Peace Eternal

Four golden slippers clicked against the cold tile floor. They belonged to an alicorn. She had a coat as white as snow and a beautiful, flowing fluorescent mane and tail. She wore a golden diadem with a diamond embeded in the centre of it. The diamond had a slight tinge of blue about it. It was called a pure star diamond. It had supposedly been made in the heart of a star. It glistened on the alicorn's diadem as she walked along.

Accompanying the alicorn were four guards, each dressed in identical golden armour, a red mane protruding from each of their individual helmets. They each carried a long spear in their front right hoof. They marched along silently behind the alicorn.

The five ponies continued walking through the large corridors of the royal castle. The halls were decorated with pills and banners that contained the royal emblem. The pillars were made out of a silver marble. Large windows stood between each of the pillars. They had golden frames on them. The sun shone brightly through them, creating a pattern of window shaped silhouettes along the marble floor. The alicorn walked right over them, not noticing them.

The group eventually arrived at a set of wooden doors. Two more guards stood watch at the door. They stood at attention at the sight of the alicorn, both raising a hoof to salute her. She stood infront of them. She nodded curtly at each of them, letting them know they could return to their regular stance. The guards lowered their hooves and stood at ease. Both of theirs horns lit up with a light blue aura, which then surrounded each of the doors. They slowly opened. Once they were fully open the alicorn nodded and went inside. Two of her guards accompanied her inside, the other two joining the guards on watch at the door.

Once the three of them were inside the room, the doors slowly closed behind them. The room they had enetered was the castle's library. The walls were covered in bookshelves, each containing hundreds of books. Some of them were brand new while others dated back over one hundred years ago. The alicorn and her guards weaved their way through the maze of bookshelves until they came to the centre of the library. At the centre of the room stood a single table. Currently standing at the table were two stallions. One, a small, young, pale blue unicorn. He was reading through a large book. Opposite him at the table stood a larger, dark blue alicorn. He wore a black crown that contained a similar diamond to that of the other alicorn. He was looking intently at the small unicorn. He glanced over to his right amd noticed the alicorn standing there. He went over to her to greet her.

"Hello dear." he said, hugging the white alicorn. She returned the hugged."It's a pleasure to see you."

"The feeling is mutual." the white alicorn responded. She turned to face the unicorn."How are we today Master Starswirl?" she asked.

The unicorn lifted his head out of the book he was reading through. He looked over at the alicorn. He gave a small bow."Your majesty." he said."I'm doing fine today. How are you?" he asked raising his head.

The alicorn smiled."I am good today. Although I am worried with all this talk of war." the white alicorn said. The unicorn nodded in agreement.

"I know exactly what you mean. Your husband has had me researching magical spells all morning." the unicorn said. The white alicorn looked over at her husband.

"You've been preparing for war?" she asked. The darker alicorn's face went stale.

"It never hurts to be prepared." he said quietly.

"You're just asking for a war at this point. If we can avoid it we should be doing everything we can to do so." the white alicorn said."Next I'll find that you've had all the border patrol placed on alert and you've started recruiting again." the mare said. The dark alicorn glaned over at Starswirl nervously. The mare glared at the dark alicorn.

"Well funny you should say that dear." the dark alicorn chuckled.

"Cosmos tell me you didn't." his wife groweled. The alicorn stood quietly."You are the most incompetent ruler this kingdom has ever seen. You always rush into these things recklessly when they could be easily avoided."

"I'm just trying to keep my kingdom safe." Cosmos said defensively. The mare shot him a look that would kill any other stallion.

"It is our kingdom and our job to protect it." the white alicorn said.

"I'm sorry Galaxia." Cosmos said, sighing."I just don't think I can handle another war. Not after the Last Arcane war with the Draconequui. Our entire species was wiped out except for us." the dark blue alicorn said.

"I understand how you feel Cosmos. You were not the only one of us to fight. And I worry too, for our daughters. I do not wish for them to grow up knowing only war and hatred." Galaxia said. The two alicorns stood in silence.

"Whatever happens, we will face it together." Cosmos said, looking up at his wife. She smiled back at him.

"Together." she said.

The doors to the library flew open. A guard in silver armour rushed towards the pair of alicorns. They looked worried as he approached. He nearly collapsed as he tried to halt himself. He stopped inches away from the white alicorn.

"Your majesty." the guard heaved."I have news from the joint council. They recieved a letter moments ago from the deer delegate." he said lifting up a small piece of paper. Cosmos stepped forward and took the parchment. He opened it and read through it's contents. As his eyes went down the page his expression got darker and darker. Once he finished reading it he looked up at his wife and Starswirl.

"What does it say?" Galaxia asked him.

"It says that we are now at war." he said grimly. There was silence amongst the ponies in the room.