Author's Note

Aaand the next one.
As always, if you find any errors just write me a pm.
From what I had originally planned, we have around 10 to 15 chapters left,
depending how much on a roll I'll be

Have fun!

Unforeseen (Celestia)

Chapter Eighteen: Unforeseen (Celestia POV)

It had been nearly a thousand years since I took the life of one of my little ponies. I have never forgotten one light that had to die. All those names and faces are still in my mind. Peace never came easy, but I had brought it to Equestria. In my mind I was sure that those ponies had deserved it and that I did it for the greater good. I was sure the loss of those lives would protect all of Equestria in the end.

I did not see the day so quickly coming where I would once again have to let one of those lights die for Equestria. Yet Red Streak had pushed too many buttons, endangered and killed ponies, and had overall angered me to the point I could no longer let it go.

My hoof shook as I used it to pull part of my mane out of my face. No matter what I tried to do, no matter what I wanted to believe, I was sure of one thing. There would be another war. How big it would be or how long it would last I couldn’t tell, and that was unusual.

Normally I could foresee things that would happen days, weeks, months, or even years before they would occur. Sometimes I could even see decades ahead. It gave me enough time to form plans to counter them, just like I had with Twilight and many others before her. This time, however, events unfolded quickly and without warning. It was… unusual, to say the least.

I ran my hoof through my mane again and looked over the papers on my desk. “Too many things happened for this to have occurred by chance. They make sense, yet they do not. Such a large problem, and yet I couldn’t see it.”

I sighed and picked up another set of papers. Investigation 77-UG, incident in the Night Armory. This was a blank slate. Nopony had seen anything, nopony had any explanation. As far as anypony could tell, equipment suddenly started coming to life and attacking everypony in the armory. That thought made the words of Luna and the General ring in my ears once again.

“Two guards are dead, killed by an attack that shouldn’t have been possible, from ponies they are meant to work with!”

“It’s the only possibility! Grey Plate or his friends are on a quest for revenge!”

It didn’t make any sense at that time. Especially since Grey Plate was reported dead by the council of Manehattan. “Either they lied to me completely, or the death was faked,” I mused aloud. Nothing seemed like a good answer, but it would explain why Grey Plate could attend those meetings without being a ghost.

That still left Golden Snow as a great unknown. At least partially. I’d known for over two decades that her family skimmed funds from the weather factory to help in their own projects. Mostly, I looked away, since several family members donated to charity, attended the gala, and none of them funded illegal projects. That seemed to have changed, and it was more than time to visit the Cloudsdale weather factory again.

My thoughts were quickly disrupted as my lieutenant stepped in. “Princess! We have a problem.”

I sighed. More problems, as if that’s what I need at the moment. “What is it, Lieutenant Silver Wings?”

“We found seven Royal Guards dead, three badly wounded in the outskirts of Canterlot.” Silver Wings gulped. "The survivors can’t remember why or how, but one reports to have seen Grey Plate and that he and his comrades attacked a small battalion of Night Guards.”

Now that had my interest, in more ways than one. “Any more information on Grey Plate?”

“No, your highness.”

“See to it that the families are informed and the survivors are to be placed under immediate surveillance. Everything that seems suspicious is to be reported to me immediately,” I said, before pausing a second. “And please bring me Luna and General Night Watch.”

Silver Wings started to look really uncomfortable now. “I fear that is not possible, your highness.”

I glared at her. “Why is that?”

“Because a small battalion of the Lunar Army departed at five hundred sharp with Moonlight, headed towards Ponyville. Your sister and the general were on board. We also couldn’t contact Princess Twilight Sparkle, nor the outposts of either guard unit there.”

This made me pause, and my glare disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. That was more than bad news and spoke of the war already starting. There was only so much I could do now.

“Lieutenant, get me every Royal Guard that is ready to fight and prepare for a mission. Where are the survivors of the attack?”

“In the medical wing. We also made sure to place two guards in front of the door.”

Massaging my temples, I rose to my hooves, quickly making my way to the door. Just to stop as I noticed the Lieutenant staring at me, still standing at the same place. “Is there a problem, Lieutenant?”

“Permission to speak freely?”

“You know you always have it,” I smiled warmly.

“Something is wrong. Like really, really wrong,” Silver Wings growled. “I can’t put my hoof directly on it, but with smaller incidents on the rise, and more and more misconduct in the Royal Guard… If I didn’t know better, I would say we stand on the brink of a war.”

That was something I had considered, to a certain degree at least. Yet, this insight might prove useful, especially since fate seemed to avoid me in this matter. “Silver Wings… I would like a list of all incidents and your personal thoughts on this,” I spoke softly. “Think of it as a request, not an order. And to answer your thoughts: I’m nearly sure that something is going on outside our view. Something that evades our hooves and tries to create more chaos than ever.”

I knew it wouldn’t ease any of my lieutenant’s worries, but I was pretty sure that being honest caused more goodwill than any other reaction I could bring at the moment.

“Thank you for being frank with me. I appreciate it.” Silver Wings saluted before turning and galloping down the hall to carry out her orders.

I definitely need more mares like her. I should copy Luna’s recruitment system.

The walk to the medical wing wasn’t an exceptionally long one from my chambers, but it made it more than clear that something was wrong, oh so very wrong. There were barely any staff present in the hallways, next to no batpony presence, and swarms of my Royal Guards running around, most of them surprisingly ignoring my presence.

Normally they salute or at least acknowledge me. This time there is nothing, not even a reaction to my presence at all.

This was a moment where I wished not to be alone. I wasn’t scared, but the situation proved to be a bad omen. More so the closer I came to the medical wing.

“What in the name of myself is going on here?” I whispered as I approached the medical wing in front of me. The guards were gone and all doors wide open. This wasn’t good, not at all! Slowly powering my magic, I made my slow way to the first door before breathing out: empty. The same with the next three rooms.

The fifth room, however, proved to have a surprise. Inside, I found two lifeless guards, one Solar, one Night, and three beds with nonmoving occupants. Quickly, I checked them all. They were dead, but still warm.

This happened in the last few minutes. What is going on?!

As I heard the sounds of hooves, I turned, just to be muzzle to muzzle with my lieutenant. Normally, a good sign, this time it made me stagger backwards. Her eyes were lifeless, empty, her ragged breath and damaged armor spoke of more than she could have told me.

“Stand down, changeling! Drop your disguise and come quietly with us!” Silver Wings growled.

“Lieutenant, what is the matter with you?” I carefully started. “I am Celestia, not a changeling! We've talked mere seconds ago!”

“Wrong answer, changeling! GET IT!” she shouted and I heard the windows behind me shatter into a thousand pieces, immediately knowing that there were more guards moving in.

I didn’t want to hurt my guards, not after I had ended a life so shortly ago. With a sigh, I stopped my magic and dropped down. “I’m not resisting.” At least I might find out what happens. They look as though an outsider is in control of their actions and thoughts. And if not… I… I… I can still free myself and save my ponies.

There was no more time before I felt a pain at the back of my head, and then nothing.

***

It hurt. A lot. A normal pony wouldn’t be able to knock an alicorn out. At least not that I’ve ever heard of or experienced. Somehow, I wasn’t awake. I wasn’t in the dream world either, the picture in front of me lacking my peaceful glade.

Instead, I was watching what looked like Ponyville burning brightly, ponies with or without armor likewise scattered around with various injuries. It was a war raging in the middle of a small town.

My breath froze as I looked at the Crystal Castle. Or rather, what was left of it. The crystal black, lifeless, broken in more ways than one.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I knew that voice. I knew that voice and had hoped to never hear it again. Turning my head sharply, Chrysalis stood behind me, looking over the scene with a smile. “So the changelings are behind all this,” I stated coldly.

She laughed. “Yes, and no. You ponies are stupid enough to only focus on the wars in front of your door. Meanwhile, it was easy for me and my allies to infiltrate the castle, the diplomats, and the Royal Guard. Too bad the thestrals proved to be mostly immune to my agents.” I snorted and was about to answer, but she cut me off. “It’s not so much about training, but their nature. As you remember, I also can’t control your sister.”

“And that is supposed to make it all better? What is your plan this time? Use us as your stock of food again?” I asked, trying to charge my horn. Nothing. I can’t use my magic.

Chrysalis smiled, a wicked smile that turned my stomach. “You can’t do anything. Your body is in a pod. I’m just here to break your mind and use you as our marionette to keep the ponies calm.”

“You’re never going to break me!”

“Are you sure?” She asked casually, walking around me with her right wing pointed at Ponyville. “Sure enough to risk the life of everyone? Your little student and her guards. Your sister. Your royal guards. The little general… everyone?” I didn’t answer, and she chuckled. “No matter which way you choose, the result is clear.” With that, she was directly in front of my face. “I’m going to win! My new ally, my lover… he gave me power I thought I could never wield!” Now she was laughing hysterically. “Thanks to his love, I can easily overpower you, your sister, and that forsaken pink stupid bitch of love.” she ended with a growl.

“I’m never going to give you any power that can endanger my ponies.”

“It’s sad… but I already expected that. Goodbye, Princess.”

My eyes went wide as sharp, strong pain invaded my mind. I tried to fight against that pain, to protect all that was holy to me. Just to fail. It was as she said, I couldn’t stand in her way. And if I couldn’t resist, there was only a small hope for my ponies left.

My thoughts more and more pressed against a corner, I soon found myself in a black void. I don’t know for how long, but after some time I could see through my eyes. It was as if I was a visitor in my own body. All movements and thoughts ceased to obey me. I could only watch and howl, trying to claw my way out.

All I could hear then was the maniacal laughter of Chrysalis. Hers, and a deep, distorted voice mixed in, sending chills running through my veins like ice.

Sister…. I was blind… I failed… Please, save our ponies…