It had been well over a decade since the Lunar Revolutionary war. Tensions were still high between Unicornia, and the rest of Equestria. Even within the earth pony and pegasus settlements, mistrust had permeated throughout and within every community. After the governors of Pegasopolis had ousted Celestia, they installed one of their own as a temporary queen of the unicorns until they could transition them to a true meritocracy.
Meanwhile, I was enjoying the last year of my term as governor of the earth ponies in the town hall of Manehattan when my old benefactor swooped in through the skylight. “Swift Blade, how many times have ah told ya, use the dog-on door! I may have been raised in a barn, but even ah know how t’ show proper manners!”
Swift blade just rolled his eyes at me. “That may be all well and good for you dirt ponies, but you can’t expect pegasi to go by the same rules.” My ear flicked in annoyance at the slur, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it. “Besides, I’m here on urgent business. Word around the cloud is your not looking so good in the election polls. If you’re not careful, that Danver Carrot fellow will take your job.”
I waived off his concerns with my hoof. “The way ah see it, don’t rightly matter who wins. Danver’s an old friend o’ mine. I know he wants what’s best for ponies as much as me. So ifn’ ah win, ah’ll gladly serve another term, but if not…” I trailed off with a shrug. “Either way, ponies are in good hooves.”
Swift Blade’s right eye twitched at my words. “Danver Carrot wants to kick pegasi out of our positions of power. Not only would he refuse a pegasus adviser, as our little agreement ten years ago stated, but he would go so far as to force Canterlot to hold an election for their queen! We sacrificed too much during the war to give up what we rightfully conquered!”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “Ah thought ya’ll were fightin’ fer the rights of all ponies to choose their leaders instead of always havin’ Celestia be our Queen, Commander, and Chancellor. What’s wrong with havin’ elections fer that? It’s how we earth ponies do it.”
Swift applied his hoof to his muzzle before taking in a deep breath and forcing himself to relax. “Look, just go do some public speeches, hold some rallies, sing some songs, smile and wave on a parade float. I don’t care, just get your ponies on your side again and you can keep your cushy job without having to worry about going back to your farm to break your back bucking apples.”
I crossed my hooves over my chest and narrowed my eyes. “An’ if ah refuse to play yer games?”
“Then we’ll find somepony who will.” With that vaguely ominous threat, he blasted off back through the skylight.
Shaking my head, I let out a sigh of exasperation. “Ah swear, ah'm getting’ too old for these horse-apples.”
“If we continue with our current course, we run the risk of economic stagnation, and eventual collapse in the next twenty years. However if we enact the plan I just laid out for you, we’ll start to see a gradual increase of trade of about two point three percent per year.” I was struggling to stay awake, this petitioner had been droning on for hours about their Luna forsaken ‘money’ they love so much. Even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling this stallion just enjoyed the sound of his own voice.
“Very well, you have my approval. You may take your leave.” I might end up regretting that, but I couldn’t take another second of that droning voice. Once the pompous and overdressed unicorn left the throne room, I sagged in my seat. “If only mother had taken this position. She already has experience dealing with these weasels.”
“While technically true, she tended to ‘deal’ with them at the other end of her weapon of choice.” A familiar, yet annoying voice met my exhausted ears. “We chose you for the position because you’re the most qualified and, to be honest, diplomatic among the pegasus rulers. Plus, I don’t remember you complaining about the promotion at the time, queen Lance Charger.” Swift Blade made an exaggerated mock bow.
“Cut to the chase Swift,” I growled out. He knew full well I hated that farce of a title. “Despite what you said, my patience isn’t infinite, and I’ve had a long day.”
Swift grinned as though he was on the verge of busting out laughing. “Why your majesty, I’m hurt! Is it so inconceivable that I would just want to drop in and say hi to a friend?”
“You have five seconds before I call my guards and have you thrown out,” I deadpanned.
He held up his hooves in placation, but he kept that stupid grin of his. “Fair enough, I’ll be on my way shortly, but there was some important matters I needed to bring to your attention.”
I let out another exasperated sigh. “Fine, just get on with it.”
He finally dropped his infuriating grin and looked me dead in the eyes. “We need to enact marshal law.”
I blinked owlishly for a moment before tipping my head. “Why?”
“Apple Tree is going to loose the gubernatorial election, and Danver Carrot wants to kick us back to Cloudsdale.” He stomped a hoof at his declaration. We lost too many ponies getting to the point we’re at to just give up! So we need to unite the pegasi and unicorns to install a new leader, and do away with all their election nonsense. We can’t have the bumbling masses choose some incompetent leader just because he talks like them and preaches some idealistic nonsense!”
I rubbed my temples with my armor clad hooves, the cold thunder forged steel helping to soothe my headache. “Let me get this straight. You want to take away the right for ponies to choose their own leaders, after we fought a whole war on the basis of letting ponies choose their own ruler?”
“You know that was just something we told the masses to gain support! Or are you really so naive to think we wouldn’t claim the right of conquest after winning such a brutal war?” Swift had been slowly approaching Lance, and was now muzzle to muzzle with the mare. Well, slightly below her muzzle, she was slightly larger and more muscular than most mares, and Swift wasn’t especially imposing in his figure.
I pushed him away to hooves length before taking a calming breath and putting on the false smile I give to petitioners I wish I could challenge to a duel, but refrained from doing so to avoid a political incident. “Oh guards!” I called out in a melodic tone. A moment later, about a dozen armor clad pegasi and unicorns slammed open the doors to the throne room. “Please escort Swift Blade here out of the castle. He has surpassed his allotted time.” Swift gave me one last death glare before turning his back and hovering out, flanked on all sides by ten of the mixed company guards while two remained by my side.
One of the guards spoke up. “Would you like an escort this evening your highness?” One of my ears flicked at the honorific, but I let it pass.
“No, thank you. I shall just retire to my chambers for the night.” With that, I made my way down to my uncomfortably opulent bed chambers.
“Commander Rightly!” I let out a patient sigh as one of my esteemed colleagues dashed into my chambers.
“What is it this time Swift?”
“I’ve got bad news sir. The dirt ponies and unicorns are revolting! We must take action to quell their unrest!” He was barely able to spit that out before he began gasping for breath.
“What in Luna’s name is going on? Why are you so winded? Did you fly here straight from Canterlot?”
Once he had gotten his breathing under control, he finally spoke up. “Sir, Apple Tree is at risk to loose his election. If that happens, Danver Carrot will oust us from all seats of power, and Lance Charger won’t do anything to stop it!”
I put a hoof on his shoulder. “Swift, calm yourself. The election isn’t for another five moons, and even if Apple tree looses, and even if Danver Carrot ousts Lance from Canterlot, it is ultimately up to the ponies. We won the war. There’s no need to hold on so tight to positions we no longer need to keep the peace.”
“B-but commander, we sacrificed too mu-”
“Sacrifice? What did you sacrifice Swift? I lost the one mare who could ease the pain from my dead wife! I lost family, friends, I was forced to slay some of my own! Meanwhile, what did you do? Stay behind, and refuse to fight. Even the supply sargents under your command fought to protect the supply line!” I consider myself slow to anger, but even I have my limits, and this coward needed to be knocked down a peg.
“If you continue this greedy foolishness, undermining my command, you will have to answer in trial by combat. I won’t have my honor besmirched by association with a coward.” Swift was taken aback, but as it sank in, he finally saluted, and marched out of my office.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I still had so much work to do. Rebuilding a nation wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to keep my home safe from all threats, from without and within.
Author's Note
This is my take on a potential alternate ending for The Lunar Rebellion. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest it. Nothing in this one off spoils anything in the story.
