Friendship Wars

Twilight had come around it took a while but she began moving around. The pacing was Twilight's signature move after all.

A gold-clad grey stallion stood at the entrance to her bedroom in her castle keeping his eye fixated on the balcony to the outside as if an army would come and swoop her away.

Twilight had been in here for a solid three hours without any kind of explanation about what happened?

The soldier cast glances at her every now and then but for the most part, kept his attention on the door in front of him.

What possibly could be so important if it involved her near-death and a three-hour delay. She focused on the 'death' part for the 3rd time today.

What was she gonna tell her family? Her mother already worries like a hen. This will have her breathing down her neck at every turn. Shining will demand to come back, and once again try to convince her to take on a guard force.

Was her own guard force really so bad though?

So many thoughts raced through her head until she stopped and stamped her hoof on the floor catching the guard's attention.

Twilight turned to the guard and strode up to him with an irritated gaze.

"Move," Twilight commanded not able to stand being in this room any longer.

"I really must-"

"Save it, if this is super important I shouldn't be kept waiting so long."

The guard stayed in her path hesitantly.

"Either move, or I move you and walkout by myself," Twilight threatened.

The guard stepped out of her way and Twilight opened the door and exited the room. The guard followed after her.

"Princess, you could still be in danger, we really must keep you in a safe place."

Twilight rolled her eyes trotting down the halls of her castle.

"I think I'm safe in my own castle with guards surrounding the place," Twilight snarked.

Yup, having a guard force really was annoying.

Twilight came around the corner and spotted the unicorn officer, Rarity, and Applejack seemed to be having a heated argument with the officer.

"And you think keeping her locked away is going to keep her safe?" Applejack said, Twilight catching the tail end of their argument.

"As I've already stated I'm following my orders from high command, I'll let you and her know what I know as soon as I know the Princess is secured." The officer sighed patiently.

Twilight thought this was the best time to insert herself into the argument.

"Well your orders are received so start talking," Twilight marched up behind him.

The officer seemed to be taken by surprise by her sudden entrance.

"Princess, you really shouldn't be out here," The officer turned his ire to the poor guard behind Twilight.

"You were under orders to keep her in her quarters Corporal," stated the officer.

"I tried, sir," The Corporal quickly responded.

"Enough!" Twilight snarled.

The Officer and the Corporal winced at the venom in Twilight's voice. Rarity and Applejack seemed just as surprised to hear Twilight speak with such anger.

"It's my life hanging in the balance so either tell me what's going on, that's an order Lieutenant," Twilight stomped her hoof on the ground to insinuate her point.

"Yes, Princess," The Lieutenant relented allowing Twilight to pass him into the map room. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were already in their seats and upon her entrance the three set upon her.

"Twilight!" Fluttershy flew up to her and landed in front of her, her cheeks were stained with tears.

"Are you ok? That mean pony didn't hurt you did he?" Fluttershy checked her over regardless of Twilight standing there perfectly fine.

"I'm fine Fluttershy, thanks for the concern though," Twilight smiled, her mood already improving with the presence of her friends.

Pinkie bounced to the edge of the table.

"Oh, I was so scared at first I got a twitchy leg then a twitchy tail and a twitchy eyebrow, and I didn't know what it meant then I got scared because it had never happened before but now I know it means my best best bestest friend in the world was about to be killed and I was like whaaaaaaat then I got really really scared because what if you got really hurt and if I'd known what a twitchy leg a twitchy tail and twitchy eyebrow meant I totally could have been there to do something!" Pinkie inhaled and Rainbow landed in front of Pinkie and smashed her hooves together.

"And when I get my hooves on him I'll smash him real good!" Rainbow snarled.

"Settle down y'all," Applejack walked in by Rarity's side.

"What's important is tha' Twi is safe and unhurt. I know I'm mighty thankful fur' that," Applejack said as the Lieutenant strode into the map room.

"I am too, however," Twilight motioned to the Lieutenant who was looking towards her.

"He has some information for us. So go ahead Lieutenant," Twilight gave the stallion the floor.

He nodded to two guards behind them who closed the doors shut behind them, he quickly cast a silencing spell on the room casting the room in silence.

"Thank you, Princess, what I have to say is only known by the highest levels of government and should not leave this room," the guard began as the girls took their seats.

"This morning, just after the sunrise the first report came in from the guard change that occurs at dawn," he looked around the room as he spoke.

"This first report was a scream from Princess Luna's quarters when her guard responded the Princess was being assaulted by a Lunar Guard," the Lieutenant ignored the gasps from around the room.

"Three minutes later a similar occurrence occurred in the Royal dining room where Princess Celestia was attacked by a Solar Guard," The guard recounted.

"Heavens, are they ok?" Rarity asked obvious panic in her eyes as the elements looked around at each other before looking back to the guard.

The guard seemed to consider his next words as if they were a bad taste in his mouth.

The silence spoke volumes but to Twilight's horror, he said the words that would rock them to the core.

"No, as of two hours ago Princess Luna succame to her injuries. Princess Celestia was killed on the spot by her assailant who then fled. We believe her killer to be the same guard who attempted to take Princess Twilights' life.

The collective gasp from the 5 mares could deafen a stadium. Twilight sat stunned, the world around her seemed to mute as she rolled over the information in her head. Was Cadence ok, her brother?

"My sweet Celestia..." Applejack whispered turning her attention to Twilight.

"Twi?" Applejack sat stunned while looking to Twilight for answers. She had a solution, right? She always did.

Twilight looked back to the guard.

"What about Cadence, and my brother?" Twilight asked out of concern.

The guard nodded.

"It seems the Crystal Empire was not targeted by the assassins however the Crystal guard is ever vigilant and the Crystal Palace is on lockdown to all staff."

The guard continued taking a step forward.

"We are currently doing personnel checks ourselves your current guard is a mix of Solar, and Lunar Guard who are the most trusted individuals the guard has to offer. Captain Solace sent me to be a temporary fill-in as your guard commander until you deem otherwise. I'll be at your beck and call should you need me, Princess."

The lieutenant looked around once more.

"Permission to return to my duties, Princess?" The Lieutenant asked getting a nod from an unsure Twilight.

The Lieutenant turned to leave but turned back before he reached the door.

"Princess, I think you already know this, but as of now, you are the sole ruler of Equestria," The guard Lieutenant said before finally leaving the silent shell-shocked room.

Twilight's stare remained rooted where her guard commander once stood rolling over this new information with a look of horror etched across her face. The girls were all looking at her expectantly which drove Twilight's anxiety into overdrive.

Recalling Cadence's lessons she performed her breathing exercise, closing her eyes she repeated the exercise for what felt like hours until she was calm. Well, as calm as one could be in a situation like this.

She was the sole ruler of Equestria now. Was she even qualified? Celestia ruled for over a thousand years could she fill those horseshoes? They were indeed massive. She felt herself getting worked up again so performed her breathing exercise again.

"Twilight, darling?" Rarity chimed in.

"What are we gonna do?" Applejack added.

Twilight thought, and thought. This wasn't exactly something to sleep on. Equestria needed a rock, and she was it, the question is. Is she hard enough to handle that massive wrecking ball of Equestria? The ball no doubt was coming and an entire nation would be looking to her for leadership.

"Ok," Twilight stalled.

"This is so messed up," Rainbow said getting out of her seat and pacing back and forth.

"Yeah," Pinkie chimed in with a nervous expression.

Fluttershy shivered in her seat.

"Girls, pull yourselves together, Twilight needs us more than ever right now." Applejack chided.

Rainbow Dash stopped and looked incredulously at Applejack.

"Yeah, we just received the worst news anypony could cram into a jar!" Rainbow shouted back.

"And then they stuffed it into another jar!" Pinkie blurted out.

"Well, getting worked up about it isn't going to solve anything," Rarity stood up.

Twilight looked left and right as her friends divulged into a verbal tussle.

Next, she said the only thing you can do in a situation like hers.

"Oh, ponyfeathers..."

Twilight sat there even after the argument had died down, her mind laden with questions like...

'How do you even run a country?'

'Will the ponies support me?'

'Will the nobility support me?'

That last one scared her more than anything. Princess Celestia ruled generations with the support of the nobles. The scale of everything here terrified her.

"Where's Spike?" Twilight thought out loud looking around.

The girls all looked around.

"I don't know," Fluttershy replied getting up from her seat. "I'll go find him."

"Well, Twi?" Applejack asked leaning in with the rest of the girls.

"I-" Twilight stuttered. The pressure was immense.

"Take your time darling," Rarity leaned over the table.

"Take my time..." Twilight repeated, the words felt bitter in her mouth.

"Take my time?" Twilight looked up dangerously.

Rarity flinched back instinctively.

"I can't take my time!" Twilight stood up slamming her hooves on the table.

"There's an entire country out there without leadership."

Twilight looked around the table.

"Celestia, and Luna are dead! How am I supposed to take my time in the face of that?!"

"Ok Twi. Rarity didn't-" Applejack started only to be cut off.

"I don't have their support anymore! I can't just take my time while their legacy falls apart!" Twilight shouted.

"Hey! Twilight, what's the deal? Why are you getting mad at us?" Rainbow scowled.

"Rainbow, not the time!" Applejack scolded.

Twilight wilted under the response and sat down.

"How am I supposed to fill shoes as big as Celestia's?" Twilight looked down.

Celestia is dead...

Her mentor, a pony she looked up to more than anything was dead.

The tears formed in her eyelids as a clipping sound came from Twilights right approaching her.

Pinkie Pie approached Twilight and wrapped her hooves around her.

Twilight sobbed as tears formed in Pinkies eyes as well.

"You still have us Twilight," Pinkie nuzzled into her friend as the rest of her friends all stood up and closed in.

Twilight latched onto Pinkie as the rest of her friends formed a group hug around her.

The hug lasted for a few minutes, and Twilight's sobs eventually faded and she smiled.

"Thanks, girls" Twilight sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes.

The girls pealed themselves away and stood around Twilight smiling.

"Well. What do you think?" Twilight asked looking around.

The girls seemed to put their collective thinking caps on.

"We could start where we've solved other problems," Applejack suggested.

"Not egghead stuff..." Rainbow Dash complained.

The girls laughed as Pinkie jumped onto the table.

"To the library!" Pinkie shouted running out into the hall with a resounding battle cry.

Twilight and the other girls followed Pinkie out into the hall. Pinkie soon disappeared.

"Girls!" Fluttershy flew up to them with Spike on her back.

"Twilight!" Spike shouted jumping off Fluttershy's back, he ran to Twilight and hugged her leg.

"Fluttershy told me everything. Are you ok?" Spike cried fearfully.

"I'm ok Spike," Twilight hugged her number one assistant tight.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," Spike cried.

This hit Twilight like a ton of bricks. What would have happened if she had died? What would happen to Spike?

"I'll be along in a minute girls," Twilight said sinking to her haunches to hug Spike tighter.

"Alright y'all, let's give em' a moment," Applejack motioned towards the library to leave the two with each other, and the two guards by the door.

Twilight and Spike sat hugging for what seemed like hours. Spike had begun to cry at some point.

"Oh, Spike..." Twilight hugged him tighter.

Twilight could feel her own tears returning. Not only did she have to worry about Equestria but she also had to worry about her family, her thoughts went to her parents and she gasped.

"Twilight? What's wrong?" Spike asked worriedly.

If they knew the Crystal Empire was under lockdown they'd go to the next option.

"Lieutenant!" Twilight called carrying a startled Spike in her magical grasp.

"Yes, Princess?" The Lieutenant trot briskly away from a guard he was inspecting towards Twilight.

"What of my parents?" Twilight asked almost panicky.

The Lieutenant seemed to understand her worry immediately.

"I will dispatch a squad to pick them up and bring them here immediately Princess," The Lieutenant said with a sharp salute.

"Uh, Twilight?" A voice got Twilight's attention and she turned to meet Spike's worried expression.

"Can you... You know..." Spike pointed to the ground and Twilight realized what she did and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry Spike," Twilight said moving him onto her back.

With another breathing exercise Twilight turned and began her walk toward the library.

"Hey," Spike broke the silence.

"Yes, Spike?" Twilight kept walking, the sound of her hooves echoing down the hall.

"This whole thing is messed up," Spike pointed out.

Twilight nodded in agreement.

"That it is Spike," Twilight replied with a sigh.

There was another round of silence until Spike spoke up again.

"You know if there's anypony in this world that can fix this. It's you," Spike said stopping Twilight mid-step.

Twilight sighed again and looked back at her dragon little brother.

"I sure hope so Spike," Twilight still sounded unsure of herself.

She picked up her walk towards the library again.

"Well you're not alone in this, you have me, you have your friends," Spike said as they reached the doors to the library.

"But, this is anything beyond what we've dealt with before Spike. Me and my friends can take down villains, and evil tyrants but I can't foresee us running an entire nation."

Spike nodded.

"Yes, but..." Spike raised a single claw to accentuate his point.

"Think of this like any villain we've faced," Spike said.

"Think about it, you're greatest achievements have been with your friends by your side," Spike said with an enthusiastic smile.

"If you need further consolation. What would Celestia tell you if she were here right now?" Spike opened the door to the library leaving Twilight in the hall with a thoughtful look on her face.

Her friends looked up from the political books they had their muzzles buried in.

"There's the thinkin' face," Applejack said with a proud smile.

Twilight knew exactly what her mentor would say to her, it would probably be similar to what Spike just said as she looked around the room at her friends, and she smiled.

Of course, the solution had been staring them in the face the entire time.

"Girls," Twilight looked at each of them.

"I have a plan," Twilight said with confidence.

Twilight trot into the room levitating a blackboard, chalk, before scanning her shelves.

"Aha! There it is!" Twilight plucked a book titled The Charter of Equines and Equestrian Law.

She flipped through the book and seemingly found what she was looking for.

"In the event of a national crisis, the ruling Princess of Equestria may take full control of government and create an emergency council which shall have ultimate authority under Equestrian Law until the crisis is resolved or the Princess disbands the council," Twilight read from the book under the Emergency Authority Charter of 457 AG.

She put the book to the side and picked up the chalk and wrote in Rarity and Pinkies names.

"Spike, take all this down, this needs to be in writing, all of it. I am hereby enacting the Emergency Authority Clause, and placing you five as my ministers," Twilight said getting a gasp from her friends.

"Us?" Fluttershy seemed shocked.

"I don't know sugarcube, I think we are the least qualified to be running a country," Applejack said unsure.

"This might be true but right now you are the only ones I can trust," Twilight finished filling out their names on the board.

"Rarity, you have experience running a large business, I'm gonna place you in charge of the economy as well as trade relations," Twilight wrote under Rarity.

"Rainbow Dash, I am requisitioning you from the Wonderbolts until further notice and I am hereby giving you a field promotion to Captain in the EUP," Twilight continued.

"Yes, Princess!" Rainbow landed and stood at attention with a sharp salute.

"Applejack, I need you to deal with the press, as well as agriculture, we still have a nation to feed, and we need to stay on top of that, I'm also making you minister of transportation."

"Pinkie Pie, you have the best relationships with outside nations, so I'm making you the head of Foreign Affairs, the first thing on your to-do list should be to reassure other nations we work with that we are going to stay committed to our current commitments, however, should refrain from any provoking action for the foreseeable future."

"And finally, Fluttershy, I'm making the head of Environmental Conservation, and Minister of Frontier Management."

"Anything else I didn't cover I will handle personally. This shall remain in effect until the Equestrian government has been stabilized, and the prior government is either replaced or reformed."

This was met by the stomping of hooves in the room.

"I knew you could do it!" Pinkie jumped up and hugged Twilight.

"Ok Pinkie," Twilight giggled and hugged her friend back.

"I know this is going to be rough but I know we can do this. Together..." Twilight put her hoof forward. Rainbow Dash was first followed by Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, they each met hooves.

"Let's do this!" Twilight cheered and the rest of her friends joined in.

"Ok, let's get to work," Twilight said.

"Mmm, yes darling, but I'm afraid we're missing one thing." Rarity trot forward.

"Hmm. What's that?" Twilight asked.

Rarity looked Twilight over.

"Why you might be Princess of Equestria, but you don't nearly look the part," Rarity said.

"Rarity, I don't think we've got time to be workin' out outfits," Applejack argued.

"Contraire darling, a Princess isn't just any pony. A Princess always looks her best, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna always wear their royal regalia, not because they liked it because their regalia projected their authority," Rarity replied.

"I-" Applejack started.

"Tut-tut darling, I have work to do and so do all of you, so get to it," Rarity rushed them out of the rest of the room with Applejack trying to stutter out a rebuttal but Rarity was having none of it.

Twilight stood alone with Rarity in the library mouth agape at how quickly she forced the rest of her friends from the room.

"Hmm, darling. Close your mouth, it's not very befitting a Princess," Rarity smiled.