The White Dove

Snow.

Pure, twinkling white snow, that was all Celestia could see out of her window. By tilting her head and pressing her muzzle on the cold glass, she could see the mountain ranges looming above, the millennial peaks seeming like old friends welcoming her home. She certainly was old enough to feel a sense of kinship with the ancient stones and she took as much comfort as she could from the lovely sights. The next few days would be very trying.

Celestia sighed, slumping back into the lavish seats of her stage-coach. Her ears perked up as she heard one of the horses pulling the royal carriage whinny, followed by the encouraging shouts from the conductor, muffled by his many layers of clothes. She pitied the four beasts hitched for this job, the lesser evolved cousins to ponies hardy enough for this kind of journey, but the animals would probably need a few weeks of rest to recuperate from the trip. The royal stables would treat them right, at the very least.

She watched her breath mist before her muzzle, then eyed her hands in wonder. If ponies had not evolved to stand on their back hooves and gain the ability to manipulate objects with their newly formed appendages, maybe she would be one of the animals pulling the coach out there. Probably not, considering ponies could also rely on magic, but she almost wished she could switch places with one of the horses. Then she would not have to deal with the Yaks.

Her eyes narrowed as she remembered what had happened less than a week before. The chain of events had rushed by: the announcement that Prince Rutherford would visit, the chance to form a lasting friendship with the insular Yaks, her pride at giving her precious Twilight a chance to shine, the confidence she felt in the group of ponies she had grown most found off, the arrival of the delegates to the quaint town of Ponyville…. and the subsequent ransack of the little village.

Celestia’s delicate white hands clenched into furious fists of anger, but she soon simmered down, exhaling a new puff of condensation. At least there had been no fatalities or even serious injuries, which was surprising considering the devastation Rutherford and his two aides had wrought to Ponyville. The idea that they might have been holding back was a scary prospect, especially when you considered they had managed to raise the whole town to the ground despite the presence of Twilight and the elements of harmony, setting up a record for fastest pillaging ever. And they were only three, the prince and two of his generals. Celestia shuddered at the prospect of Prince Rutherford and his seven generals leading a whole army of war hungry barbarians descending on her peaceful kingdom, their thick magical-resistant hides and absurd physical abilities making them dangerous enemies to have.

Oh, Celestia could easily bring down the full might of the sun unto the Yaks, obliterating their kingdom in a matter of seconds, but that wasn’t the way she did things. She would not use her powers to kill anyone, not if she could avoid it at all cost. A conviction not shared by everyone. Celestia’s gaze became unfocused, the alicorn remembering her goodbyes to her sister. She had left Luna in the armory, where the lunar Princess was whistling a merry tune while she sharpened her old set of Moon Blades. There had been something queer in Luna’s eyes, something dangerous, something very dark… Something terrifyingly familiar. Celestia shuddered at the mere idea of seeing a resurgence of her sister’s darker side, but Luna had taken personal offence at the treatment of the six mares she considered close friends, if not more for some. Ponyville in itself was dear to the dark alicorn, seeing it destroyed had left her… vexed. Murderously so.

Straightening up in her seat, Celestia felt her resolve bolster, her heart becoming steady. She would try her very best to bring peace between their nations, she would do everything and anything to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. If not for the sake of the Yaks and her ponies, she would do it for her darling sister alone. She would not fail Luna again.

Celestia shot a glance through the window, frowned when she saw the palisades in the distance, then began to don her warmer clothes. The time was nigh, she was ready. Ready for the fierce negotiations to come. Ready to sacrifice herself if need be. Ready to fight for peace.