Princess Luna Vs The New Lunar Republic.
Princess Luna Vs The New Lunar Republic.
Three sets of hoofsteps echoed down the deserted palace corridor as Princess Nobilis De Selene Luna and her two Night Guard captains walked towards the main guard barracks.
“At that point corporal Trots went running to the bathrooms with about ten Changlings on her tail.” Anvil chuckled. Luna cracked a smile before frowning again.
“As amusing as that story was it does not change the fact that the Royal guards have sunk low since....” Luna faltered. “Since Everfree?”
Anvil suggested. Luna nodded and continued. “Even the handful of raw recruits that you had to work with at Everfree did better then....” Luna faltered again as she saw Princess Celestia enter the marble corridor.
Luna was surprised that, contrary to her usually happy and friendly nature, Celestia instead wore a frown. “Luna!” Celestia called spotting them and walking over.
“Yes sister? Is something wrong?” Luna asked as Celestia got close.
“Luna we need to talk.” Luna looked down the hall to see if anyone else with in earshot.
“Yes sister?” Luna asked puzzled when she had spotted no one.
“We need to talk alone.” Celestia stated looking at Luna's Guards.
Luna nodded and turned to her captains. “Anvil, Hammer. Go along to the Barracks. This should not take long.” The guards saluted and quickly trotted off down the hall. “Okay sister we are alone. What is it?” Luna asked fairly surprised at her sister's odd behaviour.
“Luna. I am going to ask you a question and I want an honest and truthful answer.” Luna nodded. “What is The New Lunar Republic?”
Luna stared at her Sister for a moment with an almost comical look of confusion on her face. “Aren't they that Griffin terrorist group?” Luna asked scrunching her eyebrows in concentration.
“No that is the New Loyalist Republic.”
“Then I have no ideas sister. Maybe you would like to tell me?” Luna asked, wondering if maybe this was one of her sister's little jokes.
“Luna there is a large crowd of ponies outside the castle chanting your name and shouting less then polite things about me.” Luna slowly smiled and started chuckling softly. “Sister. Do you really think that I am that gullible?”
Celestia scowled as Luna chuckled louder. “I mean really sister. Do you..”
“Luna this is not a joke.” Celestia interjected.
“Since I have returned I have avoided all public contact for almost a year, missed the Gala, scared the hay out of Ponyville, and completely slept through not only the Royal wedding but a huge Changling invasion. Do you really expect me to suddenly have a huge public following?”
Celestia sighed and shook her head. “Maybe it would be easier if I just showed you.” Luna smiled again.
“Okay I'll play along and follow you. But don't think for a moment that I don't see through this.” Luna warned walking behind her sister.
Celestia led Luna to a long hallway overlooking the castle courtyard. Celestia pointed her hoof towards the window and Luna looked out at the courtyard. To say Luna was surprised would be an understatement. The courtyard was filled with not only ponies but a few griffins and other creatures. What stood out to Luna the most was the diversity of the ponies protesting. A large number of them had bright coloured manes, coats and cutie marks of things which she did not recognise. She couldn't be sure but she could have sworn she saw a blue earth pony with OC written on it's head.
Looking around the crowd her eyes settled on a bright green pony with a bright red mane. “Is that an Alicorn?” She asked in surprise. Celestia nodded and pointed to one of the Unicorns who was levitating a sign.
“Read the signs.” Celestia ordered.
“Down with the Tyrant?” Luna read in surprise. “For the Lunar Republic? Down with Molestia?” Luna looked up. “Isn't Molestia that little provence next to Romaneia?”
Celestia shook her head and cracked a small smile. “No that's Maredova.”
Luna looked back at the signs. “Death to Trollestia? Who the hay is Trollestia?” Luna asked in confusion.
“They mean me.” Celestia replied quietly.
“Surely thou jest?” Luna asked falling back into her antique form of speech.
“No. That's not the worst they have called me. When I went out to see what they wanted they...” Celestia paused. “Said some things that are not fit for polite society.” She finished looking into Luna's eyes.
“You have to believe me I did not know of this until you showed me.” Luna hastily remarked averting her gaze.
“I believe you Luna.” Celestia reassured putting her hoof on Luna's shoulder in a reassuring manner.
“So what do we do about this?” Luna asked looking back at her sister's eyes.
Luna walked out onto the balcony above the courtyard. The cheers of the crowd quickly turned sour as Celestia walked out behind Luna and looked over the crowd.
“CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA!” As Luna's voice carried over the courtyard the cheering died down and a respectful silence followed. “CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA. YOUR...” Luna was cut off by a loud voice from the crowd below.
“WE ARE NOT CITIZENS OF EQUESTRIA! EQUESTRIA IS RULED BY THE TYRANT! WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE NEW LUNAR REPUBLIC!” Luna's mouth hung open for several seconds from the shock of sompony interrupting her as the crowd began to chant.
Luna waited a short bit for the chanting to stop before starting again. “Mares and Gentle colts. Thou have claimed that thou, I mean, that you are part of this New Lunar Republic.” Luna's eyes swept the crowd.
“However we have not heard of this...” Luna paused as her gaze fell on a sign that said. Luna is the best pony! “We have not heard of this, movement. Doth, I mean do you have a spokes pony that we can discuss this with?” Luna asked.
After a short bit of murmuring a bright blue Earth pony with a neon purple mane stepped forward. “Hail Luna Princess of the night! My name is Night warrior! I can not express my pleasure of being elected to speak with you. If it is not too bold, words can not express how beautiful you are!”
Luna stared at the Pony. Not because of what he had said but because she was trying to figure out if his mane was glowing or it was just her imagination.
“So Night warrior.” Luna remarked after a moment's hesitation. “Since you have been elected to represent this gathering I shall direct all our questions to thee.” Luna stated still trying to figure out if his mane was glowing.
“Night warrior. Neither my sister nor myself have any form of knowledge on this group. Would you like explain the intentions of this assembly?” Luna asked maintaining her lowered voice levels and modern method of speech.
“Oh most wonderful Princess Luna.” The blue Colt began bowing. “We are gathered to pledge ourselves to you and your glorious crusade to depose of the tyrant Celestia and to create a new free government run by you!”
Luna blinked several times. “Forgive me but did you say, depose of my sister?”
Night warrior nodded. “My wise Princess. We know of Celestia's crimes! Her suppression of those who are against her! Her manipulations of the people maintain her terrible rule!”
By now the blue pony was talking to the crowd more then Luna.
“Her unfair punishments for any law breaking! Her silencing of those who oppose her! Think of what she has done to you! She banished you for a thousand years and...”
Night warrior stopped as he noticed storm clouds had rapidly formed around the balcony. “HOW DARE THOU INSULT MY SISTER LIKE THAT!!!” Luna's voice was amplified and thunder crackled from the clouds. Night warrior watched in shock as Luna jumped down from the balcony and landed in front of him.
“MY SISTER HATH NOUGHT BUT THE GOOD OF THIS LAND IN HER HEART!” Night warrior shrank back as Luna advanced on him.
“Luna stop!” Celestia shouted flying down and putting her hoof on Luna's shoulder.
“BUT HE IS SAYING...”
“I know what he is saying.” Celestia interrupted. “But in case you have forgotten, all ponies have freedom of speech. He is allowed to say what he wants even if we disagree with him.” Luna looked back at her sister.
“But he...”
“Yes and he is a fool for saying those things. But he still has the right to say those things.”
Luna locked eyes with Night warrior again. “Before my exile ponies could be executed for less.” Luna hissed before following her sister up to the balcony.
“Good ponies!” Celestia's clear voice carried across the courtyard. “It would appear that you have shown up to attempt an uprising to be led by my sister.”
“I would ne..” Luna started before Celestia shushed her.
“However. My sister has expressed no interest in leading this New Lunar Republic.” Luna nodded quickly in agreement.
“So we shall do the next best thing. Tell us what your grievances are and we shall attempt to right what wrongs have been done!”
The courtyard was filled with silence.
“If you have a case of injustice please let us know so we may fix the situation. My sister and I know there is some corruption and abuse in the government.”
Luna gave a loud cough that sounded a little like Blueblood.
“So if any of you have any complaints let us know.” Celestia finished looking at Night warrior again.
Night warrior looked to his companions and talked a moment before looking back at the balcony.
“Tyrant Celestia. You asked to hear our grievances. You sit on your lofty throne and can not see them for yourself! The poor starve under your tyranny! Small businesses are crushed by the rich who merely get wealthier and steal from the poor!” Celestia frowned as another round of down with Celestia was chanted by the crowd.
“QUIET!” Luna shouted causing Celestia's ears to ring.
“Good Ponies.” Luna started, walking to the edge of the balcony and struggling to keep her voice low.
“I have been gone for a long while. But since I have been back I have read and looked over everything that has happened and the advancements of government.” Luna looked over at Celestia who nodded for her to continue.
“You claim the poor starve under my sister's noble rule. While it is true that our government does not give money to the poor.” Luna looked at Night warrior again and could not help but wonder if his mane was glowing.
“The government does not need to give to the poor. Not only do my sister and I give a lot to charity out of our own wallets, but the upper class of Canterlot give generously to charity organisations that help not only the poor but also the injured and anyone in need.”
Luna summoned a small scroll from her room and opened it. “Not only does Equestria have a very low unemployment rate but a recent charity auction made over ten million bits to be given homeless ponies!” Luna looked over the crowd.
“And that was just one auction. Hosted not by a pony who leeches money from others but by the owner of the Amtrot rail lines,”
“As for Small business.” Luna continued beginning to pace as she sometimes did when she was thinking.
"While I was in Ponyville during Nightmare night I had the honor of meeting Filthy Rich.” A scattering of boos came from the audience.
“His family started with nothing! And now his family are the wealthiest in Ponyville. Not through government handouts but through hard work and intelligence. Lady Rarity's store is a small business and it is doing excellent. Remember if small business do well they often turn into big businesses.” Luna gave a triumphant smirk.
“What about Taxation with out representation?” A voice shouted from the audience which was quickly picked up by the crowd.
“We have a Parliament that represents ponies to the best of its ability. Although my sister and I have final say we rarely if ever veto anything. As for taxes we have a simple low flat percent tax for everyone.” Luna was beginning to think that these ponies didn't seem to have any clue about Equestria's government when Night warrior spoke again.
“Princess Luna! How can you side with your sister after what she did to you?”
Luna knew what was coming. “And Pray tell. What horrific act of tyranny did she exercise against me?” Luna asked mentally thinking of how to reply to the inevitable question. She already was prepared to swallow her pride to defend her sister. She just didn't want to sound like a fool while doing it.
“Your sister banished you to the moon for a thousand years! How can you support the monster that did that to you?”
Luna took a deep breath before replying.
“My sister only did what was necessary to protect Equestira. I was out of control and on the verge of commenting, unintentional though it may have been, genocide. Had my sister not stopped me Equestria would have been a ball of ice and rock as baron as the moon.”
Luna blinked and took another deep breath. “Although I was partially corrupted by something that I let in. I and I alone are to blame for my imprisonment.”
“Luna you can not take full responciblities for your actions. If I had been more.” Celestia started in a concerned voice but Luna cut her off.
“Nay sister. I let petty envy blind me to the consciences of my actions. Every step of the way you tried to help me.”
“Luna if you blame your..” Celestia started before being cut off again.
“Sister we talked about this. I am Nightmare moon no longer! I have put my mistakes behind me!” Luna didn't even notice she had started pacing again.
“While I was going through my punishment I thought only of revenge. After I returned and the Elements had cast the nightmare out of my body I was small and helpless. Celestia had me entirely at her mercy. And instead of banishing me again she gave me the one thing that I had secretly wished for during my long years of imprisonment. Forgiveness and acceptance!”
If Luna had been expecting the crowd to gush with tears of joy at her story she was severely mistaken. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Celestia wiping her face with her hoof but most of the crowd seemed to be staring at her as if they could not believe she had just said that.
Luna looked our over the crowd and was slightly disappointed by the lack of reaction. She was about to call them heartless warmongers when she heard somepony cheering from the roof.
“YEAH LUNA! Wahooooooooooo!” Luna looked up as a grey Pegasus with a blond mane fell off the roof and onto the balcony.
“Are you all right?” Celestia asked quickly helping the Pegasus to her feet.
“Yep thanks for asking! Great speech Princess Luna!” Luna stared in surprise at the Pegasus's eyes. One was looking up and the other was looking down.
“Luna you shouldn't stare.” Celestia chided watching her sister's gaze. “Is there anything we can do for you miss Hooves?” Celestia asked smiling.
“No thats okay Princess Celestia! I was just taking a nap on a cloud and then the cloud turned into a storm cloud and appeared over the castle.” Derpy explained in a cheerful voice.
“Oh sorry about that.” Luna apologised before wondering what the odds were that a randomly summoned storm cloud would have a certain Mail-mare on it.
“So since I was here I thought I would give you something to show how much I like you!” Derpy exclaimed pulling two steaming hot Banana nut muffins out of thin air.
“I made them myself!” She said proudly giving the Princesses the delectable pastries. Luna watched Celestia take a tiny nibble out of hers before rapidly devouring the rest of it in a very undignified way.
“Sister you should not eat in such...” Luna started before hearing a voice from the crowd. “Is that Derpy Hooves!?!?” Luna turned and saw Derpy looking over the balcony at the assembled group.
Luna's mouth widened in surprise as the crowd started chanting Derpy's name. Derpy looked back at the princesses with a look that showed she was more confused then both of them put together.
“Why are they chanting my name?” Derpy asked starting to freak out.
“We love you Derpy!” A voice called from the crowd.
“Do you know any of them?” Luna asked looking out over the crowd.
“Nope. Wait. No. I would recognise the one with the glowing purple mane.” Derpy answered staring at Night warrior.
“Well they seem to like you.”
“I know. Maybe they're nice ponies!” Derpy replied smiling and causing Celestia to roll her eyes as she remembered some of the names they had called her.
“Hello Everypony!” Derpy called out to the crowd. Luna looked to Celestia in surprise but decided to let Derpy talk to the crowd when Celestia smiled and nodded back.
“Hey! I just wanted to say you seem real nice and that since you all look like you are new around here I will be happy to deliver your mail!” The crowd gave out a loud cheer while Luna looked bemusedly at Celestia.
“I also wanted to tell you guys how much I like the Princesses! It used to hurt when my eyes would mess up but then one day I was delivering a box full of apple cinnamon cookies to Princess Celestia and she preformed a spell on me that made it not hurt when my eyes mess up!” Luna nodded as she realized why Celestia let her talk.
“So lets hear it for my favourite princesses! YEAH LUNA! YEAH CELESTIA! WAHOOOOO......” Luna grabbed Derpy's mane before she fell off the balcony. From the crowd there were scattered cheers but mainly muttering and hushed talking.
“Why isn't anyone else cheering?” Derpy asked puzzled. Celestia bent down and whispered something into Derpy's ear that caused her to quickly frown.
“Why wouldn't they like you?” Derpy asked her face scrunched up in confusion.
“To be honest Mrs. Hooves I don't know.” Celestia answered with a look of sadness in her eyes.
“You can call me Derpy! All my friends call me that!” Derpy exclaimed before noticing Celestia's sad face.
“Your my friend! You invited me to the wedding! Maybe if I ask the people to not hate you they will stop being meanies!” Derpy exclaimed happily.
Luna wanted to point out that the odds of that were so low she didn't even need a calculator when she remembered that the crowd seemed to, for what ever reason, love the Gray pony.
“Hello Everypony!” Derpy enthusiastically shouted to the crowd.
“I was told that you guys don't like Princess Celestia and want to get rid of her. And that makes me sad because ponies could get hurt! So I was thinking why would anyone dislike Celestia and I realised I don't have a clue why you don't like her!” Derpy stated putting a hoof under her chin.
Several seconds passed before a timid sounding pony in the crowd half shouted. “Celestia is weak! She.... Ahhh.” The pony stopped as he realised everyone was looking at him.
“Go on.” The pony next to hissed hitting him over the head with his hoof.
“She ah, could not defeat the Changelings!” The crowd quickly murmured in agreement.
Luna stepped forward and was about to defend her sister but Derpy started first.
“You don't like Princess Celestia because she got defeated by that big meanie Crysa.... Chrissa....Chryse...”
Derpy paused as she tried to figure out how to say it before deciding to skip it and call her. “Queen Buggy!”
Derpy smiled at her choice of words as Celestia remembered she was supposed to be meeting with Chrysalis in an hour to negotiate a cease fire.
“So you guys think Princess Celestia is weak because she got defeated by Queen Buggy?” Derpy reiterated before continuing.
“I may not be the smartest pony but I know that just because somepony isn't super strong does not make them a bad ruler. I mean if you think about it, making the strongest pony the leader is not a good system to determine who the leader of a nation should be. Leaders should be chosen by the level of competence and whether or not they are trustworthy enough to be able to handle the stresses of government without getting corrupted.”
Luna's mouth fell open in shock as Derpy continued.
“No offence to either of the two Royal princesses present but Princesses Luna is a more powerful fighter then Princess Celestia. But, as we have seen, Luna tends to have problems in garnering public support for her projects, which she has been known to rush. In addition she has more trouble then her sister in fighting the corruption that power has.” Luna might have tried to say something in her defence but she was having trouble trying to get her jaw to close.
“And Celestia.” Derpy continued, her minor speech impediment vanishing.
“She is a good leader who loves her people and is loved by them. But she is not the most powerful fighter and does make mistakes on occasion. Like everyone does. I know I make mistakes I know you make mistakes. I also know that people learn from mistakes. For example I learned that when loading a Cargo wagon to make sure the brace is on so the cargo does not accidentally fall out the back.” Derpy looked over the crowd with a enthusiastic smile.
“So why can't we just get along and not fight? Instead of starting a violent revolution that causes untold suffering and destruction why not try and fix the problems! If you see a poor pony give them money instead of trying to make the government do it! Lets love and Tolerate each other and live in peace and harmony!” Derpy finished, her miner speech impediment returning.
The crowd quietly murmured before a Pegasus took to the air and faced the crowd. “I don't know about you but if Derpy supports the Princesses then so do I!” There were scattered cheers from the crowd and a fairly large number of ponies who had seen the wisdom in Derpy's words started migrating to one side.
“You have to be kidding me!” Night warrior shouted in rage while the group of ponies surrounding him nodded in agreement. “Look at you all being swayed by one wall eyed brain damaged stupid Pegasus!” There was a collective gasp from the crowd as what he had said set in.
As the ponies registered what he said there was a silence broken only by the sound of a single pony sobbing on the balcony.
As the sounds of Derpy's crying and Celestia trying to comfort her echoed across the courtyard all eyes turned to Night warrior. “What? That retarded pathetic excuse for a pony is derailing the revolution!” Night warrior shouted as several massive earth ponies wearing black sunglasses and black synthetic leather jackets slowly walked into his field of vision.
“Kid. No one insults Derpy Hooves.” The leader scratched the grounded as Night warrior's eyes widened in fear. “You have five seconds before we beat the living snot out of you. Five.... Four....”
As Night warrior's childish screaming faded into the distance the crowd turned to face the the balcony. Luna watched the crowd nervously as Derpy's sobs continued behind her.
“Derpy is right!” A Pegasus shouted flying up to the balcony.
“We need to work together and be friends! We may not like Celestia but we should not do anything that would cause suffering for other ponies because of it! We can create a better government without resorting to violence!” The crowd loudly cheered.
“And Derpy we are sorry that we ever let that fool speak for us. We all love you and think you are a great pony!”
Derpy's tears stopped as the crowd started cheering and shouting Derpy's name. Derpy slowly stood up and looked at the cheering crowd.
“Derpy is the best pony!” A voice shouted causing Derpy to smile and her usual cheerfulness to return.
After a short bit Derpy raised her hoof for silence. As the cheering died down Derpy took flight and hovered over the balcony.
“You ponies are great! You are all my friends now and I want to take you to my favourite café so we can have muffins together talk and do fun friend stuff!” As Derpy finished she flew down to just above the crowd and led them out of the courtyard and into the city.
Luna watched as the crowd dispersed. Many following Derpy and the rest deciding to go home and rethink their actions. After the last pony left the gate Luna turned to Celestia.
“How well do you know that Pony?” Celestia smiled as she led walked back inside with Luna following.
“I have only met her a couple times.” Celestia replied vaguely.
“And she just happened to be on one of the storm clouds that I summoned when I was mad. And she just happened to be the pony that was able to completely change the crowd's intentions?” Celestia gave Luna an almost guilty smile before shrugging and replying.
“What an amazing coincidence.”
(Note. While I am considering rewriting the entire story I figured that I should at least go back and fix some of the more glaring issues in this version. (Namely the hard to read wall of text style of writing.) I don't think most of you will come back and reread this or even notice that I fixed some mistakes so this is mainly for my own benefit.)
