peace, my little ponies."

"The advance is commencing as scheduled, sir. Estimates say that in two days the entirety of the country will have been surveyed." The Minister of War spoke as the Premier read his brief.

The leader of Equestria placed the report down onto his desk. "Excellent. Have somepony radio them. I want the country leveled if necessary. I've invested too much time and resources to have it ruined by some damned rebels."

"Yes sir." The minister walked off to carry out his orders.

Another pony came in, the Premier's secretary. "Sir! I have an appeal from the Senate."

"What does the Senate want from me?"

"They have submitted their weekly petition for the revocation of your emergency powers."

The uniformed pony glared at the filly. "And if I refuse?"

"They state they will send another petition next week."

"I see. Everypony, it seems this statement lacks teeth. Tell them there is a civil war. Rebels! Guerillas! Anarchists! They must be stopped! I will not sacrifice the existence of this republic on account of some politicians! Perhaps I should just dissolve the Senate altogether."

"Sir, is that...constitutional?" Another minister spoke up, knowing full well the answer to his question.

"I arbitrate that document. In fact..." The Premier was suddenly cut off by a number of explosions, followed by bright orange lights outside. "What in the world was that?"

The occupants of the office looked out the window and saw the shining orbital body over the horizon. "Were those fireworks?? Are we celebrating our discovery on how to raise the moon! Haha excellent!" The minister of technology stood there, staring blankly.

"Well?"

"Sir...um...we...haven't actually...made the breakthrough..."

The Premier sat back down to think. "Hmmm...so if we didn't do it...then...then!" His hoof shaking, he reached to take off his reading glasses, which made a rattling sound. "Lu...Lu...Luna...is...here."

The earth-pony's secretary started to speak. "S...sir..."

"It...was...my understanding that Luna. Was. DEAD!! YOU PIECES OF SHIT!! MOBILIZE OUR DEFENSES!! KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!! INFORM THE MARSHAL!!" He began to cool down, everypony now cowering in terror at the temperamental pony. "Tell him to hold the city at all costs. I shall retreat to the bunker. Since Luna appears to not be able to die, BRING HER TO ME!!"

"Y...yes sir!" They all saluted and did as they were told. The Premier gathered some things and left to his bunker.

On his way he cursed Luna and whatever army she had with her. "You are going to wish you were mortal, filthy creature. You shall pay dearly for your transgressions."

And with that he continued on his way.

All of Canterlot was made ready to deter the invasion. The anti-air emplacements were prepared. Garrisons emptied. Sirens were sounded as the citizens rushed into bunkers of their own. Cannons loaded up. Tanks unleashed. Marshal Powderkeg stood inside the castle, overlooking the whole city. The Second Battle of Canterlot had begun.