The Fall of Canterlot

The Fall of Canterlot

II.

The Fall: Part II

Ponyville, five hours after The Fall.

Rarity squatted on her bed in the castle, curled up in a ball. Her face--she presumed, anyway--was smeared with scores of tear stains. Her eyes were dry, the tears long since spent. A thin strip of gauze wrapped around her eyes and head, the most Ponyville could spare from the meager remaining medical supplies. The bruises covering her back and rump, obtained when the pressure wave flung her from the window, ached fiercely. The various cuts across her face, forelegs, and chest had all been expertly cleaned by Fluttershy, but went unbandaged. She presumed they had scabbed over, because she couldn’t feel them bleeding. Presumed, because she couldn’t see.

She was blind.

She still couldn’t process it. After the initial shock had faded, a cold numbness gripped her, body and soul. Rarity was many things. Melodramatic, impassioned, visionary, artistic, graceful. Oh she’d spent many nights devouring her way through tubs of ice cream. She’d had rapid mood swings. She could fill Ponyville’s reservoir for a day with the gallons of tears she’d shed. But one thing she’d never been was depressed. She always bounced back from any mistake or disaster, returning to her usual joyful demeanor. The very thought that a pony couldn’t do that, why, it was just something she never thought she would understand.

She did now.

She didn’t want to see her friends, outside of Fluttershy. She especially didn’t want to see her family; she’d all but hurled Sweetie Belle at the door when the filly tried to visit her earlier. She didn’t want food. All she wanted was to lay in bed.

Forever.

What else could she do with her life now? Without her sight, she couldn’t sew outfits. She couldn’t see the stitches, or the colors, or the shapes. She couldn’t design. Couldn’t create. Not even with her magic. Her control over her field was sublime, but no telekinesis was a substitute for sight when it came to fashion design. Oh with practice maybe she could use it to sew something simple, but with what colors? What fabrics? She would never be able to tell, and she wasn’t about to make the faux pas of stitching a scarf of lurid pink and mustard yellow or anything like that.

“Oh just listen to me,” she muttered. “Worrying about colors. How silly. As if that’s my biggest concern.”

The Carousel Boutique had been amongst the casualties of Ponyville homes and businesses. The whole thing collapsed in on itself like a tent without stakes when the earthquake rumbled through. Thankfully Sweetie, who had been staying with her while her parents were off visiting friends in Whinnyapolis, had already left to have breakfast with Scootaloo at Sugarcube Corner. And her boutique in Canterlot died with the city.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she spared a few thoughts for poor Sassy Saddles and the rest of the Canterlot fashion community.

She still had her Manehattan boutique, of course, but, again, no eyesight. No point. She didn’t want to move to Manehattan. She liked the small town atmosphere of Ponyville. It was her home. Plus Manehattan was perhaps the worst place in Equestria to move to while blind. Just one misstep and blam there goes your body splattered on the asphalt from a passing carriage.

Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. Manehattan did have some of those new ponyless carriages. Motorwagons, they called them. Some mare from Ponyville had gotten rich off the design after seeing the idea in action with the Flim Flam brothers visit a few years ago; she couldn’t recall the name. Not that it mattered. Those motorwagons were very fast. It would be quick.

The clop of hooves on crystal interrupted her thoughts. After a moment a weight sank into the bed. “I’m back,” Fluttershy announced. “I brought you a sandwich, if um, if you’re ready to eat.”

“No thank you,” Rarity replied automatically.

She heard Fluttershy sigh mixed with the clatter of a tray on a table, then her forehoof was in Fluttershy’s grip. She was so gentle, like an angel. “How are you feeling?” the pegasus asked.

The words spilled out before Rarity could stop herself. “I wish I was dead.”

“W-what?!” Fluttershy yelled. The bed shook from shifting weight.

“I wish I was dead,” Rarity repeated, now happy to get it out there. “I wish the explosion had killed me.”

“No!” Fluttershy retorted with a voice of solid steel.

Rarity recoiled, falling against the wall. If she still had her sight she suspected she would be getting a face full of Stare right about now. “B-b-but--”

“I said no!” Fluttershy repeated. “Don’t say that! Don’t even think that!” She collapsed onto Rarity, wrapping her forelegs and wings around the unicorn in a grip far tighter than before. Wetness soaked into Rarity’s shoulder. “I’m already losing Rainbow; I don’t want to lose you too!”

That finally cracked Rarity’s shell of misery. She lifted one foreleg and placed it on the pegasus’ shoulder. “What do you mean,” Rarity said in an attempt at a soothing voice. “I-I thought Rainbow was--”

“She’s dying!” Fluttershy said, shaking all over. “Her wounds started bleeding again an hour ago; I’ve changed her bandages three times since then! They’re all purple and green, infected with something I’ve never seen before. Twilight said it was some kind of magic poison. There was nothing she could do!” Rarity’s shoulder shifted from soaked to outright drenched. “She said it might already be too late for anyone to help…”

Rarity squeezed Fluttershy tight, running a hoof along the gentle mare’s withers. With her other hoof she felt for Fluttershy’s face. She planted a delicate kiss on Fluttershy’s forehead. “Now darling, please, we mustn't lose hope,” she said. “Rainbow Dash would never give up on us. We shouldn’t give up on her.”

Fluttershy sobbed quietly against her for a few more minutes. When her tears subsided, she sniffled, pulling away. Rarity imagined Fluttershy was smiling. “You’re right Rarity. We shouldn’t lose hope.” After a moment of quiet, she added, “And neither should you.”

A sheepish smile graced Rarity’s features. “Touché,” she whispered.

Shouts thundered into the room through the broken window. Rarity started, slipping down the wall onto her side. The words were indistinct with far too many ponies shouting far too many different things. “What is it? What’s going on?” she asked, fumbling for a hold to lift herself back up.

“I don’t know,” Fluttershy said. The wind of pegasus wing flaps whooshed over Rarity’s face. “I can’t--oh! Oh my goodness!”

“What, what?!” Rarity shouted, squirming her way across the bed towards the window. She flicked her ears around, straining to hear something, anything. Over the shouts, she thought she caught the faintest whisper of… buzzing?

It grew louder, adding whirs and the occasional thrum that shook her inside like one of Vinyl Scratch’s electronica pieces. She let out a gasp. A tiny wisp of hope darted into her breast. “Is-is that what I think it is?” she asked with trepidation.

“Yes!” Fluttershy squeed. She dropped onto the bed and wrapped her forelegs around Rarity once more. “It’s the military! They’re here!”

~ * ~

Ponyville, five and one half hours after The Fall.

Twilight Sparkle stood at the front of the crowd milling outside her castle gates. A dozen airships filled the skies over Ponyville, small and sleek scoutships, Twilight recognized, though there were far fewer ships total than she would have expected. They were painted various shades of sky blue, white, and grey, the better to camouflage them in the clouds. Banks of weapons glistened in the sunlight. Their engines pulsed with charged magic, though a few also belched plumes of smoke. Along the side of each airship, under the name, the words “64th Tactical: Screaming Eagles!” were painted with bold strokes of black across a dark blue roundel with a stylized eagle in flight. As they approached, several drifted slowly to the ground.

Streams of pegasi and unicorns riding pegasi pulled carriages poured out like swarming ants. These were not the Royal Guard, with their ancient ceremonial plate mail and spears. These were professional soldiers, each dressed in camo wear befitting their roles aboard ship. While some carried crates in their hooves and packs slung over their back, others sported lengthy rifles or short bullpup carbines, all gleaming with their thaumic charge crystals. She saw unicorn horns sparking with prepared spells and pegasi with bolts of static humming over and between their wings, ready for any combat. They landed with utmost professionalism, officers barking orders as they swiftly flowed around the crowd and into the town. A pair of particularly mean looking pegasi took up positions on either side of Twilight, eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble.

Before Twilight could speak, another soldier with the bearing and uniform of a general swooped out of a parked airship, landing before Twilight with a bow. To her utter surprise the general was a griffon. An officer saber was strapped to his waist, and a pistol hung in a holster just under his wing. His perfectly groomed crest framed his face with lines of forest green shifting to grey at the tips. A few wrinkles marred his otherwise elegant, gentlecoltly face. As he stood, his eyes bored into Twilight’s like cold iron, showing no hint of cataracts despite his age. He lifted one claw in salute. “General Arend Vogel reporting as ordered by Princess Cadance, your highness!” he announced in a voice rife with clipped Germanic tones.

She gave him a royal nod like she’d seen Celestia do in acknowledgement. He dropped the salute. “It’s good you’re here, General,” she said, drawing herself up. “We have a lot of wounded. Rainbow Dash is among them; she’s in a guest room with severe thaumic poisoning, injuries, and blood loss.” Her voice shook. “She’s near death.”

Arend nodded to one of his subordinates, who howled orders to the paramedics scattered amongst the soldiers. They broke out supplies. “Where to, your highness?” the subordinate inquired.

Twilight looked to the crowd. “Scootaloo!” she called, spotting the teenage filly with her fellow Crusaders. “Can you take these ponies to Rainbow Dash?”

“You got it Twilight!” Scootaloo said, tossing off a passable imitation of a salute. She and the paramedics disappeared into the crowd.

Twilight turned her gaze back to Arend. “General, with respect, what took you so long? Where’s the rest of your brigade?”

Crimson bloomed lightly on Arend’s features. “Princess Cadance had us scout the area first to see what exactly happened; only then did she order us here. I came with my fastest ships. The rest of my brigade is either taking on supplies for the transfer or already on their way, including my command ship.” He presented her with a document. “Princess Cadance has ordered the transfer of my brigade to Ponyville. We’re to be stationed here until further notice, under your command.”

Twilight looked it over. The document bore clear signs of her brother’s writing style, laying out their orders. Her mouth twitched as she read. “I see,” she said after a moment. She hoofed it back to him and he placed it inside a vest pocket. “I’m afraid Ponyville isn’t used to a military presence. There’s going to be a period of adjustment.”

“As there will be for us all, without Canterlot,” Arend said dryly. “Your highness, Princess Cadance requested you contact her as soon as we arrived.” He gestured to the airship parked nearby. “If you would come with me, please.”

Twilight looked to the crowd. Spotting Applejack, she mouthed, “You’re in charge.” Applejack gave her a nod. She turned back to Arend. “Alright. Lead the way.” As they walked, she added, “One thing though. Please drop the ‘your highness.’ I, uh, I don’t like it very much.”

He chuckled. “As you wish, ma’am.” He gave her a kind look, eyes twinkling. “If I may say, I understand the feeling. I was an enlisted for the first twenty years of my career. Being called ‘sir’ still confuses me from time to time.”

Twilight didn’t care much for the ma’am either, but she didn’t object. She understood all too well from having Shining Armor for a brother that respect for superiors simply couldn’t be dropped entirely, no matter the circumstances. “Thank you,” she said.

They reached the wireless room of the airship. A pegasus with a fairly large headset on her head looked up to them from her seat at the console. “I have Princess Cadance on the horn for you, sir,” she said to the general.

Arend nodded to Twilight, who sat in the other chair, pulling a microphone close with her field. She scanned the console, found the transmit button and hit it. “Cadance? It’s Twilight,” she said.

Cadance’s voice boomed from the speakers, laden with crackling static. “Oh thank goodness, Twilight. It’s so good to hear your voice. Are you alright? Is everypony okay?”

Twilight winced. “We’ve had a lot of damage and injuries, and some deaths.” She relayed a few of the details, including the condition of Rarity and Rainbow. She pointedly did not mention Spike and Starlight, or her parents. She was still keeping that locked away in a box in her mind, lest she fall apart.

Cadance let out a wordless noise of dismay. “I’m so sorry, Twilight. This is such a disaster. Did you witness anything to explain why Canterlot exploded?”

“No,” Twilight sighed. “I didn’t even realize what happened at first. A piece of debris knocked me out for a few minutes.” At Cadance’s gasp, she added, “But I’m fine. Just a headache. And body aches. Aaand a cracked rib. But really I’m fine.”

“Okay,” Cadance said, her voice betraying her disbelief. “Listen, we don’t have much time. I’m about to address the nation over the wireless. But I wanted to talk to you first.” A burst of static obscured most of Cadance’s words after that.

Arend glared at his wireless pony, who fiddled with the controls. “Sorry sir,” she said after a moment. “It’s all the radiation. It’s blocking the signal north.”

After a few minutes more the static faded and Cadance’s voice came through again. “Twilight?”

“Yes, sorry, we lost you for a minute there,” Twilight said. “What were you saying?”

Cadance sighed. “I’ll sum it up: I need you to lead the government with me, Twilight.”

Twilight’s face twisted into a severe frown. She’d expected this, of course. It was why she took charge in Ponyville. She held up one of her wings, glaring daggers at it. Sometimes she wished she’d never Ascended. There was a very good reason why she never had any “Twilight Guard” or staff of her own before the explosion. “I don’t like it,” she responded.

“I know, Twilight, I know,” Cadance said in a weary tone. “I’d like you to come to the Crystal Empire by no later than tomorrow evening. I have to go; please make sure you listen to the address. It’ll be on all stations.”

Twilight nodded “I will.” The connection closed with a pop.

~ * ~

Crystal Empire, E-WCE wireless station, six hours after The Fall.

The Crystal Empire wasn’t like the rest of Equestria. It was a thousand years out of date. Adopting the new technology of the past millennium took time. As such, while the palace was equipped with a military-grade wireless transmitter, mostly for emergency purposes, it was insufficient for the scope of address Cadance was about to perform. Fortunately, the Crystal Empire did have a wireless station, for local and national news and music. Cadance had insisted on its inclusion when she took over leadership of the Empire. While there still weren’t very many wireless sets in pony’s homes, the E-WCE broadcasts played over the new speakers lining the streets of the palace and business districts. Many crystal ponies, eager to hear about the rest of Equestria, often sallied into nearby parks so they could listen. The streets and parks were filled to bursting, almost everypony in the entire city crowding to hear Cadance’s address.

Princess Cadance herself sat twitching in a chair in the broadcast booth, right next to the news anchor, an earth pony mare from Vanhoover wearing a pressed suit. A uniformed soldier stood nearby, a carbine gripped in her field. Aids and technicians bustled around with a tense haste to their steps. “On in twenty,” called a crystal pony stallion.

Cadance glanced one more time at her speech. Her speechwriters had worked triple time to get it finished as quickly as possible, and it showed. She frowned at the poor phrasing some of the lines held, in particular the opening of “My little ponies.” No need to condescend the masses. She’d have to adjust on the fly.

“Five, four, three, two,” the crystal pony counted down, then pointed a hoof at the news anchor.

With a solemn expression the news anchor opened up, “Live from the Crystal Empire, this is E-WCE news. I’m your host, Cranberry Kite. We’re continuing our special coverage of the disaster in Canterlot. Princess Cadance has finally come forth with an address on the situation. She’s with me in the studio now. Welcome to E-WCE, your highness.”

“Thank you, Cranberry,” she replied on automatic. She had to perform her anxiety gesture to soothe her trembling nerves. With a last relaxing breath she lifted her papers and began to speak.

“My fellow Equestrians, I bring you grim news. There have been many rumors regarding the situation in Canterlot since this morning. I’m afraid I must confirm the worst of these rumors. At 7:20 AM Canterlot Standard Time, an explosion ripped through the city. It was completely destroyed. Canterlot is no more. While we do not know precisely what caused the explosion, we do not believe this was an attack by a foreign nation. I must also say that at this time there has been no sign of Princess Celestia or Princess Luna since the explosion. We believe…” her breath caught in her throat. She lifted a glass of water in her field and took a swallow. “We believe that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have passed away.”

Shouts and gasps filled the studio. Even the unflappable Cranberry had a look of utter astonishment on her face. Cadance continued, “I know this comes as a shock. It shocked me as well. Unfortunately, it is the truth. Equestria is currently without a government except for myself and Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“This is a disaster like nothing Equestria has ever seen. Hundreds of thousands are dead, hundreds more injured in neighboring settlements. Our capital city, the hundreds of years of culture, of knowledge, has been taken away from us. Our Princesses are gone. This is a day that will live in infamy for all time. I am declaring today and tomorrow as national Days of Mourning for those we have lost.

“But we must stand together. We are Equestrians. We must be firm, and resolute. As such I am declaring an indefinite suspension of any and all remaining elected officials on the national level, and along with Princess Twilight will be utilizing emergency powers to take complete control of the government.

“I must also declare that until such time as the current crisis has passed, I am enacting martial law across the nation. A curfew will be in place in every city, every town across Equestria. Nopony without authorization will be allowed to wander the streets after sundown. Any who are found without the proper papers will be arrested; those who resist will be shot.” The shouts filling the air around Cadance turned furious. The soldier raised her weapon, aiming it around and the shouts fell silent. “This is not something I would institute lightly, or at all if I had any other choice. But we must maintain order in this new age of Equestria without Canterlot. We cannot allow Equestria to dissolve. We will survive.

“I ask you, all of you, to be strong. We must not lose hope or faith in Equestria. We must work together, to ensure our future. Our children, and our children’s children should be able to look back upon the coming days and see that we did not give in to chaos and destruction, but maintained the bonds of friendship and harmony that define the best of Equestria and her people. Thank you.”She dropped the papers to the desk. For several minutes silence reigned in the studio. Everypony stared at her, various expressions of horror, anger, and to her dismay fear on their faces.

After a few tense moments Cranberry Kite managed to recover her professionalism enough to speak. “That was Princess Cadance with her address. We are taking a break; we’ll be back with analysis and more after this.” She waved frantically at the technicians, who cut the broadcast. Somber orchestral music replaced it. She turned to Cadance with a glower. “Martial law? Shooting ponies? Are you serious?”

Suppressing a growl, Cadance elected to return the glower with one of her own, Princess-level strength. “Thank you, Cranberry Kite, for allowing me to use your studio.”

Cranberry rolled her eyes with a disgusted sigh. “Of course, your highness. I serve at the pleasure of the Princess.”

Beneath her glare Cadance seethed, but she refused to give in to the temptation to retort. Instead with a nod, she left, making for her carriage. Cranberry had every right to be angry, after all. The very idea of martial law was anathema to peaceful, harmonious Equestria. She imagined--no, she knew, ponies everywhere would feel the same. All across Equestria, under orders passed down from her husband soldiers were marching in the street. In the larger cities they cooperated with local police; in the rest they simply took over the role. It would take some time to work everything out, of course. Plenty of ponies had night jobs, many of which were vital, such as water treatment. But so many other businesses, such as night clubs, or bars, would wither on the vine. These businesses added many millions in taxes to the national budget each year.

Cadance winced as she recalled just how badly the loss of Canterlot upended the government’s finances. Because Equestria had only recently begun moving to a fiat standard for its currency, Canterlot still held billions in gold bullion and other assets. All lost now. They’d have to assemble what they could from tax records and collections in Equestria’s member states. No emergency funds, because of course Equestria put everything in Canterlot.

It made sense at the time, Cadance mused. Canterlot was the heart of Equestria, at the center of the country. Any attacking force would have to come from either coast, through the icy mountains of the Yaket Range or the heat of the Macintosh Hills. Equestria’s Royal Navy patrolled the coasts, the Royal Army stood ready in the south and the Air Cavalry patrolled the north, so nothing would get through without Equestria knowing about it. There were possible means, such as teleport spells, or those horribly ear-piercing screaming devils they called rockets being developed in the San Palomino desert, but even those were anticipated, with wards and unicorns actively scanning for hostile magics. Besides, no country save for the zebras had managed to develop anything close to Equestria’s rockets, at least so far. Certainly not with an explosive payload capable of wiping out a city.

Cadance still didn’t understand how that was even possible, at least not with Equestrian technology and magic. Late at night, the first time Twilight had returned from the human world after the Fall Formal, they held a fascinating conversation where Twilight told her all she’d learned about human history. The humans had developed something they called the “atomic bomb,” a device that used the separation of atoms to level whole cities. Twilight, to Cadance’s horror, had explained she’d taken the time to learn the math behind such a device, though she was immediately forbidden from ever discussing it or trying to duplicate it. The very thought of such a weapon gave Cadance nightmares for weeks afterwards.

But she’d told the nation they weren’t under attack for a good reason. There’d been no message, no note, not a peep from the borders. Even the yaks were calm and sedate before the explosion. Or, The Fall, as some of the ponies around her palace had started calling it. She suspected everypony in Equestria would be calling it that within a week. It was an apt name. She only hoped it wouldn’t be the prelude to the fall of all of Equestria.

~ * ~

Ponyville, nine hours after The Fall.

Twilight slumped in her throne chair at the cutie map table, exhaustion overtaking her. The days stresses wore away at her energy levels, taking their toll. She hadn’t been this tired since before she Ascended. She had to take a few moments to just sit and rest.

She peered over at her new bodyguards, making a face. They stood stone stiff, rifles at the ready, faces blank of emotion. The two pegasi soldiers formed one shift of a full detail of eight ponies General Arend assigned to her for “her safety in these troubled times.” Twilight, who’d fought and won in many life-or-death situations, including combat against a giant centaur who possessed the magic of all of Equestria, didn’t think she needed any protecting, but there was no arguing with Arend on this matter. “There could be a sniper,” he had said. “Or an ambush. Or a mob.”

Whatever. She fell over the table, smushing her face into the empty platter of pastries she’d consumed. The empty coffee mug that came with fell over, crushing Vanhoover. Her eyes closed. She just wanted to sleep. Yes. Sleep.

The door cracked open, revealing General Arend. “Princess, may I have a word?”

Twilight bolted up in her chair, heart racing. She brushed off the crumbs coating her face and coughed, assuming a more royal demeanor. “Of course, General.”

With no comment save a raise of his bushy eyebrows, he approached the cutie map table, sitting across from Twilight. He withdrew a set of documents from his vest and scooted them over. “I have the full damage assessment and casualty reports for Ponyville.”

She took one look at the summary and groaned. “Over seventy percent loss of all homes and businesses?”

Twisting his beak, Arend nodded. “Ponyville, like Canterlot, lies far away from any fault lines. It simply wasn’t built to handle form of earthquake, explosive aftershocks or otherwise. If you’ll excuse my candor, ma’am, I think you should count yourself lucky your weather pegasi prevented the fires from spreading and consuming the rest of the town.

“Well they are one of the best weather teams in all of Equestria,” she commented. She peered down the list of destroyed businesses, wincing at every name she recognized. Carousel Boutique in particular tugged at her heartstrings. “Oh thank goodness,” she whispered when she saw Sugarcube Corner and Sweet Apple Acres were not on the list.

Next was the casualty list. The taste of bile filled her throat as she read the unfeeling numbers. Over twenty-five percent of all ponies living in Ponyville were either deceased or unaccounted for. Ponyville had a population of over three thousand ponies; that meant close to eight hundred of them perished. The list of names wrenched her heart with a vice grip. One in particular caught her eye: Mayor Ivory Scroll. She’d been found unconscious from a severe head injury. She never woke up; her brain hemorrhaged and she’d bled to death internally.

She tossed the report aside. It was too depressing. Seeking to focus her mind on other things, she laid her hooves on the table to get Arend’s attention. “How are troops settling in?”

“Most of my forces have arrived,” Arend answered. “Some of the cargo support ships stayed behind to take on more construction supplies and volunteer personnel from Fillydelphia civilians. They should arrive by 0900 tomorrow morning. Most are hot bunking on the landed ships for now. We will only be constructing a barracks after we have sufficient shelter for the displaced citizens.”

“Thank you, General,” Twilight said with a grateful smile. “Everypony will appreciate that very much.”Arend nodded respectfully. “Of course, ma’am. Now, about your trip to the Crystal Empire, I’ve already made preparations with Colonel Avalanche. He will be leading my forces in my absence.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You’re coming along? Why?”

“Princess Cadance put me under your command, ma’am,” Arend said. “Given the current crisis I feel it is best if I am at your side as much as possible, to help coordinate between the government and the Air Cavalry. Colonel Avalanche can handle any issues that come up.” With a wry twist to his beak he added, “And, to be frank, to add legitimacy to your rulership. The leaders of Equestria’s member states will have serious doubts of your ability to lead. Seeing a general with you should help alleviate that.”

Twilight’s smile transformed into a grimace. “Right. Politics. Of course.”

“The sentiment is duly shared, ma’am,” said Arend. “In any case, my command ship is standing by, ready to depart immediately.”

The alicorn scowled. “I’d really prefer not to leave Ponyville until Rainbow is out of surgery.”

Giving her a look of remorse, he replied, “I understand, ma’am, but she may not be out for hours yet. My ship is fast but it will still take us roughly twenty-six hours to make the trip; any further delays will only hurt you and Princess Cadance dearly in the long run.” He stood, placing a claw on the table. “My doctors will report by wireless as soon as she’s out, that I promise you.”

“Alright, fine,” Twilight said. She had no energy to argue. “Just give me a minute with my friends first, please.”

Arend lifted a claw in salute, pivoted, and made for the door. She followed, calling out to the crowded ballroom for Applejack and Pinkie. Asking them to follow her, the three made for Rarity’s room. Her bodyguards trailed behind, waiting just outside the door.

They found Fluttershy snoozing atop a sleeping Rarity, wings spread out to cover them like a blanket. Pinkie broke out in giggles at the sight. “Awww, they’re so cute!”

Twilight and Applejack exchanged an amused look. “Fluttershy, sugarcube, wake up now,” Applejack said, shaking the pegasus’ shoulder.

“Huh?” Fluttershy murmured. She sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “What---eeep!” Her face bloomed with red as she shot out of bed, zipping to the other side of the room. “It’s not--oh gosh oh no it’s not what it looks like everypony!”

Twilight chortled. “It’s okay, Fluttershy. It’s been a long day for all of us.”

Fluttershy scratched her head, eyes cast to the floor. “Oh, um, right. Yes. It has.”

“What’s going on?” Rarity asked with a yawn. She sat up, pointing her head in their general direction. “Hello? Who’s there?”

“It’s us, Rarity,” Twilight answered. “How’re you feeling?”

Fluttershy blanched and shook her head rapidly. “Don’t ask her that!” she whispered in Twilight’s ears. “She’s been very depressed all day.”Rarity flumped back onto her pillow. “Fine, darling, just fine. Never better. This is the best day of my life.”

Twilight grimaced as Fluttershy slapped a hoof to her face. “Is it… is it okay if we talk?” asked the alicorn.

Rarity waved a hoof in her general direction. “Sure, sure, go ahead.”

With some trepidation Twilight took a seat on the bed next to Rarity, waving the rest closer. “Girls, I’m leaving for the Crystal Empire. Tonight. I’m not sure how much I’m going to be seeing of you for the next, well, I don’t know how long. You all heard the broadcast.” Everyone gave her a sad nod. Cadance’s broadcast had been replayed over the speakers in the Friendship Castle ballroom. “I’m one half of the government now. Ooooh. I never wanted anything like this!”

She sighed, placing her face in her hooves. “But I’m a Princess. Equestria needs me. I don’t know how long this trip will be, or how many more I’ll have to take. I’ll probably be bouncing between Ponyville and the Crystal Empire all the time until we can figure out a more permanent solution.” She raised her gaze to give a pointed look. “I’m going to be counting on you, all of you, to watch over Ponyville for me. Even with the help of the General’s soldiers it will be a long time before Ponyville recovers. Applejack, I have a special role in mind for you, if you’re willing.”

Confusion traced a path across Applejack’s features. “What’s that, Twi?”

“Ivory Scroll passed away a couple of hours ago. Her injuries were just too severe.” Everyone let out tiny gasps of dismay or whispers of “Oh no.” She continued, “Ponyville needs a mayor. I’d like to appoint you.”

“What? Me?” Applejack shouted. She thumped a hoof to her chest. “But Twilight, Ah don’t know the first thing about bein’ a mayor. And Ah have to worry about mah farm! Ah’m alright with stayin’ in your castle for a while but eventually Big Mac and Granny are gonna want to return to Sweet Apple Acres and they’re gonna need me to help.”

“I understand,” Twilight responded, “but you have the trust of the entire town, and I know I can rely on you to make the right decisions. Everypony is afraid of the military because of Cadance’s order for martial law, so that’s why I need somepony I can count on to rein in the panic. I’ll make sure there are plenty of farmhooves available to cover any shortage of labor for Sweet Apple Acres, and you will have final say in any and all decisions in Ponyville. The colonel will report to you.”

Applejack bowed her head. “Alright, Twi, Ah guess Ah can’t argue with that. Ah’ll be sure ta make you proud.”

Twilight wrapped a foreleg around her in a brief hug. “Thanks, Applejack,” said Twilight. “Now, the rest of you will be assisting Applejack in whatever roles she needs you to fill. Yes, Rarity, that includes you; I know you’ll need time to heal but Applejack will need your advice for diplomacy and politics.”

“I-I’ll do what I can,” Rarity muttered. Twilight patted her hoof in a comforting gesture.

“Hey, what about Rainbow Dash?” Pinkie exclaimed, hooves flailing wildly in the air. “Is she okay?”

“She’s still in surgery,” Twilight said. “The doctors think she’ll pull through, but it could still be hours before we know anything for sure.”

“Oh, she’ll pull through alright,” Pinkie declared. “Dashie’s too awesome to kick the bucket!”

“I hope you’re right,” Fluttershy said in a shaky voice.

Twilight stood, waving everyone together for a group embrace. The warmth of the hug filled Twilight’s heart with a breath of fresh cheer. “I love you girls. You’re the best friends in the world.”

~ * ~

Crystal Empire, eleven hours after The Fall.

My parents are dead.

The unwelcome thought flitted into Shining Armor’s mind for the umpteenth time. As he did every time he used his military training to shove that thought back in the darkness where it belonged. Can’t think about that. Have to work. Have a job to do.

He fiddled with the dials on the palace’s wireless. “Baltimare Naval Base, this is Shining Armor, please respond,” he said into his headset. Static filled his ears. “Damn it.” The wireless was still on the fritz from the thaumic radiation. The Crystal Empire’s location to the far north of Canterlot meant all signals invariably traveled through the destroyed city’s former location. Reception was spotty at best, and would likely be so for weeks. Until they could secure the phone lines through Manehattan from interception and spying, this was the military’s only reliable means of communicating.

He adjusted the frequency and tried again. “Baltimare Naval Base, this is Shining Armor, please respond.”

“Reading you, General Armor,” replied a voice on the other end with an undercurrent of static. “Patchy, but reading you.” With Cadance’s decision to put Shining in charge of the military, he’d decided to switch titles. Ponies would cry nepotism otherwise. They still would, but in fewer numbers and, more importantly, the officers under his command would be more willing to trust him as a general than as a prince.

My parents are dead.

Scowling, he flung a hoof in the air to push the thought away and ordered, “Put Admiral Typhoon on the line.”

“Yes sir.”

After a few moments of unpleasant static, another voice boomed in his headset. “Yes, General?” Admiral Typhoon’s voice rang with a thick Baltimare accent, deep as the ocean. It could almost be called sultry if it weren’t as cold as the ocean too. “What is it?”

He ground his teeth at the disrespect, but said nothing. Typhoon was a special case and he had to handle her delicately. “I need your readiness report. You were supposed to send it in three hours ago.”

My parents are dead.

“With all due respect, General,” Typhoon retorted, meaning anything but, “my sailors have their hooves full with patrolling the streets. Baltimare has already seen two riots in Jennyville.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think past his distracted mind. Jennyville, Jennyville… it was a donkey neighborhood. Baltimare had a sizable donkey population, the largest anywhere in Equestria outside of Manehattan. He clenched his hoof. The donkeys of Baltimare were also the most oppressed minority in Equestria. Duchess Seafoam took every excuse she could to stomp their faces into the dirt. The Fall gave her all the excuse she needed. Those “riots” were probably just peaceful protests.

My parents are dead.

Gritting his teeth, he replied, “I understand that, Admiral, but I need you to have your fleet ready. Equestria is vulnerable. We’re weak in the eyes of the world and we need to be ready to stave off any attack.”

“Believe me, I am well aware of that,” Typhoon replied, her voice heaped with scorn. “But the Duchess has set securing Baltimare as my first priority. I’ll be sure to contact you as soon as my fleet leaves port.” The connection popped closed.

With a frustrated groan he ripped off his headset and threw it at the table. “Damn that mare,” he growled.

My parents are dead.

Shining roared, bucking his rear hooves into the wall, cracking the crystal. He grunted in pain as shards sliced through the frog of his left rear hoof. Blood oozed from the wound, leaving a line of red as he stomped his way over to the desk on the other side of the room, plopping into the chair.

Cadance galloped in from the next room, out of breath. “Shining, what’s going on--oh my goodness you’re hurt!” She disappeared, returning with a first aid kit. “Here, let me help. What happened?”

“I’m fine,”he spat, shrugging her off.

Cadance narrowed her eyes to mere slits. “No you’re not!”

“I’m telling you, I’m fine!”

“No, you’re not!” Cadance repeated. “What in Equestria is wrong with you, Shining?”

“My parents are dead!” he shouted.

The alicorn recoiled, falling to the floor. “Shining, I…”

“My parents are dead,” he repeated softly. He shook all over, clenching his forehooves to his chest. “My parents are dead.” Tears streamed down his face, soaking his coat. “My parents are dead…”

Tears came to Cadance’s eyes as she leapt to her hooves and hugged him tightly. “Oh, Shining, I’m so sorry.”

He clung to her like she was a lifeline, finally crying the tears he’d held back all day.