A Mercenary's Ending

The engine whistle screeching woke Gregory up. He hadn’t even realized that he’d fallen asleep. Venting had obviously taken more out of him than he’d realized, he surmised. Sitting up, he stretched, suppressing a yawn. Looking out the window, he saw that they were pulling into a large train station with plenty of ponies standing on the platforms on either side. He saw that there were four tracks there, with a large platform in the center of them, leaving two platforms on either side. Another train was on the other side with ponies boarding in what looked like a hurry.

“Canterlot Station,” a voice said from the front of the car, and Gregory turned to see a pony in a conductor’s uniform walking down the car. “All ponies who are disembarking here please gather your belongings and exit through the nearest exit. Canterlot station.” The stallion walked past, seemingly not bothered by the fact that there were nonponies in this car.

Gregory looked around, noticing that Megan was still sitting across from him. She was asleep herself, so he reached over and gently shook her. She jolted awake, taking a quick intake of breath. “Huh, whu-?”

“We’re here,” he said.

Megan stood up, quickly running a hand through her golden hair. “Whoa…” she said as she wavered.

Gregory stood and caught her. “Stood up too fast?” he asked.

She slowly nodded as she recovered. “I’m fine, now,” she said, looking up at Gregory with a blush. “You can let go, now.”

He nodded and did so. She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Elsewhere in the car, Gregory saw that everyone else was quickly getting ready to depart. Chrysalis and Thorax were both now in a disguise as a unicorn mare and crystal pony stallion. He noted that they were the same disguises that they’d used in the show. He quickly reached down and grabbed his own belongings, moving to put his mask back on. Then, he hesitated. The ponies out there were about to see three other humans, so what was one more?

Shaking his head, he lowered the mask and placed it in the small bag he carried with him before joining the others heading towards the exit doors. He stepped onto the platform with Megan, Daniel, and Molly right behind him. There were many different ponies sitting at the benches and standing on the platform, waiting for anyone to exit the cars before boarding. He inwardly scowled as their eyes widened at the sight of him and his fellow humans, but kept his face neutral as they followed behind Celestia and Luna. He heard the murmurs from the ponies and caught some of their words.

“…ther human, and four of them…”

“…going to cause trouble?…”

“…princesses thinking?…”

“…what is that gray monstrosity?”

He inwardly sighed as he followed the princesses, but shot anyone who had obviously insulted Dengal a withering glare, causing them to flinch back in fear. They could insult him all they wanted, but Dengal insulting was completely off limits.

“It really is gone…” he heard Twilight say from behind him. He turned to see her staring in disbelief at the sky. He turned back and stared at the blue sky. He then spotted a few pegasi flying around, then he saw a single watchtower nearby which was still intact.

“So, where are we going now?” Megan asked curiously as the group left the station and began walking down the streets.

“There is a safehouse I had made centuries ago in case of some sort of emergency,” Celestia explained, “and it is nowhere near the…where the castle once was.”

Gregory could hear the hurt in her voice. A part of him regretted how he had spoken to her earlier, and he resolved to keep his opinions more to himself and to focus more on the present. They continued walking until they saw a group of nobles turning a corner led by a pony who was obviously Blueblood judging by the straw blonde mane and the cravat around his neck. There were several royal guards escorting them. “Aunties!” he said in greeting as he and the others strode up.

Immediately, Gregory knew he wouldn’t like this guy. He had an air of superior arrogance about him despite the situation. Celestia, however, didn’t react other than to nod at him with a small smile. “Dear nephew, it’s good to see you safe,” she said. She then turned to the leader of the guards. “Nopony has been harmed, yes?”

“No reports of any casualties as of yet, your highness,” the guard reported.

“Princess, what are we to do about this alicorn menace?” one of the other nobles asked with what sounded like nervousness. “There has been a report of another visitation in Manehattan just recently!”

Celestia’s brows furled. “And what did she do?”

“Many of the higher up employees of several major businesses were turned to stone except for their heads,” the guard explained. “Some have even lost their voices, but at the very least they can eat.”

“Were any employees unaffected?” Luna asked.

“All nonpony employees along with a few ponies,” the guard replied. “Reports are that these ponies were varying degrees of corrupt and abusive to certain members of staff.”

Celestia bristled at that. “Let me guess,” she said darkly, “all the nonponies were the targets.”

The guard was about to speak, but Blueblood interrupted. “Auntie, what are we going to do?? This Majesty has shown that she is a clear danger to the kingdom and crown!”

“To your wealth and delusions of power, you mean,” Celestia replied, startling not only the nobleponies, but nearly everyone else in the group following her and Luna. Gregory held his surprise, but even he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as she continued. “I didn’t hear you mention anything about the citizens of Equestria.”

Blueblood’s jaw was just as dropped as the others of his entourage. Among the confusion, three of the nobleponies stepped away. Gregory recognized two of them as Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis, but the third, an older looking unicorn mare with a light purple coat, silvery blue mane, and sapphire eyes, was one he didn’t recognize. The three came and joined the group. “She’s correct, you know,” Fancy Pants said, looking at Blueblood and his cronies, which ironically included Jet Set, Upper Crust and Zesty Gourmand, Gregory noted. “As nobles, it is our duty to look out for the common pony-no, to the common citizen of this kingdom,” he amended. “None of you have done that. I have tried, but it’s sadly not been enough.”

Blueblood scowled at the older unicorn, and Gregory’s threat sense began to shout at him that something was about to happen. “You would do best to know your place, Viscount,” he growled.

“Nephew, do not antagonize him,” Luna scolded.

Blueblood, however, was not listening anymore. Gregory’s hand subtly went to one his lightsabers as the unicorn took a step forward towards Fancy Pants. “You always look down on the rest of us,” he snapped angrily. “Perhaps it’s time that you learn your place.”

The moment his horn began lighting up, Gregory stepped forward, igniting one of his lightsabers. It hissed to life, the green blade glowing. “Easy, now,” he said, “nobody needs to get hurt today.”

Blueblood’s eyes widened at the humming but elegant weapon. His eyes narrowed. “It’s because of creatures like you that our nation is in peril!” he screeched before he shot off a blast of magic at him.

Gregory moved fast, bringing the blade up in the hopes that it would deflect magic. Too late did he realize that blasters in Star Wars weren’t like magic, but that didn’t matter. The blast reflected off of his lightsaber with a familiar sound, moving back and striking the prince. He flew back with a scream which was instantly cut off as he struck a nearby wall, collapsing with a groan.

“ENOUGH!” Celestia bellowed as other unicorn nobles moved to attack Gregory. She raised a protective shield between the nobles and the group. “Guards, take Prince Blueblood to be treated. As for the rest of you,” and here she turned to the nobles, “go back to your homes and stay there until further notice.” She turned back to Gregory. “Are you alright?”

He nodded and deactivated his lightsaber before putting it back on his belt. “I am,” he said before he turned back to Fancy Pants, Fleur De Lis, and the third pony. “Are you three okay?”

Fancy Pants gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks to you, yes we are. My wife and I will repay you in due course.”

“Oui, as vill I,” the third pony said in a clearly French sounding accent.

“I’m glad to see you three safe,” Celestia said, then she turned to Gregory. “Thank you for protecting them.”

“They were the only nobles who were speaking any sense,” he said. “Anyway, weren’t we heading somewhere?”

As the group resumed their journey, Megan appeared by his side, a troubled look on her face. “Gregory,” she said in a whisper, “those nobles…there was darkness there.”

“What darkness?” he asked.

“The same darkness that was surrounding the other ponies before the Rainbow touched them,” she said.

He pursed his lips in confusion. “Explanation?” he asked.

“I don’t have one,” Megan admitted. “Still, I can feel it from the town.”

“It could just be the emotions of the citizens here,” Gregory reasoned, gesturing to the empty to the southwest of their position. “They just did lose an important landmark, not to mention they’re afraid that Majesty might do something to the city as well. Don’t forget, we’re standing on a massive mountain ledge.”

“Maybe…” Megan said as she reached down to finger the Rainbow of Light around her neck, perhaps some kind of nervous habit. “I don’t remember it being like this before, though.”

Gregory reached out, hesitated, then followed through by putting a hand on her shoulder. “You think using the Rainbow here will help them?”

Megan looked over at him, studying his face for a bit, then looked back towards the city. She scanned it, her blue eyes seeming to pierce through everything she saw. “I suppose it’s worth a try,” she said.

“Is what worth a try?” Celestia asked, joining them as Megan and Gregory had stopped in the middle of the road.

“Using the Rainbow here to help the ponies,” Megan replied before explaining what she was feeling.

Celestia’s eyes widened. “I see,” she said before looking around at the city. “What if I took you to one of the watchtowers overlooking the city for a better view? Would that help?”

Megan nodded. “I think that would help, yes.”

Celestia nodded. Then, to Gregory’s astonishment, she knelt down. “Climb onto my back, Miss Megan,” she said. “I can fly you there faster.”

Megan approached, then with the expertise of someone who had practiced climbing onto a horse’s back before, she clambered up. “Ready,” she said.

As Celestia stood back up, she turned to Luna who had just come back, a look o confusion on her face. “I’m heading to the west tower with Miss Megan,” she said. “There, she will use the Rainbow of Light to cleanse some sort of darkness permeating the city.”

Luna nodded. “I will continue leading the others to the safehouse,” she replied.

“We’ll be back soon,” Celestia said, spreading her wings and launching into the air.

“God, that looks like fun,” Daniel said as he watched Megan and Celestia fly away. “We couldn’t even do that back in the day. Ponies are too small.”

“The Saddle Arabians might be better to ride on if they give permission,” Tobias noted. “Remember when we flew on the backs of those two Saddle Arabian pegasi, Gregory?”

Gregory nodded. It had been a serious mission at the time where they had teamed up temporarily with a double pegasi mercenary group named Blue Twin. True to their name, the two were actually twins, each one a dark blue. They were actually rather nice to Shadow Dawn and while he hadn’t revealed his face to them as was his policy, they had seemed to show a genuine interest in him. He hoped that they were alright. “I wonder what happened to them?” he mused aloud.

“Saddle Arabian? Really?” Daniel sounded incredulous. “What is it, a knockoff of Saudi Arabia?”

“You’ll find that a lot of location names here are Earth knockoffs,” Gregory said. “I mean, we’re in Canterot. There’s a city called Manehattan, then Vanhoover, Baltimare, Las Pegasus, Fillydelphia, Neighagra Falls, Trottingham, Griffish Isles…need I go on?”

“It’s all horse puns?” Daniel asked.

“Always has been,” Gregory said, hiding a smirk at the unbidden meme reference he and Daniel had just made. “I don’t know where it all comes from, to be honest. The naming convention in this modern world is strange.”

“You’re making me feel old,” Daniel replied, “and I’m not even thirty, yet.”

“By my calendar, I’m younger than you, but physically I’m older than Megan,” Gregory said.

“I still can’t believe you came from the year 2027,” Molly said.

“Anything about the future you can tell us?” Daniel asked with a small grin.

“Maybe later,” Gregory said dismissively. He knew the world they were from was not the same as his Earth, but he didn’t want to influence things negatively. On the other hand, it wasn’t his Earth, and its future hadn’t happened yet.

At that moment, the world seemed to be bathed in a rainbow light. Everyone in the procession stopped, turning back towards the west to see the brilliant rainbow light as it washed over them. Everyone else around them seemed to bathe in it, but Gregory only looked at his hands as they turned from red, to orange, to yellow, and all the way down the color spectrum in a matter of moments, then repeat the process. It was definitely a fascinating look. He wondered if his lack of magic had something to do with it.

Even so, after a few seconds, the light stopped, and even Gregory could feel a certain change in the air. It felt lighter. He looked around. Ponies in the streets were looking at each other with confusion. A few looked their way, and when one of the adults raised a hoof in uncertain greeting, Gregory responded in kind with a nod. The uncertainty turned into a small smile before they, too, nodded, before heading on their way.

“Did that pony just greet us?” Dengal asked with confusion as they resumed their walk.

“Yes, they did,” Gregory said, just as confused as she sounded.

He paid closer attention to the ponies that they passed. Along with the normal bows of reverence to Princess Luna, he spotted several nervous waves of greeting. Tobias, Daniel and Molly were, of course, waving back with warm smiles. Gregory did wave politely back, as did a still confused Dengal. There were even some waves directed at the former Elements of Harmony, who had not said a single word since leaving the train station.

Sunset joined him and Dengal after they took a turn down a larger street. “What exactly did that Rainbow of Light do?” she asked, looking up at Gregory.

“It’s a powerful talisman from Erda’s ancient past,” Gregory mused, “so I don’t know what it could have done. The mood of everyone here seems to have shifted.”

Sunset scanned the crowd, then closed her eyes. Gregory had to remind himself that Sunset was an empath, and like Counselor Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation, she was able to detect emotions, albeit slightly. When she opened her eyes, they were full of more confusion than before. “There’s still a great deal of sorrow here, but there’s also a little bit of guilt.”

Nearby, a group of fillies and colts ran down the street, laughing and shouting at each other with grins on their faces. As one earth pony filly passed by a cart, she tripped and tumbled into a wall. As he watched, the cart’s unicorn owner, a unicorn stallion who appeared well dressed, turned away from helping a customer and rushed over to the filly. The customer even dropped what she was getting and rushed over as well.

“I’ve never seen that happening before, either,” Sunset observed.

“Is it really that bad here?” Twilight asked. “I admit I was…sheltered here.”

Sunset, instead of her normal snarky attitude, nodded gravely. “It wasn’t always like this,” she began, “but Canterlot as it is now is a breeding house for elitism.”

“A wretched hive of scum and villainy?” Daniel asked with a hint of amusement.

“No,” Gregory corrected, “this place isn’t like Mos Eisley. This place is more like-oh, wait, you wouldn’t know that. You’re more than likely to receive honeyed words here while those same people saying those words only look for how you can benefit them.”

“So…Congress?” Molly asked.

Gregory snorted. “Sure, let’s go with that. This is the capital city of Equestria, after all. Call it…a deceptive hive of greed and corruption. At least, it was.” He turned to see Celestia returning with Megan on her back again. “With whatever your sister did with the rainbow, that might be about to change.”

“I don’t know why,” Celestia was saying after they reached the safe house some time later, “but having you ride on my back felt natural. It also really helped my back feel better. The kink that’s been forming in it these past couple of months is gone.”

“Why didn’t you get that checked out by the castle physician?” Sunset asked with a hint of concern in her voice. Twilight and Luna both echoed that sentiment silently.

Celestia gave a rueful smile. “I didn’t have the time.”

“Now I know where Twilight got part of her ‘Twilighting’ problem,” Gregory said as he sat down at one of the couches in the safe house.

The safe house itself was actually an underground bunker dug into the cliffside. It was also large enough to accommodate a large number of ponies, from what Gregory had seen. They had entered a massive metal vault door that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a nuclear bunker. It made Gregory think a bit about the Fallout: Equestria fanfiction. Currently, everyone was in a large sitting room with several chairs and couches around a fireplace. The place was carpeted and decorated with portraits of various ponies. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling which illuminated the room since there were no windows. It had taken them a few minutes of walking through a stone hallway to get to this room.

Twilight looked embarrassed by being called out. “Please tell me that ‘Twilighting’ isn’t a popular phrase in your world,” she pleaded.

“Oooh, that would be delicious,” Chrysalis said as she clapped her hooves, having dropped her disguise.

“You’d better behave, my sexy little nymph,” Gregory said, grinning at Chrysalis, “or perhaps you’d like some personal punishment?”

Dengal snorted at that as Chrysalis gritted her teeth in obvious embarrassment. “Oh, sh-shut up,” she stammered.

He exchanged a look with Tobias, and they both grinned. “Tsundere,” they both said simultaneously.

“I give up,” Chrysalis sighed as she slumped into a chair.

“But to answer your question, Twilight, the term ‘Twilighting’ is only really known among bronies and pegasisters,” he said as Dengal and Tobias joined him, sitting on either side of him. “

Twilight made a facepalming motion at that, and Rainbow Dash actually snorted. “Hah, a bunch of humans know about that.”

“They also know about a few of your faults, Crash,” Gregory retorted.

“Well, shit,” Rainbow said, ears flattened. It felt odd to hear any of them swearing, but if any of them would, it would be Rainbow. And perhaps Applejack if she was alone.

“Can we all please focus on the matter at hoof?” Celestia said as she sat in a larger chair, one specifically made for her. Luna took a seat next to her. “Majesty is still out there, and we still don’t know where yet.”

“But we know where she most likely will show up,” Twilight explained. “Her M.O. seems to be against crimes that ponies have taken, mostly against nonponies.”

“That might not be the case for everything,” Megan pointed out.

“What do you mean?” Celestia asked.

“Think about it,” Megan said. “We just heard about Majesty taking some action to punish ponies in corporate power. Sure, some of them were guilty of harassment of nonponies, but surely there was more there.” She took in a deep breath. “I actually met a couple of ponies who she punished back in Ponyland. They told me that while Majesty’s punishments were severe and ironic, they actually learned from said punishments and turned over a new leaf. Still, something was always left behind as a permanent reminder. Majesty’s M.O., as I understand it now, is to punish those who she deems as guilty, and so far they all seem to be guilty of some real crime. Then, she casts her magic on them to enact said punishment, but she…how to explain…it’s not like installing something…” She trailed off, trying to think.

“She implanted a condition into the punishment that would free the victim or restore some aspects of their former life to them?” Gregory suggested.

Megan snapped and pointed at him with a vigorous nod. “If those being punished truly want to turn over a new leaf, then the magic activates and rewards them.”

“Mayor Mare’s regaining of her earth pony magic while remaining a human…” Luna gasped.

“And the stratadon who couldn’t speak transforming into a human who could speak,” Gregory reminded them.

“Are you saying that if these ponies who have been punished can return to being ponies if they make an effort to be better and change?” Celestia asked.

“If that were the case, wouldn’t this Mayor Mare turn back into an earth pony?” Megan asked. She shook her head. “The two ponies who I spoke to had a permanent punishment in place to remind them of their crimes. If her M.O. hasn’t changed, and I’ve seen no indication that it has, then this Mayor Mare may remain as a human, but with her earth pony magic. Humans have no magic whatsoever.”

“In a way, that actually makes sense,” Gregory admitted, and it did. “She may have her magic back, but every time she looks into a mirror, she will be reminded of what she did.” He looked up at Celestia and Luna. “Ponies do seem to be a forgetful species, after all. You forgot about Majesty, Megan, Daniel, and Molly here. And more recently, you two forgot about Jason Wright. And the former Elements here forgot their lesson with Zecora. Having some permanent reminders makes some sense, if you think about it.”

Celestia let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t dispute that,” she admitted. “Still, I have a duty to protect my little ponies, and to punish them for any of their crimes. Majesty is overstepping her bounds.”

“With all due respect,” Gregory said, “she’s an alicorn. The moment that Twilight here was forcefully ascended, you called her a princess. Does that mean all alicorns automatically become princesses?”

Celestia’s eyes widened slightly. “That is…an unfortunate ancient law,” she said.

“One that must be changed posthaste,” Luna said. “Only those worthy of the crown should wield the power.”

“Then you might have a problem,” Sunset said.

“How so, Sunset?” Celestia asked.

With a grave expression, Sunset began her explanation. “This True Harmonist movement is more widespread than you think,” she said. “I’ve traveled all over Equestria and outside, and this movement is popping up in other nations. Gryphonstone even has a chapter which has begun to rebuild the dilapidated city.”

“Dilapidated?” Twilight asked in shock.

Sunset nodded. “Their society is in ruins since their Idol was stolen and then lost centuries ago. They don’t even have an emperor.”

“I…had no idea,” Twilight said hoarsely.

“Neither did I,” Celestia said somberly. “The only gryphons I’ve met are from the Griffish Isles, one of our vassal states.”

That would explain that French gryphon baker guy from that one Sherlock Holmes knockoff episode, Gregory thought.

“Still, True Harmonists in other nations aren’t exactly big fans of many older and more conservative ponies right now,” Sunset continued. “They are aware that this is a younger pony movement, but the movements popping up in other countries consist of creatures of all ages.”

“What does this have to do with the worthiness of the crown?” Luna asked.

“I think I see,” Celestia said. “The younger generation will see me and possibly Luna as unworthy of our titles because of our complacency.”

“Indeed,” Sunset nodded. “The True Harmonists aren’t your only problems, though. If the nobility’s hostility earlier is any indication, they could be a more immediate threat. They may even call for your abdication.”

“You may be right about that, too,” Celestia acknowledged. “This movement could very well be the trigger that releases the arrows.”

“But…you’re the princess, right?” Rainbow asked. “Isn’t your authority absolute?”

“That would be a tyranny,” Twilight explained, “and that’s not what the government system in Equestria is about.”

“There are checks and balances, aren’t there?” Gregory asked. “Like the Equestrian Education Association.”

Celestia nodded. “Even my school has to follow by its guidelines,” she said, “but that’s only a small example. The law is the ultimate check to my power. I can’t break them.”

“Oh,” Rainbow said, sinking back into her own seat and closing her mouth.

“Before we continue, though,” Luna said, “Miss Megan, perchance you can tell us what it is that you did when you and my sister temporarily departed from our group? The city felt different after you used the Rainbow of Light.”

“There was a slight darkness around the city,” she explained, “and the instincts I’ve gained from the Rainbow of Light were all but screaming at me to cleanse this darkness. So I did. I can’t tell you more than that, I’m afraid.”

“The city did feel lighter after that light touched us,” Fluttershy muttered.

“Did you see anything else aside from the light?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Wisps of a dark cloud being evaporated into nothing,” Daniel said. When everyone looked at him, he shrugged. “I’ve used it, too. I can see what it does.”

“So those who use it get special sight?” Twilight was muttering now, and Gregory could tell she was in full studious mode.

“More like enhanced senses,” Daniel said. “Even now, I can feel them returning to me.”

“Same here,” Molly added.

“You have magic of some kind?” Gregory asked.

“You could call it something like that, sure,” Megan said, “although why you don’t seem to have any is a mystery to me.”

“Probably because I didn’t come from your Earth,” Gregory said, “and because the Rainbow doesn’t react to me or seem to affect me.”

Megan frowned at this. “That’s troubling,” she said.

“We’re getting off track here,” he said. “The matter at hand now is how you are to approach not only Majesty, but approaching the True Harmonists.”

“Us?” Celestia asked. “Are you planning on leaving?”

Gregory waved a hand. “I’m just a merc, so I don’t know too much about politics, or really care. All I care about is getting paid to do a job and do it to the best of my ability. I did my job in bringing you three people who have a better chance of stopping Majesty than I do. They have the Rainbow of Light and they know Majesty personally. They have a bigger chance of talking her down from her crusade. Still, if you want the opinion of a simple merc, then lay down the law on those she’s likely to target for punishment. She may even target the nobility, especially after what happened today.”

Celestia’s eyes widened in alarm. “You’re right…you’re right!” Swiftly she stood and walked to the door. Opening it, she spoke to the two guards who were positioned outside. “Guards, send a detachment of our finest to guard the nobles at once,” she said in a calm and even voice. “They may very well be in danger.”

“Yes, your highness,” the two said as one of them galloped away to relay the orders.

“Now then,” Celestia said as she returned to her seat, “why don’t we all discuss ideas?” She raised an anti-scrying shield, as did Luna, then Twilight and Sunset. “Who’s first?”

“That damned human,” Blueblood snarled as he was tended to by one of his maids in his mansion, “when I get my hooves on him, I’ll-URK! Be careful!” he shouted as the nurse put a damp rag against one of the wounds his collision with the wall had caused.

“Sorry, my prince,” the earth pony maid said in earnest apology, “but I need to sterilize the wound or it may get infected.”

“Then be careful!” he repeated before turning away and glaring at nothing. He had never felt so humiliated in his life. He had no idea what kind of weapon that human was wielding, but he would find a way to make him pay.

He hissed in pain again, and this time his maid wasn’t spared his wrath. He launched out with his back legs, catching her in the barrel and sending her sprawling. “I told you to be careful!” he bellowed angrily as he approached, looming over the now trembling maid. He glared down at her, then stepped back. “Fetch somepony else to do it!”

“Y-Yes, my prince!” she said, standing and running out of the room.

Blueblood scoffed at the useless and nameless maid as he carefully lay on his stomach. He glared ahead, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He replayed the events in his mind over and over again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall of any magical weapon like that glowing green sword the human wielded. His talent did regard magic, after all, and his aunt had made him learn all about ancient magical relics, but nothing like that sword was in any of those old dusty books.

As he was thinking, the door behind him opened silently. Blueblood scoffed at this. Whoever it was hadn’t even bothered to announce their presence. Likely one of the new hires, he reasoned. “Good, you’re here,” he said as he gestured to the largest injury. “You can start here, and be careful with it. The last maid was too rough.”

“I must admit, I’ve never been propositioned quite like that before,” a silky smooth voice said from behind him. “Sadly, though, you’re really not my type. Mine are more…unconventional than most.”

Blueblood, completely confused, turned. And froze when he saw who was standing there. His eyes widened in fear. “You…” he gasped in terror as he tried to back away.

Majesty stood there in all of her glory, smiling tenderly down at Blueblood. “Do calm yourself, young princeling,” she said as she raised her horn. “Those injuries look painful. Let me.” Her horn blazed, and Blueblood felt his pain vanishing in an instant. “There, does that feel better?”

Blueblood stood and looked over himself in astonishment. “You…healed me…but why?”

“Why not?” Majesty asked back.

Blueblood looked at the enigmatic pony with confusion. “I don’t understand,” he said. “You destroyed Canterlot Castle, but then you come to heal me?”

Majesty laughed, and Blueblood was instantly reminded of happier times, back when he was a foal. The laughter was similar to his aunt’s own. Full of warmth and happiness. Although, as Blueblood listened, he detected a hint of sorrow in said laugh. “No matter who it is, I never turn away from healing the injured,” she explained, “even if they are the vilest of the vile.”

“I…see?” Blueblood was even more confused. He wondered if she would even have healed Tirek or Chrysalis if she had encountered them. “I still don’t understand.”

“That is because decent kindness is no longer inside you,” Majesty said, her warm smile fading slowly as she shook her head in sadness. “You were raised to cherish these Tenets of Harmony that this kingdom holds dear, but avarice has taken a hold of your heart.”

Blueblood’s fear returned, but when he tried to move, he found that he couldn’t. “What…is happening…?” he said with strain in his voice.

“Unfortunately, you have been judged and found wanting,” Majesty said sadly. Her horn lit up, and she began to chant.

“You, who once treated others like dirt,
“your station, you have not earned.
“You’ve caused many to feel helpless and hurt,
“so perhaps as a foal you will learn.”

Blueblood felt his body twist and turn, and he screamed, not in agony, because he wasn’t in pain, but in terror. He heard his screams become higher pitched as the room began to grow larger. Soon, he heard the wailing of an infant. With horror, he realized that it was him.

Majesty walked slowly out of the room after lifting the now infant foal prince onto the bed and swaddling him so he didn’t harm himself. She walked past a number of maids who were rushing towards the sound of the infant crying, completely ignoring Majesty in their excitement. She walked completely out of the house and onto the street, closing her eyes as she heard the sound of many other ‘newborn’ foals. The punishment for these nobles she had a difficult time deciding, but from the new determination she had seen from Celestia, she felt that perhaps there was some slight bit of hope from the younger alicorn after all. Which was why she had decided to give the nobles a chance. However, if they continued on the path they were going down, their bodies would never age and they would become dependent on others.

There were some nobles, of course, who she had high hopes for, and she had spared them this fate. She closed her eyes and vanished.