Quashed

By the time his shield-brothers had caught up to them, Steelhorn had dragged Celestia halfway across the castle. It was unclear where he was going, but it can't have been anywhere nice. It took both Scrimshaw and Hardtusk to hold Steelhorn down while Boneshatter separated Celestia from his grip. This ended up meaning cutting off most of Celestia's mane, leaving her horn completely exposed so that everypony could see the horn ring.

Despite her actions, Celestia was now in safer hands. Steelhorn might have caused significant damage in his burning fury, but Boneshatter wasn't nearly so enraged. He was content to tie her up and whip her, though the latter would have to wait until Steelhorn calmed down. Despite his orders, Celestia was not escorted back to her bedroom, but instead to a dungeon cell. She was gagged, blindfolded, and bound tightly in an uncomfortable position until further notice.

Boneshatter returned to where Steelhorn had been. Scrimshaw now had a black eye, and Hardtusk was bleeding from his lower lip. While many minotaurs were prone to going berserk, Steelhorn had been quite proud of the fact that he kept a level head. If Celestia had said nothing, perhaps this state may not have triggered. Luna, despite the inherent danger of doing so, had been on the right track with helping Steelhorn resist himself.

With Boneshatter now on the scene, the three of them were able to contain Steelhorn and keep him pinned to the ground. He was unable to speak, his only audible noises being the sound of his body and equipment striking the walls and floor, coupled with his grunts and bellows. This lasted for a good ten minutes before his eyes returned to normal and his thrashing stopped. His breathing began to slow, and his grunting ceased entirely.

Steelhorn turned to Boneshatter. "Status report?"

Boneshatter held up one finger. Turning around, he pried open Steelhorn's hand, pulling Celestia's clump of hair out of his brother's fist. He held it up on display. "She's safe for now, but you need to calm yourself before you see her."

"And the others?"

"Arrow took Luna to her room, the priestess has Twilight."

"Are they safe?"

Boneshatter nodded. "Let's have some tea."

An hour passed. Much tea was had, tempers were cooled, and the four of them discussed the events that had been taking place in their homeland in the calmest voices they could muster. While Steelhorn had certainly taken it the hardest, Scrimshaw and Hardtusk had also lost significant members of their family. It was a devastating blow, to say the least.

"Ashwolf will pay dearly for this course of action," promised Steelhorn, looking his men in the eye. "This wasn't just a blow against us. This was a blow against our allies. House Snowcap has always been either neutral toward us, or loyal. We cannot abandon them in their time of need."

Hardtusk nodded. "My brother and I grew up in house Snowcap. They don't interact much with the other houses, but they honour their alliances. As do we Hornburgers. Let me send them a letter of remembrance."

Steelhorn nodded. "Absolutely. With Stormshroud under sanctions, we can afford to offer your family additional protections."

Scrimshaw reached forward, wrapping his arms around Steelhorn's shoulders. Steelhorn returned the hug, glad to have been able to assist. "Now then. I need to go speak with each of the princesses in turn. Boneshatter, come with me. I don't want a repeat performance."

Their first visit was to princess Luna. When the two minotaurs entered, Luna was sitting on the edge of her bed. "Have you come to punish us for our sister's actions, Chief Steelhorn?"

Steelhorn approached, gesturing for Luna to stand up. She did so, awaiting further commands. "Your sister cares nothing for you, Luna. She has let your pristine coat become marred with many a scar from the whip. Even today, knowing full well that you would suffer at my hand, she continued her aggressive commentary, far beyond a reasonable point."

Tears flowed down Luna's cheeks. "We know. We feel the same thing. We have grown accustomed to being whipped, but we are powerless to stop her." She dropped to her knees, her face mere centimetres from his groin. "Please, Chief Steelhorn, we humbly beg that you forgive our sister, and do not punish us."

Steelhorn gripped her by the horn and pulled her back to her feet. He then dropped down onto one knee, looking into her eyes. She genuinely cared for her sister, and didn't want to see her suffer, yet knew that such love was not reciprocated by her own flesh and blood. "Do you swear to me that all of your actions henceforth will be for the good of Equestria and its people?"

Luna nodded. "Of course we do. We have always loved Equestria. Even when Equestria has hated and shunned us. We have, in the past, almost given our life for Equestria."

"Even if what is best for Equestria is to do as I say?"

Luna nodded again, but said nothing. Steelhorn gave her a tender kiss, which she was happy to return. As he stood back up, he shifted her mane, and removed the ring that had locked the use of her horn for the last month and a half. She was free to cast her spells.

"We do not understand," said Luna. "You are not going to punish us?"

"Punishing Celestia by whipping you only works if Celestia cares what happens to you. It has become abundantly clear that she doesn't care. And so, you shall be the example."

Luna stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Steelhorn's waist. "We thank you for your generosity, Chief Steelhorn."

"Remember this, though," added Steelhorn. "Even though Celestia's direction of punishment is being changed, yours is not. If you try to harm me, or my men, Celestia will be the one to pay the price."

"As will Twilight," nodded Luna, smiling up at him. "You needn't worry. We will behave ourself. We know you are only doing as little harm as you must."

"You are also free to leave the castle as you so need. You are not to leave the city yet, and you must be escorted by a guard or one of my men, but I'm sure your people would love to see you when I'm not around. You can even use your magic among them, to set their minds at ease."

Luna bowed. "Thank you, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn turned and walked out the door. "Good night, Princess Luna."

As they walked down the hall to where Twilight was staying, Boneshatter spoke up. "Are you sure that was a good idea, chief? You've given our captive a weapon."

Steelhorn stopped and turned around. "Do you remember the campaign my father lead seventeen years ago? He'd captured an enemy Buckwheat trying to kill him in his sleep. He arranged for a prisoner exchange, and when the enemy officer arrived in the ceasefire zone, he killed the prisoner right there, claiming that the prisoner we had was so useless that he may as well be dead. The prisoner pleaded with my father for days to let him go before that, but afterward, he just sat in his cage, not doing anything, until he became chummy with one of the guards. When a hole was blown in the side of the cage, that prisoner picked up a sword and fought for us, against his own countrymen."

"And you think Luna will do the same?"

Steelhorn shrugged. "This is a different situation. That prisoner fought for us because we cared more about him than his own family did. Luna will likely do much the same, but without the need to have her citizens trying to kill her. We can trust her to do the right thing, I think."

"I hope you're right," sighed Boneshatter as he resumed walking.

"I hope I'm right, too," mumbled Steelhorn under his breath.