Opening

Do you wish to make the covenant?

Twilight Sparkle stood groggily. Darkness surrounded her. She saw nothing but
black for an infinity ahead of her.
Do you wish to make the covenant?

That voice again. It was definitely a mare's. It rang on all sides of Twilight.
It's origin was unclear. "Who are you?" shouted Twilight, "Show yourself!"
The space in front of her shimmered. A figure appeared. It was covered almost
entirely by a long, plain cloak. Her face was concealed by the hood. The
question repeated, clearly coming from the cloaked figure. The garment looked
vaguely familiar to Twilight.
Do you wish to make the covenant?

"What covenant? Who are you? Why am I here?" Twilight stamped her hoof in
frustration. "Where IS here, exactly?"

The figure was silent for a moment.
Do you wish to make-
"No! I don't want to make your covenant!"
...What a shame.
"Who are you?" Twilight repeated, more curious now than angry.
I cannot tell you that.
"Well I have to call you something."
You may call me Clover.
"Fine, Clover. My name is Twilight Sparkle. Now where am I?"
What do you last remember?
"I was in Ponyville Library, with my-"
Then you are in Ponyville Library.
What? This can't be the Library. Unless...
"This is an empathy link."
Correct. Touching the staff of the High Astronomer forms an empathy link with
the guardian.
"High Astronomer? This is Star-Swirl the Bearded's staff."
Star-Swirl was the founder and first High Astronomer of our order.
"Order? What order?"
...I have said more than I should have.
"What are you talking ab-"
Mention our meeting to no one. Farewell, Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight stood in the library. Her hoof clutched the staff of Star-Swirl. Her
eyes were set on Luna. She blinked dazedly. "How long was I out?"
"Out?" Applejack asked. "What do you mean 'out?'"

Of course. The encounter had taken no time at all. Such was usually the case
with empathy links, but this was Twilight's first experience. How strange. What
covenant was Clover talking about? What order was she part of? Why did that
cloak look so familiar?

Clover… she called herself the guardian. Guardian of what?
Twilight realized that ponies were staring at her. She laughed nervously. "It's
nothing. I just... I was just so excited to be holding Starswirl's staff."
Applejack raised an eyebrow. She could tell that Twilight was lying.
Should I confront her? Wondered the farmpony. No. She was probably
hiding something from Luna. I'll just ask her about it later.

"My ponies," said Luna, "Whichever side you choose today, these Elements are
rightfully yours. My sister had no right to withhold them from you. But the
Elements were not the only reason I came to Ponyville." Luna pulled a large
scroll from the chest. She placed it on the floor in the middle of all the
ponies. Slowly, she unraveled it. "Do you see? Now you understand why this
town's allegiance is so vital."

It was a map of Equestria. Twilight was puzzled. What did this have to do with
Ponyville?

She took a closer look. It was definitely Equestria, but the map was altered.
Instead of a single nation, the territory was split between three regions. In
the South, bordering Glascow was a strip of land, smaller than the others but
still sizable, containing several big, industrial cities such as Baltimare and
Las Pegasus. The legend marked this territory as the New Lunar Republic. In the
North lay the Solar Empire of Equestria, with the largest borders. At its edge
was Canterlot, marked as the capital. And in between these two nations was a
narrow strip of land. The map legend told Twilight that this land was disputed.
And at the heart of the disputed territories sat none other than...

"Ponyville," Twilight whispered. Luna nodded. "Your town will be at the center
of this conflict. Celestia will do everything in her power to keep this town,
and I will do everything I can to control it as well."
"But... Why do y'all want Ponyville so bad? It ain't a big town."

"It is directly southwest of Canterlot. If I took it, I would threaten the
Empire's capital city and, indeed, Celestia herself. My sister will commit
hundreds of troops to stop this from falling into my hooves. It is also in close
proximity of the Everfree, and is a necessary stop along the Griffon Railway.
Though Ponyville is not large, it's strategic location makes it vital.
War is fast approaching Ponyville. The battle fought here will be one of the
fiercest in Equestrian history. Now is the time to decide. Will you remain
foolishly loyal to your cruel Princess, or will you join the me and New Lunar
Republic for a free Equestria?"

"No! We ain't joining you!" Applejack shouted, "You're a traitor, Luna! We stand
with Celestia, right girls?"
Silence fell over the small library.
"...Girls?"

Fluttershy broke down into tears. Sobbing, she said, "I just... I don't want to
fight, I- I'm scared."

All ponies stared at Fluttershy. They had forgotten that such a sensitive pony
was with them.

"Now look at what you've done," said Applejack, "You want us to pick sides? What
about ponies like Fluttershy? She wouldn't hurt a fly, and you're asking her to
fight for you?"

Luna ignored the seething farmpony. She approached the small yellow pony who lay
blubbering on the floor. "Fluttershy, you may remain neutral. Stay in your hut,
care for your pets, I will not make you fight anyone."
Fluttershy looked up at Luna, tears in her eyes. "Th-th-thank you, P-princess."
Luna nodded. "Pinkie Pie? Have you made your decision?"
Pinkie thought hard for a moment. "You said that there's a war coming, right?"
"Yes," Luna replied.
"And wars have soldiers, right?"
"Naturally."
"And soldiers need food, right?"
"Well... Yes."
"And cupcakes are food, right?"
"I- I suppose."

Pinkie giggled triumphantly. "Then I'm gonna make cupcakes!"
Luna sighed. "Pinkie, which side are you making cupcakes for?"
"All the sides, silly! Everypony needs cupcakes!"

Hmm, thought Twilight, so Pinkie Pie will be neutral too. "Rarity? What about
you?"

Rarity was looking at the floor, but the conflict in her mind was clear. "I'm
not sure, your majesty," Rarity said, "It is a difficult choice to make on the
spot."

"Are you worried about your friends, Rarity? Worried that you won't all stay
together?" Luna leaned in closer to the fashionista, "I'm sorry, but there is a
war on the horizon. Your choice will affect the lives of ponies across
Equestria. If you-"

Applejack bucked the Princess in the jaw. The force sent Luna flying into
another bookcase. "If you don't stop tellin' your lies, I'll make you stop!"
said the farmer through gritted teeth. She couldn't stand to just sit there and
listen to Luna try to turn Rarity into a traitor. Applejack trotted over to
where Luna lay dazed. Celestia be my witness, I will stop Luna from taking over
Equestria, she thought as she raised a hoof to kick Luna's head.

Applejack got her karmic dues as Rainbow knocked her away from the Princess with
a flying tackle. The ponies tumbled to the floor. "Rainbow! What the hay are you
doing?" asked Applejack, as she wrestled with her Pegasus friend.

"Stopping you from killing Princess Luna!" Rainbow angrily said in reply.
Applejack bucked hard, sending the cyan pony flying in the air. Not the smartest
move, as 'flying in the air' happened to be Rainbow's specialty. Wheeling
around, she dove at AJ while the farmpony was still getting up. A flying punch
sent the orange mare soaring into yet another bookcase.

If they keep this up, I'll have to re-shelve the whole library, thought
Twilight. She subsequently dismissed the thought, realizing that with two of her
best friends locked in combat and her country on the brink of a civil war, the
Derpy Decimal System was the least of her worries.

Applejack lunged at Rainbow, narrowly missing the Pegasus as she soared higher.
Rainbow swooped to the nearest bookshelf and knocked the entire Daring Do
series onto Applejack's head. Luckily for the orange pony, Twilight only stocked
the paperback version.

Luna stood. Her horn glowed softly. Rainbow Dash plummeted as her wings failed
to move. Applejack's legs were similarly immobilized.

"Ponies, please, there is no need for violence."
Though her limbs were paralyzed, Applejack was still able to speak. "Rainbow!
Why in Equestria did you attack me?"
"Because you attacked the Princess!"
"Stop shouting, you two. The war-"
"The Princess is trying to overthrow Celestia-"
"She was talking! Luna hasn't done anything-"
"SILENCE!"

The ponies complied. Luna cleared her throat. "Thank you. As I was saying, your
choice tonight will affect ponies across Equestria. Rarity?" she turned to the
white pony, "Have you decided yet?"

"I-I have, your highness. I will stay with Celestia." Luna frowned,
disappointed. "Rainbow Dash? Will you join me and-"
"Yes," Rainbow said firmly, "I'm with you, Luna."

Applejack stared at her, aghast. "Rainbow! What the hay are you doing?
Y'all are supposed to be the Element of Loyalty! An' now you're going to betray
your country? Your Princess?"

Rainbow whirled around to face her friend, eyes blazing. "And what do you know
about loyalty? Huh? My country? My Princess?" She spat, "What has
Celestia done for me? Until tonight, I never owned the Element of Loyalty.
She did. Some ponies would be happy with Celestia controlling their
lives. But not me." Rainbow turned away. "If I stay with Celestia," she said
coldly, "Then I am disloyal to my own principals."

"Well," said Luna, "I am glad you have chosen the Lunar Republic, miss Dash.
That leaves only one pony to decide." she turned to the purple unicorn,
"Twilight?"