Chapters Princess Celestia walked slowly with a slight limp. Aided by two royal guards, the humble monarch of Equestria inched along the glistening marble tile of the royal palace. It had been a full three days since the attack and the princess was still not strong enough to walk, however, this was far too important to Celestia. She had insisted that an audience be assembled ever since Canterlot had been declared safe and there was no threat of a changeling counter-attack.
Rounding another corner and passing through another hallway draped with ancient tapestries and priceless paintings of foreign dignitaries, they were mere steps away from passing through the guilded arch and out onto the balcony to where the head of state would make her address. On it stood the minister of defense as well as Princesses Cadence and Luna. The procession stepped into the spotlights fixed on the podium and the crowd gasped, The god empress suddenly became aware of her appearance. As the most powerful alicorn alive she should have felt some self-pity in having to be carried from her chambers by her guards (it didn't help that her mane was a mess), but the only thing she felt was remorse for the speech she was about to give to her faithful subjects. She positioned herself in a somewhat secure position and looked out into the crowd.
"Oh my...the entire castle grounds must be packed." Thought the sun goddess. She wasn't one to get nervous making speeches but she felt a bit of panic for a moment as her wide magenta eyes scanned the throng of ponies standing, floating, and waiting for her to address them. Her face grew solemn and burdened as she began to speak, the audience fell quiet as the bold yet gentle words of the tall white mare began to emanate around the courtyard.
"My loyal subjects... as most of you know, three days ago we were mercilessly infiltrated and attacked without provocation. Three days ago, Harvest the tenth, is a date that shall live in infamy for years to come. I have called this audience to gather here today to defunct any rumors or misconceptions that may have sprung up in the aftermath." She paused for a bit to regain her breath and take a drink of water offered to her by the minister.
The audience dared not to speak, they all felt the relentless tension in the air for what they knew would have to come up sooner or later. Celestia regained her composure and reluctantly cast an eye over the audience who were waiting for her to pick up where she left off. Only one pony noticed the princess's shady eye movement, his mouth curled up into a smug grin after noticing it.
"Before we start off with questions I wish to address one thing." Celestia sighed, her eyes revealed hours of contemplation. "It is true that when confronting the changeling Queen I... I was defeated." Her face was of total anguish when uttering these last words. Not only was her kingdom shaken, but so was her dignity. The crowd collapsed under the tension and the courtyard turned into a madhouse. The shouting was overbearing and wasn't doing any favors for the shrewd Monarch's injury which had been directed towards her head.
"Please... subjects... my little ponies?" her voice pleaded with the crowd but it fell on deaf ears. A certain pony donned with a Panama style hat moved towards the podium set up for the audience, slowly moving ponies out of his way with soft shoves. After a few seconds more of pandemonium the roar of voices subsided enough for the sun goddess to speak again.
"I would like to urge everyone to remember that this was a freak accident and that the Equestrian royal mili-"
"And why should we believe a mare who not only fails to protect her citizens, but let's her capital AND herself get captured in one fell swoop?" the pony standing on the podium yelled, his hoof outstretched and pointing straight at a dumbfounded princess.
A brown-maned pony with a certain type of hat waded through the crowd of bodies as if in some sort of trance. Even as the smoke cleared one day after the incident at Equestria's glistening capital, trade flowed through these roads and up to the city. The persistent river of equines let Vilotyne blend in quite easily, he never really liked to stand out until the moment called for it.
The mud from the road clung to his hooves like water to a sponge and the rain came down in thin crystal sheets from the heavens. He adjusted his brown coat to cover his hips and kept walking, smelling the air as the fragrance of the precipitation passed over him. A cart passed by the solemn figure, it barreled through the muck and the driver cast a grimace towards the entranced pony. He payed no attention to the outburst and kept walking at his own pace; he looked to his left and gazed through the mist that was hanging over the surrounding landscape. The gray stallion's face was one of indifference as he scanned over many miles of territory with a single glance, it wasn't anything that he wasn't used to after all, Las Pegasus had better scenery anyway. Turning his head forwards he could see Canterlot growing bigger and bigger on the horizon.
It was a mere twenty minutes until, at last, the lanky stallion's hooves met the cobblestone of the city with a loud clack. When a pony from another place comes to Canterlot they usually gaze up at the magical effigies and begin to feel humbled by the shear size of the city, Vilotyne did none of this. Walking down the sidewalks he heeded nothing, his eyes were fixed in a piercing stare at nothing in particular, and he walked at a relaxed pace. After crossing the street and ignoring the curses of the carriage drivers that he had blatantly stepped out in front of, he walked into an Inn. Nothing could disturb this deeper thinker when he was planning, he looked briefly at the other people seated inside the Inn and thought with disgust how his degrees from Fillydelphia University were going to waste on this trip. The Innkeeper looked up from her counter top to gaze at the strange pony as he slowly walked up and spoke:
"Is there vacancy in this fine establishment?" His voice was soft and gentleman-like, it had a slight country twang. His eyes shone from beneath the brim of his hat. The Innkeeper looked hard into his eyes and wondered where such a stallion would come from.
"Uh, yea... Down the hall and to the right. 30 bits a night." Her voice was uncertain and wavering. Vilotyne frowned as if to say no that will not do.
"My dear, this certainly looks like a wonderful building, however I can't help but notice that these stairs are not up to Canterlot building regulations." He smiled with great pleasure "The code specifically outlines five inches of hoof space for each stair, this is obviously three... one could easily slip and break thei-" He was frantically cut off by the Innkeeper mare.
"Okay okay..." she whispered gritting her teeth, trying her best not to notice the rest of the guests looking at her. "15 bits a night... how about that?" her eyes pleaded with the grinning patron.
"That will do." He said smugly as he opened his bag and threw 15 bits onto the table. Too easy a voice muttered disapointedly from inside his head.
Vilotyne didn't bother getting up early as he usually did the next day, he knew that he had time to kill and had heard from a peasant yesterday that the princess was still healing from her wounds. A single ray of light hit one of his green, half opened, eyes and he doubled back as he brought a hoof to his face to shield himself from the onslaught of sun.
"How ironic..." He muttered to himself grudgingly as he threw himself out of the bed. After he had put on his coat and hat he walked down the hallway, past the steps, right past the Innkeeper who stared at him intently, and out onto the street. The sky was whitewashed from the night's downpours and the clouds had retreated over the mountain peaks leaving a pale blue sky hanging over the damaged slate roofs of the city. Turning his head towards his right he could see the palace towering over the rest of Canterlot like a giant among a company of dwarves.
His body beckoned him to that giant and he soon felt his legs trotting over to meet the palace. The silent gray stallion thought little and when he did, he thought of what was to come in the future. He walked through the streets full of broken merchandise stalls and burnt out houses. As he passed what was once a luxurious cottage he noticed posters tacked up on the broken walls. 500 bit reward for information on the capture of any changling scum. As his legs brought him over a tiny bridge that stood over a small brook he stated inside his head what he perceived as the obvious. She's going to have to make an appearance and she knows it.
It took him a good hour to traverse the broken landscape of the Capital and to find his way to the palace gates. Vilotyne leaned against a produce stall and looked across the courtyard at the unfolding scene. A white unicorn with a very gaudy appearance stepped up to another officer just inside the gates.
"Ah, Captain of the Guard Shining Armor I presume?" said the lanky earth pony under his breath. He had studied the royal family and was no stranger to their faces. He adjusted his perch and continued to watch.
Shining Armor said something inaudible from where Vilotyne was eavesdropping and then hurried off to another part of the castle grounds. The remaining officer gave some signals to his men and they proceeded into the plaza in formation. Once in the middle the guards formed a circle with the officer standing inside. All eyes were on him as his husky voice bellowed out of his body and out onto the crowd. His tone was like a politician who had just secured a nomination, secured and official but a little bit frightful at the same time.
"Her majesty, Princess Celestia, requests an audience tomorrow morning at ten o'clock in the castle courtyard, all subjects residing in Canterlot should be in attendance! The castle grounds will be opened at nine, until then you must wait at the gates. The princess wishes to remind everyone that you are completely safe within Equestria's borders and wishes all of you a speedy recovery from this recent attack."
With that the unit refiled and retreated back inside the gates. The peasants went back to their shopping and Vilotyne got what he knew was coming. Heading back the way he came, the panama hat donned pony thought to himself half seriously: Better get some sleep, getting their early will be my strategy. As he turned onto the street where the Inn was he noted a cart outside that said "Arbor's Carpentry" and he had to hold back the urge to break out laughing. When he was in sight of the Innkeeper again she yelled out confidently:
"HEY! THERE'S THE SMART BASTARD!" Her eyes were full of the pride she had lost yesterday. "Now that I got those stairs extended, I would like you to pack your crap and get out! I mean, unless you can pay for another night that is. I doubt it though, a guy who has to blackmail his way for a night's rest can't be too wealthy!" Her voice was full of malice. Looking around Vilotyne could see a number of other code violations that he could exploit but he merely looked her in the eye and spoke in a calm voice:
"Allow me to extend my sincerest apologies miss." He took out his coin purse and threw the entire thing onto the table "I don't think that I shall be needing that after tomorrow, it should cover your damages" He grinned at the completely shocked mare across the counter and made his way towards his room.
Celestia's voice came softly at first and then broke into a blind rage.
"How... how DARE you?!" She spat back at the strangely dressed stallion in disgust. "I have not suffered an indecency such as this for decades! GENERATIONS!" The look of determination vanished off Vilotyne's face and one of amusement took it's place. Celestia didn't realize that she was yelling in the royal Canterlot voice now and the more outrage she showed, the more the thin pony's smile widened. Everything is falling into place. he thought smugly.
"How can a simple earth pony contain either so much contempt or so much foolishness as to challenge me?" The white mare hacked out a sickly cough and raised her head slowly to look out into the audience. A pit in her stomach opened up as she was met with faces of ponies racked by terror. Foals started crying and a unicorn in the back fainted, looking to her right she noticed a distinct lack of a certain minister. Oh no... Celestia was searching her mind for what to say when a voice cut the silence like a hot knife.
"So you see, my friends, that what must be destroyed if we are to survive this frightening new world! This charlatan" Vilotyne declared, raising his hoof at the princess once again "Denies the fact that there continues to be a danger from the changeling scourge as long as their leader still breaths and as so long as the Alicorns continue to oppress the normal pony folk!" The audience listened as if under a spell, their eyes locked on his.
"You speak blasphemy!" cried the princess from atop the balcony.
"Listen, we don't need to be arguing this." Cadence proclaimed stepping from the sidelines.
"And why not?" Luna said doing the same. With this notion the crowd went into an uproar again.
"You're with him?" Cadence asked in an accusing tone.
"No, but he has all very good points" Luna claimed.
"You power hungry wi-" the pink Alicorn started but was cut off by an annoyed Celestia.
"ENOUGH!" her voice traveled out to all parts of the city. Everyone stood still as they heard their leader's hacking cough again. Her voiced was venomous as she address the outspoken stallion still standing tall on the podium.
"As for everybody else, I would like to think of this as a minor speed bump in our road to recover..." She let out her hardest cough of all then lost balance and fell against the railing of the balcony. Time stood still as her gaze shifted from face to face until it finally settled on him. He was holding back a smile and she could tell. He planned this. She fell the rest of the way down and her head smacked against the tile with a loud thump. The disgruntled monarch of this seemingly peaceful and happy empire was hauled back to her suite on a stretcher.
After her sister was carried away, the lunar princess stepped up to the edge of the balcony and stated in a flat tone:
"No further questions" she gave Vilotyne a curious look and then she briskly walked away. Cadence stared at Luna insolently as she strolled past and remarked in an annoyed tone:
"Obviously..."
"Where did we go wrong, what is happening to us!?" a red earth pony cried out in despair as he moved with the crowd away from the palace. A strange stallion moved to walk beside the forlorn soul, he had not been in the best vantage point during the speech, he had no idea who this was.
"We haven't gone wrong friend, what could you have done to merit the kind of torture you are no doubt receiving now?" The stranger said, reasoning with him.
"Nothing, but did you see how fired up the princess got? I've never seen her angry... at all." The red pony said in amazement of the memory.
"She fears reason, and fear and negligence spawn hatred." He said thoughtfully while the red-coated listener rolled his eyes.
"You were that guy up on the podium weren't you? I can tell from how you talk, you're one book away from genius aren't you?" he replied with a hint of annoyance. He got a hearty chuckle in response.
"Sometimes i'd like to think so, but that is irrelevant." Vilotyne stated, his face turning serious again. The crowd poured out into the plaza that he had scouted out yesterday. "You've noticed it haven't you? Your faithful leader isn't as she used to be. You and I both know that she wasn't ready for this attack nor will she be ready for any future attacks." he asked the red-coated pony. They stopped and stood in the thinning crowd within the plaza. The grown stallion standing in from of vilotyne bowed his head in shame.
"Three days ago is when I lost my wife, when my life turned into a warped nightmare..." The red pony muttered, tears escaping his eyes.
"And you don't want it to happen again, do you?" he asked in a gentle and understanding tone. The red earth pony's eyes looked into his and the look of anguish vilotyne had come to expect met him full force.
"Mr..." the suffering stallion started.
"Vilotyne"
"Mr. Vilotyne," He continued "If you can stop this from happening to other folks, you're fine by me..." the words were sincere and final, the red stallion walked off into the crowd. Vilotyne was left to ponder what to do next but was cut off as a blackjack impacted on his skull and knocked him out cold.
Vilotyne was coming to, his vision was blurred and his head was slumped to one side. Through the haze he could hear a voice that calm and smooth, and one that was burly as well as scratchy. He couldn't make out what they were saying but he could tell that they were arguing. His vision began to clear slowly and the two figures began to take shape. An intense pain shot across his skull and permeated through it in waves. How? What? The more he tried to understand what was happening the worse the pain got. Through the ringing of his ears he picked up small segments of the conversation.
"...MADNESS, HERES... -your highness, I..." The scruff voice said. One of the outlines raised it's hand as if to speak more but the other voice cut him off.
"...Nothing...about...to us." The more elegant of the two voices said. Vilotyne could now see that he was in some sort of cell or perhaps a dungeon. He made to rub his eyes but couldn't, looking down he could see that he was restrained in a chair with large leather straps. There was a wooden table in front of him with a candle. The gray-coated stallion had had enough, he shouted blindly at the shapes:
"HEY, DID I ANGER YOU CELESTIA? THAT WAS QUITE A SHOW YOU PUT ON FOR ALL OF EQUESTRIA!" He chuckled as the silhouettes made their way towards him. One held a rag to his mouth while the other one whispered maliciously in his ear.
"Stay quiet you retch!"
Vilotyne blinked twice and his vertigo subsided and was now replaced with utter confusion. He was looking straight into the eyes of Princess Luna who held a rag to his muzzle. Seeing the look in his face change, Luna released her grip on the pony. He looked to his left and saw the minister of defense standing idly by. Vilotyne's mind struggled to connect the dots, if he was being taken into custody there would be a plethora of guards and a gloating Celestia. He simply muttered in a cautious tone:
"Well, Ms. Luna and the good minister... nice to see you?"
"As long as you don't raise your voice again, it will be." The minister growled.
"Now..." The dark blue alicorn started. "Who are you, where did you come from, and how are you so good at what you do?" Her voice becoming higher at the last few words she spoke. She saw the look on his face and spoke discerningly:
"Now don't you smile at me. I know what you're thinking, but you're too cocky. Yes, you might be good, but are you good enough to do what it is that you are thinking?"
The imprisoned stallion looked directly into Luna's eyes, his face unchanged.
"I was born in Fillydelphia a mere twenty-eight years ago, to a house of wealthy Bureaucrats. Growing up, I had 375 acres to play in. I did not step foot in any of it, save when I absolutely needed to. I was home schooled but my mother often sent me to town to fetch groceries, said it built character. Well, she was absolutely correct." Luna and the minister listened on, both wondering where this would lead.
"There was a bigger pony that would often knock me down and steal my grocery money. One day I stewed up a way to be rid of him. I set out at my normal time, except this time I had no money. When he tried to steal it from me I explained to him that I had forgot it at my house. He insisted on following me to my house, as I knew he would. When we got to a river I told him to do as I do, I walked across some stepping-stones that I had set up. When he tried, the rocks wouldn't support his weight, I knew they wouldn't. The current dragged him under and drowned him, I watched from the bank."
"Does this answer your questions miss?" He was still staring directly at her, his face didn't contort or change at all throughout the entire time he was speaking. The lunar goddess thought for a moment, sighed, and said:
"Yes..."
Chapter 4
Celestia's eyes shot open, light poured into her corneas and blinded her. How ironic she thought as the doctor pulled the flashlight out of her face. His gentle, old, and fat face was tattered with wrinkles that became deep canyons when he smiled as he was doing now.
"Good morning your highness." He said in a wheezy voice as he made for his clipboard. The sun goddess sat up and rubbed her head.
"What happened forrest?" she asked the doctor. He finished writing down his analysis and spit the pencil onto the table. He thought for a second then raised a hoof to his chin.
"Well Tia, I've been your doctor for thirty-six years, and I have never seen you act like how you did at your statement this morning." The memories flooded back to the white alicorn, she couldn't fathom how she had been so stupid. Forrest became quiet as he thought about what he was about to say next. "Do forgive me for my insolence your majesty, but is it at all possible that you have some new kind of inferiority complex due to you being defeated by Chrysalis?" Her giant magenta eyes locked onto his and she whispered:
"I am the leader of the most powerful nation on this planet, I helped tame the chaos that existed before, I have survived fifty wars throughout history, and you ask me if some insignificant blunder has phased me?" She rolled to face away from her accuser.
"But that's just it, you never talked about all that stuff before Tia! You were as humble as a hermit but you have achieved more than the most boisterous soldier. Anyway, you have a guest... please think about what I said." Celestia turned and motioned to say something back but the doctor had left and Cadence took his place.
"Hello, auntie." The pink alicorn said.
"Hello dear, it is a shame you are seeing me like this." Celestia said as she looked away from her niece in self-pity. Cadence chuckled, it burned her aunt like fire inside.
"Oh, I'm sure this isn't anything you can't overcome. I mean, how old are you again? 2000 years old?"
"I am 5492 years old" The princess struggled to not sound annoyed.
"Exactly! That's why I think it would be a good idea for you to make another address. Y'now one that is more... calm?" her voice sounded unsure, Celestia knew she was hiding something.
"And hurt myself again? No, I have learned my lesson. I simply cannot get out of this bed unless it is an emergency." Celestia answered as gently as she could muster. Cadence shifted uneasily on her hooves and her eyes darted to the ceiling.
"Okay fine Celestia, you win. The reason you need to make a speech is because riots are now tearing this city apart. Thirty percent of Canterlot has been lost by fires started by these rioters." Her eyebrows were raised as if to say you asked for this.
"What for? What do they want?" Celestia breathed.
Cadence's eyes grew serious "The mobs outside the palace chant: death to celestia, death to the royal family..."
"If we're in this room for what I think we are, I won't need to be restrained." Vilotyne claimed. Luna raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"And what exactly is it that you think we are here for?" The dark blue princess asked. His crushed brown mane rolled over his shoulder as he turned his head away from her.
"You obviously have wanted to overthrow your sister since you got back to this planet." He was taking a wild guess, but it wasn't the first time he had taken a leap of faith. "You and I are here because you want us to team up to stage a cute little coup." He paused for a moment and tried to think of a good way to vocalize his next thought, he settled for something less instead. "...but, I can't really understand why he is here." Vilotyne said nodding his head in the direction of the Minister. He actually did feel a bit of apprehension with the thought of lying to a monarch.
"I see you're not all talk, as it were, Mr. Vilotyne. Yes, I do want my sister and her government out of the picture." Vilotyne let out a silent sigh of relief. "As for ferdinand..." she said indicating the minister "Well, he is the one that knocked you out and brought you to me. Also, being second in command of most of the armed forces, he is a great ally in our little 'coup'."
"Your head was so small I thought I killed you there for a while." Chuckled the minister as he brandished a small blackjack in between his hooves.
"So, am I going to continue to stay strapped to this chair like a convict or..."
"Release him Ferdinand."
"Yes m'lady." He moved forward and unstrapped the restraints.
"One thing your highness." His country accent the garnish on his polite tone. "What if I say I work alone and I have no desire to join you?"
"You would prefer the block?" Luna mocked.
"I like you." chuckled the gray-coated stallion "You'll make an excellent second-in-charge" he got up and grabbed his jacket from the table on front of him and put it on as fast as he could, then gingerly laid his panama hat upon his head. They were too busy contemplating his previous statement to notice.
"Second in charge?" the princess scoffed "You misunderstand how this is going to work, friend."
"I have the people fixed in my grasp Luna. If you send me to the block I can make them charge the executioner." he claimed indifferently.
"We'll talk about the division of power between us when we have the city." The minister said trying to mend the rift in the operation.
"Sure, let's work out a plan." Luna agreed. Vilotyne sighed insolently and then began talking as fast as possible as if to say let's stop wasting all this time.
"You." Vilotyne pointed to the Minister "Give a speech to your troops, light a fire in their hearts about us. You" He pointed to the princess "Do the same for the courts, the palace staff, and the rest of the government. Let me handle the citizens."
"Here's one for you, smarty." The minister replied "Even if we cause all this unrest, how are we going to defeat... her?" he wavered a bit on the last word.
"Simple, we secure the elements of harmony. Your troops will have to use heavy explosives to penetrate the vault." They sat in silence for a minute, thinking about other aspects and the mere undertaking of this plan. Finally, the minister broke the silence:
"When?"
"No time like the present right?" The lunar princess proposed.
"Right now?!" he was taken aback by the idea.
"I have no money or house." Vilotyne said. "And with Celestia immobile, it is a great opportunity to strike."
"Exactly, we must act tonight." Luna claimed. They both stared at the minister who was looking a little uneasy. Eventually the idea sunk in and he reasoned that it might be less time to spend a servant.
"Damn it, fine."
The minister of defense was in his office straightening his tie. His heart beat louder than the roar of the cloud making machines he had heard when he was on business in cloudsdale about a month ago. The palace unicorns who gave him that cloud-walking spell had joked about how nervous he had looked then. It's nothing compared to now He thought with a groan. A young cadet came to his open door, he stood straight and saluted.
"They're ready for you sir." His voice was tough and staccato. Ferdinand picked up his mug and gulped down the rest of his coffee, making doubly sure not to get any on his clothes. He gave a satisfied sigh and stood up from his chair.
"Well, let's not keep them waiting." he said, trotting to the door. Outside of his office his escort formed up around him and they began marching through the palace hallways on their way to the auditorium.
Luna greeted everyone in the lobby of the high court's chamber. She had called in everyone that had something to do with the government. The janitor of the statespony's washroom was utterly confused on why he was being ushered into the giant circular room. The room was not meant to house more than the court that ruled on Celestia's behalf, no more than 600 ponies in total. The room was being packed to the brim and those that couldn't be fit inside would try to listen from the lobby or the hallway.
The very center of the room was blocked off by Luna's guards who were desperately trying not to get crushed by the tidal wave of bodies. The princess glanced at the clock and saw she was out of time to pack all these ponies in. She muttered a teleportation spell and in an instant she was in front of an audience that threatened to burst the walls of the chamber.
Vilotyne lurked through the central ring of security at Canterlot palace silently. He had guessed the patrols' routes and was able to get past them rather easily. Now when he was at the front door of where he needed to go there was two stationary guards right in front of the door. So this is the great nexus of magic I've read so much about he thought. A patrolman marched up to the two guardsponies.
"Hey, I have to go to the little civil-servant's room. Can one of you go watch my patrol?" He asked nonchalantly. The other two giggled a bit and one trotted off to go cover his position. The patrolpony made for the hallway that Vilotyne was eavesdropping from, he dashed silently to a giant ornamental vase and got behind it. When the guard closed the door to the bathroom Vilotyne moved the vase in front of it.
"Stop right there." Vilotyne's muscles seized up.
The minister walked out in front of his audience of generals, tacticians, and strategists and took a deep breath.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, we are on the precipice of a new age, an age that I have foreseen. The new era that will open the eyes of the regular mare and stallion to the secrets of their beloved government." He scanned the audience, they were intrigued. "Soldiers, generals, and all who bear the crest... let me open your eyes." his eyes looked to the screen behind him as it was illuminated with the light of four stage-lamps.
Luna slammed her hoof down upon the podium and spoke with malice.
"Friends and coworkers! The blight of ignorance must be lifted from our country's fair politicians, and indeed our whole populace! This disease of horrendous foresight and mindless brainwashing that my own sister has placed upon us all must stop immediately! I come before you not to beg for power, I am here to educate you on the heresy my own family has committed against the government as well as it's citizens, in hopes that you may forgive me for standing idly by." The politicians were speechless, they whispered among themselves.
Vilotyne was light on his hooves as he spun around and delivered a swift punch to the guard's head. His hoof ricocheted off his metal helmet and the brown-maned stallion cried out in pain. The guard charged vilotyne into the wall and his hat flew to the floor. The guard withdrew and his victim slid to the floor, a scarlet streak ran down his muzzle.
"Alright buddy, let's get you to a nice cozy cell eh?" he moved to pick up the injured stallion but he was forced back by buck to the head. The guard's helmet rolled down the hallway, it's simple rumbling sound was almost enough to drown out the cries and knocking on the door of the bathroom. Vilotyne limped up to the crumbled heap of a pony whilst wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes were absent.
He trotted lazily to the nexus door where he spotted the guard's supply of some sort of wine laying on a windowsill. Must be boring to be a guard the battered pony thought with a laugh as he filled a glass.
"This is the mare who currently leads us." The minister shot a hoof at the picture of Celestia "This also is the mare who had no official policy for an invasion of the homeland. When the changelings were marching up our streets we had no plan of attack. We lost thousands of bits in property damage, not to mention our lives all for her!" He extended his hoof to the picture again, he heard some enraged yells of agreement throughout the crowd. The minister was on a roll.
"My statistics show we could have held them if we were organized. I tried to propose it to our mighty princess of the sun but she wouldn't see me! Her ignorance will drive this kingdom to ruin if we don't act now soldiers! Need more proof? Everyone remembers the nightmare moon incident, she had mysteriously 'disappeared' without a trace!" His voice bellowed malevolence "Our leader is not only incompetent, but she is also a treacherous coward ." the crowd exploded and cheered for blood.
"Discord, the changelings, and even me as nightmare moon. Did my sister step in and get down and dirty when any of these catastrophic events occurred? She either helped in small ways or not at all! Celestia has never been there for us my friends. She sent her own flesh and blood to another planet for a thousand years when there were obvious alternatives! She wanted power and she wanted me out of the way, the only reason I'm back is because she thinks me to be too off-tune with the public to ever have sway over her. Well, at least now she knows I have integrity..." her voice trailed off. A mare stood up from her seat and declared.
"No Luna, you have more than that. You have me, I stand by your side."
"As do I." A bearded stallion said as he too stood from his seat.
"And I!" After a mere five minutes everyone in the court chamber was standing.
Vilotyne walked down the stairs and into the giant cylindrical room that held the nexus. The walls were covered in stone tiles each one had a unique glowing sigil in the middle. In the middle of the room was a giant cyan beam of pure magical essence.
"So this is how old Tia keeps Equestria free from unspeakable dangers." He said examining the sigils with his drink still in hand.
At the bottom he saw a large circular seal which seemed to attract the essence from all of the sigils and amplify them to the top of the room through the beam, as well as some rock that had fallen long ago from the ceiling. He set his drink on the rock and walked to what seemed to be the control panel of the beam. There were twelve small runes set up in some sort of sliding mechanism.
"This one represents harmony... there's mysticism... ah here we are, chaos." the rune had dark red blots all over it in a confusing pattern, Vilotyne slid it in the middle of the mechanism and then pushed it down. The beam shuttered violently, he paid no attention to it. He studied the rest of the runes and pulled the ones that meant far-reaching and mortality out of the mechanism.
"That'll keep it from getting any bright ideas." He said talking to no one. He waited for three minutes while the field went down across Equestria and retreated into Canterlot's walls. And now we have a high enough concentration he thought with a grin. A cage of plasma extended from the beam and the runes started to shuffle on their own. One that when translated meant "reveal" was locked in the middle of the machine.
Every unicorn within Canterlot saw with dismay as their eyes and their horns were saturated with magical energy against their will. Their horns casted cyan energy clouds above their heads and inside was a smiling stallion. He sat on a rock and sipped his wine before he began to speak.
"Good afternoon, Canterlot."
"...As I'm sure you're well aware, Equestria has suffered under the rule of the Alicorns since time began. When the Pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony clans all banded together and founded our fair nation they didn't intend for it to be ruled by a breed of mutated cowards ." Vilotyne knocked back the rest of his drink and his face curled up in a grimace. The townsfolk were terrified, but they listened on in cautious curiosity.
"Anyone able to transmit magic like this must be insanely gifted, and he isn't even a unicorn!" A vendor exclaimed as he gazed deeply into the giant energy cloud hanging over the marketplace like a UFO. A foal shot an ugly glare towards the vendor.
"Shut your mouth." He hissed before turning his head back to the earth pony in the air. Vilotyne set the glass back onto the rock and continued.
"Ahem... this isn't the first time Celestia has shown her weakness as i'm also sure that you know. However, this is the first time she has shown us her arrogance." His voice ended on a sad note. "Many families have been devastated by this attack and many more will in future aggression unless Celestia is dethroned." The impatient foal cried out in realization:
"That's the guy from yesterday! He stood up to mean ole' Cele-" A hoof muffled his voice and nervous laughter came from the body that was silencing him. A purple pegasus flew over to the pair angrily.
"Why don't you let your kid express his opinion?" she said throwing her hooves into the air and hovering right in front of his face.
The father growled. "Why don't you mind your own business, lady?" his eyes narrowing. "I'll raise my child how I see fit." He added with extra zeal. They continued to argue until the face in the energy cloud had collected his thoughts and began to speak once more.
"Canterlot, Equestria, residents of this great world; I am here to lift the yolk of oppression off of your neck. My name is Vilotyne, and I will be your Shepard of freedom." A small amount of cheering was heard and Vilotyne stood perfectly still, as if in wait. The colt broke free of his father's hooves and before he could be scooped back up again he cried at the top of his lungs:
"VILOTYNE! " His frail voice resonated through the air and seconds later other ponies replied with their own yell of the name. The vendor, swept up in the moment, took a hoof-full of produce and threw it as hard as he could at the palace. In moments the crowd had deposited all of the contents of the vendor's stall onto the palace walls, all the while shouting "VILOTYNE, VILOTYNE, VILOTYNE" .
Nearby, the occupants of both the high court and the ministry of defense had spilled out into the streets to see what was happening. After hearing from the heads of their departments and now seeing this magical apparition appear from seemingly out of nowhere there was no doubt. They joined the mobs in droves, everyone chanting the exact same thing.
The pony of the hour waited patiently and chuckled with glee as he heard the roar of the peoples voices penetrating the very foundation of Canterlot castle. Luna's mouth was agape when she saw the mobs setting fire to guard outposts and chanting a familiar name.
"That clever stallion..."
"We have a very bright future ahead of us friends." Vilotyne cooed before breaking his glass on the floor and then prying the rune out of the machine with one of the glass shards. All of the unicorns in the city fell to the ground in exhaustion as their bodies were shut off from the conduit of magical energy.
The night was now just a backdrop on the scarlet flames licking the midnight sky and the columns of jet black smoke rising high above the rooftops. The great masses of pony rampaging down the street violently destroyed anything having to do with Celestia or her government. They set up massive bonfires in the cobblestone streets were banners and clothing bearing the insignia of Celestia were dumped into. At first the guards had been able to control the crowds, but as the night dragged on they soon overpowered them and the remaining guards retreated to the castle walls. At one point a large explosion rocked the entire city striking fear into the remaining guardsponies.
"By Celestia, those idiots are going to bring all of Canterlot to the ground!" A sergeant yelled as he looked down into the mob. He turned around to see his superior, Blueblood, waiting for him to acknowledge his presence. The sergeant merely scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"I don't suppose you have good news?" He asked curtly.
"Just some orders." The prince answered simply. The sergeant replied with a hearty laugh.
"Sir, I hardly have enough men to secure this palace let alone do whatever bidd-"
"You are to assemble an audience for Celestia..." Blueblood cut him off.
"Are you not listening to me sir!?" His nostrils flared and he stomped the ground "I'm not sending soldiers we can't afford to lose into that crowd. Do you see what they are doing to the banners? Just think what they-"
"When this Vilotyne character is king you can backtalk me, until then carry out your orders." The prince growled.
"Yes sir ." The sergeant replied grudgingly. He walked to a group of conversing guards and started barking orders. In half an hour they were standing in the middle of a bloodthirsty crowd that wanted their heads on a stick. The air was choked by thick smoke and the sergeant had to force his voice to be heard over the incessant chanting.
"The sovereign monarch of Equest-" He began solemnly.
"Death to the tyrant!" An anonymous voice shot from the crowd. A tidal wave of cheers followed that and it took five more minutes for them to quiet. The sergeant made an effort to make himself sound formal again but instead let out a sigh, realizing that he really didn't care anymore.
"Just... come to the palace courtyard at 9..." and with that they filed back inside of the palace gates.
The white alicorn stood at the rim of her balcony looking down at her burning city. A servant had laid some tea out for her which Celestia sipped gingerly as she watched the destruction unfold before her eyes. She was utterly silent as a tear dropped out of the corner of her eye and down into the black abyss.
"I never thought it would lead to this. " she thought grimly. She brought the teacup to her lips but she couldn't take another drink. It wouldn't matter, no pony on this plane of existence could dethrone her as far as she was concerned. She had always thought her subjects as loyal throughout and it was the only thing that made her feel even remotely hurt. Had the defeat changed her? She was still the same old Celestia as far as she could tell.
She knew that should get some sleep, she wasn't well off in terms of her physical condition. Adding exhaustion to that before the speech that would either smear or save her reputation wouldn't be a good idea. It was apparent that she had one chance to appease the people. If she didn't then there would be no consequence, but it was always easier to rule content subjects. With that thought she struggled back to her bed and fell asleep to the sound of fire, rage, and deception.
Celestia awoke to the impeccable roar of voices near the palace. Shining armor stood at her bedside solemnly declaring that it was time to begin. In a daze, the tall alicorn picked herself up and out of the bed and levitated her jewel encrusted tiara softly onto her head. Her eyes drooped as servants brought her tarts upon silver trays while they hastened to the courtyard. A purple aurora encircled one of the treats and delivered it to the sun god's mouth.
"They are assembled?" She asked between chews.
"Yes m'lady." The captain of the guard responded formally.
"Really now shining, you mustn't act so stuffy all the time. If I didn't know you better I would say you might be a changeling." she chuckled.
"That isn't something to joke about princess..." he responded rather cautiously.
"Quite, how is our ace in the hole?" She said, eager to change the subject.
"Ready for you to signal him." He remarked indifferently. "A crafty one, that guy is."
"Indeed he is..." her voice trailed off as they rounded a corner and climbed the steps that lead to the balcony. Celestia looked left to right and noticed something. Where is Luna and the minister? They always accompany me to speeches. Before they could make it fully up the stairs they were cut off by a distressed looking Cadence.
"Celestia, Luna and Ferdinand have betrayed us." Her look of distress was slowly turning into one of delight. "I saw them speak against you last night. I knew they were traitors auntie!" Celestia thought about what her neice had just told her after raising an eyebrow. They both were mysteriously missing, and what reason did she have to doubt the pink princess? As the thought of her betrayal swept over the snow white alicorn anger welled up inside her.
"And exactly why didn't you say something to me?" The she asked, outraged.
"I-I didn't think you would listen to me..." She muttered.
"Foolish child." The princess breathed in disgust. Cadence watched her aunt walk away not believing what she had just said to her. Celestia's gauntlet clad hooves clacked loudly on the marble floors until her face could be seen by the audience and the sound was completely drowned out by shouting. The guards struggled to hold the furious crowd inside their perimeter. A few pegasi threw fruit at the princess, but it was cut off mid flight by a magical barrier. Celestia looked indifferent, yet annoyed as she saw her subjects openly display their defiance in such a crude manner.
"Quiet my subjects." Even in the monotonous drone she had used, her royal Canterlot voice hushed the entire crowd. She breathed in sharply and through her own willpower she cracked a benevolent smile.
"My subjects, my friends..." Her voice came off light-hearted and friendly. "What has been forced into your heads to make you so unhappy with me?" She received a plethora of answers. "Alright, alright... " She waved her hoof. "I heard someone talk about how we were defenseless against the changelings. Did you ever stop to think what might be the reason? If I didn't cut military spending last fall your taxes would have to be ten times higher." A look of apprehension spread across the face of many.
"VILOTYNE IS THE FUTURE HIGH KING OF EQUESTRIA." A pony holding his foal's hand screamed "TYRANNY SHALL DI-" He was cut off as two guards took him by the legs and dragged him away with his foal tagging along. A haughty laugh pierced the scene and Celestia wiped a tear from her eye as she asked the crowd through giggles.
"Do you even know where this Vilotyne is?" She waved a hoof towards Shining armor and a rattling of chains was heard. Escorted by two guards, the revolutionary was battered and his hat had apparently been lost. Vilotyne's feet bore heavy iron shackles that sprinkled rust which ever way he was directed. On his mouth, an iron muzzle had been placed to make sure he couldn't object. As he stepped into sight the crowd collectively gasped. Don't fail me now, you idiots. He thought nervously, a bead of sweat ran down his neck.
"As some of you may have forgotten," Celestia said. "I am the most powerful alicorn in existance." Her horn glowed and the sun flared brightly. "How exactly is this rat" She threw her hoof in the direction of the prisoner. "Going to benefit you more than me?" He could see them in the back of the crowd now, pushing their way to the front as fast as possible. Hurry up! he screamed in his mind. The audience seemed to be split on their allegiance at this point. This is not how it ends. We are not done here. Vilotyne chanted in his head.
"All of these accusations against me are complete fabrications and I simply can not let such destruction go unpunished."
Celestia levitated an apple that had fell from the fruit barrages and lifted it a few feet away from her face. They're near the middle. Come on, hurry up. The white alicorn's horn illuminated even brighter and the apple exploded in a ball of flames. Turning her head to the guards she ordered Vilotyne to be unshackled. The irons dropped to the floor with a loud thump then Celestia used her magic to take off the muzzle and levitate him in the air.
"Any final words sir?" The sun goddess yawned. Come on, just get set up already!I have to stall...
"Not to you ma'am." He made his voice as smooth as possible.
"Very well then-"
"But to my public, I would like to say that I'm sorry for not being able to save us."
"Right, uh-huh... well may the afterli-"
"I wasn't strong enough to save an entire country."
"Just die." She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration and her horn began growing brighter when she was knocked to the ground by an intense beam of light.
