Quashed

Hearty chuckles and joyous music were heard at the reunion ball being held in the Castle of Friendship. Celestia wasn't ready to go back to Canterlot yet, as the castle still held a few grim reminders that she wasn't in any mood to face yet. At any rate, Equestria was back under a single banner.

Under secret orders from Luna, all of the fort commanders that had gone along with Steelhorn's plan had claimed that their reason for doing so was because the Princesses Luna and Celestia were still under duress, and they didn't want to risk their tetrarchs' lives by opposing him. The ploy worked, as they had all received pardons. For some of them, it was even a true statement. Those who had volunteered to join Steelhorn were branded as traitors and deserters.

While the mood was quite happy for most, Luna stepped out onto the balcony. Finding herself alone for the first time that night as the band slowly faded, she dropped her smiling façade. She was not glad to find herself in this position. She'd been wearing a false smile since the news of the Hornburg's collapse had come back.

She sighed and recalled the day after Steelhorn had left. Jericho had set up his bridge by daybreak. The guards had been ordered to hold their fire, and take up defensive positions only. It was just a matter of time before the gate came down, so after Luna had sent off all volunteers to join the Hornburg, she had the fort commander tear away her clothing, lock her horn again, blindfold and gag her, and lock her in a dungeon cell, specifically in one where Celestia couldn't see. She had come out of the cell saying that once she had outlived her usefulness, the cowardly minotaur had locked her up again. It hurt so much to tell such a blatant lie, but it was necessary. It had worked, too. Everyone believed her. Celestia and Twilight had been a bit skeptical, but with a bit of coaxing, Luna had been able to make them come around. She said that the only reason she had gone along with his wishes was to keep the two of them from coming to harm.

She looked up at the moon and placed a hand on her belly. The minotaur inside was kicking softly. As much as she wanted to raise it as her own, that was no longer an option. Celestia had decreed that they were to be killed as soon as they were born. Killing them now would only complicate the matter. They were to be kept healthy until they came out, then they were to be disposed of. That would be the easiest for the princesses. Luna had added that she didn't want to see its death, and thankfully Celestia had taken the bait and assigned the duty to the guards. Luna could work with that.

She heard approaching footsteps from behind her. Donning her false smile again, she turned to see Prince Jericho joining her on the balustrade. "Out for some fresh air?"

He shrugged. "I saw you out here, alone and worried. You seemed lonely, so to your side I hurried. So what is it that has your face so soured? Surely you'd be glad to be repowered."

Her smile faded as she resumed looking at the moon. "May I ask you something, Prince Jericho?" He nodded in response. "How did you feel about Chief Steelhorn? As a fellow warrior of the ruling class, what was your opinion of him?"

Jericho looked up into the night sky and took a deep breath. "I have a lot of respect for the things that he'd done. If he'd fought us at the siege of Canterlot, he'd have won. Yet he decided to spare us and hoped we'd give in. His strategies almost had him sure to win. Despite your sister's hatred for the beast, I can't bring myself to condemn him; not in the least. His biggest mistake, looking back at it now, was a fluke. He could not have predicted how we were hiding in the trees, just aside the path. On that day, we lost a good many souls to his wrath."

Luna glanced over. "You didn't hate him?"

Jericho shook his head. "No, I thought his valour was grand. I'd have been honoured to shake his hand."

The two spent a moment in silence. Luna looked behind her, to see if anyone else was in earshot. No one was even glancing their way. "Can you keep a secret, Prince Jericho?"

"I shall take your words with me as I go to my grave. Rest assured, Princess Luna, your secrets I'll save."

With one final look behind her, she whispered. "Twilight, Celestia and I are carrying Steelhorn's children, as you are no doubt aware. I know you plan to spend a good while in the Crystal Empire, intermittently going back to your own kingdom, and that's why I want to ask a favour of you." She locked eyes with him. "I want you to take these three children to your kingdom and raise them to be strong, healthy, and honourable. They are all that remains of him, and it would be terrible to lose that valour forever."

Jericho looked around as well, making sure the conversation stayed quiet. "Killing children doesn't seem a good idea to me, either. I'll ensure they're looked after, by myself and my father. If you alone visit, I'll grant you a pass that will allow you to see them as they're raised as high-class."

Luna smiled and nodded. For the first time since Steelhorn had left, her smile was genuine. "Thank you, Prince Jericho. It means a lot that you'd do this for me." She sighed. "I wonder if we'd have reached the same conclusion if we'd been able to attend that first peace talk in your tent."

Jericho laughed. "I'd like to think so, but it would never work. Shining Armor wouldn't allow it; he's kind of a jerk. I'm glad you asked me in so private a manner. The gears of diplomacy work slow enough, without the interruption of a spanner."

The two spent the next half hour discussing nothing in particular. A new bond of friendship had been forged, and that was good enough for them.