A Shattered Crystal

The Enormous Doors to the Throne Room creaked as my Magic pushed them open. Canterlot had seen quite a bit of 'renovation' since the Rise of Daybreaker. Any trace of Luna was removed, and Flags and Banners of the Empire waved proudly in the Breeze all over the Capital. There were lots more Guards and Soldiers stationed here too, now. Only natural though, I suppose. It was the Capital, after all.

Wearing my Grand Inquisitor Regalia, I stepped forth into the Imperial Throne Room. Bright white tiles of marble decorated the floor, while a fiery coloured Carpet lead from the Entrance all the way up to the Throne. The Throne upon which none other than the Empress sat. Just by sitting there she radiated heat and power throughout the Room. I stepped closer until we saw eye to eye. Her slitted eyes emitted a sense of both fear and loyalty within me, and I deeply bowed before her, almost kissing the Carpet below me in the Progress.

"My Empress," I said as I looked back up to her, "you called for my Assistance?"

"Quite so. Surely you remember your Trip to the Crystal Empire months ago."

I nodded affirmatively. "Yes, your Majesty. Of course I do and..." I stuttered for a moment, holding back a thought. "...and I once again apologize for failing you." I bowed before her once more.

"Spare yourself the Apologies. I never fully expected Cadence to have the wisdom to accept my generous offer of peaceful subjugation to begin with, but I figured if anyone was to achieve it, it would be you, my loyal Student."

My Heart was warmed by her kind words of trust. "Thank you, Empress. I thank you for your trust in me, even if I couldn't pay you back with success."

"Nevertheless, as you know, this left us with only one solution: War." The Empress rose from her Throne and began marching towards me. "And you, as the Grand Inquisitor, should know more than well that this Conflict between Ponies, a War between Brothers and Sisters is... unpopular."

I looked up to the Empress once more as she now stood right before me, her stature grand and her figure imposing.

"Yes, there have been severe cases of heresy ever since the start of the War, and I have..." she cleared her throat, "recently come to hear that there are rumours of a 'Resistance' Movement to your Rule."

"As have I." The Empress nodded and began to walk towards one of the great windows of the Throne Room. "And as such, it is of top priority to finish this War between Ponies as quickly as possible." For the first time ever, I heard the Empress sigh as she looked out the Window and unto her Realm, her little Ponies that were hers to Protect and Guide. "It has to end now, Sunrise. By any means."

The Empress used... my name? Perhaps the Problem was more important to her than I first realized.

"When the Elements of Harmony and I defeated Nightmare Moon," I began as I walked up to Daybreaker at the Window, "We did so in the defence and service of Harmony. As you know, that pledge is something I still stand by. Definitions of Harmony may have changed, and the World as we know it has too, but I will do whatever it takes to ensure that Harmony survives. You have ensured that Harmony did not crumble and rot away during these Times of War, Empress. You have made great sacrifices, yes, but it was for the greater good."

Daybreaker looked over to me, for once not with a gaze of authority but a genuine smile. "Thank you, Sunrise. I know there are Ponies out there that have yet to understand things as we have, which is why we must end this Conflict as soon as possible. My Goal is to protect my little Ponies, as it has always been, and the sooner we can end the bloodshed between Ponies the better."

I nodded in agreement. "But how exactly? Our Troops are bogged down in the Snow for the most part, aren't they?"

"As I said, I plan to end this war by any means necessary. That may require... unconventional and dangerous strategies."

"Unconventional..?" I repeated as I cocked my head slightly.

"There's two ways to end this war swiftly. One of them is more dangerous than the other, while the second is more deadly and destructive than the first. I talked things over with the Field Marshals, and they agree that 'Plan A' sounds like a better alternative, for now."

"Empress, I... I don't quite understand."

"We will travel to the Crystal Empire, my Student. You and me. We will break straight into Cadence's throne room and confront her. She will have no choice but to give in at last and surrender to us or die."

I gasped out loud at the possibility of killing Cadence.

"I know you aren't a fan of this Plan, Sunrise. I know it too well, because neither am I. While Cadence is like a big Sister to you, she was like a sibling to me for many Years. I would hate to strike her down but..." her face carried a message of tragedy as she finished, "it may be the only way to prevent thousands, if not millions from dying. Without Cadence to rally behind, the Crystal Empire would collapse within hours. No Leadership, no figurehead. The Military would be forced to surrender to us. Or... so the theory goes, anyway."

We both gazed out the Window towards the green meadows of Equestria that laid below the Mountain Capital that was Canterlot. For a moment I forgot all the War and Empire business and remember a better time, a peaceful time. A Time where me and my friends had picnics and parties and all other sorts of fun stuff going on. But that was in the past... a past blown to bits by the thunder of Artillery and the rumbling of Tank Tracks. Old Ideas of Peace and Friendship blown away to ensure that Harmony, in the end, could survive these trying years. Perhaps... Daybreaker thought the same?

"Daybreaker?" I asked daringly, using her name instead of title. "What... is Plan B, then?"

She sighed at the mention of it. It took her a few seconds of contemplation before she could reply. "It's worse, Sunrise. Much worse. You'll have to take my word on that for now."

"Right..." I said, my Head dropping slightly. "So there really isn't much of an alternative here, is there?" I asked, but already knowing the answer.

"I'm afraid not. All we can do is hope that among the mounting Casualties on either side, Cadence will be willing to negotiate a peace... or else..."

"And...my Brother? What about him?"

"Unclear. We know he acts as a Field Marshal, so he may be in the field with his troops, away from Cadence when we arrive."

"Or... not." I gave out pessimistically.

"I'm sorry, Sunrise, but I really don't know. Even as the Empress I... can't know it all." I heard her sigh once again, louder this time. "All I've wanted to do is preserve Harmony and Stability for my Ponies. I never intended for Ponies to start clashing with other Ponies on the field of battle. I was glad when you came to see things my way, you know. Because it meant I would finally have a trusted, well-known voice besides me among all this Chaos. I never made myself Empress because I wanted to hurt Ponies or be a Tyrant, Sunrise."

I remained silent for a moment, taking in her words.

"It's just that... with War on our doorstep, I realised how vulnerable and fragile Pacifism and Friendship has made us as a Society and Nation. Tirek, Sombra, Discord, Chrysalis. All of them nearly defeated us, and it's because we didn't grow the spine to stand up and fight them head on. Instead, we were hiding away in the shadows, letting our Heroes of Equestria do the fighting for us."

She looked me in the eyes.

"I appreciate what you and your friends, the Elements, did and achieved, Sunrise. Of course I do. You even saved my life more than a couple of times, as well. But... be truly honest with yourself, and you'll realise that a Nation cannot survive like THAT, relying purely on a small band of Heroes armed with Friendship. The Reality of the Situation is that Time progressed, and the World around us became grim and villainous. We ignored any warnings of a Changeling attack, desperately clinging onto our ways of pacifism. We believed old problems and rivalries could be rooted out with Friendship alone. But now you know just as I do, Sunrise."

She rested a hoof around my neck, sighing as she closed her eyes.

"Friendship can't stop Tanks. Pacifism can't shoot down Aircraft. Millions of Ponies have died, Sunrise, because we were simply blind to this fact. Endless Towns and Villages of Equestria already under Changeling occupation, as they hide away from the Changelings who wish to abduct them and suck their hearts dry."

Her fiery, slitted eyes shot open once more and she tightened her grip around me.

"And all of this because of me!" she yelled. "I was blind! Ignorant! I discared the warnings! I refused to accept reality as it really was, I could not handle the facts!"

She let go of me and turned her attention back out the window, staring straight into the sun as it slowly but surely rose across the pastures and hills of the Empire.

"But now I do," she said calmly. "I now realise that a new Age has dawned, one that requires us to adapt and change our way of thinking. We must stop thinking about Pacifism, because Pacifism invites Warmongers like Chrysalis. What we need is Militarism and Jingoism. We must combat fire with fire, and when they are fighting the wrath of the Sun itself, NOTHING will remain of them but smoldering ashes!"

I grinned ever so slightly as the Empress broke out into triumphant laughter. It made me confident for what was ahead of us. A Task I knew would lay heavy upon the both of us, but knowing that the Empress, should everything else falter, would destroy anyone who opposes us. Such was the way to maintain Harmony, and nopony was more dedicated and determined to uphold it than her.

"Oh, and of course, I quickly realised that enemies of Harmony existed not just outside our Borders, but within our own ranks, as well. I'm no blind fool, and I learnt a long time ago that a good Ruler must always be well-informed. As such, I quickly got to know about Ponies that... 'resisted' my ways. They refuse to accept my new Harmony, they refuse to obey me and they refuse to worship me!" Daybreaker's mane burst out in Anger, shooting flames across the Room.

"I seek to crush them, one after another. I gave them the choice to convert and become followers and defenders of Harmony, or be a Traitor. And if a Traitor is what they wish to be, then I shall treat them as such. That is where you, my Grand Inquisitor, came in. I established the Solar Inquisition as a Vanguard of Harmony, a loyal Brigade of Followers who would hunt down anypony opposing my will and, as such, opposing Harmony." I nodded in agreement. "Such Pestilence cannot be allowed to roam our Streets any longer, Sunrise. You know this. With Dissent comes Opposition. With Opposition comes Violence, and with Violence comes Revolution. You know what happened at Stalliongrad all those years ago just as well as I do. We ignored them for too long, and their opposition to us turned into a violent Revolution. And fool that I was, I was too cowardly to crush them right there and then..."

I heard her breathe heavily, her face loaded with anger and a lust for Revenge.

"I will not repeat these mistakes again. I will stomp out ANY who oppose me! I am Empress, I am Harmony! And if they do not bow before me, the God-Empress of the Sun-"

"Then we shall smite them like the heretics that they are." I interjected, finishing her sentence. She shot a grin at me, one that I gladly returned. I knew my Duties well enough, and my Loyalty to the Empress was unchallenged. Order was Harmony, and Harmony was Order.

Now I could only hope that Cadence would come to the same realisation...