Princess Celestia's POV

“Princess, there’s news from the Crystal Empire.”

This is a phrase that I have learned to hate with every fibre of my being. On those few occasions when I hear it, my ears fold back in annoyance and I scowl without meaning to. It is a habit that I must try to change, but I doubt I ever will until that vampire and her husband are removed from power.

I look down at the speaker, Astral Charm, who is holding what appears to be a newspaper under her wing. After everything I've done to stop that vampire in the Crystal Empire from spreading her filthy lies, she has still managed to find a way of manipulating the headlines in her favour.

“Astral, how bad is it?” I dare to ask her.

“Do you want a nice answer or an honest one?”

“Honest.”

“Alright, Princess. Buckin' horrific. She knows how to make us look like idiots.” She grabs the newspaper with her fangs, then lets go as I use a golden orb of magic to take it from her. I read the front page, my eyes growing wide with disbelief.

Harmony Magazine

**********************************

SHE SPEAKS AT LAST! QUEENIE'S HERE WITH A NEW BOMBSHELL ARTICLE - and Harmony's going to the Crystal Empire

There was much joyous celebration last night at the headquarters of Harmony Magazine as a parcel from the Crystal Queen Moonlight arrived on editor Rose Ink's desk. The package contained a newspaper article, a set of photographs and a touching letter addressed to the entire Harmony team, asking if we would like to be the first Equestrian newspaper company to work in the Crystal Empire since it disappeared over a thousand years ago.

“I've read enough already,” I mutter.

“Princess, this isn't even the worst of it. If you see what she wrote, you'll want to cook her.”

“What page is it?”

“Her article? Page four, I think.”

I turn to the aforementioned page number and stare hard at the photographs accompanying the text. Photographs of a village burned to the ground; of ponies with all manner of injuries hiding in a cave, some of them with their faces and cutie marks blanked out to protect their identities; more ponies, and changelings and yaks too, in an almost overflowing hospital waiting room; and finally, a large group of ponies, yaks and changelings in a hospital cafeteria, watching and listening to a small band playing music.

THE PONIES I TRUST: A TALE OF BRAVERY, BETRAYAL AND FAMILY BONDS

Take a look at the photographs on the opposite page if you haven't already. These images were captured by my adopted daughter, who turned twelve years old only a day before we were called to this scene of horror.

Do they shock you? Not many would say no. I'll say this now, though: it's one thing to look at pictures of a catastrophe like this, and another thing entirely to actually be there and see everything with your own eyes.

When you look at pictures or read about something, you don't have to smell the stench of despair and sickness, and hear ponies begging you to help them. To feel their pain and anguish as you find out the names of those that can't be saved.

Does it shock you to hear that the Crystal Empire had nothing to do with the destruction you can see? That actually, this village was burned to the ground, and its ponies' lives and livelihoods left to ruin by a group of ponies most of us trust more than anypony else? You can take to the streets and call for their blood, but they'll only cut you down just as quickly.

Fillies and gentlecolts, I present to you: the Solar Guards. Or rather, those who work in the Crown Guard, or the Inner Circle as it's more commonly known.

Then again, in my not-so-dear Aunt Celestia's defence, there was a bit of miscommunication. She ordered for two or three ponies to be arrested. On what charges? Talking to me. Remember this in case I ever visit Equestria for a diplomatic meeting or any other reason: if you even acknowledge my presence, you could end up being charged with treason.

(I suppose I should clarify now that yes, I did travel to this village a few months ago, en route to the coast, and I stayed there for one night. Whilst I'll happily admit that I can be a magnet for trouble at times, I didn't think that staying there for such a short period of time could cause an issue serious enough for Celestia to send any Solar Guards there at all, let alone the Inner Circle guards.)

But back to the main topic of conversation. The guards arrived in the small hours, according to a witness who I am not going to name to protect his identity. He and a few others were woken up by the noise, and went to investigate, only for all of them to be arrested on the spot and led a short way away from the village by armed guards, whilst the rest of the Solar Guards swarmed the village, knocking on doors and trying to find any more perpetrators.

However, when nopony answered, my anonymous friend recalled hearing a guard say, “If they won't leave their houses, then we'll just have to force them to.”

“Astral?” I say slowly. “Did you… who gave the order to-”

“To fight fire with fire?” she suggests. Her deliberate choice of words is infuriating, but I decide on this occasion not to pull her up on it.

“...Yes.”

“I told them to get everypony out of those houses, and left it up to them to do their job,” she shrugs. “I didn't say anything about setting the place on fire.”

I roll my eyes, and continue reading.

The Solar Guards' not-so-brilliant plan to get everypony out of their houses was to burn them down. Several ponies lost their lives, and more would have done so, but they worked together, even going back into the burning buildings to rescue those who were trapped despite not having any protection from the flames, and only scarves to wrap around their muzzles to stop the smoke from affecting their lungs.

I only heard about all of this the next day, when I received a plea for help from the village mayor. I could see that the Crystal Empire, that myself and King Sombra, were the last hope that she and the rest of her village had, and we rescued as many ponies as we could.

Unfortunately, there were still a few who died either on the night of the fire or in the hospital at the Crystal Empire. The memorial hall was packed on the day of the funeral, filled with those who used to live in the village and the brave volunteers from the Crystal Army who chose to help out with the rescue operation. This is all that’s left of a community that once thrived: the survivors and their memories.

I made a small speech, but I didn't say what was in my heart. It wasn't appropriate at the time. But now? I think I can say what needs to be said.

I have questions to ask about why the Solar Guards had to act so violently, and why I am the first pony to tell anypony outside of the Crystal Empire about this. This happened seventeen days ago, and Celestia has yet to say a word about it.

I know that she is going to read this, and I now speak directly to her. Celestia, please, leave the innocent ponies and people of Equestria out of this war. None of this is their fault. They shouldn't suffer because of our disagreement.

I don't want to keep coming back to Equestria, sending the Crystal Soldiers to sort out incidents like this one, because I don't want ponies to keep dying. But if you look after your ponies properly, then I will look after mine and mind my own business. And maybe then we can move on and forget about this war altogether.

I resist the urge to spit on the floor and turn that newspaper into a pile of ashes. Innocent ponies?! They weren't innocent! And now, after corrupting the minds of all of those that lived in the Town of Starlight, she's trying to corrupt the rest of the world through asking a newspaper company to work with her. And why wasn't I told about this magazine publishing one of her articles until now?!

I need to do some damage control, tell the public the truth about the harsh realities of her lies and what she isn't telling them. I need to make sure Lulu doesn't do anything silly. I need to make sure that the public doesn't lose faith in me, and that they don't fall under the powerful influence of dark magic.

"Princess?" Astral says. "Are you ok?"

"I… I need to… Find Aurora for me."

She salutes and flies out of the throne room. Now I have several choices to make. Do I shut down that newspaper company and stop them from publishing in Equestria?

No, but you can ask that they don't publish certain stories.

What do I say to the public?

They need to know about Starlight Glimmer.

And the vampire herself?

Speak to her one last time, and then we'll attack the Crystal Empire.

Astral trots into the room, Aurora trailing behind her. I don't hesitate in flying down from my throne to the two mares, and I embrace Aurora, ignoring Astral as she grins and rolls her eyes.

"Aurora," I whisper.

"Yes, Celestia?"

I'm lost for words. Now that she's here I have no idea what to tell her. I want to tell somepony how I feel, but the feeling is indescribable. I'm angry and upset and fearful and confused and so many other things all at once, with so much going on inside my head that I almost feel numb. So instead of speaking, I simply lower my head and allow her to nuzzle me.

"Celestia? Was it… was it her? The Umbrum?"

I sigh and close my eyes, nodding.

"It'll be ok, Celestia," she comforts me. "We can still stop her. Lord Tirek and the Solar Guards have already left for the Crystal Empire, just like you asked. We can still win."

I open my eyes and smile sadly at her. She continues to comfort me, and I don't resist. I plant the softest kiss on her forehead and guide her closer to me with a wing. How odd that despite being the protector of Equestria, this sweet little mare is the one to protect me.

"Celestia, what should I do now?"

"Stay here with me." The words leave my lips before I even think about them.

"Ok." A simple word that means so much to me. I fold my wings back by my sides and hold my head high, my confidence returning. The guards are going to keep fighting, no matter what, and the vampire doesn't have anywhere near as many ponies in her 'army'. There might still be some hope yet.

Moonlight's POV

“Moonlight?” I hear Sombra call, and the bedroom door opens. Light floods the room and I slam my eyes shut just moments after opening them. Everything appears upside down, but I can tell that Sombra is smirking.

“Hello, little bat,” he chuckles. “Was the bed not comfortable enough?”

I unfurl my wings and fly down from my little roost to the ground, landing on all fours with ease. “I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try something different.”

“Hanging upside down from the chandelier.” He shakes his head at me. "And did it help any?”

“Until you woke me up, it did,” I giggle.

He wraps a foreleg around me, pulling me close to him. “You seem much happier than you were earlier.”

“I guess I just needed to relax a little.”

“How much sleep did you get last night?”

I pause, trying to remember. “I was still up at two o'clock.”

“Two o'clock?!” He raises an eyebrow. “You need a better sleep schedule.”

“I shut my eyes and I feel like I've downed about five cups of coffee at once.” I sit down on the bed and stretch my forelegs, yawning. “This is probably the best sleep I've had in a while.”

“Are you going back to being nocturnal?”

“Maybe, but… why would that happen?” I ask, both to him and myself. “And why is it only happening to me?”

“I am not a medical professional. Perhaps you can ask the ‘bat expert’, Wishbone.”

“Now that is a terrible joke.”

“I know, but you are stressed and unable to sleep. You need to take your own advice and look after yourself, Moonlight,” he advises me. “I can tell you what to do, but I can't force you to make the right decisions. Well, I could, but I don’t particularly wish to do so.”

“I'll speak to her tomorrow.”

He shakes his head again, although this time he isn’t joking around. “No. Today. What is it with you and the Colonel not wanting to talk to doctors when you need to? Is it a bat pony problem?”

I smile, remembering Skywalker's quote. “We all have stubbornness issues.”

“Well, if you are tired, I'll leave you to get a little more sleep.” He turns around, about to leave.

“I'm awake now, though. And if I sleep now, I'll be up all night.” I walk towards him. When I reach him he gently caresses my face and our eyes meet. A million thoughts run through our minds and I realise that he cares about me more than words could express.

“Fair point. Your next job is to go to find Wishbone. Meanwhile, I have the job of looking at our expenses and how much money we have to invest in the Crystal Empire.”

“Finances.” Probably the least interesting part of our job. Sombra and I could employ extra staff to deal with that sort of stuff, and maybe we will if we end up being preoccupied by the war, but we prefer keeping an eye on everything ourselves. “I'll leave you to it. Love you, Sombra.”

"I love you too, little bat," he says as I fly down the corridors.

Hospital visits. Something I have never liked, but it looks like there's no avoiding it this time. I'm doing this for Sombra, Cozy Glow, my friends and for the Crystal Empire. If it wasn't for them and my royal duties, I would be staying as far away from the doctor's office as possible.

Let's get this nonsense over with.

Author's Note

Both Celestia and Moonlight have plenty on their minds at the moment...

~ Angel