Without Question

Without Question

Chapter Ten – Independent Actions

“Friends, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of a beloved pony.  Lyra Heartstrings had a special place in all of our hearts,” Typhoon spoke softly from a podium in front of about a hundred ponies.  “To some, she was an incredible friend who was always there when you needed her.  To a certain somepony…” Typhoon looked at Bon-Bon, who still had tears streaming down her face, “…she was the love of your life who you wished to spend the rest of your days with.”

Typhoon took a deep breath and looked at Lyra’s emotionless face that peeked out of an open casket behind him.  She looked beautiful, even in death, with a crown of daisies atop her head.  It was still agonizing for both him and Bon-Bon.  Not a moment went by that they were on the verge of tears and crushing sadness.  He turned back to face the crowd.

“We have lost many loved ones over the course of this war.  We have sacrificed so much to ensure that a war like this never occurs again.  Today, we celebrate Lyra’s sacrifice, though she has passed from this world.  She has shown that she was far braver than the vast majority of us.  She stood up directly to the Queen of the Changelings and, though she failed, Lyra fought valiantly to the end…”

Typhoon couldn’t have known that for sure, but he felt that it was true.  He knew Lyra, and he knew she would have given her all.

“Let us now bow our heads in silence and remember all of the joy Lyra Heartstrings brought to our lives…” he finished and bowed his head.

The crowd, which included the sister Princesses in the back, all bowed their heads.  Bon-Bon had closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight off the flood of tears, but to no avail.  They dropped to the ground, and she could not help but softly whimper.  She knew that one day she would be reunited with her love, but this was too soon.  Life was such a cruel thing to her.  The thing she loved most in the world…snatched from her, not to be seen again until her own life was ended.

For the briefest of moments, the thought of taking her own life passed through her mind, but she dismissed the idea.  To do such a thing would be a selfish act.  The loss of Lyra was painful enough on everyone, but Bon-Bon wouldn’t dare worsen their suffering by trying to ease her own.  No…others had to suffer…those responsible for her wife’s death had to suffer…

Bon-Bon bit her lip and angrily stared at the ground, her tears still falling and her face becoming hot with anger.  She felt a pat on her shoulder and looked up.  It was the goddess of the sun.

“I am so very sorry for your loss, dear Bon-Bon,” Celestia whispered sympathetically.

Bon-Bon couldn’t look away from the ground.  She didn’t want the Princess to see the rage slowly growing more and more apparent on her face.

“If there is anything, anything you need, please tell me, and I will do my best to make it so,” Celestia whispered and hugged Bon-Bon tightly.

“Make…them…suffer…” Bon-Bon muttered quietly.

Celestia blinked a few times, unsure if she had heard Bon-Bon correctly.

“I want them…to feel my pain…” Bon-Bon said, still staring at the now-moist ground.

“Bon-Bon…I…we…I would be putting other ponies’ lives at risk…I can’t just throw them away to make you feel better.  Too many have already died attempting to…remove their race.  Besides, would it really make you feel better to attack them?” Celestia tried to explain.

“No…I guess not…” Bon-Bon quietly answered.

“I’m happy to hear you understand.  I hope you come to feel better, Bon-Bon.  I must get back to my castle.  Farewell,” Celestia hugged the silent mare and walked off to her nearby chariot with Luna.

Bon-Bon continued to stare at the ground.  Ponies occasionally stopped by to extend their sympathies, to which Bon-Bon simply replied with a distant “thank you.”  Eventually she felt Typhoon gently place a claw on her shoulder.  Bon-Bon looked up to see him, eyes just as watery as hers.  Out of her peripheral, she could see that all of the other ponies had left.  Bon-Bon stood and, with Typhoon at her side, she approached Lyra’s casket.

The two of them stood for a long time, just staring at the pony who meant the world to them and more.  Typhoon broke the silence.

“It’s my fault…I should have stayed behind and helped her…”

“No…you did as you were told…I just wish you did what felt right…”

“Bon-Bon…I’m sorry…but I think you know as well as I do that it can’t end like this…”

“The Princesses refuse to act, hiding in the shadows and waiting to make a move…”

“You know, Bon-Bon…there are others who know your pain…others who have lost loved ones to the Changelings…others who are not under military jurisdiction…”

“I know, Typhoon, and I think it’s about time the civilians of Equestria take matters into their own hooves…”

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Chrysalis awoke.  Her eyes gently fluttered open and she looked at Silus.  His chest still slowly rose and fell with each deep breath, and his emotionless face remained frozen.  With a small smile, she ran a hoof through his long, black hair before leaving his room.  Returning to her throne, she awaited Grimsoul’s daily report.  The scarred Changeling stood at attention in front of the Queen, his chest in a cast due to Lyra’s rib-breaking slam.

“I hope you’re feeling better, Guard…I mean, Grimsoul,” Chrysalis said.  She had decided to try to learn the names of her subjects.  The hope for salvation that Silus had delivered to her Empire had a drastic effect on her personality.  She had once ruled a mighty empire, feared far and wide.  But to see it crippled and crushed by another nation…it humbled her.  And the possibility of it recovering made her realize that she needed to change her ways.  Chrysalis’ stubborn pride and cruelty were the reason her race had nearly been wiped from the world, and she would not revert to her old ways.

“Aye, My Queen.  The sages have told me that my ribs will be healed in about two days.  But my health does not mat—”

“Of course your health matters, Grimsoul.  You are one of my finest Imperial Guards, though I have only begun to realize it,” the Queen interrupted.

“My…My Queen…I deeply apologize for my failure to defend you against the assassin—”

“Do not blame yourself, Guard.  Your Lord’s vigilance has rendered your failure void.  I only ask that you do not fail to be more aware next time, or I shall not be so merciful,” Chrysalis said sternly.

“I swear to you, My Queen, I will never fail you again.”

“Excellent.  Now then, the daily report?”

“Oh, yes.  Ahhhm…the farmers have informed me that the storm resulted in excess growth of crops.  We have enough surplus food to last two months in an emergency.  Economically, we are doing fairly well.  The recent morale boost generated by our victory in battle has caused citizens to spend more on necessities, as well as comfort items.  They can afford these things now that currency is circulating again.  Our military has completely finished reorganizing itself according to Lord Silus’ new war doctrines and recruitment rates have tripled.  As it stands, our military consists of eight Millennii, six Centuries, and five Decadii.  Half of those troops are stationed here in defense of the capital.  Most of the other half are split between two outposts, Fort Ash and Fort Storm, the latter of which was named after the weather during our victory.  Fort Ash was recently erected in the shadow of the dormant volcano, Blackspire.  We have two Centuries camped along the Ebony Coast between the capital and the Equestrian-occupied city of Thornheart,” Grimsoul spoke as he read from a long scroll.

“Good, good.  We will begin preparations to retake Thornheart as soon as Lord Silus awakens.  Dismissed, Gu…Grimsoul,” Chrysalis stated, crossing her hind legs.

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“How many are there, Typhoon?” Bon-Bon asked the small dragon who stood next to her on a stage in a large, dimly-lit cellar.

“A little over a hundred,” he answered, his claws clasped together behind his back, facing a crowd of whispering ponies in front of the stage.

“Ahem,” Bon-Bon cleared her throat loudly and every pony in the room was hushed.

“I thank you all for coming to this meeting.  I trust none of you will speak a word of it to anypony that isn’t already here.  It has become apparent to me, and I assume the rest of you as well, that the Princesses are not willing to openly engage the Changeling Empire due to our military’s recent defeat.  I know that all of you share my pain, having lost a military-spouse to those evil beasts.  I know that all of you share my anger, wanting but not receiving justice.  And I know that all of you share my desire for revenge…” Bon-Bon spoke softly, but very seriously and clearly.  Every pony in the room silently nodded in agreement.

“Therefore…I have a proposition…” she paused for a moment to look at the crowd.

“I propose that we create our own band of free soldiers…free of military jurisdiction…free to do what should have already been done three years ago.  We will strike at the heart of the Changeling Empire and slaughter every last one of them.  We will make them know true suffering, and we will avenge our fallen loves in the name of justice.  If you do not wish to join my crusade, leave now.  I merely ask that you do not speak of what you have heard here.  If you do wish to join me on this grand undertaking, raise your hoof…”

Slowly but surely, every single pony in the room lifted their hooves.  No pony even took a step towards the door.  Bon-Bon and Typhoon both grinned.  They would avenge every pony that Queen Chrysalis and her soldiers had ever murdered…