War is hell. This fact is universal. While some may find it dramatic to compare actual international conflict to what an observer might consider simple war games, one shy pegasus would argue that referring to the chaos around her as ‘simple war games’ was like calling a tornado ‘a tad windy.’

Fluttershy didn’t know what to expect on her path. The sign only showed a small sailboat. Honestly, if she had been given the chance to choose, she wouldn’t have picked that one at all. Everypony else had made their choices already, leaving that path as the only one remaining. She really should have stayed home today to feed her animals and maybe read a book. Why did she always get roped into these situations? Why her? Had she done something bad in a previous life? Weren’t they all supposed to be playing simple board games?! If she had any idea that this path would lead to such chaos, she would have turned around and run home screaming.

These were some of the thoughts racing through her mind as she ignored another round of insistent knocking, followed by an explosion that shook her small cabin. The yellow pegasus curled tighter into a ball, whimpering in her hiding spot under the bed. Another explosion. Then another. The cabin shook again. War is hell.

“Admiral! Admiral, ma’am, please unbarricade the door! We need you on the bridge, we are taking heavy fire! Admiral!” a voice called from outside her little cabin of safety. More knocking. More explosions. Creaking, the sound of something breaking. Wood splintering. Fluttershy managed a squeak, but sentences, and words, were beyond her. She could only shiver, and whimper. Fear. Her world was fear.

The final path, the game that had been left to her, was Battleship. A full-sized, scaled-up, way-to-realistic aerial version of Battleship. The rules were straightforward; beat Shadow Blitz once. That was it. Blast her out of the sky only once and the game is over, Team Harmony Wins, and they all get to go home. It was a simple objective, but the task was proving itself near impossible for Fluttershy.

The first time the game started, she felt utterly confused. She found herself sitting in an ornate captain's chair on the bridge of the most impressive skyship she had ever seen. Nervous and uncertain, she didn't know what to do. Blitz wasted no time in hunting down and destroying her armada.

In her second attempt, she made a genuine effort, but her tendency to second-guess herself led to disaster; a couple of her ships ended up colliding, and the rest were quickly taken down by Blitz.

During her third attempt, she arranged her armada to fly in close formation for both defense and to appear smaller and less threatening, hoping to pursue a diplomatic solution. However, she soon discovered that her radios could only communicate with ships in her own armada. Additionally, she learned that clustering her ships to appear less intimidating wasn't the best strategy, as it made them easier targets.

Fluttershy soon realized that while her radios could only communicate with one another, Shadow Blitz had no such limitation. The shadow mare would gloat, tease, and taunt her over an open broadcast, mocking and belittling her. However, it seemed that Shadow Blitz was under the impression that she was actually fighting against Rainbow Dash. At first, Fluttershy wanted to fly out and correct her, hoping that it might end the game early, as it wasn’t designed with the shy yellow pegasus in mind. The only thing that originally held her back was the fact that the airspace between the two fleets was an active warzone. If she took to the skies, her chances of dying would rise drastically; even though her death would merely reset the round, the pain felt was very real.

By her eighth and ninth rounds, Fluttershy had begun to get a better grasp on commanding her ships. While she still wasn’t very skilled, she no longer got wiped out immediately. Still, like in the previous rounds, they both ended in fiery explosions—time and time again, round after round.

The terrain beneath them changed from round to round. Sometimes it was a vast forest; other times, it was a desert, open plains, oceans, or tundras. The time of day or night also shifted. Even her crew was randomized, with each round featuring a whole new set of ponies awaiting her orders—and their impending deaths. She understood it was just a game, that these weren’t real ponies, but magical constructs designed to toy with her emotions. With chaos magic, the ships could probably fly themselves at her command; there was no need for each to have a full crew. They existed to amplify the impact of her losses.

Despite knowing all this, the emotional toll was still heavy. After so many rounds, the feeling of loss for so many who were undeniably loyal to her and looked up to her for guidance weighed heavily on her psyche.

Round after round, battle after battle, each one ended the same way: with her death. Then she would wake up in a captain's chair, wearing an admiral's uniform, with a brand new crew staring at her with bright eyes, eagerly awaiting her orders.

Sometimes, the stress became overwhelming, and she would have a major meltdown. This was one of those times. The incessant knocking, the pleading voice, the explosions—it was all too much. After a particularly gruesome defeat in the last round, Fluttershy bolted from her seat and ran to the nearest cabin. It wasn't even her cabin, but that didn't matter. She closed and locked the door, barricaded herself inside, and squeezed under the bunk beds, curling into a ball to try to find a happy place away from it all.

She could take this little break. It didn’t really matter if she lost this round; there would always be another. War—war is hell.

An explosion rocked the ship, followed by another. She heard ponies outside the cabin screaming and smelled smoke and burning fur. Another explosion shook the ship, accompanied by a flash of fire, heat, and pressure. Pain followed, and then there was nothing. War is hell.

Life is bliss. That is what Rarity thought as she enjoyed a delightful brunch with her assistant, Coco Pommel, who had brought along her friend, Madam Shining Gem, and Rarity’s special guest, Lady Pascal Palette. It was another glorious day in the Metropolis, and Rarity entertained her guests with stories of her recent business dealings and acquisitions. Over the past eight years, she had made quite a name for herself. What began as a single dress shop had transformed into a full-fledged enterprise. She had either hired or bought out nearly all her competition, thwarted would-be copycats, and dealt with various crooks and scammers. Rarity essentially owned every fashion shop and boutique, spa, and even every textile mill in the city. It wasn't an exaggeration to say she dominated the industry as a whole. Nicknamed the "Queen of Fashion," Rarity sat proudly upon her self-made throne. The fashionista couldn't be happier; this was everything she had ever wanted and more. Now was the time to expand into other industries, particularly fine dining and the arts. The purpose of today’s brunch was to establish connections and lay the groundwork for her expansion into these new ventures.

“I must say, Lady Belle, when the paperwork for your donation; the funds to construct an entire new wing, was placed on my desk…why I almost thought it was some sort of mistake. Such a large amount…” chortled Lady Pascal Pallette, head director of The Metropolis Galleria And Museum of The Arts.

Rarity gave a dainty smile, “Oh think nothing of it, Lady Pallette. It should come as no surprise that I of all mares would be a firm supporter of the arts.”

“Please, call me Pascal, dear.”

“Only if you call me Rarity, darling.”

“It's a deal. I thank you again for inviting me out for brunch. If I’m honest, I’ve been stuck in my office far too much since being brought here to this…city.” Pascal tittered, a playful smirk on her face “Well, ‘stuck’ isn’t the right word. I just haven’t wanted to leave! Being here, in this ‘Metropolis’, has made my work ever so much more enjoyable!”

The two giggled and continued their brunch. Idle chatter, a compliment or two, and light talk of business filled the air. Another perfect day in Rarity’s perfect world.

“I must ask darling,” inquired Rarity as she sipped her mimosa, “What is that wonderful fragrance you’re wearing? It smells simply divine”

Pascal giggled “Oh you noticed? An acquaintance got it for me from this little shop not, oh, five or so blocks from here if I remember correctly.”

“Five or so blocks…wait, you don’t mean THAT shop do you?” Shining Gem interrupted, nervously.

“Oh, ‘that shop’ hmm? You knew about this lovely perfume and kept it all to yourself? For shame Gem!” Coco joked as Rarity got up from the table with a smile “Well darlings, it's worth checking out. If I like all their wares, maybe I’ll go and buy it...the shop, I mean” she giggled.

“That might be a bit difficult…” Gem muttered under her breath as she got up and followed her friend. Rarity called for a carriage, and soon the four of them were on their way. As they traveled, Rarity and Pascal continued to chat, with Coco occasionally joining and leaving the conversation to discuss gala scheduling and upcoming clothing lines. Noticing her friend’s odd silence, Coco turned to the fourth mare in the carriage.

“Everything ok?” she asked, raising a brow at her friend’s odd behavior.

“Hm?” squeaked a startled Gem. “Oh, yes, I’m just fine! I just need to tell you som-”

“We’re here!” interrupted Pascal as the carriage stopped in front of the perfume shop.

The green perfume shop.

“Well, I’ll be…” mutters Rarity.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about it before, I just didn’t want you to freak or anything…” Gem said quickly to Coco; the mare was already getting out of the carriage to follow Rarity who herself was already ahead, getting a good look at the shop.

The alabaster fashionista quickly realized that the shop itself was rather small, resembling more of a walk-in kiosk than an actual store. The upper portion of the building was actually a giant three-sided billboard, with images that were enchanted to light up, move, and even play audio. It was truly revolutionary! A single advertisement played on repeat, featuring the silhouette of Hymnphonic sitting on a jade throne, both sexy and powerful. Her voice, as angelic and otherworldly as always, rang out loud and clear as crystalized emerald letters spelled out:

“All you’ll ever know is life upon the throne

Don't settle for ‘Middle’ or ‘Little’

You want; MORE”

A fragrance by Hymnphonic

Even Rarity has to admit, the presentation was top-notch and grand. However, it was a single green building in a sea of white, silver, and amethyst. The line might be an issue though. It stretched down the block, around the corner, and out of sight.

“Oh dear…” muttered Coco, covering her mouth at the sight of the line “This might be a problem…”

“...Pish posh darling” dismissed Rarity. “This is the first shop of hers I’ve seen. It’s been, what? Nearly a decade? It's an impressive display, I will give her that. But look at it, it sells only one product. It took her eight years to do this? No, once this fad ends and her perfume is yesterday’s news her business will crash. Like I said, darling, she’s no threat.”

“If you’re sure Miss Rarity…what if there are more shops?” asked Coco.

Rarity paused for a second before turning and smiling at her special guest. “Pascal, darling. You haven’t seen any other green-themed businesses around, have you?”

“Oh no, I haven’t seen any green businesses, and I only know about this one through a colleague. From what I understand, it’s only been open for a week or so” the pascal colored mare responded.

“Well, there you go!” Rarity exclaimed. Coco smiled hopefully. Shining Gem looked away.

“What’s wrong?” Rarity asked, noticing Gem’s reaction. “Why the look?”

“I…I think it’d be easier to just show you…” responded Gem.

“Oh, if you are to be galavanting off on an adventure I think I shall take the opportunity to excuse myself. I’ve been away from my office for a while and there’s always some work to do, ta-ta!” Pascal said as she called for another carriage. “We’ll have to do this again sometime.”

“Of course, of course” responded Rarity, giving Lady Pascal one final wave to see her off before returning to her own carriage. “Where to?” she asked Gem before looking back out the window “Coming Coco?”

"I'm afraid I really need to head back to our office. Remember how we've been having some trouble securing materials for our textile mills lately? Their output is down by 20%, which is quite concerning because it means we don’t have as much fabric as we normally would. I’ve managed to postpone all the production orders, but we need to get to the bottom of why this is happening. I'm going to buckle down and review all the shipping paperwork again with Bean Counter from accounting. Do you remember her? She’s the one who came to you with that pantsuit idea. Anyway, I think there might be something I missed."

Gem gave her friend a panicked look “I thought you were gonna come with me!”

“It’ll be fine, Gem. Miss Rarity will look out for you. Until next time!” Coco responded with a wave as the carriage took off. The trip was quiet for a while, with Rarity staring out the window, lost in thought, and Gem nervously trying not to gawk at Rarity. Gem had always admired the mare, one of the heroes of Equestria. Learning that her childhood friend was working for Rarity? That was amazing news! She had nearly lost her mind when Coco invited her out, saying it was a special brunch with her boss. Now she was sitting alone in a carriage with her idol. It should have been a dream come true, yet she felt incredibly nervous.

Rarity continued to gaze out the window. They were passing through areas of Metropolis she had never visited before. The city was larger than she had realized. The architecture adhered to a general theme, but each area had its own unique fingerprint, making it feel fresh and new. The sight that brought a smile to her face, however, was the sea of white and silver buildings, occasionally broken up by splashes of purple.

“This is why you invest in chain establishments,” Rarity proclaimed, and the mare across from her nodded in agreement. That mare also brought a smile to her face. Naturally, Lady Rarity Belle, socialite supreme, could easily spot a nervous, starstruck fan.

Her pleasant mood was abruptly interrupted by a single green building. Then another. A few more here. A whole block of them there. Rarity’s eye twitched a little, as her smile slowly dropped. Gem looked even more nervous and miserable as the carriage passed more and more green buildings until there was nothing but emerald as far as the eye could see.

“I…what…but…my word darling, is this what you wanted to show me? You were right to bring me here, I don’t think I would have believed you if you’d just told me” Rarity huffed out, falling back in her carriage seat, a bit of nervous sweat on her brow. “I don't see a single unclaimed building out there…”

Gem shook her head, giving a sad sigh. Not like this. She didn’t want to meet her idol only to have to disappoint her so horribly.

“There’s more?!” exclaimed Rarity with a gasp “That is to say, there is something worse than all of this??”

Gem nodded and pointed out of the window as the carriage went by a large beautiful crystal sign proclaiming: Welcome to the Emerald City!

“The…Emerald City? What is that, some sort of mall?” Rarity asked as the carriage pulled alongside other carriages, parking outside a large set of doors.

“No, it’s so much more…” said Gem wistfully as they climbed out and gazed at the bright inviting entrance. Large doors opened themselves as they approached, revealing a foyer that left Rarity absolutely speechless. A staff member walked up to the duo, greeting the two. “Welcome back to the Emerald City Madame Shining Gem. Your private suite is ready and the staff is at your beck and call. Your usual amenities have been queued, and as always, if you need anything, anything at all, all you need to do is ask”

Gem looked at Rarity, giving an apologetic smile “You’re…not upset? Please don’t be upset. I idolize you, Lady Rarity! I’ve been your biggest fan since your fight with Nightmare Moon! I’ve bought so many of your dresses…I didn’t want to not support you…I spent my money at all of your shops…but this place, it's just too amazing! A friend brought me here, and it was like I never knew what true bliss was before coming here. It is otherworldly amazing!”

Rarity didn’t know how to respond. Gently, Gem took Rarity’s hand, the staff around them ushering them on “Give it a try. Please. You’ll see what I mean”

“The spa is ready for you ma’am,” an approaching butler said, bowing “we took the liberty of adding your plus one to your itinerary” he continued before turning to Rarity “however, if there is anything at all that catches your fancy, simply let us know. We pride ourselves on our service.”

“Well, indulging a little wouldn’t hurt…” Rarity replied, letting Gem and the staff lead her off.

That had been four days ago—four of the best days in Rarity’s life. She was amazed by all the amenities and services that this incredible place offered. There were themed resorts, luxury hotels, spas, theme parks, water parks, zoos, massive aquariums, malls, casinos, restaurants, gyms, cinemas, opera houses, office spaces, indoor racing tracks, arcades, and every luxury one could desire. Rarity had never been in a building so vast; it was a massive complex the size of a city. A beacon of wealth, even the windows were made of pure emerald, lined with gold trim.

It was all so immaculate, so wondrous, and so perfect. However, a nagging thought kept spinning in the back of her mind: how had she not heard of this place before? Everywhere she went, it was busy. The wealthy were living it up in extreme luxury here, indulging to a completely ludicrous degree. Parties were happening around the clock, and festivities never seemed to end. There were free buffets and open bars. She couldn’t believe she had spent three years without knowing about this place.

Rarity pondered as she strolled through one of the malls, with Gem by her side and several bags being carried by attentive staff members. She couldn’t help but smirk at the sight; nearly all of the clothing stores were stocked with brands she owned. While Hymnphonic had built the mall, Rarity found amusement in the fact that she still profited from it.

Suddenly, she heard someone calling her name and turned to see a butler approaching, bowing respectfully. “My apologies, Lady Rarity, but Her Excellence, Hymnphonic, has requested your presence in her office. She wishes to speak with you.”

“‘Her Excellence’? Ugh, she probably just wants to gloat, but fine, lead the way,” the fashionista replied, turning to bid farewell to Gem and thanking the staff for carrying her bags, informing them where to have the contents delivered.

Following the butler, they exited the mall and surprisingly headed towards one of the casinos. After navigating through several elevators, they finally arrived at the open doorway of an ornate waiting room. Greeting them at the door was a familiar silver-maned mare in a cute blouse and pencil skirt. Rarity recognized her; she had been in Sweetie Belle’s class—Silver something..

Silver Spoon politely bowed and gestured for her to head inside “This way, please. It will only be a moment”

The butler quietly excused himself as Rarity entered the cozy room. A fireplace flickered warmly, surrounded by comfortable couches. On a table in the center, a variety of snacks and a delicate tea set were arranged. Against the far wall stood what Rarity assumed was a reception desk. Behind it were a pair of large emerald, jade, and gold doors that were impossibly ornate—beautiful yet mysterious. The mesmerizing design drew her in, and she had to force herself to look away after realizing she had been staring.

“This room is simply lovely. Excuse me, darling, this might sound a bit rude, but I believe you were in my younger sister’s class. May I have your name?”

At the mention of Rarity's sister, Silver Spoon flinched. She seemed to carry an air of nervousness, like a small animal in the territory of an apex predator or an ant aware of a magnifying glass focused on it.

“Y-yes Lady Rarity. My name is Silver Spoon. I went to school with, uh, Sweetie Belle. It shouldn’t be too much longer ma’am, Hymnphonic’s…eh…personal assistant…will be out shortly to escort you”

Rarity nodded and sat down with a hot cup of tea. It was only a few minutes before the beautiful ornate doors opened, revealing Diamond Tiara. The pink mare was dressed in a Greco-Roman dress, looking every bit the part of a lady-in-waiting.

“Her Excellency will see you now,” Diamond huffed haughtily, a smirk of anticipation on her face.

“It's wonderful of her not to keep a lady waiting,” Rarity replied as she followed Diamond into the massive throne room.

Rarity found herself at a loss for words. The throne room was elegant and glorious beyond measure. Large crystal columns supported a ceiling adorned with jade and gold. The floor featured a stunning tiled mosaic of greens, arranged in intricate, swirling patterns. There were no walls, only railings that allowed one to gaze over the expansive Metropolis surrounding them. The wind was warm and perfect. Rarity gawked, openly astonished, as she finally comprehended her location. She stood in the tallest room of a tower that dwarfed all others—the tallest tower in all of Metropolis. At that moment, she realized she stood at the top of this world.

Before her, seated on a crystal throne, was Hymnphonic. Her presence radiated power and beauty, bathed in a golden light, with her hair flowing in a magical breeze. She gracefully rose from her throne, wearing a form-fitting gown made of silk and dragon scales. Each step across the floor caused the patterns to ripple, making it look as though she was walking across an emerald sea as she approached the center of the room, gesturing for Rarity to come closer.

“You’ve searched for ‘it’ at every stop, and you’ve climbed so high; now you’re at the top,” Hymn sang softly. “Yet here I am, here I was, and here I will forever be.”

“I knew you called me here to gloat,” Rarity attempted to say.

“Did you like my Emerald City?” Hymn interrupted.

“What?” Rarity replied in surprise.

“My Emerald City. Did you like it? You did, didn’t you? It’s perfect after all. Do you know why?” Hymn asked.

“...Oh, is this where I get to talk? You probably used your hypnosis powers to force everyone here to work for you. Normally, I’d say that’s cheating; however, you stated that we were allowed to use any means at our disposal to achieve a monopoly over Metropolis. So while your methods are... uncouth, you haven’t broken any rules.” Rarity replied with a sigh. “You’re probably using your hypnosis powers to keep people inside your ‘Emerald City’ as well.”

Hymn laughed, a regal, melodious laugh. “Oh, it is nothing that complicated or over the top. It’s perfect simply because I declared it to be so. If I say it must be, then it must be,” she said as she led Rarity to the railing, gesturing out over the city.

It was a beauty to behold in its entirety. From this height, even the clouds were below them. On those clouds was an even larger expanse of the sprawling metropolis. Luxury was built upon luxury, floating above more luxury. Spread across this urban sea were many patches of green and purple, moving and shifting as businesses were bought and lost, expanded and sold. Goods and money changed hands; stocks rose and fell. Green, then purple, then back to green, and vice versa. It was an intricate dance.

Rarity could only stare and watch the beautiful interplay of colors play out before her eyes. She was snapped out of her trance by the snap of Hymn's fingers. She observed as, from the base of the tower, green seemed to sweep across the city like a single wave. Her purple businesses stood no chance as they disappeared one after another in the sea of green.

"Wha... but how...?" she softly muttered in shock.

"I just told you how, didn’t I? You never listen, Rarity. It’s happening because I think it should."

Rarity turned to face Hymnphonic, the rebuttal on her tongue dying before it could escape her lips. Their eyes locked—Rarity’s wide blue eyes met Hymnphonic’s solid green ones, aglow with power and radiating strength. At that moment, Hymnphonic seemed bigger, more intimidating. Rarity felt herself slowly sinking to her knees.

"You've always looked down on me, Rarity, always thinking far too little of me. That used to annoy me greatly, more than you will ever know. Now, however, I’ve begun to feel sorry for you. Your personal opinions and biases have given you tunnel vision, making you blind to the bigger picture around you," the emerald shadow mare said. Her voice was calculated and calm, but it bubbled with old anger.

"A blind mare chasing dreams she doesn’t understand, trying to imitate and assimilate into a world beyond herself." Hymnphonic loomed over Rarity, tilting her chin up with her thumb and holding her gaze. Rarity couldn’t look away; she could only listen.

"Queen of Fashion? I determine what is fashionable. What is deemed correct is so solely because I perceive it that way. I AM society. It shifts and changes based on my whims and my design. I originally intended to put you in your place, but you’ve already done that for me. You are exactly where you belong, and you will remain there indefinitely. However, there’s one last matter I need to address with you. The delusions you hold about yourself are between you and your mirror; whatever helps you sleep at night. But the delusions you seem to nurture about taking from me? Oh, those I will not tolerate. Whatever or whomever I desire is mine."

Rarity managed to frown slightly. Whoever could she be talking about?... oh. Oh, no. "Spike isn't yours," Rarity said firmly. "He'll never be yours! We will undo what you... what you harlots did to him, and Spike will return to the sweet friend he once was!"

Hymnphonic fell silent for a moment before using her telekinesis to lift Rarity and turn her to face the city. Rarity watched as the green haze overtook the skyline. She witnessed all she had spent the past eight years building crumble before her eyes—eight years filled with her blood, sweat, and tears. She had done everything she could to chase her dreams, sacrificing her values at times for the sake of her vision. It was her little kingdom, and now it was all washed away like a castle of sand being erased by an ocean wave. Soon, the entire city was engulfed in green, except for one solitary building—a single dot of purple, glowing defiantly in a sea of green.

“You had your chance…” Hymnphonic declared, her voice firm. “You had eight years of chances. This is your only warning. He. Is. MINE!” she snapped. Her voice resonated as if it were coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. “You treated him like a servant. I will love him like a god.”

The two mares stared at each other in silence—one with a look of absolute finality, the other with a crumbling resolve.

“Your Excellency, your next appointment has arrived,” Diamond Tiara announced, breaking the silence. Hymn smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

“Right on time, of course. Please let her in.”

Diamond bowed, her expression remaining neutral as she signaled to the attendants at the door. Hymn glanced down at Rarity, whose face was etched with shock and disbelief. With a smirk, the green-eyed mare turned her attention to the opening door.

“Ex… excuse me… I was told to come here to finalize the—Miss Rarity?!”

“Coco?!” Rarity exclaimed, whipping her head around to face the mare who was now rushing toward her, tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t know what happened!” Coco sobbed. “Everything has gone so wrong! I got to the office and the secretaries were talking about people quitting, factories shutting down, and some kind of union strike. Then the banks called…” She hiccupped, wiping her tears on the sleeve of her blouse before continuing. “When I finally got inside, Bean Counter said she figured out the materials problem. The farms have been bought out and are sending materials to other textile mills. It seems some new ones have appeared out of nowhere! I received a letter about new brand licensing or something, and another from our dye manufacturers. After that…”

“Darling! Darling! Breathe! I need the shortened version…” Rarity interrupted, using a handkerchief to wipe her assistant's face.

After taking a moment to calm down, Coco responded softly, her voice tinged with defeat, “...it's all gone. Everything. It felt like civilization itself was working against us all at once… I’m only here because… because…”

“She’s here to finalize the paperwork and sign away your original and now last building,” Hymn said coolly. The anger from before had vanished, and she stood there, regal and beautiful, her calm smile suggesting that what was happening was inevitable. “It's the only way to cancel out all your debts. You were quite the busy bee this past decade, weren’t you? Growing so big, so fast, that you racked up a lot of debt. You took out a large amount of loans. You would have paid them all back in about six months, which is quite impressive—let me give credit where it’s due. It's a shame you came here, though. I promised myself that I wouldn’t intervene until you approached me; I was just going to let you have your fun. Oh well. Tell me, was it fun?”

Rarity could only stare at Hymnphonic, seeing this shadow mare in a new light. She appeared even larger, more powerful, and intimidating—yet simultaneously more radiant, otherworldly, and beautiful. It reminded her of being in Celestria’s presence, which scared her a little. No, if she were being honest, it scared her a lot.

“I lied, by the way. Coco? I didn’t need you to be here; the paperwork had already been finalized. Neither of you needs to sign anything. I just thought Rarity could use some emotional support,” cooed Hymn as she moved back to her throne and sat down, smiling warmly at the mare who diligently sat at her hooves.

Diamond Tiara sat on the cushion at her lady’s feet with silent obedience. This had been her life for nearly a decade—extreme luxury and service to a deity. That’s what Hymnphonic was: a deity. This being may have had Sweetie Belle’s memories, but she was not the filly Diamond had gone to school with. She saw that now. Eight years of bliss in her lady’s service had granted her a luxury beyond her wildest dreams, and every day she thanked Hymnphonic for her mercy. Her lady had known their plans all along and had allowed them to stew in their perceived superiority. Now Diamond understood; they had been foolish. What had they intended to do? Tell on the Masters of Mayhem? Try to get Sweetie Belle in trouble? There was no Sweetie Belle—only Hymnphonic. Only her lady.

Now, she watched as her lady worked. Diamond knew what the outcome would be, but a tiny part of her was curious if this Element of Harmony—her lady’s own older sister—would fare better than the countless others who had graced these halls. As she observed the white mare break down into despair, her assistant weeping beside her, Diamond Tiara knew the answer was a definite no. She silently prayed to her lady, thanking her again for her mercy and expressing gratitude that fate had stopped Diamond and Silver Spoon from doing something extremely foolish, like trying to stand in her lady’s way.

"I am very proud of my throne room," Hymn said. "The tippy top of the tallest tower. After all, what can be higher than me? Maybe a queen?" She glanced down at Rarity, who sat on the floor with tears streaming down her face. Eight years of hard work had been undone, and she struggled to comprehend how it had all happened. It had to be a horrible dream—a nightmare from which she would awaken at any moment.

"Well, Queen of Fashion, as you wallow at the base of my throne, how is the view, Your Majesty? Was it worth it?"

Hymn rose from her throne and gracefully walked past the two weeping mares on the floor, heading toward a doorway of light that had appeared in the center of the room.

"With my victory, the game is over. We can go home, and you and your friends can 'save the world.' You remember your friends, right? After nearly a decade of living out your wildest dreams, you must be so excited to see them again. This was fun! I believe that in the future, you will refrain from underestimating me again. After all, you may have crowned yourself a queen..." Hymn said as she stepped through the doorway, "...but I am a goddess."

So many battles. So many lives lost. War. War never changes. At this point, Fluttershy was starting to feel quite numb to it all. She had lost so many, but she was learning. After all, you can learn a lot more from failure. It’s a harsh teacher who never shies away from making you aware of what you don’t know that you don’t know.

For example, Fluttershy knew basic first aid. That was the extent of her knowledge. She wasn’t a doctor, a combat medic, or even a licensed veterinarian. This truth became increasingly clear as she lost more of her soldiers. She could have probably saved quite a few and treated many more if only she had known how.

Another area where she became uncomfortable and aware of her limitations was strategy. She had always left the planning and heavy thinking to others, simply following along and doing what she was told. This habit had come back to haunt her since she was now the one responsible for planning and strategy. But she was learning. Oh yes, she was learning.

“My shield can’t hold out much longer!” cried the pony to her left on the bridge.

“You can do it, Lt. Blockade! Just hold on a little longer; we’re almost in range!” Fluttershy responded. “Commanders, tell the gunners to ready the forward burst cannons and fire on my mark.”

Two commanders next to her saluted and hurried to the communications room. Fluttershy then turned her full attention to her lieutenant beside her. The stallion was gripping his fists so tightly that his knuckles were white. His eyes were shut tight in concentration, sweat dripped from his brow, and a trickle of blood flowed from his nose. His body shook from exhaustion as he spoke, his voice ragged, “I…I can’t keep up the shield, Admiral! Their firepower is too gre—AUGHH!!”

There was a mighty crack and the sound of tons of glass shattering as the shield around the ship broke apart. Lieutenant Blockade's body crumpled to the floor, the exhausted stallion wheezing.

"I can't... that was all I had..." he coughed out as Fluttershy knelt beside him, helping to support his weight as cannon fire rocked the ship.

"Shhh, hush now, you did great. It was my plan that failed... I'm sorry..." the yellow pegasus whispered.

"W-we were close, though, right?" Blockade asked.

"So close," Fluttershy confirmed with a sad smile. Then, a loud explosion shook the ship, and it lurched downward.

"You’ll get her next time, Admiral. I won’t be there to see it, but I know it’ll be hardcore..."

Fluttershy simply smiled and closed her eyes, accepting the end. Suddenly, the ship stopped abruptly, flinging her forward. There was an explosion, a surge of pressure, a wave of heat, and then pain. And then, nothing.

Author's Note

Hey, its me again. Just wanted to say that I might be going back to clean up previous chapters. So don't be surprised if you re-read the story and it's not exactly like you remembered.

Thanks for reading!