A Future in Peril

Author's Note: This is an unfinished product that will never be finished.  I posted this as a courtesy to my readers, so all errors don't matter.  Enjoy what could have been.

Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof impaiently on the table.  I thought this would be exciting, she thought to herself.  Talk about a snoozefest.  Rainbow Dash, being Crimson Dusk's betrothed, was invited to join in on the war council.  She accepted thinking there would be a lot of action involved.  Her focus drifted slowly around the extravagant room.  A mural of the sun rising over a peaceful meadow.stretched across the massive celing.  The white walls were covered with beautiful etchings of flowers and animals.  Two golden chandilears swayed gracefully overtop the table, lighting the windowless room.

Her gaze shifted from the decor to the ponies that joined her in the room.  Princess Celestia and Princess Luna idely chatted across from her.  Twilight sat quietly beside her brother, Shining Armor, and a massive pegusus pony she had never met before.  Rainbow Dash had never seen him before, but he seemed to be important enough to be joining them.  Mayor Mare, being the first representative to arrive, had the pleasure of sitting beside Princess Celestia.   Her wandering eyes finally came to a rest on the crimson stallion that sat beside her.

Dusk stared intently at the square fabric that rested on the table; his eyes tracing the lines that represented the borders of Equestria and the kingdoms that surrounded it.  "How much longer til we start?" she quietly whispered to Dusk. "I'm sooooo bored."

His concentration broke for a brief moment as he answered,  "we have to wait for the other leaders before we start.  The mayors of Cloudsdale and Canterlot haven't arrived yet."  His attention returned to the map of Equestria, before the last word left his lips.

Rainbow Dash's ears perked at the mention of Canterlot's mayor.  "Canterlot has a mayor?' she asked, surprised at the idea.  "I thought Celestia was in charge."

Celestia overheard the question and answered with an tired voice,  "Being the ruler of Equestria means I am away on important business for most of the day.  "I need some one to handle the day to day problems in Canterlot, while I'm away."

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the groans of the heavy wooden door being opened behind her.  A brown stallion wearing a blue robe and hood entered the room.  "Now presenting...Mayor Storm Runner of Cloudsdale and Mayor Powdered Wig of Canterlot," he stated in a raspy voice.

An old, red pegusus with a long beard shuffled into the makeshift war room.  His sandy yellow mane had lost its youthful luster long ago.   His bright blue eyes were the only part of him that defied his age.  A monocole covered his right eye, and also seemed to be his cutie mark.  He was accompanied by a white unicorn wearing a frilly dress and a powdered wig.  Her dull, grey eyes peered at the ponies sitting at the table, as if judging their worthiness to be in the same room as her.

They took the two empty seats beside Mayor Mare.  "Good afternoon," greeted Storm Runner in a sagely tone.  "It's good to see you again, Miss Mare."  She humbly bowed her head to the old stallion.

Mayor Wig was still scolding the cyan peguasus.  "I understand why Miss Sparkle is here," she stated snobbishly, "but why is that horrid pegusus attending a civil discussion?"  Her nostirls flared as she sniffed the air.  "It smells as if she hasn't bathed in weeks."

Rainbow Dash's face hardened.  She prepped herself to pounce on the persnickity unicorn, but Crimson Dusk quickly blocked the offended pegusus' way with his hoof.  Getting the message, she reluctantly sat back down.  "This is my wife-to-be," he said to the snobby pony.  "You will treat her with respect.  Do you understand."

She looked quizzically at the crimson alicorn.  "You are marrying that...that peasant," she said, shocked by the revelation.  "How could a stallion with your bloodline ever fall for a revolting commonor?"

Rainbow Dash gave her a menacing look.  All she wanted to do right now was give her a good old dashin thrashin, but she pushed her anger aside and let Dusk handle it.  "Well for starters, she doesn't wear a rolled up mop on the top of her head," he stated.  Mayor Runner giggled at his observation.  Mayor Wig turned and gave him a not-to-pleased look.

Celestia stomped her hoof on the ground.  "Enough!" she stated.  Everypony in the room fell silent, but that didn't stop the snotty mayor from giving out more unfriendly looks.  "We have grave matters to discuss here," she said.  She turned her attention to the mayors, "have you read the briefings I sent you?"

Mayor Storm Runner was the first to speak.  "What you have sent us is troubling indeed," he said stroking his beard.  "Changlings raiding minor settlements is one thing, but attacking metropolitan areas is just nerve racking."

Celestia nodded her head in agreement.  "I have called this meeting to discuss the actions we should take against threat that looms over Ponyville," she said.  "I propose we evacutate the citizens of Ponyville to Canterlot."

Mayor Wig cleared her throat before she spoke, "I have reviewed the populaiton numbers of Ponyville.  It has come to my attention that we do not have the space nor the supplies to harbor that many refugees.  We may have enough to house one-fifth of the population, but not the entrie...."

"We can't just leave them there to die," Dusk interrupted, hitting his hoof off the table.  Mayor Wig shot him a dirty look, but allowed him to continue.  "Those ponies trust us to protect them.  I believe we should muster a fighting force at Ponyville."

Celestia thought for a moment, then said, "We can't do that.  Canterlot must be protected," her hoof reached out and lightly tapped the map in the center of the table.  "We could bring the fillies and the seniors to Canterlot and send the rest off into the Everfree Forest."

Luna gasped at Celestia's suggestion.  "Sister!" she exclaimed, a shocked expression crossed her face.  "How could you suggest such a thing!"  Celestia turned and scolded her.  Luna shrank back at her sister's disciplinary glare.

Dusk, however, was not so easily perturbed.  "I will not allow this.  That is their home.  They shouldn't have to go live in the forest like some common animal," he argued.  His voice echoed in the chamber.

Mayor Mare'ss grey tail nervously waved her tail side to side.  "With all due respect Princess," she chimed in, "most of those ponies won't willingly leave their town.  They worked hard to make it so nice; they love it too much to give it up."

Mayor Wig rose her head high in the air and said, "I agree with the Princess.  She has never let us down before."

Mayor Storm Runner rolled his eyes.  "You're just saying that to impress the Princess," he stated matter of factly.  She shot him a menacing stare.  He chuckled at her attempt to intimidate him.  "I have had many a mare give me those same looks.  I advised them to find a mirror so they could see how foolish they appeared."

Mayor Wig's head reeled back.  Her eyes were open wide, and her mouth was agape.  "How dare you," she said, clearly offended.  "I havent' heard you give your opinon on what to do."  She sat back and crossed her hooves in front of her dainty chest.

"I don't have an opinion to give," he stated, giving her a sly smile.  "I haven't decided yet, so I chose not to open my mouth.  You could learn something about manners from me."  She rolled her eyes at his remark, but remained silent.

Rainbow Dash covered her mouth so no pony would hear her giggling.  She turned to Dusk and whispered, "I take that back.  This is fun to watch."  He chuckled lightly at her comment.  Celestia facehoofed herself.

"Do you find this funny?" asked Mayor Wig.  Her Powdered Wig slipped down her face, covering her eye.  Her befuddled look only made Dash laugh harder.  Mayor Wig straigtened her hairpiece with one deft movement.  "I have never met such an impudent child like you.  I think one year olds are more mature than you," she beratted, while waving her hoof sternfully in the air.  "This is exactly why we should let Ponyville fend for itself."

Rainbow Dash ceased her mocking laughter.  A mere touch could have burnt a hole through solid steel; her anger was burning so hot.  "Hey!" she exclaimed, rising from her seat and losing all restraint on her emotions.  "Who are you to judge what town lives or dies?  Canterlot may be awesome looking, but the people here are nothing but brats.  The flaunt around thinking they are so better than everypony else.  Ponyville is the heart of Equestria.  Everypony there works hard to live each day.  They are kind and understanding to anypony that needs help.  They are the ones that deserve saving, not some dressed up egg heads."  Everypony fell silent, as she finished her tyrade.  All except Mayor Runner, whom clapped at her patriotic passion.

Celestia rose from her seat.  "That is enough Rainbow Dash," she stated.  She placed her elegant hoof abrubtly on the table.  "You are not helping the situation.  I am the Princess, so I will decide what our course of action is."  Her angry stare never left the cyan pegusus' position.  Rainbow Dash, feeling the pressure from Celestia's infuriated scold, shrank back down into her seat.

Dusk, on the other hand, abrubtly rose from his and stated, "She is right.  It is our duty to save these ponies.  They are the ones that work hard for their living.  They are the ones that show a compassion that you can't find in Canterlot.  I'm going to help defend Ponyville, with or without your blessing."

Celestia's eyes widened from the shock, but her infuriated expression remained stalwart.  "You were always the rash one.  You never thought anything through, and you continue to adhere to your traditional way of thinking to this very day.  I am the ruler of Equestira, not you!" she argued.

Dusk's expression darkened.  "You always thought you were the all-knowing princess, who could do no wrong.  You and I both know that is far from the truth, and you still continue to think your decisions are the only way to go.  I say we let the leaders decide what to do.  Let them deciede what is important for a change, not some ruler who only recieved her crown because she could raise the sun!"

Celestia's meanacing tone did not leave her voice, "Fine, brother.  We shall see where these ponies loyalties lie."  She turned to face Mayor Powdered Wig.  "What say you Mayor of Canterlot.  Will your Unicorn Police Force stand with Canterlot, or defend Ponyville."

"I side with Princess Celestia," she said smartly.  "Ponyville will recieve no help from the fine unicorns of Canterlot."  She shot a smirk at Rainbow Dash.  She narrowed her eyes and mouthed an indignified phrase to the unicorn.

"Mayor Mare," Celestia said, resuming the discussion, "where do you stand?"  Celestia's voice resounded in the circular chamber, giving her words more feeling than what was needed.

Mayor Mare shifted in her seat.  Sweat trickled down her forehead from the pressure she was feeling.  To her, it seemed the whole world was waiting for her desicion.  Her thoughts raced back to the kind people she had the pleasure of representing.  Their warm smiles brightening an dark day.  Their joyous laughter being carried off all over the world, as if the wind wanted to share their song of happiness.  She closed her eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath.  When she opened her eyes, all doubt had been replaced with the strong feeling of confidence.  "I side with Ponyville.  I will do whatever it takes to protect everypony there, even give up my seat in office."

Celestia arched her eyebrows in quiet disbeilef, but held her regal stature.  She turned to the Mayor of Cloudsdale.  His bright eyes stared knowingly at the Princess, showing no hint of fear.  "Where do you stand, Mayor Storm Runner?"

His stroked his beard for a few seconds, contemplating what he should do.  The old pony's bright eyes sparkled as if they were made of diamonds.  "In times of old, Cloudsdale used to be a floating warcloud," he said, still stroking his beard.  "It would fire bolts of lightning down at any that would stand against our kingdom.  I fear the time for that warcloud's return has come."  The sparkle in his eyes intensified as he spoke, "Cloudsdale has always sided with whoever it felt would lead it on a path paved with honor and rightousness.  That cyan pegusus spoke true about the hearts of those ponies.  They are the blood that gives life to this kingdom, and I won't let them suffer so that the rich and privilaged can remain safe in their ivory walls.  Cloudsdale offers its support to Ponyville.  May fate have mercy on our souls."

"You are a foolish old stallion," Mayor Powdered Wig stated.  "How could you side against Celestia?"

Storm Runner stopped stroking his beard, and shot an irritated look at Miss Wig.  "My family has always supported those they believed earned it.  From the passion and commitment Miss Mare and Miss Dash has shown, I can conclude with no doubt that they have earned it."

Celestia's heart raced in her regal chest.  "Luna," she blurted out, "where do your loyalties stand?"

Luna's gaze shifted between her brother and sister.  She could feel a cold feeling creep up her spine.  I don't know what to do! she thought.  Oh father, I wish you were here.

The thought of her father brought up memories of a happier time.  She remembered the warmth his laugher radiated, even on the coldest nights.  She remembered the strength his eyes had shown, even when times were dark.  Some words her father had told her made their way towards the forfront of her mind.  My sweet Lulu, he had said.  Remember that kingdoms aren't about how many battles they won, or the mountains of gold in their treasury.  Great kingdoms can only be made by great ponies that support them.  Without their hard work and undying love, a kingdom can not stand.[/i

The recollection of the memory released a single glimmering tear from her gently eye.  "I pledge my Lunar Knights to the defense of Ponyville," she stated, rising her head up high.  Her attention turned to the massive pegusus pony.  "Commander Bright Star, rally the knights and make haste for Ponyville at once."  He bowed his head and left the room.

Dusk, still out of his seat, stated, "It is done.  You stand with one pampered pony on your side, while others rally to defend Ponyville.  I hope you're proud of youself."  With that, he led the other ponies out of the room.

Luna made for the door.  "Sister, may I have a word," Celestia stated.  Luna froze where she stood.  She turned to meet her fuming sister.

"What is it?" she asked.

Celestia trotted over to where Luna stood.  "How could you side against me?  How could you side against your kingdom?  Have you forgotten how hard our father worked to build this city?"

All weakness had left Luna at the mention of their father.  She stood defiantly towards her sister.  "I have not forgotten our father's work in building this entire kingdom," she said.  "He worked tiressly to ensure the lives of each pony would be filled with joy.  He would be ashamed at what you proposed today."

Celestia held her ground, refusing to believe what she was hearing.