A Soul of a Monster.

“It’s been a year since I left Lavender Shadow in the hooves of Starswirl I wonder how, wait...” Celestia said up top her throne, letting her mind wonder off the war once more. However she didn’t know why she started thinking about the pony from another world. The more this hell went on the more Lavender kept creeping up from the back of her subconsciousness. “Why? I need to focus.” She said. She was a mess at the moment, her fur disheveled; her mane was losing that bright pink every pony was used to; her fatigue was showing and she didn’t much care right now. She made some parchment and a quill popped into existents with a golden glow. She started writing…

My Dearest Sister. I send this letter to you once more to try my hoof to convince you to see reason. Please, I ask you Sister… I beg you to stop, or at least work with me to stop this meaningless bloodshed. Let us be Sisters once more. Please. I need you back. What will it take to get you back? Let me know. I’m sorry. Let me tell you that face to face. I hate this! I want it to stop! Please. Help Me…

When she finished the quill disappeared in that same golden glow and she rolled up the parchment and put it at her side. Suddenly the front doors blasted open and in ran a royal guard a parchment of his own in his mouth. Celestia jumped at the sudden bang the door caused. She glared at the pony galloping up to her. The stallion took notice. “My Apologies princess.”

Straightening herself back up she sighed. “No no, it’s fine.” She said sighing again. “Report.”

“Of course.” The Stallion said taking off his helmet an putting the parchment down. “So, all attempt at your peace efforts are not…”

“No!” Celestia snapped. The stallion taken aback and Celestia gasped at her sudden outburst. She took a breath and started again. “No… I meant… I mean.”

“Your Majesty?” the stallion inquired. “Do you need a moment?”

Celestia thought on it for a second but declined. “My Apologies. I’m just so…”

“Understandable.” The stallion interrupted.

“Why are you here soldier?” Celestia asked bluntly. The stallion just picked up the note he was carrying earlier. “Oh.” She said picking it off his hoof with a golden glow of her horn. “Who gave this to you?” she asked as she began to unravel it.

“It was a filly my Princess.” The stallion said with a little hesitation. “Black fur.”

Celestia stopped for a second. “Lavender?” she mumbled. “Why she send a letter to me I wonder.” She thought. She got her answer right away however.

Dear Princess Celestia…

Just what the Fuck do you think you’re doing?!... Here I am learning to live on a world that I’m stuck on for the rest of my lives, Thinking that by some miracle the strongest living Thing on the face of this Planet would end the war in one fell swoop. But No, here I learned that this “WAR” haves been going on for years. YEARS!...

In my honest opinion I do believe we need to talk face to face about Ending this here War. I have some ideas if you care to hear them. Or Maybe, you could grow some Fucking Balls and end this BullShit Now? But alas, I come to find out you are indeed a “Pacifist” Through and Through.

And Pacifists haves no place in War.

Finishing the letter Celestia put it down gently. She sighed and with a face that no pony ever imagined to see on the face of their ruler. Celestia looked angry. Like, she could really end the war right now. End the world with a glance. “Soldier?” She said glaring at the stallion.

The Stallion in turn just about pissed himself stumbling backwards a little. “Yee. Yess. Your Majesty?” he sputtered.

“If you would be kind enough to fetch Miss Lavender Shadow for me please..?” she said with searing annoyance in her voice.

“Y-Ye-Yes, Your, Your…”

“Now… Please.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Later that day.

“Dow is a Bitch!” Scaramouch said bluntly. Smooch then gasped a little. “Um Sorry Princess.” She was standing in front of the throne as Celestia stood in from of a window closest from the throne.

“It’s quite all right my little pony.” Celestia said with a smile. Turning around to look at Smooch she said. “Proceed please.”

“Um so, really.” Smooch started, wondering why she just got away with that. “She’s selfish. She’s blunt. She haves these little fits when she doesn’t get her way with anything.”

“So by all definitions, she’s acting according to a child?” Celestia interrupted Smooch.

“Well Um… I guess so.” Smooch said sheepishly. “But as a Student of Starswirl the bearded himself…”

“You think she should act as such.” Celestia interrupted again.

“Yes.” Smooch said feeling a little more comfortable. “I’ve seen her maturity first hoof.” She said looking down. “She talks with Starswirl as if the pair were old friends.”

“Doesn’t Star talk like that with every pony?” Celestia asked slowly walking up to Scaramouch.

“Well, for the most part sure.” Smooch said. “But we both know he always seems to haves those moment of loneliness. Not with her.”

Celestia actually knew why but like Lavender, Starswirl wanted his secrets kept too. “It sounds to me that Lavender is just getting under your fur Scaramouch.”

Smooch in turn just sighed. “I guess so.” She said hanging her head down.

“Do you know Why?” Celeste asked.

Smooch jerked her head up at the question. “Because…” she hesitated. “She’s better then me.”

Celestia just tilted her head at Smooch. “umm?”

It took Smooch a moment to realize that the princess wanted her to elaborate. “You see… Dow haves only been with us a year, but she’s learned so much more then I did in ten.”

“Oh…” Celestia replied. So it was one of these stories she thought. “So?”

“Huh? What? Wait?” Scaramouch sputtered as her back half fell to the floor. A few seconds of deep thought then Smooch said. “Oh… I’m. My Apologies.”

Celestia nodded her head as she gave Smooch a warm smile. “No need to be sorry.” She sat down with Smooch. “Think of it this way. Most, nearly all Unicorns don’t learn any magic past levitation.” The pair looked at each other. “So that right there proves you’re leagues ahead from most other ponies.”

Smooch sighed. “All other ponies but her.” She said turning her head away.

“All?” Celestia inquired. “What of your fellow students?”

“You mean Quinn?” Smooch asked as she stood up. “Sure. I can admit his skill comes close…” She then walked behind Celestia and started pacing. “Sure, he’s powerful, one of the best but…”

“Stop.” Celestia interrupted turning Smooch’s way. “Please?” She did just that and sat back down. “Your Ego is out shining your confidence.”

“Ah.” Smooch gasped. “Huh, oh…” she said with a hint of disappointment on her face. I’m, my Apologies.”

“Needn’t be sorry.” Celestia said with that same loving smile from before. I myself should apologies. Letting us trail of subject like that.”

“No. it’s fine.” Smooch said standing back up. “I still stand by what I said though.”

“She’s a Bitch…”

Scaramouch went wide-eyed and stared at Celestia. She never thought Celestia would ever say anything like that. No pony would.

“I know I know, it’s just…”

“The War?” Smooch interrupted.

“The reason why I asked you here.” Celestia said. she had a worried look on her face all the sudden.

Smooch took notice. “What’s up princess?” she asked.

“In your honest opinion. You think I should recruit Lavender Shadow for the War effort?” Celestia asked with no emotion what so ever.

“Bu-a-um… NO!” Smooch sputtered and stumbled and it took her a moment for her to compose herself. Celestia just stared at her. “I mean, huh, that, that’s just my misgivings with her sooooo.”

“Scaramouch.” Celestia rose her voice a little more then usual. Please. It’s fine. I hear your words and…”

“Apologies.” Smooch interrupted. “But you haven’t.” the two looked at each other for a moment before Celestia gestured for her to continue. Smooch complied. “As for the good of this land. That pony can actually do so much at six years of age, it’s scary. So in my unbiased honest opinion is...

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Hello my little pony.” Celestia said on top her throne. Harlequin sitting on a pillow in front of it. “So let me get straight into it shall I?”

“Of course your majesty.” Quinn replied. He was polite, but he had that nagging feeling that something was up. Like was he in trouble for something he didn’t know about or remember? Or was it that she needed his help only he could do? However his worries seemed invalid once he heard the princess ask the question. His Answer was immediate. “Dow is a Beast!”

Celestia didn’t expect that from him. Out of Starswirl’s stories she kind of knew Scaramouch would act the way she did but Harlequins was supposed to be analytical, regal… Clearly Lavender had a greater impact with Quinn here then Smooch. “Oh damn, here we go again” she thought giving Quinn a warm smile. “Why say that?”

“Because she is!” Quinn said standing up and taking a step forward.

Celestia’s guards took notice and prepared themselves. Celestia however raised a hoof making them stop.

Quinn sat back down. “I mean, she’s just a filly right?” he said with concern. “That’s what I thought, up in till I saw what she was capable of.” He said with some trepidation.

“And?” Celestia asked with some amusement by his antics.

“Um. Well… She’s to full of herself.” Quinn said jerking back a little afterwards. “I mean, she loves herself to much.”

Celestia giving Quinn a smile. “Needn’t be so worried Harlequin.”

“Ok…” Quinn said taking a breath, finally sitting back down. “ok… well, she likes messing with other ponies as well.” Celestia suddenly worried herself by that. However not showing just how hypocritical she felt. “Like, confusing ponies on a whim, being extremely mad one moment then laughing about that vary same thing minutes later, saying stuff that would break the best of us.”

Quinn by now was getting a little agitated by his own words. “What of Scaramouch?” Celestia asked suddenly.

“Dow deliberately messes with Smooch the most.” He said with a little chuckle. “And after she thinks nothing of it.”

“And what of you my little pony?” Celestia asked concern for Quinn’s well being.

“Well, me? She and I don’t see eye to eye” Quinn said. “I try to talk with her from time to time but all that comes out of her mouth makes Me doubt myself.” He said with a little sense of hate. “I’m trying my flank off to be friendly to a pony from across the seas…” Celestia noticing that he was getting agitated again. “But knowing the things she does for ‘FUN’…” Quinn stopped after that yelp. After a few seconds of dead silence, it looked as if Harlequin was about to cry. “It’s enough to drive some pony Bat Shit INSANE!” This time he screamed at Celestia and this time her guards sprint into action, pinning him down in a blink of an eye.

Celestia in turn just took a breath, seeing Quinn was ready to burst into tears. She got up and slowly started down to Quinn. “It’s like she hasn’t a care in the world.” She said coming to a stop in front of Quinn. “And she doesn’t care if any pony would ever like her.” Quinn slowly looked up at Celestia as she laid in front of him. The pair of them took a breath simultaneously. Quinn closed his eyes and Celestia gave the ok to her guards to let him go. They promptly did so, but not without their own trepidations.

Both sat up and looked at each other. Quinn look better then just a moment ago Celestia thought.

“You know, from everything I read about you Harlequin.” Celestia said with a smirk. “I’d assumed that you were more emotionless. I’m so relieved to see that I was wrong.” The pair stared at each other for a moment more, then Quinn went wide-eyed in sudden realization. “What is it?” Celestia asked.

“Apologies…” Quinn said sitting straight up, now baring the look of clarity. “I know what’s she’s doing.” Quinn gave a smirk of his own. “She’s going to pay for that.”

“Oh?” Celestia started as her concerns shifted a little. “Then if you please, before you go off to have your vengeance. The second thing I’d like to know is, what you just realized?” She said standing up and turned to head back up her throne.

“I just noticed that Dow’s treating every pony differently.” Quinn said as Celestia made it on the throne and sat back down. “She’s seeing how much pressure needs to build on a pony's mind in order to break.” He said with a little chuckle at the end. “And she Broke me… Fuck!” Every pony in the room gave the one in the middle the weirdest look any pony could ever give another. “What?”

Celestia composed herself before telling Quinn, “I see our vocabulary is ever growing, ever since Lavender’s arrival.” She smirked. “When she say that word?” She asked.

“Whenever she’s frustrated or mad about something.” Quinn replied.

“So you’re frustrated?” Celestia asked unmoving.

“Oh a great deal, apologies princess.” Quinn replied.

“No need, she is an Ass hole.” It was Quinn’s turn to give her a weird look, just made Celestia giggle. “But I’m getting off track… I’ve been doing that a lot as of late…” She coughed once in her hoof. “the first thing I wanted to know from you… In your honest opinion. You think I should recruit Lavender Shadow for the War effort?”

“Um, if I may ask, why ask me at all, your majesty?” Quinn asked calm and collected.

Celestia relieved to see Quinn becoming a bit saner then he was just a moment ago. “Well you see,” she started making Lavender’s letter appear with a golden glow. “After nearly a year, Miss Dow sent me this letter asking if she can join the battles.” She said looking over the parchment again.

Quinn just stared at the paper floating in the air thinking that can’t just be it. “May I?” he asked.

“Of course.” Celestia replied, floating it down to Quinn. He took it in his own magic and brought in up to his face. It was only a few seconds in before he sneered at the paper. You see my dilemma then?” Celeste asked.

Quinn took a breath. “And here I am being selfish.” He said dropping his head and in turn the letter. “Your majesty… she deserves no such praise, even after this filth.” He said stomping at the paper. “But… I’m telling you the truth of the matter.” Quinn raising his head. “I’ve seen her work. I seen the way she uses magic. If she haves a way to end this War. Then in my honest opinion…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Dow is, by all definitions, an Alien.” Starswirl said, sitting at a table across from Celestia. Both with a bowl of salad to their left and a slice of cake on their right. “And it’s not because she’s not of this world. No… I believe even in her world she was an outcast.”

“I believe I can see that as well.” Celestia said taking a bite of her food and quickly swallowed. “of course her treatment of her fellow students isn’t helping her in any way.”

“Ah. So you already spoke to my students have you?” Starswirl said taking his first bite. “Yeah. She haves no respect for any pony.”

“She seems to have respect for you.” Celestia interrupted.

“Really?” Star asked. “I mean I guess so. We talk to each other well enough.” He said pondering on the matter.

“I think it’s more then that.” Celestia pondered as well. “The pair of you are similar in that both you aren’t from this place.” She smiled. “Well she probably came from farther then you.” She jest but quickly gasped after so. “I’m…”

“It’s quite alright your majesty.” Starswirl interrupted. “I came to terms that I’m never going back to my old home again.” He smiled at her. That alone seemed to perk her up a little. “No, what surprised me, was it took her minutes what took me years to get over.” Celestia a little intrigued at that. “the moment she found out she couldn’t leave. She moved on, like it never mattered to her at all.

“That’s a little scary if you think about it.” Celestia commented. A moment past of the pair chewing food then, “I would love to hear more of our mystery pony if I’m not so intrusive?” She asked.

“Certainly.” Starswirl said bluntly. “I imagine it’s about that letter you’re hiding right now?”

“Haa, how did you…” Celestia started but sighed soon after. “Yes.”

Starswirl just smiled back at her. “Well… She is a… Manipulative, Egocentric, Bombastic even.” Celestia just listened at the moment. “She loves to Nitpick at other pony’s minds. So much in fact that I don’t think she knows how to stop, or when they break.”

“Wait? And we let that slide do we?” Celestia asked. “That’s… a little horrifying.”

“That it is.” Star replied. “But I guess I understand though.”

“How so?” Celestia asked taking a nibble of her cake.

“Of course, think on it… Coming to a world you know nothing about.” Starswirl said, clearly choosing his words. “And being as analytical as she is, you’d want to know as much as possible. And being as impatient as she is, you’d want to know it fast.”

“I guess that does make some sense.” Celestia said tapping her chin with her hoof.

“She’s creative as well.” Star said now eating his cake.

“Oh.?”

“She haves this idea in her head that all ponies, no… All the different species of this world can use magic. Like a unicorn…” Celestia gasped at that, choked a little then coughed up some crumbs. She then proceeded to stare at Starswirl in disbelief. “Yep… I had a similar reaction.”

“Ok… I mean sure all ponies have inherit magic in them but…”

“She even went so far to promise this earth pony that he could use magic.” Starswirl said. at this point the pair stopped eating. “been working that poor pony to near death for months now… his choice.”

“And we haven’t stopped this yet?” Celestia asked running her concerns across her face. Suddenly she went wide-eyed. “You think that’s one of her ideas?” she asked.

“Must be.” Starswirl replied. “However I wouldn’t know how she could ever make an earth pony use magic?” he said taking a bite of his cake.

Celestia sighed. “Fascinating to say the least. Yet once again I’m getting us off track.”

“Of course.” Starswirl interrupted. “You wish to know if it’s a good idea to let Miss Shadow help with the war effort?” Celestia just smiled and nodded for Star to continue. “I’m going to half ta say no…” He said with no emotion.

“Huh…” Celestia said.

“What?” Star asked.

“Both your top two students said practically the same thing.” Starswirl stared off in the distance. “But then…”

“But then the pair thought on it for a moment. Maybe even just seconds like I just did.” He said.

“ok…” Celestia said. “Then what’s your honest opinion?”

By this point all the food was gone from Starswirl’s plates. Celestia still had a little left. “the truth of the matter is that my opinion shouldn’t matter at all… The truth of the matter is that Lavender Shadow…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

That night…

“Lavender Shadow maybe the best pony to Win this War.”

Those words rang in Celestia’s head ever since all three ponies she met today all said the exact same thing, and she hated that. Celestia currently on a balcony staring up at the moon. Remembering earlier that morning.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

That Morning…

“Ah, Miss Shadow? To what do I owe this pleasure?” Celestia said still angry from reading Dow’s letter. She was sitting up top her throne as Lavender was below her, just staring at Celestia with a blank look.

“Don’t spit that shit at me Princess” Lavender said harshly. Every pony gasped at that and the guards took action right away, lunging at Dow only to hit each other’s heads. Knocking them out instantly. Dow herself was a few feet in front of them. “I know full well why I’m here.” She said looking back at the guards. “So should I get to the point or you want to ask your obligatory questions?” She said gawking back at Celestia and smiling evilly.

Celestia with a look of shock and awe on her face. No pony had ever spoke like that to her. Sure Dow was a pony not from this world but has she no manners at all? She composed herself with the sternest physique she can muster. “Well, if you’re so impatient then proceed Miss Shadow.” She said trying to keep as calm as possible.

“First off… I’m surprised you have yet to reprimand me.” Lavender said sitting on the ground. “I see that you clearly want too.”

“That’s because I want to hear your ideas.” Celestia said thinking if that was actually true or not.

“ok.” Dow said smiling. “Then my idea that I’d know would be best for the long run.” She said standing up. “is Conquest.”

“What?” Celestia asked not knowing how to react to that.

“Conquest.” Dow repeated. Lavender seeing that Celestia seemed to be struggling with that concept. Dow took a breath. “Could you please show me a map of the world?”

Celestia hesitant at Dow’s request but materialized a hologram of the world beneath Dow’s hoofs. She made it big enough to let Dow walk through it as if the filly was ten miles tall.

“Good.” Dow said looking around. “Now please show our land and the borders to our competition.”

Celestia did just that. The borders first appeared. Celestia and her people were smack dab in the middle of the map. Just barely ten percent of it. Then came the rest. That Somber King controlled thirty percent of the world. At eleven twelve and one o clocks. Luna controlled another thirty maybe a tad bit more of what Dow saw. Five six and seven a clocks. Separate factions of other races controlled the rest of the world. Dragons a percent here and there. Same for many other races on the world. Dow noticed her birthplace was taken over by griffons. Dow seemed antsy for a second or two but then she giggled. It lasted a while. Celestia puzzled when Lavender started trotting along the outside of the borders.

“Miss Shadow?” Celestia asked wondering if she should make the map vanish. To Celestia, Dow looked too happy to be ten miles tall.

Dow stopped and snapped her head towards Celestia. “Umm.” She said, a blush on her face. “Sorry… Soo…” She said looking over the map. “What I know we need to do first is get ourselves a better base then this shithole.” Celestia taken a little aback by that last word but she kept quiet for the time being. “I suggest that place there.” Dow said pointing out one of the castle’s windows to that mountain the griffons are inhabiting.

Celestia looked over at the mountain. “Are you saying to take that rock by force?” She asked.

“Yes…” Dow said bluntly.

Celestia didn’t want to think of the implications of that. Firstly to force whatever creature out of the thing they call home, then all the deaths that may occur in such a battle. For Celestia, it was maddening to think about. “I… I don’t know if I could…”

“Then don’t!” Lavender interrupted as she started pacing back and forth. “Let me do all the work!”

“No…” Celestia said as the map vanished. “I can’t let you go out of your way to…”

“Shut up!” Dow interrupted again. “You can’t let me protect my home!?” She said stopping and turned to look back to Celestia.

“You mean you…”

“I Said Shut It!” Dow yelled at Celestia.

Celestia in turn couldn’t fathom all this strife Dow had towards her. It was disconcerting to see a filly scream at her, to say the least, but she stayed silent.

“Look. I’m stuck here, I have no choice but to call this my home.” Lavender started. “So there is no Fucking Way I’m Going to Spend the Rest of My Life…” Dow said slowly raising her voice, To eventually it became a scream. “FIGHTING A WAR YOU CAN’T WIN!” Dow finished almost hyperventilating.

And Celestia becoming a bit more upset herself, to the point was she found herself sneering at Lavender. She quickly stopped and shook her head.

Lavender took a few deep breaths before continuing “Princess Celestia…” The pair looked at each other. “You are to Nice. You need to be more selfish. Or find a pony that is.”

“My little pony... I believe you’re done.” Celestia said standing up and slowly walked towards Lavender. “Let me have a day and I’ll give you my decision.” She said standing in front of Dow. “You will let me think on this.” She said with a hint of animosity.

Lavender just smiled back. “A day then.” She said as she backed away a little. She then turned and started trotting off.

The guards slowly opened their eyes at that point. The pair saw Lavender being on her marry way. Then they looked at their princess. To them, she looked so distraught. The pair picked themselves up and looked back at Dow. “Your majesty? You want her detained?” one of them asked.

“No…” Celestia said taking a breath. “however I need to ask something of you.”

“Anything.” One replied as both stood at attention.

“I need you to bring Starswirl and his students for me.” She said as Dow left through the front doors. “Then I need to be alone in till they arrive.”

“Of course your majesty.” Both said simultaneously.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Celestia looking at the moon, her thoughts wondering off once more. A tear ran down her cheek. “I’m to nice huh???”