Chapter 4: Panicked Ponies

“Enough!” Queen Chrysalis reared, tossing her head, mane whipping back from her face. “I am sick of this arguing.”

Nightmare Moon snorted and backed away from the table. Discord folded his lion and eagle legs. They'd been staring at a map of Equestria for the past hour, deciding where to strike first. Discord wanted big cities, lot of ponies to play around with. Nightmare wanted open grounds to watch the night fall over the land, taking anything depending on the sun to death.

Chrysalis wanted Canterlot. Wanted, first revenge on the ponies that had humiliated her, then the city itself. But, after some research, she learned these ponies lived in a small town called Ponyville, not Canterlot.

“We hit Ponyville first,” she said.

Discord groaned. “I already messed with Ponyville. I want something different.”

“I want to get out of this hole,” Nightmare's eyes glowed, lip curling in disgust as she looked around Chrysalis' cave. “I cannot feel the moon.”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and gathered her magic, aiming her horn at the ceiling. A green blast of magic shot upwards, cracking the stone, bursting through and opening up to the night sky. She winced inwardly, hating what her guests were doing to her cave. Discord had moved what little furniture there was so he could move smoothly around, and Nightmare had complained more that once about the flapping and buzzing of the other Changling's wings in the neighboring caves. Now with the moonlight shining in, it would take weeks to repair. Chrysalis shook her body. Focus.

“You will both get what you desire,” she said. “Have no fear. First, we infiltrate, then we bring the night and the chaos, then we rule with an iron hoof.”

A grin spread across Discords face. “Chaos first?”

Chrysalis sighed. “Yes. Chaos. Night. Order.”

Discord laughed, deep and low, eyes glowing crimson. Nightmare smirked up at the moon, horn tip glowing with power.

Chrysalis trotted to the cave opening. “I will go prepare the army. We strike tomorrow night.”

~*~*~*~

Princess Luna stood in front of the mirror in her room, staring at her reflection. Embarrassment climbed over her as she thought of Nightmare Moon ripping from her body, while that bitch of a mare Chrysalis laughed. What she wouldn't give to stomp that foul smelling pony's face into the ground. At least she had ponies to back her next time she saw Nightmare, Discord, and Chrysalis.

Celestia had set the Elements of Harmony up in their own rooms in the palace, letting them sleep off the party she'd rip them from this morning.

Luna lit up her horn, unwrapping her leg and applying more magic to her shoulder. The scab shrunk, the new skin pink against her purple fur. The scratches on her chest were healing nicely, they would soon turn to thin silver lines, adding to her collection, as would the tear on her flank. Her wing would take a little longer, the feathers needing time to regrow after the bone healed.

The late afternoon light shone through the stain glass windows, hitting Luna's desk, illuminating dozens of papers, maps, and books. She'd poured over them all morning, trying to figure where the evil trio would attack first. Since being linked to Nightmare Moon for what felt like an eternity, Luna could predict the mare's thoughts and feelings. Knew her drive and ambitions. Nightmare would strive for the night, cloaking everything in darkness.

Discord she knew because he was so unpredictable. He thrived in chaos, mayhem, and mischief. Beneath it all, he was a shit disturber. He'd need ponies though, playthings to manipulate and entertain. Which meant high population areas.

But, this Changling, she did not know. She was not present for the attack a year ago at the Canterlot Wedding, and her knowledge of Changlings as a species was minute. Chrysalis seemed to be in charge of this evil trio, but good luck to her if she thought she controlled Nightmare or Discord.

Luna threw back her head and let out a frustrated whinny. She didn't know where to begin. Send troops to each city and town? Gather them all together? First she needed to find ponies willing to fight.

A knock came from the door, and before Luna could utter a come in, Celestia burst through. Mouth open, about to snap at her older sister, Luna paused. Celestia's eyes were wide and she took a minute to compose herself.

“We may have a problem,” she said.

“We have several problems,” Luna snorted.

Celestia motioned with her head for Luna to follow. “Then we add this one to the list.”

Luna trailed behind, wondering what had gone wrong now. As they approached the closed doors of the balcony overlooking the royal gardens, Luna's ears pricked at the sound of voices. Hundreds of voices. Panic stricken and angry voices of ponies.

“What-”

“Princess, we need to tell you something.” Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the Elements stood by the doors, heads hung low. “We may have accidentally caused a city wide panic.”

It took Luna a second to realize Twilight's words, and even then she didn't quite understand them. She opened her mouth to speak, but Rainbow Dash stepped forward.

“We didn't mean to,” she said. “I just went out to, you know, casually and quietly find ponies willing to fight for the Lunar Republic and-”

“Lunar Republic?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Rainbow continued. “I thought it sounded cool. A strong name for our army.”

Luna sighed inwardly. The last thing they needed was propaganda. “Go on.”

“Well,” Rainbow pawed the floor. “I started asking ponies to sign up and other ponies overheard and started asking questions and Applejack, being honest and all, told them the truth-”

“Don't you dare blame me for this,” Applejack stomped her hoof. “I was just the flyer distributor. I didn't expect them ponies to freak like a cat in water.”

Luna looked to the doors, listened to the calls for the princesses. She should've waited, gathered her resources and intel, discussed with her sister, before involving anypony else. Yes, she was grateful for the Elements of Harmony's presence. She trusted and respected them and was confident in their ability to back her up. But she had almost forgotten that they were simple ponies, had no idea how to run a government. Admittedly, riling them up early this morning with her talk of fighting and taking down the enemy hadn't helped. She tried to weed out the good from the news, find the silver lining.

“So, there are ponies out there willing to fight?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Loyal to the Lunar Republic.”

Luna flattened her ears, they needed to stop calling the army that. It would definitely lead to unwanted propaganda.

Rarity cleared her throat. “May I point out that just as many ponies are willing to join the Solar Empire.”

“Solar what?” Celestia looked to Luna. Luna snorted. This needed to stop.

“Empire,” Rarity lit her horn and magiked a stitched patch resting on her back, holding up for everypony to see. The outline of a burnt orange Pegasus flew against a yellow sun on a bright orange background. “I made it this morning, doesn't it just scream peaceful yet strong?”

“Stop,” Luna snapped. “There is no Lunar Republic or Solar Empire. As pretty as that is, Rarity, propaganda leads to radicalists. Yes, earlier I said I wanted to fight, but until we find Chrysalis and her followers, we have no target, therefore no immediate enemy. Both Celestia and I appreciate the effort you ponies have put in, but we need to slow down and think everything through before we charge headfirst.”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Celestia said.

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Maybe if we plan and prepare enough, we may not have to fight at all.”

Rainbow tossed her head and confronted Twilight. “What fun is that? Of course we need to fight! You saw what they did to Princess Luna. What's to say they won't do that to every pony they come across?”

“Maybe so,” Twilight puffed out her chest, accepting the challenge. “But as Princess Celestia pointed out, we are not soldiers. You really think you could hurt, or even kill another pony?”

Rainbow flapped in the air. “Hay yes I could. If they were coming after me? I'd take them all out. I'm brave!”

“Bravery is just another word for stupidity,” Twilight snorted.

Rainbow dove at her, stopping inches in front of her face. “Want to know what another word for Twilight is? Scared little bi-”

“Girls!” Celestia trotted forward, nudging them apart from one another. “Enough. All of you go eat some dinner in the banquet hall while Luna and I address the crowd.”

Twilight and Rainbow glared for another couple seconds before the other Elements shoved them toward the back of the palace.

Luna blew out a breath, wishing she could start over. Hay, if she had that chance, she'd warn herself about Discord the Chrysalis appearing on her moon. Or, better yet, stop them before it even got that far. The voices of the confused ponies in the garden jarred her, reminding her that she couldn't go back. The damage had been done, and she and her sister had to deal with it as best they could.

Celestia opened the doors and the crowd erupted with questions. Luna held back, knowing her appearance would just cause more panic. She listened to the questions being pelted at poor Celestia.

“Are we at war?”

“Is Luna really hurt or is she dead?”

“Is Canterlot really starting up an army?”

“Are there two armies?”

“Are we fighting each other?”

Celestia lifted her head, hushing the crowd. “Ponies of Canterlot, I know many of you are confused, and I am here to clear up all that confusion. Yes, Princess Luna was attacked by an enemy force. She is hurt, but on her way to healing completely. Earlier we had ponies out asking you to join two different armies. Those armies do not exist. I would ask that you all go back to your homes...”

Luna blocked out her sisters voice. Asking them to go home is sealing their panic. The truth, Celestia, always tell the truth, never fudge or embellish. It was their number one rule as ponies learning to be princesses. Luna stepped onto the balcony, her sister still talking. Gasps flew through the crowd, but Luna held her head high. Celestia trailed off, looking just as confused.

“My sister is right,” Luna said, slipping in some Royal Canterlot Voice so her words reached the corners of the crowd. “There is no need for panic. But, as far as the armies, we will need ponies willing to, if it comes down to it, help us defend Canterlot. We will set up booths across the city, information stations as to what we are seeking. We are not at war yet, and we hope to never have to fight. But, to be ready is the key. We ask that, as hard as it may be, go back to your regular duties. Work, school, normal lives. We will keep you informed as to our further actions. I want no rumors spreading through the city. Unless you hear it from an official royal source, it is simply untrue. We are not in immediate danger. This city is well protected. There will be no questions. And requests to see either me or Princess Celestia will be severely restricted for the time being. Thank you, and trust us to protect and serve you the best we can.”

Luna dipped her head then turned and entered the palace, Celestia hot on her heels. Luna spun, sensing a spewing commentary from her sister.

“You just told them we are-”

“I know what I said,” Luna interrupted. “You cannot keep things from them, Celestia. They are not stupid. We need to keep our subject's trust. I know your love for peace, but we will be at war. It might not be tomorrow or the day after, but we will be. And the moment we are, I will tell everypony the truth.”

“But what if nothing comes from Chrysalis and Discord? What if-”

Luna threw her head and neighed, kicking out her back foot. “Look at me, dear sister. This was not nothing. They stole Nightmare Moon to use her. They have plans after plans. I have seen firsthand their power and they do not mean to do nothing. You need to step out of the perfect little world you live in. Just because a year had passed and not even a single tree has died, doesn't mean something will not happen. The world requires balance. Too much good must be fixed with some bad.”

“I understand balance, Luna,” Celestia spread her wings. “I also understand the personal vendetta you carry with Chrysalis and Discord. They did take a part of you, but you cannot let that cloud your vision of how to react. Proceed with caution, and you will get whatever revenge you seek, trust me.”

Luna settled, her sisters words sinking in. Instead of retorting with a comment she knew she'd regret, Luna pivoted and trotted back to her room. Celestia was right, dammit. She did want revenge. And why shouldn't she? Humiliated in front of her subjects, made to look like a weak fool? Any reasonable pony would want some type of justice done.

She inhaled sharply and flopped on her bed. At least she had followers already. Ponies willing to stand by her side and help her fight. But skilled and effective fighting would take time to prepare. And she had no idea how much time they actually had.