To End Another War

“When the more powerful and mysterious Zebra tribes suddenly went quiet, we barely batted an eye and moved on, thinking that it was some obscure zebra warlord gaining power again.” The well-dressed pony struck his hoof against the podium, the volume of his voice rising and echoing in the completely filled halls.

Lord Fancy Pants swept his eyes across the seats, seemingly making eye contact with each and every pony, his opponent always losing the duel and lowering their head, up until he looked straight across, at the face of Princess Celestia herself. The Princess of the Day withstood the normally sedate stallion’s scorching glare, unfazed. Fancy Pants turned to the other Royal Sister, Princess Luna, and neither the younger sister lowered her head in defeat, actually raising her chin in proud defiance.

The stallion huffed, whether in dismay or disappointed none could say. He struck his hoof down again, once, twice, thrice, commanding attention to him again. “When no word came from the Coalition of Diamond Dog packs after rumors of ‘supposed’ invasion, we barely got nervous at all. Can you comprehend the arrogance, the ignorance? As if we cared nothing about what happens to those ‘mutts’! Mutts! We let them fall alone, as if they were things! That is what we’ve come to!”

“Meanwhile, the Imperial Gryphon houses mustered in full force, standing ready to defend their lands with beak, claw and lives. They called to us, asking for nothing more than to help them defend their lands and in return help protect ours! When this enemy still penetrated deep into the Gryphon Empire in less than a week despite their best efforts, what did we do? What was our aid? Our response? A few paltry,newly raised regiments to defend against an army of barbarians of untold strength!”

A loud, sudden sound, like a trumpet, overtook the packed hall, causing ponies to duck and cover their ears. The sound repeated itself, as Princess Luna cleared her throat once more. “You forget yourself, Lord Fancypants. It was the will of this very council to do so, a council whose member you are. Even so, I was there myself, standing and fighting on the front lines. The ‘paltry regiments’ you refer to so insultingly gave their lives to delay the enemy as long as they could. So that the refugees could escape from harm. Do not demote the sacrifices they made as such!” She stood up, taking a step forward, nopony missing the obvious white of bandages against her right front leg and her sides.

Fancy Pants nodded. “Be that as it may, Princess Luna, now Equestria stands alone against this threat, unless you can tell us without hesitation if we can succeed where the cunning Zebras, hardy Diamond Dogs, and noble Gryphons failed.”

The Princess of the Night did not answer. She stepped back and sat back on her throne, glancing with a note of anxiety at her older sister who sat as still as a statue. Celestia blinked, seemingly for the first time ever since Lord Fancypants started to talk, and spoke up.

“Equestria will not go quietly in the night, Lord Fancypants. We will protect our own.”

“With what?” Fancypants challenged. Behind the outrage and anger in his voice there was something else; fear and apprehension. “After a thousand years of peace, what can we stop them with? Untrained peasants playing soldier and guards who’ve never saw anymore more than a bar fight, let alone a skirmish in their life? How, Princess Celestia? How will Equestria stand?”

As Luna looked at her sister, and pondered Lord Fancy Pants’ words, an idea came to her. Facing Fancy Pants, and with defiance in her voice declared, “I cannot tell you of our plans Lord Fancy Pants, but know and trust me that someone will be here to help Equestria in her time of need.”

Fancy Pants furrowed his brow, questioningly. “Are you by any chance referring to Princess Twilight and the rest of the bearers of Harmony, Princess Luna? Are you telling us that the power of the elements can be used to put armies to rest? To defeat what? Entire countries and armies more powerful and experienced then us have tried and failed to do just that, and you expect six young mares with no experience to be able to do just that.”

“I am saying nothing of the sort, Lord Fancy Pants. I am simply saying that somepony will be here to help.” Luna said firmly as she stared the stallion down forbiddingly, making it obvious that this was the extent of information she meant to share with anypony and any further would incur her ‘displeasure’.

“This meeting of the Council of Lords is now adjourned for today,” Princess Celestia announced as she stood up and looked over everypony in the room. “We shall discuss this matter again as soon as this council is next reconvened. Rest assured, we will find a solution to this as always.”

Celestia slammed the door behind her. “What was that supposed to mean, Luna? We don’t have anypony like that!” She exclaimed angrily at her younger sister.

Luna flinched away from her sisters fury, something she was not used to seeing since she had returned from her long exile. “I do have an idea, dear sister. One that will certainly save us…. or at least buy us time.”

“And how do you propose we find a pony like that, Luna? We haven’t had anypony like that for nearly 500 years!” Her sister demanded sternly as Luna nervously bit her lip. “Well? How? Tell me, dear sister? How do you intend to make a pony like this just appear from thin air?”

“There’s an ancient spellbook we can use. One that was ancient before Equestria was even formed.” Luna blurted out. “It’s located in the ‘Starswirl the Bearded’ wing of the library, in the forbidden section. It’s normally under lock and key but…. It may hold a spell that could save us.”

Celestia stared her sister down for a long time before finally speaking. “What spell are you referring to, Luna?”

“A spell that could bring forth a great Equestrian general, even from death's grip and the sands of time.” Luna said quietly as she hung her head.

“Praise the sun! You do intend to make a pony appear from thin air!” Celestia gasped in shock. “How could you even propose ripping somepony from their eternal rest like that, Luna?”

“Because if we do not, a lot more ponies are going to rest alongside them, sister. I’ve seen what our enemy is capable of first hoof, and without somepony to strengthen our armies then we don’t stand a chance!” Luna asserted in a firm tone. “Cely, we need every advantage we can get now. You are a diplomat, and I am a warrior a thousand years out of practice. Neither of us can lead in war. We need someone who can.”

“.... Maybe you are right, dear sister.” Celestia sighed. “Perhaps… perhaps this is necessary to keep Equestria safe. But it is still repugnant, sister. Do you realize what we will sentence an unfortunate soul to, the pain we will subject them to? To rip them out of their just reward and into a world they are no longer a part of? They will know, sister. They will feel it, and it will hurt them.”

“I have considered it, Celestia. And a thought has come to me. If that soul was you, and somepony called for your aid, having nopony else to turn to, what would you say?”

Celestia took a deep breath, and turned her head to the side. “I’d say yes,” she answered after a few moments.

“And so would I. Why then do you think that others would do any less?”

Celestia stayed silent, musing Luna’s words, her expression turning from distaste to sorrow, and from anger to silent acceptance. She sighed again, her whole body shaking by the sheer force as she made her decision.

“I will need to read the book again first. We have to make sure we do this right.”