Sun and Crystal (HoI4: EAW)
Author's Note
An Equestria at War short.
Sun and Crystal (HoI4: EAW)
The convoy drove through the silent streets, towards the immense spire in the city’s center. Rivalled in height only by the Changelings’ hives, the Crystal Palace was rather prettier, she felt. Chunks were missing, and many surrounding buildings were less than rubble, but the Crystal Empire had always been one of the most beautiful creations of Ponykind. Occasional gunfire was most telling as her forces cleared out those few hold-outs that persisted even after more than a week of full occupation.
A short while later, Daybreaker walked into the throne room. Her wayward niece sat on the floor beside the throne, leaning against one of the impressive crystalline pillars with visible exhaustion, but still managed to shoot her a sad look. The distance between them was gone in moments, and the Empress sat on the throne. Neither said anything while the larger mare surveyed the room. Nearly immaculate, likely because both had ordered the palace to be off-limits for fighting. Still, stray shells had hit the construction, but it would likely not take too long to repair that. The silence stretched, enough to become awkward.
It was Cadance who spoke first, however. “How is Aunt Luna?” she asked.
“Well. As well as she can be, considering she allowed the Nightmare to subdue her.” Again. “She is being held in a secure location. Until a way to purge her of the Nightmare can be figured out-”
“The Elements don’t work?” her niece interrupted. There was no need to note that her sister was incarcerated very near the Tree of Harmony, in the hopes that its energies would have a positive effect.
She could only shake her head, allowing a sigh to escape her. “Some of them… still cling to the past. Rarity is missing entirely. I dearly hope she did not flee Equus. She would not find many sympathisers to her former Mistress’ cause abroad.” Neither would she in Equus, but here she would be treated according to her status as an Element, at least. A few more moments passed.
“Your husband was captured yesterday. Sunrise led the advance personally. I hear even she had trouble subduing him. His shields truly are among the best.”
“You’re not going to… hurt him, are you?” The fear in Cadance’s voice was palpable.
“Shining Armor is family, and I do my best to treat family well.” Upon the dubious look from her niece, she rolled her eyes. “You think me a tyrant, then? I, whose people bled the Changeling war machine as you stood by? I, who offered even the worst traitors redemption? Who yet hopes to redeem her sister once more? I am no tyrant, Cadenza mi Amore. I am the Empress-Mother of all Ponies. I have always loved and guided my little Ponies, but only recently have I realised the need to be more proactive,” she explained. “The world changed radically in recent years. It was my duty to adapt just as rapidly, so that I may protect and guide all ponies.”
“Like you guided Twilight? I’m not sure if you noticed, but she is nothing like the vibrant, happy filly I got to know years ago.” She turned away from Daybreaker. “If that is your love, I don’t think I want anything to do with it.”
“War changes ponies. You and I both know this, of course. Either way, very well. You may have nothing to do with ‘it’.”
Surprise was written on Cadance’s face as she turned back to her elder. “What?”
Daybreaker suppressed the feeling of superiority and put a benevolent smile on as she leaned down, and spoke in a gentle voice. “You may live as you wish. Cadance. A nice mansion in the outskirts of the city, together with your husband and daughter. No longer will you be forced to bear the burden of ruling the Crystal Empire, to worry about your decisions affecting millions of ponies. I truly do not wish ill upon you and yours,” she spoke with conviction. Whatever Cadance’s response, this was but the beginning. Some mares needed a little more time, or something of a gentler touch to see the Truth of Light. Even as the once-Princess nodded with the hint of a smile, Daybreaker knew that in due time, mi Amore may be permitted to resume her rule of the Crystal Empire - reduced to a subject of the Sun, of course. Until then, Sunrise Sparkle would govern faithfully.
And perhaps one day the Mare of the Moon would see the Light as well. That thought brought a genuine smile to Daybreaker, even as she concluded her first of many more talks with her niece.
Author's Note
Another Equestria at War short.
Sun and Moon (HoI4: EAW)
It had been some time since she’d been placed here, deep within the caverns underneath what she thought to be Canterlot. She was unsure how much time had passed - her captor never bothered to tell her much. With a sigh, Luna lifted some leftovers from her earlier meal to sate a sudden craving to munch on something. Telekinesis, that’s all this infernal bridle-shaped device permitted. Anything stronger, more focused, and the ring around her horn would initiate painful feedback. Even her dream magic was useless now. That particular bit had for some reason led the nightmare to utterly vanish into the deepest corners of her subconscious, though she still was transformed as best she could tell.
Her introspection was interrupted by the distant sound of approaching hooves, alerting the former Princess to her visitor. Irregular though they were, these visits were some of the only contact with Ponies she’d had in recent times. It was lonely, but she’d endured worse before. In due time, the corridor lit up slowly. A few moments later, her captor’s fiery mane came into view, then the rest of the pure white Alicorn. Clad in mystic armour, Daybreaker looked as she ever did.
For a time, she stood there, watching her prisoner. Luna eyed the other mare for a few moments before finally, finally eating the blasted muffin. Chocolate chips, mhm. Not even her sister’s fallen counterpart could stop the mare from savouring and thoroughly enjoying the little treat. Chocolate was rare, these days. Oh, perhaps not aboveground, but she didn’t get it often.
It appeared Daybreaker had been waiting for Luna to finish the treat. She spoke a minute after the thing was eaten and swallowed, its taste washed away by saliva. “New Mareland was attacked today,” she said. That made Luna perk up and listen. “The Griffons rebuilt their never sufficiently damned empire. The Regent of Grover, sixth of the name, declared war on the River Federation and Equestria both. The fool demanded we cede multiple territories, such as the entirety of New Mareland, what once was Nova Griffonia, and just about everything west of Rijekograd itself.” Daybreaker looked to the side and let out a sigh. In so many ways, she was like her old self, still.
“The Thestral uprisings,” no longer the Lunar Rebellion? Nightmare Moon’s return? “Stalliongrad. All those idiots with their aspirations of independence. Sombra’s resurgence, however brief. Nova Griffonia and their penguin puppet. All of them I could handle. All of them I did handle, with the help of my precious student and her friends, with beloved Cadence and her family, and all my little ponies, my children. It got difficult there and again, but we managed. Families were torn apart, towns destroyed and their citizens relocated. The fields underneath Canterlot, Cloudsdale and west of Ponyville saw countless thousands settle there. The centre of Equestria, they said, was the safest place to be.”
Luna listened. The walking Sun had never before spoken so much. Before, she’d always been taunting, or trying to be subtle and misleading. But now, seemingly baring her heart, the Moon couldn’t help but feel for her. Just a little. Daybreaker turned her head back to Luna.
“For years, my children fought for me. Even the Thestrals came around, despite the earlier… misunderstandings,” she said. ‘Misunderstandings’ was heavily understating the situation. Tens of thousands had fought and died in the Moon’s name. Died in futility. Killing the Sun’s worshippers. Celestia’s ponies. “We thought we’d done it. That we could live in peace, again.” She shook her head, eyes closed. A few moments passed.
“Chrysalis,” the elder Alicorn spat with such venom, such vitriol and loathing that her mane flared, brightening the room. “The Queen Bitch of the Changelings, after enslaving the Deer and the Bears, thought herself sufficiently prepared to attack us. To attack Equestria, and to enslave its ponies,” Daybreaker muttered, stalking closer to Luna’s cell all the while. “To war it was, once more. Into the factories, into the trenches, into the breach, once more!” she sputtered with barely-restrained rage. The room was beginning to get uncomfortably hot, and Luna found herself scooting backwards a little. She had no magic to protect herself.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, the heat, the oppressive magic all vanished. Daybreaker - no, this was Celestia, with her beautiful purple eyes - was staring at her. “Something broke in me that day, sister.” She hadn’t called her a sibling in what felt a very long time. “When that young stallion burst into the middle of Day Court, gasping and wheezing. When he told me of the sudden attacks all along the border. Of my little ponies dying. Again.” The searing hate returned, and Celestia’s kind eyes were gone.
“I broke. I’d failed to protect them. So I broke all of Equestria. I broke my little ponies, my children, and reforged them. I was all they’d known for centuries upon centuries. They followed me without question. As more and more ponies were sent to the front, I shattered the system. When the Changelings reached Whitebell, I put down the Magic of Friendship. When they reached Mariposa, I announced martial law to deafening cheers. When Las Pegasus was endangered, and Hope Hollow burned, I gave, and reforged myself. We held them at Las Pegasus. They never crossed the Dragon Mountains or Twilight Range.”
She had never spoken of the war in such detail. The general gist, yes. That the Changelings had penetrated deep, overrun positions and defences like it was nothing, but were eventually forced to a stop. But not like this.
“They outran their own supplies maybe fifty klicks west of Nova Luna, as it was called at the time.” Luna raised an eyebrow. Had they renamed it? “They took some time to reorganise. It gave us time to get things back in order. But it wouldn’t be enough time, that much was certain.” Daybreaker looked up at the ceiling. No, through it, towards the sky.
“I let go. I finally allowed myself to not merely watch, but interfere. I smote the filth with all of my fury, with every ounce of frustration and loathing I had towards everything that threatened my children. I’ve no idea how many insects burned that day, but they were many. I continued to interfere all along the frontline. I incinerated them, melted their tanks into slag and darkened the skies with their ashes. They broke. We pursued them, to their homes, to their hives. Of many, I don’t know the names. Vraks, Vesalipolis, are two I know. They are but glass, today. Chrysalis managed to flee overseas, but the hives are subdued, and kowtow to me. Finally, peace in all Equus.”
The silence hung deafeningly. Luna’s voice hurt from disuse, “But there was no peace.”
“No. I don’t know how many, but surely millions have died in these past wars and conflicts. Now, the Gryphons come knocking. Arrogant, self-absorbed, troglodytic birds.” Daybreaker’s fury was there, clear as day. But it didn’t boil over the proverbial pot. Rather, she simmered. She simmered with rage, Luna realised, ready to unleash hellfire upon those who had wronged her. Who had wronged her ponies, her children.
“The Empire is vast. Inferior in magic and industry, yet their population is greater than Equestria’s. Countless millions will die. A war beyond all wars, sister. It will destroy both Equus and Griffonia. I cannot let that happen,” Daybreaker stated, with the same certainty that the sun rose every day. Her magic flared. The bars of the cell - magically reinforced to withstand even the efforts of Sunrise Sparkle, Element of Magic still despite the changed name - met the ground with a strangely gloopy sound. Luna shuffled further back, eyes wide. Surely, surely-
The bridle broke. Snapped without so much as a thought. Its constraints, magic-suppressing ring and all, gone, reduced to dust. Luna stared with wide, round eyes as magic filled her reflexively, healing hurts that had been plaguing her for months and years on end.
“I can see that the Nightmare is gone. For a time, at the very least. If we’re lucky, it might even decline returning,” Daybreaker muttered, just loud enough for her sister to hear. “Either way. Sunrise Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer will need to administer Equus. Flurry Heart is doing her level best to keep the Crystal Realm together. Her parents refuse to leave their chosen exile in Evergreen. Vast as my powers are, devoted though Equestria is, even I have my limits. Equestria cannot hope to defeat the Gryphons in a conventional war.”
“So you choose to be unconventional,” Luna stated, rather than asked. She flared her magic briefly, feeling it all under her control - even the vast strength the Nightmare had granted her, allowing her to overpower Princess Celestia in a duel.
“So I do,” Empress-Mother Daybreaker replies, and walks away.
Luna follows, mind whirling and plans forming.
The best plans... (HoI4: EAW)
Author's Note
Yet another EAW short. The song is adapted from the lyrics of this song, as the primary inspiration.
The best plans... (HoI4: EAW)
"Your magnificence," a grovelling Thestral began. "I bring a message from the tyrant-Sun," he claimed, bringing out a scroll with one hoof. An old method of conveying messages, but to take the time making such a thing, well. Nightmare Moon's curiosity was piqued.
The dark Alicorn plucked the thing out of her servant's hoof and unfurled it while bringing it closer. She began reading, and every word only made the developing frown deepen. "Truce...? Changelings? She, what? Servant," she commanded. "Was this verified to be a legitimate note from my misbegotten sibling?"
It was, of course. Even upon further questioning, bringing the Thestral's commanding officer in as well, it appeared to be genuine. Soon enough ponies of all kinds were running and fluttering in a form of controlled chaos as at least the chance to meet and speak was accepted, and a scroll of appropriate gravitas written. It was sent with all haste under the flag of truce, and all forces were instructed to stand down within the day. Radios made this, at least, easy enough.
Merely two days later Nightmare Moon, alongside an entourage of elite Thestrals, approached the slopes of Canterlot. The city itself was as pristine as ever, but the plains beneath were littered with the dead and wrecks of war machines. The lines had long been drawn, and scarcely moved in the last year or so. Daybreaker had vacated the city some time ago and retreated into reconquered Las Pegasus, so the former capital was as good a meeting place as any. With a flap of her wings, Nightmare Moon took flight.
She surveyed the lands beneath with contempt as the city approached. She would have to reinforce this region if she ever wanted to take Canterlot. To her surprise, the palace was still manned by both the Solar and Lunar Palace Guards. These fifteen hundred were taking their duty to both Alicorns truly seriously if they were still here despite everything.
Nightmare Moon landed in one of many secluded gardens, immediately approached by a Palace Guard. He bowed before her. "Your majesty, it is an honour to receive you here. Your counterpart arrived only shortly before you," he explained. "If you would follow me, I shall lead you to the meeting place."
He rose and turned upon receiving a nod and made his way into the building, expecting his ruler to follow. Nightmare Moon sneered for a moment, but followed a few heartbeats later. As she'd expected, everything looked very nearly as before. A little dustier perhaps, a bit less vibrant, but unchanged otherwise. Into what once had been the throne room and location for Day Court they went, where the differences were stark. All banners, sun or moon, had been removed. The thrones pulled off the dais, an immense map of Equus in their place. 'Known enemies of Equestria', a plaque said in a bottom corner, and Nightmare Moon realised that the Changeling realm was a deep, bloody red. Sombra's Crystal Empire was purple, as were the breakaway states in the south, Vanhoover in the far west, and Stalliongrad. The two halves of Equestria were a sunny yellow and a royal blue, respectively.
The frontlines looked disturbingly accurate.
Finally, in the very centre of the room was a table. There sat three of Equestria's five Alicorns. No, all four. Flurry Heart was hidden underneath her mother's right wing, the one facing away from the Nightmare but peeking out from behind Cadance's protection. Cadance was focused on the table itself, deep in thought. The lucky dears had managed to escape Sombra's resurrection, though Shining Armor had paid with his life to make that possible. Unfortunate.
Sunrise Sparkle, once Twilight, was clearly on her mentor's side of the table, staring at the dark Alicorn with a clear expression of surprise and curiosity, and some... Nostalgia, too. No matter how hard she tried, she was as open a book to Nightmare Moon as she was to her mentor.
Said mentor, Daybreaker, sat in a way Celestia never had. Nightmare Moon hadn't seen the Sun's mistress since the conflict started, and had only heard rumours about the transformation. Flaming mane, the armour no longer golden but a darker, orange metal or alloy. She couldn't see Daybreaker's cutiemark, but it too had likely changed. But all these things were merely superficial. Celestia had always had a kind, benevolent presence. It was easy to feel comfortable and open up in her presence. Daybreaker, on the other hoof... The best word was imperious. She was the single most powerful creature on the planet save for perhaps Discord, and she knew it. She sat there as if she knew that everything and everypony would be subordinate to her in due time. Even at her peak Nightmare Moon had barely been able to best the unaugmented Celestia.
Daybreaker was likely to be a whole other class. Yet here she was, under the banner of Truce.
Nightmare Moon sat opposite of her sister, to the left of Princess Cadance. Sunrise and Flurry were secondary in this. Even Cadance was, in a way - her empire lost to a horrible tyrant.
"Sister," Nightmare Moon said.
"Sister," Daybreaker answered.
They sized each other up for a time. Much like the frontlines for the past months, neither Alicorn moved much at all. Nominally, both knew Cadance was intended to be a neutral party, but the Alicorn of Love would be unable to stop either of the tyrants if they attempted anything. The tension was palpable.
Finally, Daybreaker broke the silence. "You know what is happening in the far west. You are aware of the Changeling threat."
"I could simply wait until you were forced to move enough troops westwards. You cannot sustain a prolonged war on two fronts," Nightmare countered.
"I cannot, but neither can you. Sinister is rousing the rabble against the Gryphon colonies. It is only a matter of time until he looks south," came the reply.
"Yet Sombra is looking to end the great experiment himself. He will weaken himself quite spectacularly, even if he does subdue those radicals."
"What then? Will you open hostilities with his forces as I and mine succumb to Changeling attack, and your own are preoccupied with what remains on our shared front? Not to mention Aztlan and the Confederation in the south. They will be like sharks, smelling blood."
"Such is the truth. Truth is also that I know why you called me here. Truth is that such a thing would see all foes brushed aside. Regardless of all this, I wish for you to say it. A millennium and countless dead too late, Daybreaker, you will say it into my face. And you will know, had you but swallowed your pride, things would be so very different. And I shall give my answer then," Nightmare explained, expression like the cat about to eat the canary. "And not a moment sooner."
Daybreaker frowned, and for a split-second the temperature in the room rose noticeably. Nightmare continued to look rather smug, imagining the marble underneath the solar Alicorn's hooves softening. "You who stole my sister from me not once but twice, who are you to demand anything from me?"
Cadance looked between the two, trying to find words, something, anything, to convince them to stop this posturing. Even Sunrise looked more than a little unnerved. Flurry was hiding under her mother, shivering.
"Who are you to refuse what I can offer? Tell me, oh Empress."
"I am the queen, and the leader of heaven and earth. I am the torch, and the bringer of light. I am the saviour, and I am mother to all," Daybreaker intoned. "I am the new world order to come. I am the first and the last. I am the Empress of the Sun." A pause.
"You are the queen, and the leader of the skies and night. You are the shadow, and the bringer of dark. You are their prophet, you are their love and their sin," she spoke, almost musically. "You are the new world order to come. You are alpha and omega. You are the Empress of the Moon."
Both celestial Alicorns stood, walking around the table, keeping opposite of each other. Together, "Our Empire's rising, their world is dying, in the blink of an eye. We are the sword, we are fire and ash, we are death and rebirth." They kept circling around, magically unfurling new banners from the ceiling. "We are warfare, leaders of battle and hell. We are divine, light and shadow, the first and the last."
They stopped, Nightmare smiling at her counterpart. "You are the Sun."
Daybreaker raised an eyebrow. "You are the Moon."
"We are the new world order to come, the first and the last. They shall come, they shall kneel, and they shall know: our Empire's rising, their world is dying, in the blink of an eye. We are their gods."
They had switched places. A wide-eyed Sunrise Sparkle now sat besides Nightmare Moon. Cadance's head swivelled between them, ears splayed. The two tyrants bowed to each other, each smiling.
"It seems to me that even in these times the magic of Heart Songs is not to be underestimated, Daybreaker dearest. It appears to me we have found a concord."
"So we have, sister. Our foes shall tremble before us."
The laughter of two immensely powerful creatures echoed from the palace shortly after.
"Why is this taking so long?" Chrysalis demanded from her subordinate, the poor drone looking harrowed enough already.
"We need to wait for the target to accept the call, your magnificence. If he will not permit the messenger to enter, there is nothing I can do."
"Just-" the Queen began, interrupted by the sudden appearance of King Sombra on his throne. A magical relay call, intensive in drones but permitting nigh-instantaneous communications. With images!
"King Sombra! Thank you ve-"
"Shut it, bug. I know what's going on and what you want. My spies use methods and magics not seen in an aeon. Nothing you say will be new to me."
Chrysalis recoiled, taking a step back. Anger flared, "The impertinence! You don't even know who or what you're dealing with, little king!"
"I know exactly, which is why I will treat this... 'Call' with the seriousness it deserves. None whatsoever." King Sombra sat lazily in his throne, looking at Chrysalis' projection with contempt.
"You...!"
"Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings, self-styled empress. Greedy, devious, arrogant, vindictive. Above all, a completely untrustworthy creature. I will not speculate on what might have been if things were different. You miscalculated. The Sun and the Moon combined their might. Your destruction is certain, and only a matter of time," he spoke.
Chrysalis swore loudly, making several nearby drones - one even an admiral - blush.
Sombra continued as if he hadn't heard. "Similarly, the end of my empire is inevitable. Thus, contingencies are being put in place. While you and yours are... distracting the Alicorns, I feel other parts of the world might be more amenable to my style of rulership. Perhaps you might wish to have a submarine ready to carry you to that quaint little Changeling state in Griffonia? Greneclyf, I believe it was."
"I'll never consort with that filth!" The Changeling Queen was fuming, but Sombra had taken her off guard, and was exploiting this with audible glee.
"As you say, my dear. Well, I've things to do, socialists to crush, plans to prepare, minds to control. I'll see you never," the dark King said, a blast of shadow magic ending the call quite suddenly.
"The drone's gone, my Queen. He, he destroyed it."
"I can see that! Now get out of my sight, I, I..." she grasped for words, even as the changelings in the room all scrambled to leave by wing or hoof. If only she could send her legions to crush that abomination and his crystals. If only. "I need to plan," she said.
